15 Years Ago, This Zombie Horror Show Delivered One of the Greatest TV Openings Ever Made

There have only been a select few TV shows in small screen history that have had the cultural impact and garnered an audience devotion quite like The Walking Dead, which made its explosive debut on Halloween night in 2010. Chronicling a group of survivors as they attempt to navigate a zombie-plagued world, the horror hit famously follows sheriff's deputy Rick Grimes as he awakens from a coma and discovers humanity has been ravaged by the undead.

For a series to span 11 gripping seasons and 177 episodes, its premiere must excite audiences and immediately compel them to care about what happens to its characters. The Walking Dead managed to do so spectacularly with its harrowing debut, as its opening episode helped set the stage for what was to come for Rick and his fellow survivors while highlighting the horrific threat the walkers presented. Let's revisit the unforgettable opening scene of the horror drama.

Audiences Are Introduced to the Terrifying World of 'The Walking Dead'

It's downright chilling to imagine witnessing the destruction of society and seeing humanity be transformed into ravenous monsters. Yet, it's even more terrifying to suddenly find yourself in a world completely changed when you don't understand what's happening. Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) learned this the hard way in "Days Gone Bye," the series premiere of The Walking Dead, in which the former lawman awakens from a coma in a Georgia hospital and is given a brutal dose of reality.

The debut episode opens in media res and features Rick in his Sheriff's Deputy uniform as he scours the streets of the city in search of gas, roaming the barren land and taking anxious audiences along with him. The suffocating silence and eeriness of the opening scene immediately draw you in and put you on edge as Rick walks past abandoned vehicles and lifeless bodies. It's even more devastating when he spots a battered child's tricycle and baby doll lying in all the wreckage, a symbol of lost innocence.

Rick stops and observes a fly-infested corpse in a car, taking in the surrounding horrors with a mix of dejection and dread but remaining determined to complete his mission of finding gas. Undeniably, the most iconic moment of the episode is when Rick comes upon a little girl carrying a teddy bear, not realizing she is a walker. He calls out to her to tell her he's a police officer and not to be afraid, only for her to turn around and show him a bloody, grotesque appearance. The profound look of devastation on his face before he is forced to shoot the child is palpable as he comprehends the true danger of the infected world.

Andrew Lincoln's Legendary Performance in 'The Walking Dead'

Andrew Lincoln completely nailed his nuanced performance as Rick, capturing the character's many intense emotions throughout the episode and showcasing his phenomenal emotional range as an actor that few could ever match. When a dazed Rick awakens in the hospital, he quickly realizes the life he knew before has been destroyed, and all he wants to do is find his family and make sure they are safe. Lincoln flawlessly walks through the shock, fear, sadness, and eventual acceptance Rick experiences, proving that no other person could do the role justice and mesmerize audiences quite like him.

"Days Gone Bye" masterfully sets the stage for what's to come and foreshadows the brutality, relentless heartbreak, and death that will follow Rick and his fellow survivors throughout the ensuing seasons. Director Frank Darabont helmed the acclaimed series opener, employing innovative camera angles, intimate close-ups, and ominous sequences that make you feel as if you're experiencing every moment alongside Rick. Darabont's dread-inducing pacing and storytelling prove that there's danger around every corner, instilling fear in fans that never lets go.

Had The Walking Dead's debut not packed the white-knuckle punch it did, who knows what the fate of the rest of the series could have been. Every component, from the haunting atmosphere to the deadly silence that followed Rick, and, of course, the jarring appearance of a zombified little girl and gunshot ringing through the air, hooked audiences and kept them coming back for more. It's no wonder the pulse-pounding episode has a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score and helped zombie-mania take over in full force, while also becoming one of the greatest TV openers of all time. Stream The Walking Dead on Netflix.