The Walking Dead

Sheriff's deputy Rick Grimes wakes from a coma in an abandoned hospital to find the dead walking. Morgan, a survivor, fills him in. Rick heads to Atlanta looking for his wife, Lori, and son, Carl, gets trapped inside a tank and is saved by Glenn. He finds his family at a camp led by Shane, his partner and best friend, who grew close to Lori while Rick was gone. On a city rooftop, the group leaves Merle Dixon handcuffed, and his brother, Daryl, wants answers. Walkers hit the camp and Amy dies. The group reaches the CDC, where Dr. Jenner confirms there's no cure. The building blows up; Jenner and Jacqui stay behind. Whatever Jenner whispered to Rick stays secret.

1. Behind the scenesA cast borrowed from The Mist

   Laurie Holden, Jeffrey DeMunn, Melissa McBride and Juan Pareja had all worked with Frank Darabont on The Mist (2007). Darabont brought all four into the first season.

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2. SetupJenner's whisper

   At the CDC, Jenner whispers something to Rick that the audience never hears. Andrew Lincoln asked everyone to "burn this page" of the script. The secret comes back later.

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3. ReferenceThe bicycle girl has a backstory

   The half-body walker Rick finds in the park got a web series of her own, Torn Apart, directed by Greg Nicotero.

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