The Walking Dead: The 10 Greatest Episodes
David Bronstein
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There’s less than a week to go until we finally find out who Negan killed from Rick’s group, and the excitement is reaching fever point. “The Walking Dead” Season 7 premiere, which will air on AMC Sunday, October 23rd, could be set to break viewing records. (The Season 5 opener, “No Sanctuary,” currently holds that record with 17.2m people tuning in.)
While there has been whispers and secrets leaking from the set for the show which started filming in the summer, one thing is sure; and that is that Lucille, Negan’s bat, will be dripping with plenty of the red stuff. This could well be a home run from hell as millions of fans get ready for the cliffhanger to end all cliffhangers.
Below we have taken this opportunity in anticipation of the new season to relive some of the very best “Walking Dead” episodes and create our own very special Top 10 episodes so far. (Please note there are plenty of spoilers in this article).
10. KILLER WITHIN (Episode 23, Season 3)
Blood-soaked and highly emotional, “Killer Within,” directed by Guy Ferland, who was also behind the lens for the previous episode, “Walk With Me,” really gets everything out of the actors. The big shock here was the demise of Lori Grimes, Rick’s wife and Carl’s mother. To add insult to injury, Lori’s death is carried out by her own son, who has no choice because she will reanimate after a nightmare child birth. Rick’s devastation and meltdown after he finds out of Lori’s passing is pretty remarkable, but then again, Andrew Lincoln is quite an actor. Another regular dies when T-Dog is bitten on the arm and then later knowing his time is up becomes a hero when he sacrifices himself to let Carol escape.
9. THIS SORROWFUL LIFE (Episode 34, Season 3)
This episode is all about one person, the outstanding acting talent of Michael Rooker. It would also be Rooker’s final episode as Daryl’s wayward brother, Merle Dixon. For the first time in the show Merle actually shows some sympathy here to Rick’s group. He lets the captive Michonne go free and has one final meeting with the Governor, his disgruntled boss, who actually bites off two of his fingers… yuk! He executes Merle, who seemed to be turning a new chapter in his life. Later Daryl finds a zombiefied version of his brother and puts him to rest by stabbing him seven times in the face (brotherly love). In other news Maggie agrees to marry “nine lives” Glenn.
8. Beside The Dying Fire (Episode 19, Season 2)
The Season 2 finale threw everything at us as the group members are forced to run for their lives from Hershel’s farm as hordes of walkers descend from every angle as a fire breaks out. The episode also deals with the fallout of Shane’s death, and we aren’t quite sure who made it out and who didn’t, and who is that hooded figure in the woods who saves Andrea? “Beside the Dying Fire” really beefs up and fleshes out certain characters as Rick finally takes charge of the group. Brilliant action sequences would have had the stunt team working over time.
7. Spend (Episode 65, Season 5)
“Spend” was director Jennifer Lynch’s first opportunity of shooting “The Walking Dead,” and what an impression the 47-year-old made from a script by Matthew Negrete. Two, count em’ two, Alexandrians meet their demise in gory ways. First is Aiden, who is on a supply run. His cockiness gets him into trouble when he fails to listen to the more experienced Glenn. Aiden shoots walkers in the store they are in but one has a grenade attached to it and Aiden creates an explosion, impaling himself and later being consumed. Later Nicolas, Glenn and Noah are trapped in a revolving door, and Nicolas, who is even cockier and more self-assured than Aiden, panics and lets the door slip open while on the other side walkers are waiting. Noah is the unlucky one as the camera lingers on his face being torn apart and his screams for help as Glenn looks on. To add to the drama, Father Gabriel goes behind the group’s back and Abraham loses his mind but saves some workers on the construction site with a huge grin on his face. Whew!
6. Live Bait (Episode 41, Season 4)
The Governor’s episode sees him alone and abandoned after the events of Woodbury. He is barely surviving, has an unkempt beard and strolls the streets for any sign of life. He meets a family (the Chamblers) hiding away in their home. We get to see a completely different side to The Governor played so well by David Morrissey. Here he is presented with guilt about his past actions and perhaps is ready to start a new life to protect the new family he has inherited. However, we are reminded in the most subtle ways that a leopard cannot change his spots (at least not overnight). “Live Bait” also introduced us to Tara, who would go on to be a series regular.
5. Guts (Episode 2, Season 1)
Together with the pilot, this is perhaps the best double-episode footage of zombie madness not seen since George A. Romero’s Day of the Dead. The episode begins as the pilot left us on a cliffhanger with Rick trapped in a tank surrounded by walkers. Rick with the help of Glenn is able to escape, and much of the episode takes place in a department store. But one person from the group, Merle Dixon, is proving to be a menace, and Rick has him handcuffed to a pipe on the roof of the store. Brilliantly gory, this episode is called “Guts” for a good reason. In order to escape and walk with the hordes on the streets, the group need to chop up and disembowel a walker and smear its guts and blood over them. Whatever gets the job done, right?
4. No Way Out (Episode 76, Season 6)
If we ever needed reminding of how badass Daryl is, then, ladies and gentlemen, I give you “No Way Out.” Abraham, Sasha and Daryl are cornered by a group of Saviors, and one at least is destined for death. But after silently killing a henchman behind their vehicle, Daryl fires Abraham’s RPG launcher and a dozen or so of the Saviors in an instant say “Hello” to our little friend. Body parts are scattered everywhere as Daryl appears hardly moved. Meanwhile this second half Season 5 opener concludes the story of Rick, Carl, Father Gabriel, Michonne, Jessie, Sam and Ron’s escape from Alexandria, which has been taken over by the walkers. Dressed in zombie guts, they make their way out, only for terrified little Sam to scream. He is quickly devoured, and in the ensuing chaos Jessie is killed too, but Carl can’t free himself from Jessie so Rick chops Jessie’s arm off with a hatchet. Ron goes nuts, as one would after seeing both his mother and little bro eaten alive, and aims his gun at Rick, but Michonne impales him with her katana. The gun still goes off and shoots Carl right through the eye. The episode comes to a satisfying climax as Rick loses it and kills all the walkers. The group join him in what turns into a montage of brutal savagery from the lens of director Greg Nicotero.
3. Days Gone Bye (Episode 1, Season 1)
The pilot of “The Walking Dead” left many a seasoned horror fan slack-jawed; admit it – we were roped in from the very beginning. Rick Grimes, a police officer, is shot and then put into a coma for his safety. When he awakes, there is nobody in the hospital, and the world has changed forever. He befriends Morgan, who tells him what has happened. Rick’s priority is to find his wife and son. The shots of abandoned downtown Atlanta still resonate six years on, and the tension reaches fever pitch when Rick’s horse is eaten alive as he finds a tank to escape in. Zombies – left, right and center – are closing in.
2. No Sanctuary (Episode 52, Season 5)
This incredible season opener sees the group trapped by Gareth at Terminus and now awaiting execution as they learn the grim truth that the sanctuary is run by cannibals. The butchering room scene is still one of the most violent and harrowing, if not depressing scenes from the show. But Gareth and the Terminus crew were not banking on Carol turning up and blowing up a propane tank. As Terminus burns and walkers descend to pick up the scraps, the group escape as the blood flies in thick once more. Rick and Carol reunite, and Rick and Carl finally found out baby Judith is alive after thinking she had died in the prison battle, which turns the whole episode around, first from no holds barred violence to a sense of love and hope.
1. Too Far Gone (Episode 43, Season 4)
This mid-season finale is like your most memorable birthday and Christmas rolled into one as The Governor cuts all the bullshit and heads to the prison where the group are holed up to start an all-out war. He has Michonne and Hershel held captive, and as Rick tries to come to some sort of peace deal, The Governor screams, “Liar!” He then swings Michonne’s katana and decapitates Hershel. At this point every fan of the show was getting their breaths back and so had to watch the episode again (you may have missed the next five minutes whilst doing so). The Governor and Rick’s groups open fire, and The Governor catches Rick, almost strangling him to death before Michonne uses her katana to stab him through the chest. Lilly finishes him off with a bullet to the head. The group are separated as the walkers take over the prison, and a dejected and wounded Rick and his son head to safety.
