‘The Walking Dead’s 22 Most Essential Episodes

I say this with complete sincerity and no hyperbole: the first episode of The Walking Dead is one of the best single episodes of TV ever filmed, and easily one of the best pilots ever made. It’s basically a mini zombie movie from writer/director Frank Darabont (before he had a serious and ongoing falling out with the show), with the key difference that the movie doesn’t end. We meet sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) as he wakes up from a coma in the middle of the zombie apocalypse, and he spends the whole episode wandering. That’s pretty much it (we meet a few other key characters), but it’s gorgeously filmed on actual film, and packed with iconic images.

Stream "Days Gone Bye" on Netflix

The show’s second season is (appropriately) derided, as the group spent most of the episodes wandering around a farm searching for Carol’s (Melissa McBride) missing daughter Sophia. But “Cherokee Rose” is great, packed with symbolism, small character moments, and the well-waker, a waterlogged zombie that ranks as one of effects supervisor Greg Nicotero’s greatest moments.

Stream "Cherokee Rose" on Netflix

Want to know why everyone loves Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus)? Here’s why — or at least, here’s the beginning of why, as we got Daryl alone in the woods searching for the missing Sophia in an episode that exposed his backstory, and made us feel for the hillbilly turned hero.

Stream "Chupacabra" on Netflix

This is (spoiler) Jon Bernthal’s final episode of The Walking Dead, and it has repercussions that pay off for seasons to come. Though most of the farm stuff is still NOT GREAT, the final scenes between Shane (Bernthal), Rick and Carl (Chandler Riggs) are heartbreaking, and essential viewing to understand the characters’ growth.

Stream "Better Angels" on Netflix

Wondering why people think Walking Dead is so gruesome? Watch what happens when Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies) gives birth, and what her son Carl needs to do next.

Stream "Killer Within" on Netflix

The Governor (David Morrissey) was a key antagonist in the third and fourth seasons of the show, and this midseason finale showed exactly how messed up he could get. Plus, some amazing action from Michonne (Danai Gurira), and we meet Tyreese (Chad Coleman) and Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green). A surprisingly packed episode written by series creator Robert Kirkman.

Stream "Made To Suffer" on Netflix

Arguably the best episode of The Walking Dead ever made, we’re reunited with Morgan (Lennie James), a character Rick met back in the pilot. And he’s gone craaaazy. The episode digs deep on the main themes of the show, and though there are ongoing character threads, proves to be a wonderful standalone episode.

Stream "Clear" on Netflix

Another standout Daryl episode, this one focuses on the redemption of his racist, sword-handed brother Merle (Michael Rooker). Their final scenes together are heartbreaking, and launched a thousand GIFs.

Stream "This Sorrowful Life" on Netflix

Scott M. Gimple had a lot of cleanup to do. After Frank Darabont left the series, followed by showrunner Glen Mazzara, Gimple had to work himself out of a narrative hole that meant finally wrapping around to storylines that should have come at least a season earlier. “Too Far Gone” is the best example of this, a showdown with The Governor that came too late in real time, but feels as epic as it should in retrospect. Big, horrible deaths and iconic moments abound — and particularly if you’re skipping around, you’ll see how Gimple righted the ship here.

Stream "Too Far Gone" on Netflix

A relatively quiet and reflective episode after the group is scattered in the wake of the prison’s destruction, but this episode is important (beyond Carl’s iconic pudding scene) because it focuses on what would become the core trio of the show for the next four seasons: Carl, Rick and Michonne.

Stream "After" on Netflix

Another great Daryl standalone episode, but this time he’s joined by Beth (Emily Kinney) as they drink, burn down a house and reflect on the past.

Stream "Still" on Netflix

If you’re getting the sense that the second half of Season 4 is where the show really hit its stride, then you would be correct. Tyreese and Carol travel with three little girls, one of whom might not be totally stable. Carol, by the end, is forced to make one of the most awful choices in the series. A banner episode for McBride.

Stream "The Grove" on Netflix

Carol goes all Rambo to free the group from the clutches of a group of cannibals, and it’s the closest the show has come to an action movie so far.

Stream "No Sanctuary" on Netflix

Tyreese gets bitten and hallucinates, seeing old friends and current ones, in one of the most dreamlike, visually inventive episodes of the series.

Stream "What Happened And What's Going On" on Netflix

I’ll be honest: this episode is fine. It’s during Season 5, which is pretty solid overall; but mostly this episode is here on the list because it’s the first full episode featuring the Alexandria Safe-Zone, the setting that all the action for at least the next three seasons revolves around. For that, as table-setting alone, it earns its essentialness.

Stream "Remember" on Netflix

Full disclosure: this is my favorite episode of The Walking Dead. I think I’ve seen it five times? Maybe more? In it, Rick’s group has finally stepped up to lead the community of Alexandria after discovering a quarry filled with thousand of zombies. The episode flashes from their plan to cull the quarry in action, to the days leading up to the event. It’s a perfect balance of character development, plot, surprising humor, and the biggest action the show has ever attempted. Pretty much perfect as far as episodes of the show go. It also kicks off what I like to call “Rick Grimes’ No Good, Very Bad Day,” which encompasses most of the first half of Season 6, and as implied, takes place mostly over one absolutely awful twenty-four hour period.

Stream "First Time Again" on Netflix

We take a short break from Rick’s bad day to catch up with Morgan, and show how he went from crazy loon in “Clear” to eventually rejoining the group. It’s a quiet, reflective episode that also features an adorable goat.

Stream "Here's Not Here" on Netflix

Technically this is the second half of the midseason finale, “Start to Finish.” But most of the horrifying stuff was saved for this hour, as an entire family is ripped apart, Carl gets shot in the eye, and Daryl takes some fiery revenge. We also hear about Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) for the first time.

Stream "No Way Out" on Netflix

Frankly, when aired, this episode was hammered with unfair expectations. Fans knew we were going to finally meet Negan in the flesh, everyone expected that a fan favorite was going to die, and when (spoiler) we were left with a cliffhanger, the viewers nearly rioted. Add in an overwhelming number of commercials (this was the TV event of the year) and you had a recipe for disaster. Thing is, though: it’s an excellent episode. Negan and his group The Saviors tightens the noose on Rick’s group over a stressful 64 minutes, ending in a nearly eight minute monologue from Negan that introduces the next great villain to the series. If you felt left down watching the first time, I recommend checking this out again with an open mind. If you’ve never watched before? Get ready to mop your brow.

Stream "Last Day On Earth" on Netflix

This is the most essential episode of The Walking Dead that I’m hesitant to recommend, as it led to even diehard fans jumping ship en masse. It’s absolutely awful to watch (characters you’ve grown to love get offed in the most gruesome way possible). But in terms of everything that comes after, it’s the key to understanding why everyone is doing what they’re doing. Sorry.

Stream "The Day Will Come When You Won't Be" on Netflix

You may have noticed I told you to watch the first episode of Season 7, and then the last episode. Here’s the reason: after the events of the season premiere, everyone is shocked and sad for the first half of the season, basically suffering from PTSD. The second half is about climbing out of that hole and learning to fight back again. The Season 7 finale (this episode) is where they fight back, and it’s a doozy. Granted, there’s a lot of connective fiber you’ll miss in the middle (like why there’s a tiger now), but it’s a fun episode with an awesome final few minutes that’ll get your heart racing.

Stream "The First Day Of The Rest Of Your Life" on Netflix

The last episode before the midseason premiere, after half a season of parrying and fighting, The Saviors get pissed off and absolutely wreck our heroes. In terms of pop culture comparisons, this is the Empire Strikes Back episode, and will get you caught up right before the show returns.

Stream "How It's Gotta Be" on AMC