Ranking Every Season Of The Walking Dead (So Far)

The Walking Dead took the world by storm when it hit our screens in 2010. Based on Robert Kirkman's masterful comic series, its themes, characters and scope revitalised the zombie genre. Its immense popularity has spawned an empire of fans and a staggering number of seasons, as well as two spin-off series and an upcoming trilogy of films featuring protagonist Rick Grimes.

But over its ten season run (as of this writing), which one tops them all? Is it the season which has the biggest deaths? The season with the most walkers? The season with the biggest twists? They all have their strengths, and none are without their weaknesses, but all have something different to offer and give fans some truly rewarding pay-offs.

Watching the journeys of Rick, Carl Grimes, Daryl Dixon, Carol Peletier and Maggie Greene has kept fans transfixed for years, and although some seasons have had some pretty big bumps along the way, The Walking Dead has ensured a place as one of the greats of 21st Century television.

The following list will rank the seasons of this landmark show worst to best, so be warned: spoilers follow.

Season Seven is the toughest season of the The Walking Dead to watch. Not just because it's so bleak and hopeless, but because it is a prime example of what happens when TV writers lose their way. It's easy to understand that they needed to try new things and keep aspects of the show fresh, but for the most part Season Seven struggles to escape its own faults.

On the one hand, there seems to be a total lack of coordination between episodes, and many key characters - such as Daryl, Aaron, Carol and Carl - get left on the sidelines. They're out of place, it seems, and the writers didn't know what to do with them.

The highlight of the season is Jeffrey Dean Morgan's performance as Negan, a character he fully embodies, chewing up scenery with every line he gets. But Negan is also one of the season's biggest issues, as his cartoonish demeanour and constant presence begins to take a toll on the narrative, and many great characters and storylines suffer because of it.

Opener "The Day will Come When You Won't Be" is a divisive episode to say the least, and despite having some powerful moments and imagery it is the beginning of a big bump in The Walking Dead road. Ultimately, even with an iconic hug between Rick and Daryl and an epic highway killing spree courtesy of Rick and Michonne, Season Seven is the lowest the show has ever stooped.