“The Walking Dead” Pilot Remains a Fan Favorite, Launching a decade-Long Franchise
The premiere episode of “The Walking dead,” “Days Gone Bye,” which aired on AMC on October 31, 2010, captivated 5.35 million viewers and laid the foundation for a sprawling television universe still expanding today with spin-offs like Daryl Dixon and Dead City. The episode introduced key characters including Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and, in a foreshadowing of future storylines, Morgan (Lennie James) and his son duane (Adrian Kali Turner).
Lincoln recently told Screen Rant that the pilot remains his favorite, recalling the experience as ”extraordinary,” a time of discovery working with Frank Darabont, filled with “scares…exciting, scary and pure euphoria.” He specifically remembered filming a scene on horseback in Atlanta while being chased by 500 zombies as a uniquely memorable moment in his career.
the premiere’s impact extended internationally,drawing over 5 million viewers on Space through FOX in its initial run,and 2.9 million on La Sexta during its open broadcast. the episode was later honored with callbacks in the ninth season’s finale, referencing the hospital, the horse, and the iconic “Don’t Open, Dead Inside” door.
While episodes like 7×01, “A Day Will Come,” and 8×09, “Honor,” featuring Lincoln’s performances during pivotal moments involving Negan and the death of Carl, also garnered critical praise, the pilot episode continues to resonate with a dedicated fanbase that has remained loyal through fluctuating ratings and online criticism, now numbering in the millions worldwide via AMC+.
