The Walking Dead's Most Infamous Episode That Even The Creator Regrets Changed The Show Forever

There's one episode of The Walking Dead that changed the show forever, and even creator Robert Kirkman has his regrets about it. The Walking Dead's production changes and behind-the-scenes drama over time are about as storied as the contents of the show itself. Original creators Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption) and Robert Kirkman, who wrote the original comics, both ended up in legal conflicts with AMC; however, there's more to it beyond that, relating to shifts in showrunners and a vast differential in the quality of The Walking Dead's seasons over time.

Robert Kirkman is known for creating the original Walking Dead comics, as well as titles like Invincible, on which he's still involved in the adaptation on Amazon Prime. Kirkman was initially involved in AMC's The Walking Dead ​​​​​and established much of the television universe's world. With multiple Walking Dead spin-offs now ongoing following the original show's ending, Kirkman's influence is still at the root of it all.

The Walking Dead Creator Robert Kirkman Regrets Doing The CDC Episode So Early

The CDC Scenes Were Too Pivotal For The Walking Dead's Sixth Episode

The Walking Dead season 1 is compact, with its primary role being to establish the world and the initial batch of characters, particularly Rick Grimes. The season 1 finale, "TS-19," takes a dramatic turn, with the characters arriving at the CDC (Center for Disease Control) in Atlanta, only to find Dr. Edwin Jenner as its sole survivor. After making a horrifying discovery that everyone in The Walking Dead was already infected, he attempts to kill the main characters, along with himself.

On the matter, Robert Kirkman spoke to THR in 2014 about how he wished he'd ended season 1 in a different way. Kirkman explains that the episode revealed too much too early, and that the episode in and of itself felt off-beat for The Walking Dead. The episode also reveals that, although Dr. Jenner wasn't able to find a cure, the French might have a chance, which Kirkman cites as a mistake, saying he wanted events from elsewhere in the world to remain a mystery to the audience.

"TS-19" Doesn't Feel Like A Typical The Walking Dead Episode And Reveals Too Much

The Walking Dead Excels In Its Feeling Of Isolation & Mystery

The Walking Dead is responsible for hundreds of television episodes, as well as spin-off video games and more. By now, there's plenty of information available about this world and how it works, but Robert Kirkman initially sought to leave many aspects ambiguous. "TS-19" has some fantastic dramatic moments, particularly for the survivors audiences already know, but it could be argued that it's atypical in how much exposition the audience and characters are given.

The Walking Dead's early seasons thrive in their confusion. The audience, like the characters, is confused, as they're dropped into a terrifying world with unexplained circumstances. That ambiguity is incredible, as the only information audiences receive is from word of mouth, often from characters who are equally in the dark. The events of The Walking Dead affect the entire world, yet it's written to feel isolated, which effectively amplifies the fear factor and allows it to focus on character dynamics and themes like grief.

For Better Or Worse, "TS-19" Changed The Course Of The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead's Stakes Were Never The Same

The effects of "TS-19" have drastic implications on the rest of the franchise, impacting The Walking Dead as soon as its second season. After Shane's death, he immediately comes back as a walker, forcing Rick to reveal what he knew from Dr. Jenner. Rick possesses pivotal information that few people in this world have, and that drastically affects how he and every character he shares it with will operate for the remainder of their time.

Not to mention, the CDC episode eliminates the possibility of a cure, forcing the characters to abandon one of the only opportunities for hope almost immediately. Rather than continue looking for a cure for multiple seasons, the characters of The Walking Dead were forced to focus purely on survival as early as season 2. Whether one likes the episode or not, the show could have gone in a totally different direction if it had been saved for later.