10 Best TV Pilots Ever

7. The Walking Dead - Days Gone Bye

The Walking Dead Days Gone Bye
AMC

Since its pilot, The Walking Dead has arisen to the top of the TV food chain and fallen to the bottom, but its first episode remains one of its very best.

Written and directed by then-showrunner Frank Darabont, the episode is an exercise in world-building alongside creating tension and some genuine moments of horror - even now, this remains one of the show's scariest to date.

Beginning with Rick Grimes in the hospital and gradually showing us the world gone to hell, Days Gone Bye - which closely follows the comic it's inspired by - immediately sets Rick upon a journey and, crucially, makes it one we want to follow him on. Full of suspense and moments of gore, this was a shocking hour that showed exactly what a comic book series can be on cable, turning a zombie story into prestige TV.

Forget what The Walking Dead's become. Instead, remember what it used to be.

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Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.