| The Walking Dead | |
|---|---|
| Season 1 | |
![]() Promotional poster and home media cover art featuringRick Grimes arriving to an abandoned Atlanta | |
| Showrunner | Frank Darabont |
| Starring | |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Release | |
| Original network | AMC |
| Original release | October 31 (2010-10-31) – December 5, 2010 (2010-12-05) |
| Season chronology | |
Next → Season 2 | |
| List of episodes | |
The first season ofThe Walking Dead, an Americanpost-apocalyptichorrortelevision series onAMC, premiered on October 31, 2010, and concluded on December 5, 2010, consisting of 6 episodes. Developed for television byFrank Darabont, who wrote or co-wrote four of the season's six episodes and directed the pilot episode, "Days Gone Bye", the series is based on theeponymous series of comic books byRobert Kirkman,Tony Moore, andCharlie Adlard.[1] It was executive produced by Darabont, Kirkman, David Alpert,Charles H. Eglee, andGale Anne Hurd, with Darabont assuming the role ofshowrunner.
This season adapts material from issues #1–6 of the comic book series and introduces notable comic characterRick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), who awakens from acoma, after being shot, in apost-apocalyptic world filled with flesh-eatingzombies, dubbed "walkers". After befriendingMorgan Jones (Lennie James), Rick sets out to find his family and discover the origins of the walker virus.
The season received very positive reviews by critics. It was nominated for theGolden Globe Award forBest Television Series – Drama at the68th Golden Globe Awards[2] and received nominations for the63rd Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards in several categories, winningOutstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Miniseries, Movie, or Special.[3] The pilot episode received 5.35 million viewers, and the finale garnered six million viewers, including four million viewers among adults ages 18–49, making it the most viewedbasic cable drama series at that time.[4] Based on its reception, AMC renewed the series for a second season consisting of 13 episodes, which premiered on October 16, 2011.[5]

Robert Kirkman, who created thecomic book series in 2003,[6] says he had considered the idea of aWalking Dead television series, but never actively pursued it. "I certainly wanted it to happen, just because I knew it would be good for the book... I'm certainly not against adaptations, like some creators."[7] WhenFrank Darabont became interested in adapting the comic books for television, Kirkman said it was "extremely flattering" and went on to say that, "He definitely cares about the original source material, and you can tell that in the way he's adapting it. It's an extreme validation of the work... Never in a million years could I have thought that ifWalking Dead were to ever be adapted that everything would be going this well. I think that that's all because of Frank."[7]
Darabont himself had been a fan of the zombie genre since seeingGeorge A. Romero's 1968 filmNight of the Living Dead when he was fourteen years old.[8] ""Night of the Living Dead" had this weird vibe that was almost - it was like pornography... It had this marvelously attractive, disreputable draw... I loved it immediately."[9] Darabont recalls walking into a comic book store inBurbank, California and seeingThe Walking Dead on the shelf in 2005. "Being that I've always had "the love of zombies genre," I of course grabbed it, took it home and read it, and immediately started pursuing the rights to it. I thought it would make a great TV show... I loved the idea of an extended, ongoing, serialized dramatic presentation set in the zombie apocalypse."[9] He described the process of developing the series and getting it set up at a network as "four years of frustration," and credits executive producerGale Anne Hurd with finally getting the series onAMC. "I can't remember what the hell prompted her to read it [the script], but she said, "Wow, I really love this pilot you wrote. What are you doing with it?" I said I'd been trying to set it up forever... She said "I think AMC might be the place to take this." She did, and then bam! They were immediately interested. I had to credit Gale, her insight into marrying the material and the buyer."[9]
Darabont's original pilot script was split in half and embellished, making the first two episodes instead of one, "...just to slow the narrative down and dig into the characters more deeply, so it's not just plot-driven, event-driven stuff. You really want to drag these characters into the equation."[9] To write the remaining episodes of the season, Darabont recruitedCharles H. Eglee,Adam Fierro andGlen Mazzara, all of whom he had worked with while directing an episode ofThe Shield.Jack LoGiudice also joined the writing team, along with Robert Kirkman, also an executive producer. "I have the best of both worlds", says Kirkman. "It was a lot of fun writing Episode 104, and I'm hoping if it continues into Season 2, I'll be able to write more episodes".[7]
Principal photography for the pilot episode, "Days Gone Bye", began on May 15, 2010[10] with the subsequent five episodes beginning filming a few weeks later on June 2.[11] The first season was filmed in and aroundAtlanta,Georgia where the episodes were primarily set.[12]

The first season features seven actors receiving opening credits billing:
The series features several actorsWalking Dead developer Frank Darabont has worked with previously, includingLaurie Holden,[36]Jeffrey DeMunn,Melissa McBride and Juan Pareja. All four appeared in his 2007 filmThe Mist, along withSamuel Witwer,[37][38] who appeared as a dying soldier,[39] and withThomas Jane, who originally was set to star in the series when it was pitched toHBO.[40] He was wanted to beRick Grimes.[41] He was also in talks with Darabont to possibly guest star on the series.[42] Laurie Holden also appeared in the 2001 filmThe Majestic (she played Adele Stanton,Jim Carrey's love interest), which Darabont directed. DeMunn has additionally appeared in several of Darabont's films, in addition toThe Mist andThe Majestic:The Shawshank Redemption (1994) andThe Green Mile (1999).
The show's official website released a motion comic based on the first issue of the original comic and voiced byPhil LaMarr.[43] The site also posted a making-of documentary primarily about the first episode, as well as a number of other behind-the-scenes videos and interviews. In the documentary, comic series creator and show executive producer Robert Kirkman as well as artistCharlie Adlard expressed that they were pleased with how faithful the show is to the comic and remark on the similarities between the actors and the comic's original character drawings.[44] Several scenes from "Days Gone Bye" were screened July 23, 2010 as part of the 2010San Diego Comic-Con.[45] Hurd asserted that "[they] really are doing six one-hour movie",[46] and Darabont insisted that the series would closely reflect the development in the comics. "The path is a very strong template. But we're going to take every interesting detour we feel like taking. As long as were staying on the path of what Robert has done, I don't see any reason not to. If they have patience we'll eventually catch up to what Robert is doing".[46]
The Walking Dead debuted during the same week in 120 countries. "Days Gone Bye" premiered in Hong Kong onTVB Pearl on August 30, 2011,[47] while it expanded in international markets during the first week of November.[48] Two weeks prior to its official premiere in the United States, the contents of the episode leaked online.[49] As part of an expansive campaign to advertise and heighten anticipation for the premiere, international broadcasting affiliates of AMC and Fox coordinated a worldwide zombie invasion event proceeding days prior to premiere of the episode in the United States. The event occurred in twenty six cities worldwide,[50] and were hosted in select locations including theBrooklyn Bridge inNew York City,Lincoln Memorial inWashington, D.C.,Palace of Westminster inLondon,Bosphorus Bridge inIstanbul,Acropolis of Athens inAthens, and theMuseo del Prado inMadrid.[50][51] The campaign events commenced inHong Kong andTaipei, and culminated inLos Angeles.[51]
The Walking Dead was included on the cover of the December 2010 edition ofEntertainment Weekly, which featured Rick Grimes pointing a gun at a horde of walkers.[52] According to the journalist of the magazine, it "examines the past, present, and future" of the television franchise; "from the comic book's humble beginnings, to unlikely path to the small screen, to even more unlikely path as a bona fide hit".[52] Kirkman was ecstatic upon hearing of the news. "I've got to say—not to kiss your magazine's a– or anything—but when they called me and said Frank [Darabont] wanted to do the show, I was like, 'Yeah, I'll believe it when I see it.' And then when AMC was like, 'We're picking up the show,' I was like, 'Yeah, alright, whatever.' When they actually started shooting the pilot I was like, 'Well, this is kind of real, this is neat.' But when they called me and said, 'Your show's on the cover ofEntertainment Weekly,' I think that was the first time I was like, 'Oh my god, I can't believe this is happening to me!'"[53]
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | U.S. viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Days Gone Bye" | Frank Darabont | Teleplay by : Frank Darabont | October 31, 2010 (2010-10-31) | 5.35[54] | |
Sheriff's DeputyRick Grimes is shot on duty and enters a coma, awakening to a post-apocalyptic world. He meets survivorMorgan Jones and his son Duane, who explain the pandemic that changed people into undead monsters they call "walkers." Morgan's wife, Jenny, was bitten and resurrected but Morgan let her go. Rick cleans out the firearms cage at the police station and sets out with a gun bag. He gifts Morgan a rifle to put down Jenny, but Morgan can't gather the strength. Rick departs for a safezone inAtlanta to find his wifeLori and sonCarl, unaware that they are safe with his partner and best friendShane. Rick finds Atlanta filled with walkers and gets trapped inside a tank. Alone and losing hope, Rick hears a voice on the radio. | |||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Guts" | Michelle MacLaren | Frank Darabont | November 7, 2010 (2010-11-07) | 4.71[55] | |
Shane leads a camp outside Atlanta and, believing Rick to be dead, has entered a relationship with Lori. Meanwhile, Rick is rescued byGlenn, the man on the radio. Rick meets Glenn's entrapped group, includingAndrea,Merle, andT-Dog. When Merle jeopardizes the group's safety, Rick restrains him and masterminds an escape. He and Glenn pose as walkers, safely wade through the horde in the street, and return to rescue the group. In the chaos, Merle and the gun bag are abandoned. | |||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Tell It to the Frogs" | Gwyneth Horder-Payton | Story by :Charles H. Eglee &Jack LoGiudice Teleplay by : Charles H. Eglee & Jack LoGiudice and Frank Darabont | November 14, 2010 (2010-11-14) | 5.07[56] | |
Trapped on the rooftop, Merle begins losing his sanity. Rick and the others arrive at Shane's camp, where he reunites with Lori and Carl and meets the other survivors, includingDale,Jim, andCarol. Lori warns Shane to avoid her and Carl, believing that he lied about Rick's death to take his place. Angry, Shane brutally beats Ed, Carol's abusive husband. Rick feels guilty and leads Glenn and Merle's younger brotherDaryl back to Atlanta on a rescue mission. They discover a bloody saw and Merle's severed hand. | |||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Vatos" | Johan Renck | Robert Kirkman | November 21, 2010 (2010-11-21) | 4.75[57] | |
Inspired by a forgotten dream, Jim digs dozens of graves. In Atlanta, Daryl finds evidence that Merle cauterized his wound and fled. Meanwhile, Glenn is captured by a Latino gang. After a shootout nearly ensues, Rick learns that the gang is protecting seniors in a nursing home and gifts them several weapons. Jim reveals that walkers ate his family. That night, walkers attack the camp. Rick, Daryl, and Glenn return and kill them, but are too late to prevent losses, includingAndrea's sisterAmy. Jim remembers his dream. | |||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Wildfire" | Ernest Dickerson | Glen Mazzara | November 28, 2010 (2010-11-28) | 5.56[58] | |
After burying their dead, Shane blames Rick for leaving the camp vulnerable to attack. Jim reveals that he was bitten, spreading panic within the group. Rick proposes moving to theCDC, hopeful of a cure, but Shane is opposed. While they debate privately in the woods, Shane considers shooting Rick, but thinks better of it and conforms to Rick's plan. They leave Jim, who wants to join his family as a walker, and arrive at the CDC. Rick pleads for help and the door opens. | |||||||
| 6 | 6 | "TS-19" | Guy Ferland | Adam Fierro and Frank Darabont | December 5, 2010 (2010-12-05) | 5.97[59] | |
In a flashback, Shane genuinely attempts to rescue Rick from the hospital but mistakenly presumes him dead and flees. In the present, Shane gets drunk and tries to explain this to Lori, butsexually assaults her when she resists. The group enters the CDC and meet Dr. Edwin Jenner, the only scientist left. Jenner reveals the brain scan of an infected patient, dubbed TS-19, showing the disease to be incurable. Jenner locks the group inside and reveals that the building will self-detonate. After losing his wife, the subject of the brain scan, Jenner nihilistically believes that suicide is best. Rick learns a secret from Jenner and persuades him to let them escape. Andrea and Jacqui stay behind but Dale convinces Andrea to leave with him. Jenner and Jacqui await a painless death while Rick leads the group on. | |||||||
The first season ofThe Walking Dead received mostly positive reviews from critics. OnMetacritic, the season holds a score of 82 out of 100, indicating "universal acclaim", based on 25 critics.[60] OnRotten Tomatoes, the season holds an 87% with anaverage rating of 7.35 out of 10 based on 101 reviews. The site's critical consensus reads: "Blood-spattered, emotionally resonant, and white-knuckle intense,The Walking Dead puts an intelligent spin on the overcrowded zombie subgenre."[61] Following the pilot episode's debut,TV Guide's Matt Roush called the show "a stark and harrowing survival parable ... visually stunning ... and daring in its artful use of silence."[62] Following the second episode, Simon Abrams fromSlant Magazine awarded the show three and a half stars out of a possible four; "To say that Darabont has kicked his series off with a bang would be a serious understatement ... [he] has fashioned a fully realized alternate reality and it's a thrilling thing to experience."[63]
In response to the season finale, James Poniewozik ofTIME magazine gave the first season ofThe Walking Dead a glowing review stating, "the show has an urgency and bravery that make it something special".[64] Josh Jackson ofPaste magazine also praised the season by writing, "the characters are worth caring about" despite "occasional stilted monologues, quick tempers and unfortunate stereotypes".[65] Some reviews were mixed, including one from Kofi Outlaw ofScreen Rant who concluded, "The Walking Dead still hasn't really defined itself as anything more than a vague survival story about the human condition" but added, "you can be sure I'm one of those Dead-heads already chomping at the bit for season 2".[66] Sean McKenna of TV Fanatic also offered mixed criticism saying the first season "had its ups and downs" noting that the second season should focus on "a more specific story arc and strengthening of the character development".[67] Logan Hill ofNew York magazine was more critical, claiming the episodes contained "atrocious dialogue" and "a lot of plot machinery that has been contrived to create action suspense but ... hasn't really moved the story itself anywhere in particular", though he admits the fifth episode showed "flashes of promise".[68]
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The first season ofThe Walking Dead was named one of theTop 10 Television Programs in 2010 by theAmerican Film Institute.[69] The season was also nominated forOutstanding New Program at the27th TCA Awards[70] andBest New Series at the63rd Writers Guild of America Awards.[71] It was also nominated forBest Television Series – Drama at the68th Golden Globe Awards[2] andBest Drama Series at the1st Critics' Choice Television Awards.[72] For the37th Saturn Awards, the season received six nominations, winningBest Television Presentation.[73] The nominations were forBest Actor on Television (Andrew Lincoln),Best Actress on Television (Sarah Wayne Callies),Best Supporting Actor on Television (Steven Yeun),Best Supporting Actress on Television (Laurie Holden), andBest Guest Starring Role on Television (Noah Emmerich).[74]
The pilot episode, "Days Gone Bye", received threePrimetime Emmy Award nominations for the63rd Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, winningOutstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Miniseries, Movie, or Special, and received nominations forOutstanding Sound Editing for a Series andOutstanding Special Visual Effects.[3]Frank Darabont was nominated forOutstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series for his work on "Days Gone Bye".[75]
The pilot received 5.3 million viewers, making it the most-watched series premiere episode of any AMC television series.[76] The first-season finale received 6 million viewers, a season high; with 4 million viewers in the 18-49 demographic, making it the most watchedbasic cable series for the demographic.[77] The first season had an average of 5.24 million viewers and a rating of 2.7 in the 18-49 demographic.[78] In the United Kingdom, it premiered one week after it did in the United States, on November 5, 2010, on digital channel,FX. The premiere had 579,000 viewers, almost double for any other show on FX that week. The viewership dipped during the season then rose to 522,000 viewers for the final episode.[79] The terrestrial premiere onChannel 5 on April 10, 2011, averaged 1.46 million viewers.[80] Based on its ratings, the series was renewed for a second season on November 8, 2010.[5]
| No. | Title | Air date | Rating/share (18–49) | Viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Days Gone Bye" | October 31, 2010 | 2.7/7 | 5.35[54] |
| 2 | "Guts" | November 7, 2010 | 2.5/7 | 4.71[55] |
| 3 | "Tell It to the Frogs" | November 14, 2010 | 2.5/7 | 5.07[56] |
| 4 | "Vatos" | November 21, 2010 | 2.4/6 | 4.75[57] |
| 5 | "Wildfire" | November 28, 2010 | 2.8/7 | 5.56[58] |
| 6 | "TS-19" | December 5, 2010 | 3.0/8 | 5.97[59] |
The first season was released onDVD andBlu-ray in region 1 on March 8, 2011,[81] and in region 2 on May 16, 2011.[82] Special features on the sets include six featurettes—"The Making ofThe Walking Dead", "InsideThe Walking Dead: Episode 1–6", "A Sneak Peek with Robert Kirkman", "Behind the Scenes Zombie Make-Up Tips", "Convention Panel with Producers" and "The Walking Dead Trailer". Also included are other behind the scenes featurettes—"Zombie School", "Bicycle Girl", "On Set with Robert Kirkman", "Hanging with Steven Yeun", "Inside Dale's RV" and "On Set with Andrew Lincoln".
A three-disc special edition of the first season was released on DVD and Blu-ray on October 4, 2011. The sets include all the previous special features, plus brand new extras. The new extras include audio commentary on all six episodes, the black and white version of the pilot, and six new featurettes—"We AreThe Walking Dead", "Bring Out the Dead: KNB and the Art of Making Zombies", "Digital Decay: The VFX ofThe Walking Dead", "No More Room in Hell:The Walking Dead Phenomenon", "Adapting the Dead" and "Killer Conversations: Frank Darabont & Greg Nicotero". In addition to the DVD and Blu-ray release, a limited edition Blu-ray collector's tin contains an exclusive wearable zombie mask from theNational Entertainment Collectibles Association designed by the series own make-up artist,Greg Nicotero.[83]