The Walking Dead is a post-apocalyptic horror drama series based on the comic book series of the same name by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. The show follows a group of survivors who try to stay alive in a world overrun by zombies, or walkers, as they call them. The first season consists of six episodes that aired from October 31, 2010 to December 5, 2010.

Episode 1: Days Gone Bye

The pilot episode introduces the main protagonist, Rick Grimes, a sheriff’s deputy who wakes up from a coma in an abandoned hospital. He soon discovers that the world has been ravaged by a zombie outbreak and that his wife, Lori, and son, Carl, are missing. He meets Morgan Jones and his son, Duane, who help him get some weapons and inform him about the walkers. Rick decides to head to Atlanta, where he hopes to find his family and other survivors. Along the way, he encounters a horde of walkers and gets trapped in a tank.

This episode is a strong start to the series, as it sets up the premise, the tone, and the main character. Rick is a sympathetic and relatable hero, who is determined to find his family and protect them. The episode also establishes the rules and the dangers of the zombie apocalypse, as well as the moral dilemmas that the survivors face. The episode is full of suspense, action, and emotion, and ends with a cliffhanger that makes the viewer want to watch the next episode.

Episode 2: Guts

The second episode continues from where the first one left off, as Rick is rescued by Glenn, a young scavenger who is part of a group of survivors camped outside Atlanta. Rick joins Glenn and his team, which includes Andrea, T-Dog, Morales, Jacqui, and Merle, a racist and violent redneck who causes trouble for the group. They try to escape from the city, which is overrun by walkers, but face several obstacles and conflicts along the way.

This episode introduces more characters and expands the scope of the show. The episode also explores the theme of survival and how it affects the characters’ personalities and relationships. The episode shows how some characters, like Merle, become more selfish and aggressive, while others, like Glenn, become more resourceful and courageous. The episode also features some of the most memorable scenes in the series, such as Rick and Glenn covering themselves with walker guts to blend in with the horde, and Rick handcuffing Merle to a rooftop and leaving him behind.

Episode 3: Tell It to the Frogs

The third episode follows Rick as he reunites with his family and joins the camp of survivors, which includes his former partner and best friend, Shane Walsh, who has been having an affair with Lori. Rick also meets the rest of the group, which includes Dale, Carol, Sophia, Amy, Jim, and Ed. Rick decides to go back to Atlanta with a few others to rescue Merle and retrieve the bag of guns he left behind. Meanwhile, at the camp, tensions rise between Shane and Lori, and between Ed and Carol.

This episode focuses more on the character development and the drama than on the action and the horror. The episode shows how Rick’s return affects the dynamics of the group, especially between him, Lori, and Shane. The episode also reveals more about the characters’ backgrounds and personalities, such as Carol’s abusive marriage, Dale’s wisdom and kindness, and Merle’s survival skills and brutality. The episode also sets up some of the conflicts and challenges that the group will face in the future, such as the scarcity of resources, the threat of other survivors, and the unpredictability of the walkers.

Episode 4: Vatos

The fourth episode continues the story of Rick and his team in Atlanta, as they encounter another group of survivors led by Guillermo, who claims to be protecting a nursing home full of elderly people. Rick and his team have to negotiate with Guillermo for the bag of guns, while also dealing with the walkers and Merle’s disappearance. Meanwhile, at the camp, the group faces a surprise attack by a group of walkers that results in some casualties and injuries.

This episode introduces another aspect of the zombie apocalypse, which is the interaction between different groups of survivors. The episode shows how some groups, like Guillermo’s, are willing to cooperate and share resources, while others, like Merle’s, are hostile and greedy. The episode also shows how the walkers can strike at any time and place, and how the survivors have to be prepared and vigilant. The episode also features some of the most emotional and tragic moments in the series, such as the death of Amy and the bite of Jim.

Episode 5: Wildfire

The fifth episode follows the aftermath of the walker attack on the camp, as the group mourns the dead and tends to the wounded. Rick decides to take Jim, who has been bitten, to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, hoping to find a cure or a safe haven. The rest of the group agrees to follow him, except for Morales and his family, who decide to go to Birmingham. Along the way, Rick tries to contact Morgan via radio, but gets no response. Meanwhile, at the CDC, a lone scientist named Dr. Edwin Jenner is working on a cure, but is running out of time and resources.

This episode deals with the theme of hope and despair, as the group tries to cope with the loss and the uncertainty of their situation. The episode shows how some characters, like Rick, Andrea, and Jenner, cling to hope and try to find a way out, while others, like Jim, Jacqui, and Shane, succumb to despair and give up. The episode also shows how the group becomes more cohesive and supportive of each other, as they share their stories and their feelings. The episode also ends with a cliffhanger, as the group arrives at the CDC and is greeted by Jenner.

Episode 6: TS-19

The sixth and final episode of the season follows the group as they enter the CDC and meet Jenner, who shows them his research and his findings. Jenner reveals that he has a sample of the virus that causes the zombie outbreak, which he calls TS-19, and that he has been trying to find a cure or a vaccine, but with no success. He also reveals that the CDC is running out of fuel and that it will self-destruct when the power runs out. He offers the group a choice: to stay with him and die peacefully, or to leave and face the walkers.

This episode reveals more about the origin and the nature of the zombie outbreak, as well as the state of the world. The episode shows how the outbreak is a global phenomenon, and how the government and the military have failed to contain it. The episode also shows how the outbreak affects the brain and the body of the infected, and how there is no cure or immunity. The episode also explores the theme of life and death, and how the characters choose to face their fate. The episode also features some of the most shocking and dramatic scenes in the series, such as Jenner whispering something to Rick, Shane trying to rape Lori, and the explosion of the CDC.

The Final Verdict

The first season of The Walking Dead is a compelling and captivating introduction to the series, as it establishes the premise, the characters, and the world of the show. The season is well-written, well-acted, and well-directed, and it balances the horror, the action, and the drama of the zombie apocalypse. The season also raises some interesting and relevant questions about survival, morality, and humanity, and how they are challenged and changed by the outbreak. The season also ends with a bang, leaving the viewer eager to watch the next season. The Walking Dead is a must-watch show for fans of the genre and of quality television.