The Walking Deadhas established itself as one of the best, if not the best, zombie shows out there. It has so many memorable moments, from Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) first waking from his coma tohim unexpectedly leaving in Season 9, not to mention everything that came after. But when a show has so many good episodes, the unfortunate downside is that some of the greatest ones can get overlooked.
The Walking Dead
We’ve compiled 10 of the most underrated episodes ofThe Walking Deadthat continue to stick with us today. Some of these episodes are already beloved by viewers but deserve even more attention, while others have been cast aside by critics and fans, even though they deserve much, much more praise.
10"Slabtown"
Season 5, Episode 4
After being taken captive in Season 4, Beth (Emily Kinney) returns toThe Walking Deadin Season 5. Now at Grady Hospital, she meets Lt. Dawn Lerner (Christine Woods), who tells Beth that the hospital helped save her and that she must now work for them as payment. The rest of the episode focuses on a patient who had an amputation against her will, a doctor who intentionally killed his patient, and a fellow staff member, Noah (Tyler James Williams), who warns Beth that everything is even worse than it seems. Toward the end of the episode, Beth and Noah try to escape, only for a recaptured Beth to spy an injured Carol (Melissa McBride) being wheeled in.
What’s Working Against It
“Slabtown” kind of feels like a bottle episode, even though, in the literal sense, it isn’t one. But because it’s contained to the hospital and only features one main character, it’s the type of episode that fans could easily label “misguided.” This episode also came right after “Four Walls and a Roof,” which is often considered one ofThe Walking Dead’sbest episodes, and compared to that, it’s fair if viewers were a bit underwhelmed. Still, the episode has plenty of merit, showcasing some of Beth at her best while introducing viewers to a shocking situation thatdoesn’t have a comic counterpart.
9"We Are the End of the World"
Season 10, Episode 2
“We are the End of the World"flashes back to how Alpha (Samantha Morton) and Lydia (Cassady McClincy) survived the early days of the apocalypse, as well as how they met Beta. Jumping to the present, the episode then focuses on sisters Mary and Frances, the latter of whom endangers the group after crying over her lost son. Alpha forgives her, claiming she understands what it’s like to lose a child, which causes Beta (Ryan Hurst) and some of the others to question her leadership. Later, Frances attacks Alpha, enraged that the other woman made her abandon her son, and Frances' sister, Mary, saves Alpha by throwing Frances into the herd. In thanks, Alpha christens Mary “Gamma,” and shortly after, Beta discovers Alpha’s secret: Lydia is alive.
Insights Into an Intriguing Character
Alpha was one of the best villains inThe Walking Dead,taking a sadistic and just plain creepy approach to the new world. This origin story helped viewers understand just how and why she became so twisted. It also showed the first-ever Whisperer’s mask, revealed a (slight) human side of both Alpha and Beta, and suggested that some members of the Whisperers weren’t as devoted to the group as they initially appeared. Later, more of Alpha’s origin would be unveiled inTales of the Walking Dead,creating some continuity issuesbut ultimately adding more interesting details to her twisted story.
8"Say Yes”
Season 7, Episode 12
During Season 7, Rick and Michonne (Danai Gurira) promise the Scavengers guns to help them fight the Saviors, so they go to an abandoned traveling carnival in search of them. While there, they kill Walkers, spot a deer, and almost become Walker food themselves. In the end, they’re unable to get enough guns for the Scavengers and promise to bring them more. Meanwhile, Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green) and Rosita (Christian Serratos) discuss their plans for assassinating Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), with both certain they won’t survive the attempt.
Underrated for Comedy
To be clear, “Say Yes” is not a good episode. However,it’s absolute comedy gold. From the CGI deer to Rick’s magical zombie-escape to the concept itself—going on a date at the carnival during the apocalypse—every scene is filled with laughs. This might not have been the episode’s intention, but it works all the same. We’re not saying it should be on anyone’s top 10 list, but it’s hard to pretend it isn’t memorable.
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Season 5, Episode 14:
“Spend” begins with several characters searching for parts to repair the community’s solar power system. One of the characters, Aiden (Daniel Bonjour), accidentally impales himself, and the rest of the group has no choice but to leave him to be devoured by walkers. Now consisting of Glenn (Steven Yeun), Noah, and Nicholas (Michael Traynor), the group make their way to a warehouse where they become surrounded by walkers. To save himself, Nicholas allows the walkers to eat Noah instead. While this is all going on, back in Alexandria, Abraham gains a leadership position, Gabriel turns on the group, and Carol tells Rick that Pete is abusing his family and needs to be killed.
A Good Way to Spend Your Time
This is another episode that, while not low on viewers' lists, deserves to be higher. From Carol’s ominous warning to Nicholas revealing the true depths of his cowardice, it was emotional hit after hit. Plus, Noah’s death scene is hard to forget, even if many felt likehis potential was ultimately wasted.
6"Here’s Not Here"
Season 6, Episode 4
After capturinga member of the Wolves, Morgan (Lennie James) tries to get him to change his ways by sharing his past. In several flashbacks taking place shortly after “Clear,” Morgan is seen attacking any and all walkers and humans he comes across. One day, he meets a man named Eastman (John Carroll Lynch) who recognizes that Morgan has PTSD and begins teaching him the ways of Aikido while constantly asserting that every life is precious. Sadly, Eastman gets bitten and succumbs to the bite, but not before giving Morgan the advice to live with people again, something which Morgan follows. Back in the present, it’s revealed that the Wolf is mortally wounded and has no interest in following Morgan and Eastman’s philosophy.
An Intriguing Character
Morgan wasone of the most featured charactersthroughoutThe Walking Deadfranchise, playing an important role in both the original series andthe spin-offFear the Walking Dead. Learning more about him here was a treat, and it helped explain how he went from the terrifying character in “Clear” to a gold-hearted pacifist. Plus, Eastman and the Wolf were compelling characters in their own right, with Eastman especially capturing our attention for his nuanced take on good and bad.
5"Some Guy"
Season 8, Episode 4
When Ezekiel (Khary Payton) is apprehended by the Savior, Gunter (Whitmer Thomas), it seems like all is lost. Either Gunter turns him into Negan or the recently killed, re-animated Kingdom soldiers catch them first. Fortunately, Jerry (Cooper Andrews) soon comes and saves his king, and Carol shows up soon after to help them. Still, the horde is gaining, and an injured Ezekiel asks the others to leave him behind, proclaiming that he’s just “some guy” not fit to be their leader. Just then, his tiger, Shiva, comes in to save the day, sadly sacrificing herself in the process.
A Great Guy
“Some Guy” showed exactly why Ezekiel was perfect to lead. He felt the losses of his community on a personal level, and he gave them all something to hope for and someone to rally around. At the same time, this episode showed the limitations of his abilities, as well as those of all the other survivors. At the end of the day, Ezekiel was just “some guy” who took charge of the situation, and that’s part of what makes his character so fascinating andworth exploring even more.
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4"Arrow on the Doorpost"
Season 3, Episode 13
With tensions gaining, Rick and the Governor (David Morrissey) meet to discuss how to end hostilities between their groups. As the duo discuss their situation, Daryl and Herschel bond with Martinez and Milton until the Governor makes his terms clear: hand over Michonne, and the fighting will end. Later, he seemingly goes back on this agreement by ordering Martinez to kill Rick’s group and take Michonne alive. At the end of the episode, Rick tells his group they’re going to war while secretly letting Hershel know of the Governor’s offer.
A Very Different Story
This episode serves to humanize the people within the Governor’s community while leaving his own humanity more complicated and ambiguous. Plus, it puts Rick in the unfortunate situation where he must decide whether to put the group’s needs and survival over one of their own. This is especially interesting, given that Michonne wound up being one of the most important members of their group, offering them protection again and again, not to mentionstarting a family with Rick. It just goes to show that, if things had gone slightly differently here, the entire trajectory of the show would have changed.
3"One More"
Season 10, Episode 19
Aaron (Ross Marquand) and Gabriel (Seth Gilliam) are on a supply run when Aaron kills a wild boar. The next morning, an armed man named Mays (Robert Patrick) takes the two captive, claiming he’s angry because the boar was his. He then makes the duo play Russian Roulette and gives them the option to point the gun at each other, something which neither one does. This only seems to anger him more, as his brother previously stole from and tried to kill him, making him believe that all people are selfish. When Aaron and Gabriel convince him otherwise, he lets them go, only for Aaron to kill the man before discovering and freeing his captive brother.
One More Reason to Watch
“One More” is psychologically superb, raising the question of just how low people will sink in the apocalypse. It also tests just how forgiving our main characters can and should be. Of all the episodes on this list, this one has the highest Rotten Tomatoes score. And yet, it rarely if ever appears on top 10 episode lists, even though it’s up there with the best of them.
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2"Evolution"
Season 9, Episode 8
The mid-season finale of season 9was one of the best cliffhangers of the show. The episode begins with Daryl, Aaron, and Jesus in search of a missing Eugene. Back at the Hilltop, Magna’s group begins to meet the other community members while Henry (Matt Lintz) hangs out with the local teens. The apparent biggest twist of the episode happens soon after—Negan escaping his unlocked cell—only for two even more shocking things to happen: a zombie talks, and then, kills Jesus.
An Ending and a Beginning
To be fair, “Evolution” isn’t a disliked episode, but it’s rarely listed as a favorite, even though it should be. This is likely because Jesus was adored by viewers, so his death, while effective, was hard for some fans to stomach. At the same time, this episode introduced the Whisperers, who would go on to be one of the characters’ greatest threats. Combined with Negan’s escape, and this episode was chock-full of intense, important moments that are still spinning in our heads today.
1"The Calm Before"
Season 9, Episode 15
The penultimate episode of season 9 takes place during the Kingdom’s fair. Together with the other communities, the Kingdom is preparing for Alpha’s next attack, unaware that she’s already on the move. Disguised as an Alexandrian, she enters the fair, where she unsuccessfully tries to convince Lydia to leave with her. Meanwhile, Daryl, Carol, Michonne, and Yumiko are attacked and held captive by Whisperers, with Alpha later telling Daryl that she’s marked off her territory and that his people are forbidden from crossing it. This threat takes on new gravity when Daryl and his group return to the Kingdom, only to find pikes with severed heads belonging to ten characters, including Enid, Tara, and Henry.
Tense and Torturous
To be fair,season 9 is one ofThe Walking Dead’sbest, so it makes sense that this episode, while great, was ultimately overshadowed by some others. Some fans were also underwhelmed by the changes made to those killed, as the comic’s dead included Rosita and Ezekiel, who were arguably bigger characters than any of the show’s victims. At the same time, some fans felt thattoo manycharacters were killed, which gave them an entirely different reason to be upset and, in some cases, evencaused them to quit the show. However, we think it was just the right number of deaths and solid choices overall, leaving viewers worried about how the group would respond and what Alpha might do next.
