The Walking Dead season 1 is one of the best seasons of the entire series, but it's only six episodes, which is way shorter than every other season of the series. Season 11, the final season, was 24 episodes!
Looking back at season 1, though, each one of these episodes is so impactful because it literally introduced fans to this new world, the virus, and the walkers. Most importantly, the first season continued to push these characters in all kinds of different ways. We got to see just what they were willing to do to survive the early days of the end of the world.
Not all of these episodes are created equal, either. There are three episodes that are just much better than the rest of the season. After rewatching The Walking Dead season 1 about 15 years after they aired on AMC, I ranked all six episodes from worst to best.
Let's get the ranking started with my least favorite episode of the season, "Wildfire."
6. "Wildfire" (Episode 5)
"Wildfire" begins immediately after the first big walker attack on the camp. Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), Glenn (Steven Yeun), and T-Dog (IronE Singleton) arrive just in time to help Shane (Jon Bernthal), Dale (Jeffrey DeMunn), and the gang fight off the walkers, but there are some unfortunate casualties, including Andrea's sister, Amy (Emma Bell).
Jim (Andrew Rothenberg) also gets bit by a walker, and the group debates what to do with him.
In the episode, we also see Rick and Shane come together to lead the group to the CDC in the hopes of finding a cure for the virus. Unfortunately, the CDC is shut down, but Dr. Edward Jenner (Noah Emmerich) eventually lets the group into the CDC.
Overall, the episode is kind of a buzzkill from some of the highs of the first four episodes. The ending is really good, and we have some excellent moments as the characters decide what to do with Jim and how to proceed after their camp was wrecked. But, it's just one of the more boring episodes of the first season.
5. "Tell It to the Frogs" (Episode 3)
I had such a hard time ranking "Tell It to the Frogs," which is the third episode of the season, this low on the list, but when I really thought about it, that's probably where it belongs.
"Tell It to the Frogs" features an incredible reveal early in the episode when Glenn, Morales, T-Dog, and Andrea return to the camp with Rick Grimes. We see Rick reconnect with his wife, Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies), and son, Carl (Chandler Riggs), at the camp. It's one of the more emotional moments of the season. And, it maybe happens a little bit too earlier in the series? I don't know there's a debate to be had there.
Anyway, my problem with the episode is that most of the time is spent deciding what to do about Merle, who T-Dog left chained to the roof of the department store, and how to tell Daryl (Norman Reedus). Then, they finally leave, and they just find Merle's bloody hand on the roof and no Merle (Michael Rooker).
After the first two episodes set at quite a fast pace, "Tell It to the Frogs" definitely slows down the momentum.
4. "Vatos" (Episode 4)
After the events of episode 3, Rick and the gang are still in Atlanta looking for Merle when they decide to take a chance and get back the bag of guns Rick left on the street. Unfortunately, things go sideways in "Vatos" when another group comes for the guns at the exact same time. It ends with Glenn getting kidnapped and held for ransom at what turns out to be a facility for the elderly.
After getting Glenn back, Rick and the gang realize their van has been taken, so they have to get back to camp immediately. They arrive just in time for the best part of the episode, the first big walker attack at the camp. A group of walkers stumbles into camp, killing Ed and Amy and biting Jim in the process.
"Vatos" is a fine episode of the series. There are some things that I didn't like and some qualms I have about the pacing. Without the walker attack, it's easily the worst of the first season, though. When you include that final sequence that raises the stakes for the first time and proves that these people will never truly be safe, it's a decent-to-good episode.
3. "TS-19" (Episode 6)
This is a controversial pick for the No. 3 spot on the list of the best Walking Dead season 1 episodes. "TS-19" is the season 1 finale of The Walking Dead, and it's pretty polarizing. Robert Kirkman, the creator of The Walking Dead, revealed years after season 1 ended that he wasn't a big fan of the big reveals in this episode.
Obviously, it's hard to argue with the person who literally wrote the story, but I quite like "TS-19." There are some not-so-great moments for many of these characters. A lot of mistakes are made, but in the end, I loved the emotion, the stakes, and the breaks for these characters, even if it's just a short time.
Dr. Edward Jenner (Noah Emmerich) is such a good character, and he reveals so much important information about the Wildfire virus. He sets the expectation for the full series. There's no cure. This is never going to get any better. And he gives Rick's group a choice in the end if they want to live or die. They choose to live, as they do most of the time in this series, which is also another precedent that's set in this episode.
2. "Guts" (Episode 2)
Following up one of the best TV premieres in history is no small task, but "Guts," the second episode of The Walking Dead, is another incredible episode. It's a bit of a step down from the series premiere, but it's easily the second-best episode of the season to me.
After Rick finds himself trapped inside a tank in the premiere, Glenn helps him out via radio and gives him instructions to get out. Glenn and the others, including Andrea, Morales, T-Dog, and Merle, stick their necks out to help save Rick, and he repays the favor. Well, except when he handcuffs Merle to the pipe, which leads to a lot of drama later in the season.
We also see Rick and Glenn get super creative in covering themselves in walker blood, stealing a couple of cars, and sneaking everyone, minus Merle, out of the department store before it's overrun with walkers.
Back at camp, we also get to see Lori, Shane, Carl, and the rest of the survivors. We start to get to know them right before their world is rocked with the revelation that Rick is alive in the third episode.
1. "Days Gone Bye" (Episode 1)
There's absolutely no doubt about it; "Days Gone Bye" is the best episode of The Walking Dead's first season. More than that, it's one of the best episodes of the whole series. With 177 episodes in the series, that's quite the impressive achievement.
The episode introduces viewers to Rick Grimes, his backstory, and the world gone to hell. We also get to meet some heroes, like Morgan Jones (Lennie James), who assist Rick on his journey and help him understand what's happened.
We also get our introduction to the walkers on more than one occasion as Rick crosses paths with them multiple times.
"Day Gone Bye" is almost a perfect episode to me. It's up there with some of the best TV premieres of all time. There are just so many iconic moments and shots in this episode that set the stage for one of the best TV shows of all time.
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