Greg Nicotero recommends the best Walking Dead watch order for fans

There aren't many shows in television history that have had the kind of impact The Walking Dead has. For years, fans followed the harrowing journeys of Rick, Daryl, Michonne, and the rest of the survivors as they navigated a brutal, post-apocalyptic world. And then came the spinoffs, expanding the universe in ways that are thrilling, yes, but also kind of overwhelming.

What began as a singular, intense story about survival and morality blossomed into a sprawling, interconnected universe filled with new characters, fresh settings, and storylines that intersect in surprising and sometimes complicated ways.

For newcomers trying to dive in, and even for longtime fans revisiting the franchise, it can be daunting to figure out where to start, what to watch next, and how to experience the full narrative in a way that truly does it justice. This is where Greg Nicotero comes in. As a director and executive producer of The Walking Dead, Nicotero knows this universe better than anyone. And now, he’s shared his personal recommendation for the best watch order, giving fans a definitive roadmap through the zombie apocalypse.

Greg Nicotero's Walking Dead watch order

On Dec. 8, the official Walking Dead page on X shared a 1-minute and 6-second video of Nicotero breaking down his ultimate watch order for the entire franchise. In the video, he starts off by saying that if he were to meet someone on the street and they asked him what order to watch the shows and spinoffs, he would tell them to start with the original series. Why? He states that it's because it's the flagship show.

Honestly, this makes sense. The Walking Dead lays the foundation for the entire universe and sets the tone for the stories that follow. The second show that Nicotero recommends viewers watch next is The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. The reason being that you could easily lead right out of the original series into Daryl Dixon, since there are only four to six months between the end of The Walking Dead and the start of Daryl Dixon. So that's a perfect transition.

Moving on to the third series, Nicotero recommends that fans watch Fear the Walking Dead. Unfortunately, he doesn't provide a reason beyond saying he liked the way the show evolved. However, I thought he would have put Fear the Walking Dead before The Walking Dead since the first three seasons of the spinoff take place before the start of the original series. Or perhaps he could have at least acknowledged this timeline detail, even if he chose to keep the watch order as he did.

Up next is The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live. Nicotero explains that it would be a "satisfying opportunity" to revisit Rick Grimes and watch his story be brought to a proper close. The next show that Nicotero recommends in his viewing order is The Walking Dead: Dead City. He notes that this spinoff is the most similar to the original series when it comes to its characters and overall setup. In other words, he believes Dead City maintains the feel and essence of the main show.

Tales of the Walking Dead takes the No. 6 spot on Nicotero's list, and he briefly shares how he enjoyed the anthology aspect of the series. Now, we've reached the last show in his recommended watch order. Nicotero puts The Walking Dead: World Beyond in the No. 7 spot, noting that it caters more to a young adult audience.

Here's Nicotero's official Walking Dead watch order:

1. The Walking Dead
2. The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon
3. Fear the Walking Dead
4. The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live
5. The Walking Dead: Dead City
6. Tales of the Walking Dead
7. The Walking Dead: World Beyond

Of course, you can choose to watch The Walking Dead franchise in any order you like. However, following Nicotero's watch order isn't a bad idea if you don't know where to start.