Ranking every season of The Walking Dead from worst to best

Season 2

Perhaps the most character-focused season of the show to date, season 2 of The Walking Dead, was a solid season that influenced the show’s future direction.

Season 2 really fleshed out the interesting characters that were introduced in season 1, setting up interesting dynamics and storylines for the show’s future. We got to see Rick and Shane’s rivalry boil over, Lori deal with discovering her pregnancy, Glenn and Maggie explore their feelings for one another, and Rick tells Carl that it’s time to grow up, among other intriguing moments of character development. Meeting Hershel, Maggie, and the Greene family challenged the group in various ways but ultimately united them together under the “Ricktatorship” following the fall of the farm.

The moment that really sealed season 2 as a great one was the barn reveal. When a zombified Sophia stumbled out of the barn, it was a sign that nobody on the show was safe. Even if you read the comic books, you don’t know what will happen on the show. That new level of unpredictability set a precedent for The Walking Dead as must-watch television for years to come.

While there may not have been as much action as some people would have liked, season 2 was crucial in developing characters and setting up interesting group dynamics going forward.