Undead Walking writers pick their favorite Rick Grimes episodes

Season 1 Episode 1 “Days Gone Bye”

Adam Carlson, @MNVikingZombie

When talking about the best episodes of Rick Grimes, it is so hard to choose. Ones that show him kicking butt are great while others that show off his sensitive side warm the heart. While massacring the undead and rising up from being broken down amazing, there is nothing quite like the beginning.

The best episode of Mr. Grimes has to be the pilot episode, “Days Gone Bye” with no doubt in my mind. Meeting Rick, watching him fight to be with his family while learning about the zombie apocalypse was as gripping as a series premiere can be, and that is because of Andrew Lincoln’s fantastic acting.

Re-watching the episodes today is even more heartbreaking than the first time. The joy of Rick attempting to reunite with Lori and Carl turns to heartbreak when realizing how crushing the losses would later be. Add in his relationship with his partner Shane, and you’ve got an episode that evolved in meaning and can change with just about every passing episode.

And just like Rick’s evolution, fans get to see hints of the early versions of other characters like Morgan, who is still alive on a zombie show but isn’t quite the same as when episode 101 aired and the voice of Glenn, who is among the most popular characters ever on the show.

Every once in a while, it would be great for someone like Morgan to come along and sit me down and explain what has happened with the world whenever I feel lost. And if not for the kindness of Morgan, Glenn, and others, fans wouldn’t’ have gotten Rick Grimes for over eight seasons of amazing television.

Sara Khan, @writtenbysara

My favorite Rick Grimes episode is “Days Gone Bye”. It’s my favorite Rick Grimes episode because it’s the beginning of his story. It’s where I fell in love with the story of The Walking Dead, and it’s where Rick Grimes emerged as a promising lead character. If it wasn’t for Andrew Lincoln playing Rick Grimes, I’m not so sure that I would have fallen in love as hard as I did with the show.

Sarabeth Pollock, @sarabethpollock

There’s no denying the impact of the series premiere of The Walking Dead. Andrew Lincoln’s Rick Grimes captured the horror of waking up in a hospital, which is scary enough on any given day. But in this case something was horribly wrong and Rick was alone to figure it out.

Watching Rick discover the horrors of this new world while trying to shake off the effects of the coma was powerful. It was terrifying and visceral and unlike anything else on television at the time and it was thanks to Lincoln’s performance that “Days Gone Bye” had the impact it did. It was that episode that made The Walking Dead must-watch television for years to come, dominating Sunday nights and making zombies fodder for prime time television for the first time ever.

Lincoln brought an element of humanity to Rick Grimes in that episode. He didn’t know what had happened to the world but common sense (and his sheriff-Spidey-sense) told him something was horribly wrong. There’s no one else who could have brought that episode to life the way he did, and it’s for that reason that “Days Gone Bye” is my favorite Rick episode.

It’s hard to believe the journey with Rick Grimes is ending, but what a journey it has been.

What are your favorite Rick Grimes moments from The Walking Dead? Which Rick episodes on your must-watch lists? Let us know in the comments!