Halloween 2025 marks 15 whole years since the first Walking Dead episode aired, introducing fans to a franchise that would span multiple spin-off shows, a web series, and more characters than we can possibly name. But it all started with just one episode. It's easy to forget just how special and impactful The Walking Dead's very first hour on screen really was. This Halloween, we look back at how it all began, with one of the best starts to a series ever.
Nowadays, it feels as though TV shows don't really have to fight for their place right off the bat. Gone are the days of pilot episodes that had to grab networks and test audiences in order for the show to live on. But The Walking Dead season 1 episode 1, titled 'Days Gone Bye' didn't hold back any punches. The series had no choice but to come out swinging, battling with the likes of TV hits Breaking Bad and Boardwalk Empire on screen at the time.
