This article is about the TV Series of The Walking Dead. You may be looking for the Comic Series, the Video Games, or the Webisodes of The Walking Dead.
On March 2010, it was announced that AMC ordered 6 episodes to be filmed. The filming began on the fifteenth of May, 2010. The episodes debuted on AMC on October 31, 2010.[1][2][3][4][5]
Executive Producer Frank Darabont said that the TV Series was not intended to be a miniseries. AMC ordered 13 episodes for the second season.[6] The second season debuted on October 16, 2011 at 9 p.m. with a 90 minute premiere episode "What Lies Ahead".
Frank Darabont was released from being the showrunner and replaced by Glen Mazzara (writer of the episode "Wildfire" in the first season). Darabont's departure has been surrounded in controversy, with magazine articles claiming that it was due to either a strained relationship with AMC, his failure to conform to the schedule of a TV series, or most likely due to the show's budget reduction despite commercial success.
Glen Mazzara, the Season 3 showrunner, will be replaced by executive producer, Scott M. Gimple. Mazzara had cited creative differences with the drama and departed the series in late December. He will remain on board as showrunner through the second half of season three, but Gimple will take over when Walking Dead resumes production for Season 4 later this year.[7]
Rick worked in King County, Georgia as a sheriff's deputy who after awaking from a coma finds the world ravaged by a undead apocalypse. He has since become the leader of a group of survivors from Atlanta, Georgia.
Glenn is a pizza delivery boy who knows every shortcut in Atlanta. He is frequently used as a "runner" for supplies when the Atlanta survivors are running low, due to his extensive knowledge and talent. He develops a relationship with Maggie.
Daryl is the survivor camp's expert hunter and tracker whose signature weapon is a crossbow. He is a break-out character for the TV series, who is unrelated to the comic series, though he may be the first crossover from the TV series to the comics.
Andrea was an attorney who was on a road trip with her sister Amy when the apocalypse occurred. She became the most prominent dead-eye shooter next to Shane within the group. Committed suicide after being bitten by Walker Milton.
Lori was the wife of Rick and mother of Carl. Believing Rick to be dead, she followed Shane to Atlanta. Shane continued harboring feelings for her which caused friction between him and Rick. She met her demise through the birth of her daughter Judith. Carl (son) shot Lori before becoming a walker.
Maggie is the daughter of Hershel Greene. She stayed at a farmhouse with her family and neighbors when the survivors encountered them in Season 2. She has gone on to become seriously involved with Glenn over the course of his stay on the farm. Engaged to marry Glenn.
Shane was Rick's partner in the King County Sheriff's Department and best friend since high school. His downfall began with his obsessive love over Rick's wife Lori.
Dale was the owner of the Winnebago around which the others, particularly Andrea, had formed a community. His consciousness for humanity holds together what is left of the former society between the survivors.
Carol is a mother and wife in the apocalypse whose husband died in a zombie attack on the camp. Her daughter Sophia became a walker on the Greene Farm, leaving her as the last of her family.
Hershel is the recovering alcoholic father of Maggie and Beth. He owns a farm house that the survivors encounter in Season 2. Once against killing the walkers, Hershel has since become one of Rick's most devoted followers after seeing the truth in humanity amongst the apocalypse.
Beth is Hershel's youngest daughter, Maggie's little sister, and was dating a boy named Jimmy. After attempting suicide, she has come to accept the world in a more tragic view than the rest of her family.
Merle is Daryl's older racist brother, who Rick handcuffed to the roof of a department store and was forced to cut his hand off to escape. He lived at the prison with Rick's group after escaping Woodbury. He has since been classified as the show's first human antagonist. Killed by the Governor, left to turn. Walker Merle was put down by Daryl.
T-Dog was a member of the Atlanta camp. He has proven himself useful on trips to Atlanta with the group. Died in the prison when he and Carol were attacked allowing Carol to escape.
Sophia was the daughter of Carol whose abusive dad, Ed, died in a zombie attack on the group at their former camp. After being found in the Greene barn, Walker Sophia was killed by Rick Grimes.
Amy was a college senior who was traveling with her older sister Andrea during the outbreak. Attacked at the Atlanta camp, Walker Amy was killed by her sister, Andrea.
Jim was an Atlanta survivor. Jim was bitten or scratched during an attack, but not killed, the day before the group went to the CDC. On the way to the CDC, he was in pain and afraid he was going to turn, Jim requested to be left by the road, under a tree to die.
Milton is a scientist living in Woodbury, Georgia. He is a confidant of The Governor. Stabbed by the Governor, left to turn in order to kill Andrea. Walker Milton killed by Andrea after she was bitten.
Otis was the Greene family neighbor who stayed and helped at their farm. Patricia's husband. Shot in knee by Shane to aid his escape, killed by walkers.
Jenny was the wife of Morgan Jones and the mother of Duane Jones. Morgan was unable to kill Jenny and Walker Jenny killed her son, Duane. Both were killed by Morgan.
Patricia was the wife of Otis who was staying at the Greene Family Farm and was helping out at their house. She was overwhelmed by walkers as the survivors fled from the farm.
Andrew was a prisoner discovered by Rick's group. His act of vengeance caused the deaths of T-Dog and Lori. Was killed by Oscar (head shot) during a confrontation with Rick in the prison generator room.
The Hermit lived in the woods between the prison and Woodbury before he was discovered by Rick's group. He was unaware of the apocalypse. Killed by Michonne and fed to the walkers in grant the group's escape.
Calls went out for zombie extras for the Fairlie-Poplar District, Atlanta, for at least two weekends: June 11–13 and July 2–4, 2010. All extras must be trained in "zombie school." Classes include "How To Speak Without Vowels" and "Shambling 101."[8]
The show currently scores 85 out of 100 on Metacritic based on 25 reviews, indicating Universal acclaim.[9] In a cover article Entertainment Weekly called The Walking Dead "The Best New Show on TV".[10] Nancy deWolf Smith from The Wall Street Journal said that the "pilot episode [is] so good that it has hooked even a zombie hater like me." She said that what made the show so good was that it feels real and looks cinematic.[11] Heather Havrilesky of Salon.com included the show on their list of 9 new TV shows to not miss, giving it a grade of "A", with the author saying "A film-quality drama series about zombies? Somebody pinch me!"[12]
The pilot received 5.3 million viewers, making it the most-watched premiere episode of any AMC television series.
The season 2 premiere and encore received a total of 11 million viewers, the rest of the season continues to break records around the world.
The season 3 premiere garnered a record-breaking 10.9 million viewers, and together with its encore, the premiere was watched by 15.2 million viewers, making this the most-watched episode of The Walking Dead, to date.
Darleen Stoker, Walter Newman, Michael Baber, Jerry Edemann, Kenneth Young, David Lee Fein, Hilda Hodges (for the episode "Days Gone Bye")
Nominated
Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Series[23]
Jason Sperling, Kristin Johnson, Sam Nicholson, Kent Johnson, Michael Enriquez, Christopher D. Martin, Anthony Ocampo, Michael Cook, Gregory Nicotero (for the episode "Days Gone Bye")
Nominated
2012
Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Miniseries, Movie or a Special [24]
Jake Garber, Andy Schoneberg, Kevin Wasner, Gino Crognale, Carey Jonse (for the episode "What Lies Ahead")
↑"Winner and Nominee Search" (Note: to access result, enter "The Walking Dead" in the keyword search box on the left). Directors Guild of America. Retrieved on December 11, 2012.
↑"2010 Nominees and Winners". Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association. Archived from the original on February 11, 2012. Retrieved on December 11, 2012.