The Walking Dead: Every Season 1 Episode Ranked Worst To Best
2. TS-19
The Walking Dead's first season finale takes place inside the CDC, where surviving doctor Edwin Jenner has locked the group up and is preparing to destroy the building. Whilst Rick, Shane, Lori and the group desperately try to convince him to free them, Andrea and Dale argue over her decision to let herself die.
It's an emotionally harrowing episode which actually starts off quite upbeat, as the survivors eat a healthy meal, get a chance to shower, and fill themselves with drink.
But after Shane assaults Lori, everything starts to go wrong, and the second half of the episode is concerned with Rick's desire to keep his family and friends alive, and giving them a chance to live. Andrew Lincoln gives a powerful performance as Rick begs for a second chance, and Jon Bernthal is terrifying in Shane's worst moments.
TS-19 is incredibly dark, briefly hopeful, and ends the season on such a high that it's little wonder the show has powered on for over a decade of post-apocalyptic drama.