When did The Walking Dead start?

The Walking Dead fandom is made up of people from all walks of life who have been joined together due to their common fondness for a TV series. And not just any series, one that has set records for viewership and paved the way for other movies and shows within the zombie genre. When did The Walking Dead series begin?

The Walking Dead began airing on AMC in 2010 on Halloween night. Viewers tuned in to check out the new zombie series without imagining it would run for 11 seasons. Comic fans tuned in to view the pilot to see how the comic translated to the screen without knowing what to expect. But 13 years later, who would have thought that a comic story could have spawned a universe as vast as what it has become? I doubt in his wildest dreams that comic creator Robert Kirkman ever believed this series would run for eleven seasons.

The pilot episode is titled “Days Gone Bye,” which refers to the fact that Rick had been in a coma for many days (about a month) during which the outbreak occurred, saying goodbye to the old days. This is also the title of volume one of the comics. This episode would become AMC’s most-viewed series in the network’s history, with 5.35 million viewers. Rotten Tomatoes ranks the episode 100%, with many reviews praising showrunner Frank Darabont.

The pilot episode of The Walking Dead will go down in history as one of the best opening episodes on TV. The first scene finds hero Rick Grimes looking for gas in an apocalypse only to discover a member of the undead and a child at that. The collective shock and sadness in viewers’ faces was mirrored in Rick’s, knowing full well what he had to do. Making the first kill of the series a child was a gutsy move on the creator’s part, but it immediately let viewers know that this series was unlike anything that came before it.

On November 20, 2022, AMC aired the final episode of The Walking Dead.  Fans of the series were pleasantly surprised with the ending that nicely tied up many characters’ stories. Many believed it would be difficult to wrap up these storylines and give a satisfactory ending to this chapter of The Walking Dead series. Adding Rick and Michonne (Danai Gurira) in a coda scene was the cherry on top of a fantastic final episode.

The Walking Dead universe

The Walking Dead universe comprises the flagship series and six spinoffs, with a possibility of more in the future. The latest release, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, has been well received, and many have said it is the best spinoff in TWDU, with some even enjoying it more than the main series. The series is renewed for a second, titled The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol that will see Melissa McBride return to the universe as Carol Peletier, a character she has portrayed since season 1 of TWD. 

The Walking Dead: Dead City featured continued stories involving Maggie and Negan and has been renewed for a second season. Next, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live will be released, expanding Rick and Michonne’s stories.

Fear the Walking Dead will conclude its story with season 8, with the final episode airing on November 19.

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