Fifteen Years On, The Walking Dead‘s Debut Remains a Landmark Television Pilot
Premiering in 2010, the first episode of The Walking Dead, titled “Days Gone Bye,” continues too be lauded as one of the strongest starts to a television series in history. Despite initially presenting a limited amount of undead action, the episode strategically builds tension, culminating in a now-iconic zombie horde scene.
The episode introduces audiences to the post-apocalyptic world through Rick Grimes’s viewpoint, initially showcasing “meeker zombies” like a child and severed body, alongside slower, scattered walkers. A pivotal moment arrives when Rick searches a hospital,discovering a door chained shut with the warning “Don’t open,dead inside,” accompanied by sounds of the undead within.
This scene establishes a false sense of security, shattered when rick encounters a massive group of walkers. The scale and special effects makeup used to create the diverse horde were groundbreaking for the time, even surpassing previous work in George Romero‘s Night of the Living Dead franchise.
Beyond the impressive visuals, “Days Gone bye” is praised for its rapid worldbuilding and character growth. It is indeed considered one of the best episodes of The Walking Dead out of its 177 total episodes and is reportedly a personal favorite of star Andrew Lincoln.
The Walking Dead is currently available to stream on AMC Plus in the US and Disney Plus in the UK. Viewers interested in watching the entire franchise can find a viewing guide online, and stay updated on upcoming television series.
