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The Worst Episodes of The Walking Dead

Every episode of The Walking Dead ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of The Walking Dead!

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Sheriff's deputy Rick Grimes awakens from a coma to find a post-apocalyptic world dominated by flesh-eating zombies. He sets out to find his family and encounters many other survivors along the way.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    The Walking Dead Season 10 Episode 21 - Diverged
    6.8/10(77 votes)

    #1 - Diverged

    S10:E21

    Daryl and Carol come to a fork in the road and head their separate ways. Each going into their own type of survival mode, the easiest of challenges become much harder. Will their individual journeys be the tipping point needed to mend their friendship, or is the distance between them permanent?

    Director:David Boyd
    Writer:Heather Bellson

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  2. The Walking Dead Season 7 Episode 6 - Swear
    7.0/10(142 votes)

    #2 - Swear

    S7:E6

    Someone stumbles upon a brand new society unlike anything seen before.

    Director:Michael Satrazemis
    Writer:David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick

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  3. The Walking Dead Season 6 Episode 16 - Last Day on Earth
    7.3/10(171 votes)

    #3 - Last Day on Earth

    S6:E16

    To save one of their own, Rick's group must venture outside the walls; their experience changes their lives forever.

    Director:Greg Nicotero
    Writers:Matthew Negrete, Scott M. Gimple

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  4. The Walking Dead Season 8 Episode 3 - Monsters
    7.4/10(119 votes)

    #4 - Monsters

    S8:E3

    Conflict with the Saviors leads to unintended consequences for the Hilltop, the Kingdom, and Alexandria; morality proves tricky in wartime.

    Director:Greg Nicotero
    Writers:Channing Powell, Matthew Negrete

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  5. The Walking Dead Season 8 Episode 6 - The King, the Widow, and Rick
    7.4/10(108 votes)

    #5 - The King, the Widow, and Rick

    S8:E6

    With things looking up for Rick and the group, an argument breaks out at the Hilltop; the consequences of the decision are life versus death.

    Director:John Polson
    Writers:Angela Kang, Corey Reed

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  6. The Walking Dead Season 7 Episode 5 - Go Getters
    7.5/10(138 votes)

    #6 - Go Getters

    S7:E5

    Saddled with grief and surrounded by enemies, members of the group try to find safety at the Hilltop before it's too late.

    Director:Darnell Martin
    Writer:Channing Powell

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  7. The Walking Dead Season 7 Episode 14 - The Other Side
    7.5/10(123 votes)

    #7 - The Other Side

    S7:E14

    The Saviors visit the Hilltop unexpectedly, surprising everyone, with plans of taking more than supplies.

    Director:Michael Satrazemis
    Writer:Angela Kang

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  8. The Walking Dead Season 8 Episode 2 - The Damned
    7.5/10(123 votes)

    #8 - The Damned

    S8:E2

    The plan involving Alexandrians, Kingdommers and Hilltoppers unfolds. As Rick continues to fight, he encounters a familiar face.

    Director:Rosemary Rodriguez
    Writers:Channing Powell, Matthew Negrete

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  9. The Walking Dead Season 8 Episode 7 - Time for After
    7.5/10(106 votes)

    #9 - Time for After

    S8:E7

    Negan has to enlist the help of his lieutenants in solving a huge issue facing the Sanctuary; Rick and the group continue to enact the plan.

    Director:Larry Teng
    Writers:Matthew Negrete, Corey Reed

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  10. The Walking Dead Season 11 Episode 4 - Rendition
    7.5/10(55 votes)

    #10 - Rendition

    S11:E4

    Daryl and Dog get captured by the Reapers. Taken to the Meridian, they reconnect with a familiar figure from their past.

    Director:Frederick E. O. Toye
    Writer:Nicole Mirante-Matthews

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  11. The Walking Dead Season 7 Episode 2 - The Well
    7.6/10(159 votes)

    #11 - The Well

    S7:E2

    For a number of familiar faces, a new, well-established community seems too good to be true.

    Director:Greg Nicotero
    Writer:Matthew Negrete

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  12. The Walking Dead Season 7 Episode 12 - Say Yes
    7.6/10(128 votes)

    #12 - Say Yes

    S7:E12

    The group scavenges for supplies; back in Alexandria, someone must make a morally challenging decision.

    Director:Greg Nicotero
    Writer:Matthew Negrete

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  13. The Walking Dead Season 8 Episode 8 - How It's Gotta Be
    7.6/10(120 votes)

    #13 - How It's Gotta Be

    S8:E8

    Every story and battle comes crashing together.

    Director:Michael Satrazemis
    Writers:Angela Kang, David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick

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  14. The Walking Dead Season 9 Episode 1 - A New Beginning
    7.6/10(119 votes)

    #14 - A New Beginning

    S9:E1

    Rick and his group make a risky run into Washington, D.C. to search for artifacts they will need to build the civilization he and Carl envisioned.

    Director:Greg Nicotero
    Writer:Angela Kang

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  15. The Walking Dead Season 10 Episode 20 - Splinter
    7.6/10(75 votes)

    #15 - Splinter

    S10:E20

    Eugene, Ezekiel, Yumiko and Princess are captured and separated. Princess struggles with memories of her traumatic past and tries to escape one way or another with the help of Ezekiel.

    Director:Laura Belsey
    Writers:Vivian Tse, Julia Ruchman

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  16. The Walking Dead Season 11 Episode 3 - Hunted
    7.6/10(61 votes)

    #16 - Hunted

    S11:E3

    Maggie's mission team gets separated and hunted by the Reapers. Carol, Rosita, Magna, and Kelly attempt to catch horses for Alexandria. Judith, R.J., Hershel, and Gracie cope with their parents going away.

    Director:Frederick E. O. Toye
    Writer:Vivian Tse

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  17. The Walking Dead Season 11 Episode 11 - Rogue Element
    7.6/10(51 votes)

    #17 - Rogue Element

    S11:E11

    Eugene looks for Stephanie after she mysteriously goes missing. Connie investigates a story on Trooper Davis. Carol helps Hornsby with a labor dispute at a drug farm.

    Director:Michael Cudlitz
    Writer:David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick

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  18. The Walking Dead Season 11 Episode 20 - What's Been Lost
    7.6/10(49 votes)

    #18 - What's Been Lost

    S11:E20

    Daryl and Carol investigate the whereabouts of their friends after Pamela disappeared them from the Commonwealth. Unfortunately, their only lead is Hornsby. Meanwhile, Pamela asks Yumiko to prosecute Eugene on behalf of the Commonwealth.

    Director:Aisha Tyler
    Writer:Erik Mountain

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  19. The Walking Dead Season 7 Episode 10 - New Best Friends
    7.7/10(125 votes)

    #19 - New Best Friends

    S7:E10

    While searching for a missing Alexandrian, Rick and his group encounter a mysterious collective, its inhabitants unlike any they have come across.

    Director:Jeffrey F. January
    Writer:Channing Powell

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  20. The Walking Dead Season 7 Episode 11 - Hostiles and Calamities
    7.7/10(128 votes)

    #20 - Hostiles and Calamities

    S7:E11

    An Alexandrian discovers that he must navigate the mysterious, confusing and horrifying world within the Saviors' Sanctuary.

    Director:Kari Skogland
    Writer:David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick

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  21. The Walking Dead Season 8 Episode 4 - Some Guy
    7.7/10(113 votes)

    #21 - Some Guy

    S8:E4

    A new weapon in the Savior arsenal proves to be a giant hurdle as fighting continues between Rick's forces and those of the Saviors.

    Director:Dan Liu
    Writer:David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick

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  22. The Walking Dead Season 8 Episode 9 - Honor
    7.7/10(107 votes)

    #22 - Honor

    S8:E9

    Rick faces new difficulties after a battle. Meanwhile, the fight continues in other communities as core members face hard decisions.

    Director:Greg Nicotero
    Writers:Channing Powell, Matthew Negrete

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  23. The Walking Dead Season 11 Episode 10 - New Haunts
    7.7/10(49 votes)

    #23 - New Haunts

    S11:E10

    The heroes experience Halloween in the Commonwealth; Daryl and Rosita undergo military training led by Mercer; Carol investigates Ezekiel's medical condition.

    Director:Jon Amiel
    Writer:Magali Lozano

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  24. The Walking Dead Season 1 Episode 1 - Days Gone Bye
    7.8/10(416 votes)

    #24 - Days Gone Bye

    S1:E1

    Rick searches for his family after emerging from a coma into a world terrorized by the walking dead. Morgan and Duane, whom he meets along the way, help teach Rick the new rules for survival.

    Director:Frank Darabont
    Writer:Frank Darabont

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  25. The Walking Dead Season 6 Episode 5 - Now
    7.8/10(138 votes)

    #25 - Now

    S6:E5

    Trouble is inside and outside the gate.

    Director:Avi Youabian
    Writer:Corey Reed

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Diverged" is the worst rated episode of "The Walking Dead". It scored 6.8/10 based on 77 votes. Directed by David Boyd and written by Heather Bellson, it aired on 3/28/2021. This episode scored 0.2 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Swear".