“The Walking Dead” Pilotโ Remains a Fanโ Favorite, Launchingโค a โขdecade-Long Franchise
The premiere episode โฃof “The Walking dead,” “Days Gone Bye,” which aired on AMC on Octoberโฃ 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 โฃ Dead City. The episode introduced keyโ characters โincluding Rick Grimesโ (Andrew โLincoln) and, inโ a foreshadowing of future storylines, Morgan (Lennie James) and his son โduane (Adrian Kali Turner).
Lincoln recently โขtold โข Screen Rant that the pilot remains his โคfavorite, recalling the experience as โ”extraordinary,” a โtimeโ of discovery working with Frank Darabont, filled โwith “scaresโฆexciting, scary and pure euphoria.” He specifically remembered filming a scene onโค horseback in Atlanta while being chased by 500 zombies asโ a uniquely memorable โmoment โin his career.
the premiere’s impact extended internationally,drawing over 5 โmillion viewers on Space through FOX in its initial run,and โ2.9 million onโ La Sexta during its open broadcast. the episode was later honored withโ callbacks in the โninth โฃseason’s finale, referencing โtheโ hospital,โ the horse, andโข 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 garneredโ critical praise, the pilot episode โฃcontinues to โresonate with a dedicated fanbase that has remained loyal through fluctuating ratings and online criticism, now numbering in the millions worldwide via AMC+.
