The series follows Louie, a fictionalized version of C.K., a comedian and newly divorced father raising his two daughters in New York City.
In April 2014, FX confirmed that the first episode of the season would be titled "Back", and that it would be written and directed by series creator and lead actor Louis C.K.
Matt Fowler of IGN gave the episode an "amazing" 9.5 out of 10 and wrote in his verdict, "As mentioned earlier, 'Back' was a great sampler of Louie - for both fans of the show and those who've never seen.
"[4] Alan Sepinwall of HitFix wrote, "Many things happen in 'Back,' and we'll get to those in a minute, but it's all building up to Louie's visit to Dr. Bigelow, where he's told that the reason his back hurts is entirely a matter of evolution.
"[6] Danielle Henderson of Vulture gave the episode a 4 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "The beautiful chaos of this show often makes it difficult to find a connecting thread, but the easily identifiable theme of this premiere is Louie's well-covered focus on being old and tired, which he introduces brilliantly with the bane of every sleep-deprived city dweller's existence — sanitation workers.
"[7] Jake Cole of Slant Magazine wrote, "That twist on clichéd midlife concerns finds its fullest expression when Louie collapses on a sidewalk after fleeing the sex shop, only to receive aid from a much older woman, who not only confidently flags a taxi for him, but even helps him to his feet.
In addition to being disconnected from what came before it, the scenes that make up 'Back' are largely unrelated to one another and alternate in tone, resulting in an episode that is surreal, dark, awkward, and hilarious.
"[9] Paste gave the episode a 8.1 out of 10 and wrote, "All of the material seems to flow easily and never feels forced, with one bit leading to the next without a need for a segue.
There’s a primary narrative about Louie deciding, on the advice of one of his poker buddies, to pick up a vibrator, which takes over the second half of the episode, but even this comes together in such a natural way that it nearly eludes the show.