The Walking Dead, an American post-apocalyptic horror television series created by Frank Darabont, first aired on AMC in 2010. The show follows Sheriff's Deputy Rick Grimes as he wakes up from a coma to find a post-apocalyptic world dominated by flesh-eating zombies. He sets out to find his family and encounters many other survivors along the way. With 12 seasons and countless episodes, it can be difficult to determine the best episodes of The Walking Dead. Therefore, we have ranked the best episodes of The Walking Dead.
From Rick's initial awakening to the epic battle of Alexandria, The Walking Dead has had no shortage of thrilling episodes. Season 3's "Clear" and Season 5's "Conquer" are some of the most memorable episodes of the series. Season 9's "What Comes After" was an emotional finale that left fans in tears, while Season 4's "The Grove" is a fan favorite for its heartbreaking conclusion.
With so many amazing episodes, it can be difficult to choose the best episodes of The Walking Dead. Hopefully, this ranking of the best episodes of The Walking Dead will help you decide which episodes to watch first.
Written by Sophie and last updated on apr 26, 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!
A new face and setting are introduced. With all that's gone on in the apocalypse, can people be trusted?
The episode was rated 7.45 from 5600 votes.
Daryl, Abraham and Sasha encounter many obstacles and a new threat while trying to return to Alexandria.
The episode was rated 7.58 from 5535 votes.
Two separate groups leave Alexandria for supplies, and while both worry over the future of the community, they will face immediate danger.
The episode was rated 7.61 from 6479 votes.
After Rick comes to the realization that Alexandria might not be as safe as he thought, decisions must be made about where to go from here.
The episode was rated 7.68 from 6062 votes.
When someone goes missing in Alexandria, the community goes on alert, and search parties venture out.
The episode was rated 7.70 from 6943 votes.
After a few moments of peace, trouble finds its way to Alexandria again with a threat that may be too big to defeat.
The episode was rated 7.71 from 5794 votes.
Alexandria is finally able to begin pulling itself back together; peace is embraced between the two groups.
The episode was rated 7.72 from 5626 votes.
A simple scavenging run proves to be more tricky, when the survivors are not the only ones after a goldmine of supplies.
The episode was rated 7.80 from 6376 votes.
Rick and the group are still having trouble assimilating into Alexandria. Will a new threat bring them closer together or drive them further apart?
The episode was rated 7.91 from 6060 votes.
To save one of their own, Rick's group must venture outside the walls; their experience changes their lives forever.
The episode was rated 7.96 from 7911 votes.
When it appears that things are starting to normalize in the settlement, a new problem arises for the Alexandrians.
The episode was rated 8.00 from 5684 votes.
With no hope of safety in Alexandria, Rick and his band of survivors soon discover a larger world with new dangers and new opportunities.
The episode was rated 8.03 from 6439 votes.
Rick and the group realize the only way to maintain the peace of Alexandria is to fight a new enemy. This time, though, our group might be outmatched.
The episode was rated 8.09 from 6263 votes.
A return home doesn't go as expected.
The episode was rated 8.09 from 5849 votes.
This episode of The Walking Dead was undeniably one of the best episodes in the show's history. It was filled with unexpected moments and plenty of action. The rocket launcher vs. the motorcycle gang was particularly memorable, as were the other moments such as Glen being saved from sure death and Carl's iconic "Dad?" line.
One interesting thing to note was the role Morgan played in this episode. While he is usually quite annoying, his act of saving Alpha Wolf set in motion a series of events that ultimately led to Carl's life being saved. This goes to show that Morgan's "All life is precious" mantra still holds true.
The episode also featured other characters such as Father Gabriel and Eugene stepping up, and of course, Daryl killing it more than ever. All in all, this was an incredible episode of The Walking Dead that had fans hooked from start to finish.
The episode was rated 8.42 from 7067 votes.
