Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): O comando precisa de pilhas novas antes do episódio começar. - The remote needs new batteries before the episode starts.

Yes. In European Portuguese, o comando is the everyday word for a remote control. You’ll also hear o telecomando (very common) and, more formally/technically, o comando à distância. In Brazil, the usual term is o controle remoto. Note that comando can also mean “command/command unit” in other contexts.

Why is it precisa de and not just precisa?

In European Portuguese, precisar takes the preposition de before a noun or an infinitive: precisar de pilhas, precisar de carregar. Without de is non‑standard in Portugal. With a finite clause you use precisar que + subjunctive (e.g., preciso que venhas).

Why is there no article before pilhas (why not de umas pilhas novas)?

Portuguese often omits the plural indefinite article. Precisa de pilhas novas naturally means “needs some new batteries.” De umas pilhas novas is possible but heavier and suggests a specific set or adds emphasis.

Why is the adjective after the noun: pilhas novas? Could I say novas pilhas?

Both are possible, but the position changes nuance:

pilhas novas (adjective after noun): objectively “new/unused batteries” — default here.
novas pilhas (adjective before noun): often “different/additional batteries” or a subjective emphasis on newness.

What does do mean in antes do episódio?

It’s the mandatory contraction of de + o. Because antes de is a preposition and episódio is masculine singular, you must write do. Other contractions: da (de + a), dos (de + os), das (de + as).

Can I write antes de o episódio começar instead of antes do episódio começar?

In normal modern Portuguese you should contract: de + o → do, so write antes do episódio começar. The uncontracted de o is archaic/legalistic and not used in everyday writing.

Why is it antes de + infinitive (começar) and not antes que + subjunctive (comece)?

Because antes de is a preposition; it must be followed by a noun phrase or an infinitive. Here we use the (personal) infinitive: antes de o episódio começar. You can also say antes que o episódio comece (subjunctive). In Portugal, antes de + infinitive is more common and neutral; antes que can sound more formal/emphatic.

Is antes de que o episódio comece correct?

No. Don’t mix them. Use either antes de + infinitive or antes que + subjunctive. Antes de que is not idiomatic in modern Portuguese.

Who is the subject of começar here?

The subject is o episódio. Portuguese allows an explicit subject with an infinitive after a preposition (the personal infinitive). If it were plural, the infinitive would show plural: antes dos episódios começarem.

Is there a difference between antes do episódio começar and antes de começar o episódio?

Yes:

antes do episódio começar = clearly “before the episode starts” (intransitive, the episode is the subject).
antes de começar o episódio can mean “before starting the episode” (transitive, someone starts it). People often intend the same meaning, but it’s ambiguous. Your version avoids ambiguity.

Can I front the time clause: Antes do episódio começar, o comando precisa de pilhas novas?

Yes. That is perfectly correct. Use a comma after the fronted clause.

Could I say O comando precisa de baterias novas?

In Portugal, for remotes you normally say pilhas. Bateria in EP is reserved for larger/embedded batteries (car, phone, laptop). In Brazil, bateria is common for all types. So in EP prefer pilhas.

How would this change with multiple episodes?

Make both the noun and the infinitive plural (and keep the contraction): antes dos episódios começarem.

Any gender/number agreement to watch for?

Yes:

pilhas is feminine plural, so novas must be feminine plural.
episódio is masculine singular, so use do (not da). The infinitive form matches the subject’s number: singular começar, plural começarem.

Can I just say antes de começar and omit o episódio?

You can, but then it’s generic or controlled by the subject of the main clause: “before starting.” In this sentence you’d lose the clear reference to the episode. With the same subject as the main clause, you’d often inflect the infinitive: e.g., antes de começarmos (“before we start”).

Are there noun-based alternatives to avoid the verb?

Yes: antes do início do episódio (“before the start/beginning of the episode”).

What tense is precisa? Could I use another tense?

Precisa is present indicative (“needs”). You can change it as needed: precisava (“was needing/used to need”), precisou (“needed”), vai precisar/precisará (“will need”), etc.

Any quick European Portuguese pronunciation tips for this sentence?

Approximate EP pronunciations:

o [u]
comando [kuˈmɐ̃du]
precisa [pɾɨˈsizɐ]
de [dɨ] (very reduced)
pilhas [ˈpiʎɐʃ]
novas [ˈnɔvɐʃ]
antes [ˈɐ̃tɨʃ]
do [du]
episódio [ɛpiˈzɔdju]
começar [kumɨˈsaɾ]