First aired October 31, 2010.
When it comes to anything post-apocalyptic, it is very important that the introduction sets the tone
adequately and that the post-apocalyptic world is properly presented. That is why the pilot episode
of TWD has got to come in on first place. Helmed by Frank Darabont, it is no surprise that it is very cinematic, and from the moment Rick Grimes wakes up in that abandoned hospital and stumbles out into the post-apocalypse, you couldn't ask for a better introduction into the world of TWD and the zombie apocalypse.
2 No Way Out
Season 6. Episode 9.
First aired February 14, 2016.
The latest season of TWD was without a doubt the best so far. So eventful, so dramatic, with the near-death of Glenn, the introduction of Negan and the Saviors, the expansion of the world with Jesus and the Hilltop colony (and possibly, another settlement full of horses and rudimentary knights), the conflict between Carol and Morgan, and of course the Rick/Michonne relationship. After a very tense mid-season finale, the greatest episode of the season was the first episode of the second half, which ended in an uproariously nerve-clenching showdown in which the people of Alexandria took to the streets and combated an entire herd of walkers that had penetrated the walls after Carl's second brush with death.
3 Beside the Dying Fire
First aired March 18, 2012.
Another unforgettable showdown took place in the second season finale, when the Greene farm was overrun by an enormous herd of walkers, which fate had arbitrarily guided there from the city by the random appearance of a helicopter. Coming as it did right at the heels of the dramatic death of Shane, it was an excellent end to an excellent season, and had us on the edge of our seats from start to finish, leaving on a perfect cliffhanger in which the group is wrenched apart into factions amidst fire and chaos, and the surprise appearance of Michonne, then only a nameless, faceless sword-wielding survivor in a hood with walkers on a leash.
4 Still
First aired March 2, 2014.
Still was a great episode, mostly because it gave us time to get to know Daryl and Beth like never before, and I also love these kinda frugal episodes where things slow right down and make room for some serious character development. There was a moment when it seemed perfectly possible that Daryl and Beth would discover they had feelings for each other, but in the end it was a sibling bond that cemented between them, as they had to fend for themselves on the outside after the prison had been breached, ultimately saving each other from breaking down completely. As such, it was the first episode to deal directly with the traumatic experiences of the Governor's attack on their home and Hershell's death, which made Beth sweetly want to go get drunk for the first time in her life.
5 The Same Boat
First aired March 13, 2016.
Another smaller episode, in scope that is, which was like a little one-act play and basically only featured five people; Carol, Maggie and their kidnappers, a group of Saviors who stumbled upon our heroines outside the Saviors' compound after our group snuck in to kill Negan's people. Similar in ways to the fourth episode of this season - Here's Not Here, which revealed what happened to Morgan before his appearance in Alexandria - in that it has a limited cast, a single setting and a terrific guest star in Alicia Witt as Paula. The Same Boat featured some excellent acting, great writing, and some serious development for Carol and Maggie, two of the show's top alpha females.
6 Arrow on the Doorpost
First aired March 10, 2013.
When the two heavyweights of the zombie apocalypse sat down to negotiate, it made for one of the most intense moments in the series. Very briefly, a thrilling potential existed. What if Rick Grimes and the Governor could make a deal, even cooperate? Of course, it went the only way it could go, it only escalated the conflict. The third season of TWD was so strong in its entirety, full of dramatic twists and turns, and some truly unforgettable events, that it is a hard task to choose the best out of the whole bunch. This milestone moment in the season stood out because it centered around something that there is far too little of in the apocalypse: diplomacy.
7 No Sanctuary
First aired October 12, 2014.
The fifth season of TWD was definitely one of the weakest. But it rolled out of the gate with a riveting start, mainly because the previous season had ended on such a terrifying cliffhanger, with our group looking for sanctuary in Terminus and finding themselves captives of cannibals instead. This gave Carol a chance to step into her role as one of few members of Rick's group as tough and uncompomising as Rick himself, who would prove to be unstoppable in saving her friends. It also featured two of the sweetest reunions on the show so far, that between Rick and Carl and baby Judith, and that between brother and sister, Tyreese and Sasha.
8 Pretty Much Dead Already
First aired November 27, 2011.
The second season's main story arc was so strong, that despite little development outside of solidifying the group and bringing new members into the fold, there was never a dull episode, and that comes down to some genius writing. Shane's escalating instability and the search for Carol's daughter Sophia was enough to keep up the suspense and it all came to a masterful climax when Shane lost it, broke open the doors of Hershell's barn and proceeded to kill the infected that were harboured inside. When a turned Sophia stumbled out into the light, I got tears in my eyes, mainly thanks to Melissa McBride's superb acting skills as Carol.
9 Too Far Gone
First aired December 1, 2013.
It is hardly surprising that the best episodes are usually mid-season finales or season finales, because in a TV show about zombies, the best moments come when our heroes are swarmed by said zombies. This usually happens in finales, and the fourth season's mid-season finale is one of the best examples. Because the prison seemed so secure, having been our group's home for so long, it was so heartbreaking and horrifying to see it under attack by both people and walkers, and because it scattered the group in a bigger way than ever before. In fact, some people never saw each other again. The death of the Governor was kinda anticipated, but the sudden death of Hershell, who was in many ways the group's rock and definitely its moral center, is unparalleled in brutality and needlessness.
10 TS-19
First aired December 5, 2010.
The pilot episode and the last episode are excellent bookmarks to season one, the short but highly addictive beginning of one of the greatest TV shows ever made. TS-19 was terrific because of its location, as the group finally made it to a safe place, at least momentarily safe - the CDC in Atlanta, where the group and us viewers got some much-needed scientific backing to the end of the world. In fact, this episode made sure that there would never be anything left to wonder about the zombie virus outbreak anymore. It's worldwide, there's no cure and most importantly, we all have it. Sorry if that spoils it for anyone.
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