Why The Series Premiere Of The Walking Dead Is Still Its Best Episode

Over the last six years, The Walking Dead has become one of the most popular shows on television. Like most other great series, it has grown enormously since its premiere in 2010.

Each season has brought in more compelling characters, better performances from its current stars, and more intriguing drama for the fans. The season six finale was the most watched episode of the series, and audiences are left wondering how the show could get any better.

Well, what if it already has?

What if, while the series as a whole has drastically improved, no episode will ever top the very first?

Spoiler alert: It's the truth.

You may not like the idea that the best episode of The Walking Dead is behind us, but try and take that for the compliment that it is. In its first episode, The Walking Dead shattered every expectation set forth by television, and created a beautiful hour-long experience that audiences will never forget.

Days Gone Bye is the most complete and masterful episode in The Walking Dead history, and here's why.

Direction -

When The Walking Dead first began, it was in the hands of acclaimed cinematic director, Frank Darabont. While that's a name you may not recognize, you certainly know him by his legendary work.

The Green Mile, and The Shawshank Redemption (the top-rated film of all-time on IMDb) were both written and directed by Darabont. He brought his cinematic expertise to televsion, and crafted an episode that played more like a movie than a TV show.

Using polarizing camera angles, tightly filmed sequences, and emotional close-ups, Frank Darabont brought the beauty of film to the silver screen. The episode introduced, and said goodbye to, important characters, made us fear the world he had created, and gave Rick his most important mission of the entire series: finding his family. To be quite honest, the beauty of the episode is unparalleled.

Frank also used his skills as a writer to adapt the first issue of The Walking Dead to perfection. Just as he did in The Green Mile and The Shawshank Redemption, Darabont knew exactly how to transfer words to the screen.

Days Gone Bye was the only episode of the entire series directed by Frank Darabont, and the difference in artistry is evident. Not to say any of the series directors have done a bad job, not by any means, but Darabont brought a level of finesse and expertise that no other director has yet to explore.

Acting

Andrew Linclon's take on Rick Grimes is one of the best performances you will see on television.

Through the loss of Lori, the stress of being a leader, and the psyche of raising children in an infected world, Rick's emotions have gone through the ringer. Andrew Lincoln has continued to rise to the occasion, and bring Rick to life in each and every situation, but he has yet to top his performance in Days Gone Bye.

When Rick wakes from his coma, he learns that the world he once knew has been completely shattered. The dead are walking, his family is gone, and he has no clear direction to turn.

By the end of the episode, Rick has established himself as a leader of men, learned to conquer parts of this world, and was more determined to find his family than when the episode first began.

Once all of that had occurred, Rick then had to step back down to a hopeless wanderer, as he was left for dead amidst hundreds of walkers.

Throughout just an hour of television, Andrew Linclon took one man through an entire life cycle, and back again. When an actor packs that kind of emotional range into such a short amount of time, it will often backfire.

Andrew Lincoln, however, totally nailed it.

As a viewer, you never lose sight of Rick's intentions or direction. You are constantly in awe of what the man is doing, and he takes from laughing to crying, multiple times.

It wasn't only Andrew Lincoln who brought their A-game to Days Gone Bye. Lennie James, a veteran of TV, tore through audiences emotions with his take on Morgan Jones.

When Morgan sets his rifle up, and attempts to shoot his infected wife, we are gifted with a powerful performance that still knocks the wind out of you. With tears in his eyes, and a shaking pair of hands, Lennie James tells an entire love story without speaking a word.

The pair of actors should have been handed Emmy Awards, right then and there.

Setting Up The Series

Though Days Gone Bye was only a shade over an hour long, the episode told you everything you needed to know about the series.

Within the first 30 minutes of the premiere, the danger of the infected world was clearly stated. There was no question as to what the walkers could do, or what happened once a person became infected. Every piece of vital information was revealed in a tasteful way, and no more introduction was needed in order to understand what the world had become.

Days Gone Bye also set up the relationships of major characters for the remainder of the series.

In the opening scene, we learned everything about Rick and Shane's relationship. Their conversation in the car taught the audience about their history, Shane's rebellious attitude, and Rick's worrisome demeanor.

That scene also served as a gigantic entry into the dichotomy of the Grimes family. Without even seeing Lori or Carl, we were able to understand the friction in the household, as well as the deep love they had for one another.

Due to the brilliant writing of the episode, we were left with multiple years of foundation moving forward. The series could have taken any direction following Days Gone Bye, and it wouldn't have mattered - the world was set up perfectly.

Each and every aspect of Days Gone Bye is expertly designed and perfectly crafted. The symbolism of the bicycle girl still resonates with viewers today, and it captures each aspect of the series we've come to love.

Season seven of The Walking Dead is one of the most highly anticipated seasons of television in history, but it's going to be hard pressed to top the series premeire. Will the introduction of Negan take the show back to the heights of Days Gone Bye?

This may be hard to hear, but it's never gonna happen.