Vincent Law of fanzine "Andersonic" argues that the episode's status as a "pilot" is not detrimental to the plot, which he regards as being based on "advanced technology, upon which the characters are reliant, going awry." He criticises some of the characterisation, noting that by the end of the episode Tin-Tin seems to be none the worse for her ordeal aboard "Fireflash". He also describes the dialogue as "limp and routine at times ... and overall much less witty than "Stingray"." Nonetheless, he sums up "Trapped in the Sky" as "a great opener, arguably the best episode of the series."