10. Days Gone Bye Season 1, Episode 1
What better way to start out this list than with the episode that started it all? The pilot episode is usually a television shows one chance to let viewers decide whether they want to keep watching or not. Main characters are introduced, the stakes are raised, and the rest of the show is set up for the long run. A good pilot episode has to be an effective and entertaining attention grabber, and Days Gone Bye delivered in a fantastic way. Benefiting from an extended running time, this episode focused not on cramming every single aspect of the show into one episode, but on the chilling and lonely journey of Officer Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) as he awakens to a world overrun by the undead. A majority of the episode features Rick Grimes roaming the desolate post apocalyptic Georgia landscape, with the only other characters he interacts with are Morgan (Lennie James) and his son, and a horse that unfortunately doesnt survive the episode. A chunk of the main cast appears briefly in the second half, but this episode was mainly the Andrew Lincoln show. A lot of it hinged one Lincolns acting chops, which he delivered his A-game on. He is believable and sympathetic in the right amounts as a desperate man trying to find his family after he is thrown into a world he can barely comprehend. Frank Darabonts cinematic eye in the directors chair helped make this episode larger than life, making it feel like a big budget Hollywood film. The cinematography and lack of a predominant soundtrack gave a bleak and empty feeling to the lush landscapes, elevating the sense of dread. There are great gore effects, lots of zombies, thrilling action, and most importantly, a sense of humanity. When Morgan breaks down into tears because he is unable to kill his infected wife instead of mowing down every single zombie in the front yard, we knew this was going to be a different kind of zombie story. This was going to be a dark and realistic ride. Nobody is made of metal and nobody instantly turns into an emotionless warrior when the world ends. This episode gave Rick Grimes something to fight for, and it gave the viewers someone to cheer for. As an added bonus, the pilot episode follows the events of the comic nearly to a T, before going off in deviations the show is now known for in later episodes. Fans of the comic can relish the panels literally coming to life as the episode progresses.