The Walking Dead Introduction

Network:

The CW (USA) AMC (USA) premiered 31st October 2010

Seasons:

Season 1 consists of 6 episodes that aired between 31st October 2010 and 5th December 2010. Season 2 consists of 13 episodes that aired between 16th October 2011 and 18th March 2012. From this point onwards Seasons 3, 4 and 5 of The Walking Dead each consisted of 16 episodes that premiered on 14th October 2012,13th October 2013 and 12th October 2014 respectively. The Walking Dead season 6 consists of 16 episodes split into two eight-episode parts. The first six episodes aired on AMC from 11th October 2015, the second half began on February 14, 2016.

Violence Rating:

Given that The Walking Dead is set in a post-apocalyptic reality that is overrun by hordes of infectious zombies, it inevitably features a wealth of extremely bloody and graphic scenes where all manner of guns, axes and makeshift weapons are used to repel and kill the living undead. Every single episode features some level of moderate gore; with images of zombies in various states of decay with rotting organs and bones often on display. Not for the faint hearted!

Reviews:

The Walking Dead received an average 92% overall “Certified Fresh” approval rating from Rotten Tomatoes for its first season and went on to receive 86%, 93%, 89%, 97% approval ratings for its subsequent seasons. As matters stand, The Walking Dead has amassed the highest total viewership of any series in the history of cable television; with an average of 5.24 million viewers tuning in to watch Season 1 and an average of 6.9, 10.4, 13.3 and 14.4 million viewers tuning in to watch Season 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. What’s more, the Season 5 premiere was the most watch series episode in the history of cable television; attracting approximately 17.3 million viewers!

Awards:

The Walking Dead has won a series of awards over its five season run including;

“Best Genre Series” in 2011 and “Best Cast” in 2012 at the Satelitte Awards,
“Favourite Cable TV Drama”, “Favourite TV Anti-Hero” and two “Favourite Hero” awards at the 2014 People’s Choice Awards,
“AFI TV Programme of the Year” at the American Film Institute (AFI) TV Awards in 2010 and 2012
“Most Binge-worthy Show” at the 2015 Critics’ Choice Television Awards,
“Best Edited One-Hour Series for Commercial Television” at the 2011 Eddie Awards,
The pilot episode “Days Gone By” won “Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Miniseries, Movie, or Special” at Primetime Emmy Awards in 2011 and the episode “What Lies Ahead” reprised this same award in 2012,
The episode “What Lies Ahead” also won “Best Sound Editing in Television Long Form – Sound Effects & Foley” in 2012 at the Golden Reel Awards and the episode “Guts” won their “Best Sound Editing in Television Short Form – Dialogue and Automated Dialogue Replacement” award in 2011.

In addition to this vast array of cast and crew awards, The Walking Dead was also named one of the top ten television programs of 2010 by the American Film Institute Awards and the cast have won a series of Saturn Awards, Young Artist Awards and Teen Choice Awards amongst themselves for their individual leading, supporting and guest starring roles.

Synopsis:

Based upon the ongoing Image Comics published comic book series of the same name, The Walking Dead follows the struggles of former County Sheriff Rick Grimes who wakes from a coma to find that his hometown, along with the rest of the world, has been catastrophically devastated by an apocalyptic zombie outbreak. From this moment onwards, the series follows Rick as he desperately searches for his family and meets with fellow survivors who together must fend off hordes of these infectious “walkers”. As days, weeks, months and years unfold in the wake of the initial living undead outbreak, The Walking Dead vividly depicts the struggles of a group of survivors as they come to grips with the fact that the world they once knew is gone forever. Plagued by their own personal conflicts as well as attacks from groups of ravenous walkers and gangs of hostile survivors, The Walking Dead is a thrilling, highly addictive drama that demonstrates how everyday people can be driven to extreme measures when they are forced to fight for their own survival; now that they themselves have become, in effect, the walking dead!

Characters:

Rick Grimes |
Lori Grimes |
Carl Grimes |
Shane Walsh |
Glenn Rhee |
Dale Horvath |
Andrea |
Merle Dixon |
Daryl Dixon |
Carol Peletier |
Jacqui |
T-Dog |
Morales |
Jim |
Morgan Jones |

Although The Walking Dead features a vast array of heroes, anti-heroes and villains that rise to prominence as the series progresses, as well as countless hordes of flesh-craving “walkers”, listed below are some the main characters to which you are introduced at the beginning of this post-apocalyptic zombie drama:

Rick Grimes

Before the zombie apocalypse Rick Grimes was a police officer for the King County Sheriff’s Department in Georgia. After being shot in the line of duty Rick falls into a coma and, upon waking, finds himself in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. Desperate to find his wife and son, Lori and Carl Grimes, Rick travels to Atlanta, Georgia where he believes they have ventured to seek refuge. Rick Grimes is portrayed by Andrew Lincoln and he is the main protagonist of The Walking Dead. As the series progresses it is evident that Rick is calm, intelligent and a natural born leader with astute combat skills and a strict moral code that he strives to uphold as he encounters fellow apocalypse survivors.

Lori Grimes

When the zombie outbreak first occurs Lori, believing her husband to be dead, flees with Shane Walsh and her son Carl from King County towards a safe zone in Atlanta. Lori is a resourceful and independent woman who is determined to protect her family. Portrayed by Sarah Wayne Callies, when the series begins we find Lori, Shane and Carl living in a quarry that is situated on the outskirts of Atlanta with a camp group that consists of fellow survivors.

Carl Grimes

Son of Rick and Lori Grimes, Carl is portrayed by Chandler Riggs. When the series begins Carl is extremely shy and only speaks to certain members of the Atlanta camp group with whom he feels close; such as Shane and Dale. However, despite his fear of the walkers and the desolate situation in which he finds himself, Carl is kind, hardworking and is often at hand to comfort those in need.

Shane Walsh

Portrayed by Jon Bernthal, Shane Walsh was Rick’s partner at the King County Sheriff’s Department before the apocalypse struck. As soon as infectious walkers began to plague their hometown, Shane fled from King County to Atlanta with Lori and Carl Grimes. Due to his proficiency with firearms in addition to his combat skills and leadership potential, Shane is a highly useful member of the Atlanta camp group who is dedicated to keeping Lori and Carl safe at all costs.

Glenn Rhee

Before the apocalypse occurred Glenn Rhee, portrayed by Steven Yeun, was a pizza delivery boy in Atlanta; a career that proves extremely useful for scavenging purposes because he knows every street and back alley shortcut in Atlanta! In the wake of the apocalypse Glenn acts as the main supply runner for the Atlanta camp group. Extremely resourceful, quick-thinking and enthusiastic, Glenn is brave enough to take risks to ensure the survival of his friends.

Dale Horvath

When the zombie apocalypse first struck Dale Horvath, portrayed by Jeffrey DeMunn, was travelling across Atlanta in his RV. During his travels, Dale saves fellow survivors Andrea and Amy and they eventually form the Atlanta camp group with Shane, Lori, Carl and the others. Dale’s age, calm composure and virtuous moral code quickly cements his position as the “elder” of the Atlanta camp group.

Andrea

Alongside her sister Amy, civil rights lawyer Andrea was travelling on a road trip back to her sister’s college when the initial zombie outbreak occurred. When the apocalypse left them stranded in Atlanta, Andrea and Amy were rescued by Dale Horvath in his RV and they all soon joined the Atlanta camp group. Portrayed by Laurie Holden, Andrea is intelligent yet stubborn and is focused upon keeping her sister safe from harm above all else.

Merle Dixon

A highly volatile ex-felon, Merle Dixon survived the initial zombie outbreak with his brother Daryl. Merle is portrayed by Michael Rooker and when the series begins we find both brothers living with the Atlanta camp group. Merle is a contentious member of the group due to his racist and misogynistic remarks as well as his violent temperament. However, despite these flaws Merle loves his brother Daryl and their keen hunting and tracking skills are instrumental in securing the survival of the camp group.

Daryl Dixon

An extremely proficient hunter, navigator and tracker, Daryl Dixon is Merle’s younger brother and serves as a vital member of the Atlanta camp group. Portrayed by Norman Reedus, at first Daryl appears volatile and distant yet throughout the series it is clear that he is dedicated to protecting the camp group. In multiple instances Daryl does not hesitate to risk his own life to save others and his upbringing in the North Georgia mountains has taught him to be highly resilient, self-sufficient and adeptly skilled with a crossbow.

Carol Peletier

During the initial zombie outbreak housewife Carol Peletier, portrayed by Melissa McBride, flees to Atlanta with her abusive husband Ed and daughter Sophia. Whilst fleeing, Carol and her family form a camp group with Shane, Lori and Carl. Although Carol is appears shy and defenceless when the series begins, over the course of time she hones her firearms proficiency, combat techniques and medical skills as well as developing a stronger and more resourceful nature.

Jacqui

Portrayed by Jeryl Prescott Sales, Jacqui is another member of the Atlanta camp group and was the only member of her family to survive the initial zombie outbreak. Before the outbreak Jacqui worked for the Atlanta zoning department which equips her with useful knowledge concerning the city’s sub-basement sewer systems.

T-Dog

Theodore Douglas, or T-Dog as he prefers to be called, is a quiet man with devoutly religious principles. He is portrayed by IronE Singleton and when the series begins we find T-Dog collecting supplies with fellow Atlanta camp group survivor Morales.

Morales

After evacuating their hometown Morales, portrayed by Juan Gabriel Pareja, joined the Atlanta camp group alongside his wife Miranda, daughter Eliza and son Louis. When we first meet Morales he is helping to defend the other members of the camp group whilst they are scavenging for supplies in Atlanta.

Jim

Portrayed by Andrew Rothenburg, Jim is another member of the Atlanta camp group. Jim’s wife and their two sons were killed by walkers whilst attempting to flee Atlanta thereby making Jim the sole member of his family to survive the apocalypse. Before the initial zombie outbreak Jim was employed as an auto mechanic with specialist car and vehicle repair experience; skills which he often uses to help Dale fix his RV at the camp.

Morgan Jones

Portrayed by Lennie James, Morgan Jones and his son Duane initially attempted to evacuate to a safe zone in Atlanta after the apocalypse but were forced to seek refuge in King County. Following the apocalypse, Morgan has barricaded himself and his son inside their family home where they attempt to live life as normally as possible. Although Morgan thinks that Rick Grimes is a walker when he first encounters him, asking further questioning he realises that Rick has not been infected and proceeds to explains the concept of the apocalyptic zombie outbreak to him. Morgan Jones is a smart and caring individual who is fiercely protective of his family and finds it difficult to kill both zombies and hostile survivors.

ZombiePit Verdict:

From that shocking, jump-out-of-your-seat moment when you glimpse your very first walker, The Walking Dead is simultaneously horrifying, completely gripping and unashamedly addictive! As the series unfolds you cannot help but marvel at its compelling characters, grotesquely beautiful makeup and special effects, superbly paired soundtrack and intelligent plotlines that can transition from uplifting to heart-wrenching in an instant.
However, what truly sets The Walking Dead apart from other zombie films and television programs is the manner in which it presents the morality of its characters. Rather than simply creating individuals who are black-and-white heroes or villains, The Walking Dead expertly delves into the murky grey realm of human nature wherein a person’s innermost moral compass can be warped by their desire for survival. In a post-apocalyptic world that requires you to surrender your principles in order to secure your own survival or that of your family and friends, this series really makes you question how our fundamental standards of human decency and ethical beliefs can be expected to survive when the human race is being driven towards extinction.
As a result, this combination of thought-provoking plotlines and exceptional acting from a strong leading and supporting cast makes The Walking Dead one of the best television shows currently on the air. This intense post-apocalyptic zombie survival drama draws you in from the very start and has you eagerly vying with bated breath for your favourite characters to overcome the odds and pull through to the next episode!

List Of Episodes: