The Walking Dead is an acclaimed AMC show that first aired in 2010. It follows Sheriff's deputy Rick Grimes as he awakens from a coma to find a post-apocalyptic world dominated by flesh-eating zombies. Since then, the show has gone on to release 12 seasons, garnering a large and devoted fanbase. With such an expansive series, there are bound to be some episodes that don't live up to the same level of quality as the others. Here, we will rank the worst episodes of The Walking Dead, in order to give viewers a better idea of which episodes to avoid.
Naturally, when ranking the worst episodes of The Walking Dead, we must take into account a variety of factors. We will look at the overall pacing, writing, and character development, as well as how much of an impact the episode had on the overall series. We will also take into consideration the fan reactions to the episodes, and how they have held up over time.
With that in mind, let's take a look at the worst episodes of The Walking Dead and see what they have to offer. From poor writing to uninspired characters, these episodes are sure to disappoint.
Written by Sophie and last updated on Apr 30, 2024.
PS: The following content contains spoilers!
PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!
After returning to the camp with the department store survivors and an emotional reunion with his wife and son, Rick decides to go against Shane's advice and go back to Atlanta for Merle Dixon and his dropped bag of guns accompanied by Merle's younger brother, Darryl Dixon, as well as Glenn and T-Dog.
The episode was rated 7,98 from 3297 votes.
Everyone deals with the fallout of the walker attack. Andrea has to come to grips with the fate of her sister, while Jim is found out to have been bitten. With the camp clearly no longer safe, a decision must made about the direction they are to take.
The episode was rated 8,02 from 3056 votes.
Rick unknowingly causes a group of survivors to be trapped by walkers. The group dynamic devolves from accusations to violence, as Rick must confront an enemy far more dangerous than the undead.
The episode was rated 8,04 from 3570 votes.
Rick, Glenn, T-Dog, and Daryl move on after their grisly discovery to retrieve the guns when they encounter a group of scavengers who narrowly beat them to the catch. However, Glenn is kidnapped in the scuffle, which leads to a tense stand-off and a surprising discovery. Meanwhile, back at camp, the group has to handle a serious situation when Jim begins acting unhinged.
The episode was rated 8,11 from 3113 votes.
In the episode TS-19 of The Walking Dead, Rick and the group are allowed into the CDC by a strange doctor, only to find that all is not as it seems in their newfound haven. The episode features an interesting interplay between the CDC worker and Rick's group, and Shane completely losing it. The Andrea and Dale plotline provides some tension, although it is empty due to the fact that both characters are part of the main cast.
The episode is largely let down by the explosion at the end, however, which is accompanied by some terrible CGI that greatly detracts from the impact. The season finale leaves viewers wondering what lies ahead, with some characters seemingly very safe from being killed off.
The episode was rated 8,16 from 3003 votes.
The Walking Dead's pilot episode, Days Gone Bye, follows Rick Grimes as he wakes up from a coma and is thrust into the post-apocalyptic world of the walking dead. He embarks on a quest to find his family, and on the way, he meets Morgan and Duane who help him to learn the new rules of survival.
This episode is widely considered one of the best episodes in a series ever. It is absolutely phenomenal, and it feels like a movie. Watching the first episode again is always a pleasure. Although the production values are a bit low, and there is some over-acting, the episode is generally quite engaging and enjoyable.
The episode was rated 8,17 from 4829 votes.
