Why Were the Walkers Smarter in Season 1 of The Walking Dead?

The iconic series The Walking Dead has captivated audiences with its intricate narrative and diverse cast of characters. One peculiar and often debated topic that surfaced towards the end of its run was the intelligence displayed by the walkers in the early seasons, particularly in the first season. Why were the walkers in season 1 smarter?

The Variety of Walkers

In addition to the usual moaning, slow-moving zombies, a unique variety of walkers appeared in the opening episodes of season 1. These so-called 'variety walkers' were recognized for their surprising abilities, which included opening doors, using weapons, and even climbing. These were first glimpsed in the first two episodes, where Morgan's undead wife attempted to open a door and some walkers started climbing upon Rick and Glenn's desperate attempt to reach their car.

Less Decrepit Corpses

The explanation for these more intelligent walkers lies in their freshness. Unlike the typical walkers that had been undead for an extended period, these had been deceased for only a short time. Undead bodies that had been left behind by the living or those killed shortly before the time skip were much more intact. This means their brains and systems were not as degraded, explaining their enhanced behavior.

The Walker Apocalypse: Just Beginning

From a narrative standpoint, the walkers in the first season represented the early stages of the apocalypse. The living hadn't yet figured out how to deal with the threat posed by these reanimated beings. As the series progresses, characters develop survival strategies and weapons to combat the walkers, showcasing the evolution in understanding and handling the undead.

Bigger Threat from Other Humans

Behind the scenes, show producers likely wanted to emphasize the unique threats posed by human survivors rather than just the walkers. This is evidenced by the introduction of the Cell operation in later seasons, which underscores the conflict and distrust among survivors.

It's worth noting that these highly intelligent walkers were largely forgotten after the first season because the showrunners preferred to focus on more iconic walkers like the Floaters and the walker with knives. The reintroduction of these smarter walkers in the final season, particularly in episodes 23 and 24 during the Commonwealth takeover, played a pivotal role in increasing the tension and complexity of the plot.

Conclusion: The walkers in season 1 of The Walking Dead were smarter due to their relatively recent death and the early stages of the apocalypse. This showcased both the dramatic and strategic storytelling choices made by the showrunners to maintain suspense and push the narrative in a new direction.