Ep 1. Days Gone Bye

In "The Walking Dead" season 1 episode 1, titled "Days Gone Bye," viewers are introduced to the series' protagonist, Sheriff's Deputy Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln). The episode begins with Rick, along with his partner Shane Walsh (Jon Bernthal), engaging in a deadly gunfight with a group of criminals. Rick is shot and falls into a coma.

The story then fast-forwards several weeks, during which a mysterious outbreak has ravaged the world. Rick awakens from his coma in an abandoned hospital, unsure of what has happened in the time that he was unconscious. He begins to explore the hospital, encountering a room full of dead bodies and signs of a violent struggle. Rick leaves the hospital and heads out into the deserted streets of Atlanta, seeking answers and trying to find his wife and son.

As Rick wanders the city, he discovers that many of the people he encounters have been turned into undead creatures, commonly referred to as "walkers." The walkers are slow-moving but relentless, and they have a hunger for human flesh. Rick narrowly escapes several encounters with the walkers and eventually meets a group of survivors who take him in and explain the dire situation that the world has fallen into.

Rick learns that his wife Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies) and son Carl (Chandler Riggs) are still alive but have taken refuge with a group of survivors at a nearby encampment. He also learns that Shane, who had believed Rick to be dead, has become romantically involved with Lori in Rick's absence. However, Rick is determined to reunite with his family and protect them from the horrors of the new world.

The episode concludes with Rick and his new allies devising a plan to rescue some of their fellow survivors who have been trapped in the city by the walkers. The plan involves a risky diversionary tactic, and as the survivors work together to execute it, the episode ends on a cliffhanger.

Overall, "Days Gone Bye" is a gripping and intense introduction to the world of "The Walking Dead." It gives viewers a taste of the horror and despair that has descended upon the world, while also introducing them to compelling characters whom they will grow to love and root for throughout the course of the series. With its well-paced storytelling, strong performances, and visceral zombie action, "Days Gone Bye" sets the stage for an unforgettable journey into a world gone mad.