Days Gone By Season 1 Episode 1 (S1E1)

 First "living" person Rick sees. 

YorkMix. (2013, April 19). The six greatest zombies who stumbled on screen. Retrieved April 25, 2013, from York: http://www.yorkmix.com/leisure/the-six-greatest-zombies-in-movies/

The show begins with Rick approaching an old accident and tent city looking for gas. Realizing that everyone who was there is dead and there is no gas, he hears footsteps...a little girl. He calls out to her and realizes that she is a zombie and has to kill her as she begins to attack him. But how does he know what to do? They flashback to how it all began. Before we go into the flash back I have a question, the little girl picked up the stuffed bunny if only the brain stem is activated why did she pick up the bunny? There shouldn't be any memory of the bunny right? (Darabont, 2010-2013) I have read that we don't really know where memories are stored in the brain but it is believed that the hypocampus is the most significant memory portion with the most memory lost if damaged. (UF Project Flexner, 2012) If only the brain stem is activated by the infection how does the little girl, or later Morgan's wife, remember how things like a door knob or picking up a stuffed bunny matter? (Darabont, 2010-2013)

Picture of the brain's parts. 
How the brain Learns. (2012, November 13). Retrieved April 25, 2013, from UF Project Flexner: http://projectflexner.sites.medinfo.ufl.edu/how-we-learn/

Jumping back into the flash back, Rick and Shane, both police officers, are working and get called to a high speed chase. Upon arriving they set the speed trap and take a stand to apprehend the criminals. The suspects penetrate the barrier and flip the car. Not expecting the people to get out they are surprised when they are shot at by the criminals. In the process, Rick is shot but saved by his bullet proof vest. Thinking that all the criminals are dead the other officers run to aid him but a third suspect escapes the demolished car and shoots him in what appears to be the shoulder. However, later when he is bandaged it is his side. I wonder if there is some foreshadowing of how Rick processes incidents and how he will lead the group. He was shot the second time because instead of paying attention to the scene he was distracted. In retrospect I feel this is sometimes an issue for Rick. (Darabont, 2010-2013)

Rick wakes up in a hospital bed calling for his friend Shane. When no one responds he climbs painfully out of bed to see what is going on and realizes that something is terribly wrong. The hospital is in array and he begins to explore. He finds dead bodies, bullet holes and a lot of blood spread throughout the halls and happens upon a door that says "Don't Open Dead Inside" confused by this the door begin to move despite them being chained and it frightens him. He runs to the stairwell and out of the hospital meeting a field of wrapped dead bodies and an abandoned army base where an obvious battle ensued. His first thoughts were to find his family and he runs toward his house but encounters a half body rotting that begins to move toward him terrifying him because he doesn't yet understand the world has changed. (Darabont, 2010-2013)

Rick killing his first zombie.

Assisi, S. C. (2010, Novemeber 4). The Walking Dead: A Pretty Crappy Day. Retrieved April 25, 2013, from TVgasm: http://www.tvgasm.com/recaps/the-walking-dead-a-pretty-crappy-day.html

This is where Rick meets Morgan and Duane. Taken captive by the pair until they know that he is not infected Rick learns about what is causing people to turn into the walking dead and how it changed the world. Morgan explained that individual walkers are not hard to handle but a herd is lethal. Morgan feeds, dresses and teaches Rick how to live in the new world including how to kill walkers. The three go to the police station to retrieve guns and ammo. Rick decides to leave and find his family in Atlanta, Georgia where the refugee center is located but also learned that the CDC (Center for Disease Control) may hold some answers to the world's situation. Morgan, however, isn't ready to leave his wife, who still visited them as a walker outside the house they were staying. Agreeing to meet up later, Rick leaves a walkie-talkie with Morgan and they part ways. (Darabont, 2010-2013)

Rick uses the CB to call out to anyone who is listening for help. The tent city set up outside of Atlanta hears his call but are unable to make contact with him and disclose that Atlanta is overrun with walkers and he is walking straight into it. The tent city houses Lori and Carl, Rick's family though they are not aware of this at this point. Shane is the leader of the tent city and refuses to let Lori set up signs warning people away from Atlanta. This upset Lori who storms off and is chased by Shane who reasons with her about how unsafe it would be for her to go and that Carl cannot lose another parent (he had told them that Rick died). We find out that a relationship has began when the two kiss. (Darabont, 2010-2013)

Rick attempting to find gas.   
Outlaw, K. (2003-2013). ‘The Walking Dead’ Review & Discussion. Retrieved April 25, 2013, from Screenrant: http://screenrant.com/the-walking-dead-reviews-kofi-85345/

In the meantime, Rick runs out of gas and stops at a farm to "barrow" some from the farmers. Upon arrival he finds they had committed suicide. When the farmers keys to their truck are no where to be found Rick saddles up their horse and rides it into Atlanta. Upon arrival Rick hears a helicopter (which who was in this helicopter and where were they going?) and begins to follow it but turns down a street jam packed with walkers who begin to chase him. Engulfed by the hoard of zombies Rick is thrown from his horse onto the ground while the horse is consumed by the zombies. Quick to realize that he is still under attack Rick seeks refuge under a tank leaving the guns he had carried with him in the middle of the street. The walkers begin to pile under the tank after him and Rick almost takes his life until he realizes the floor to the tank is open and he slips inside locking the zombies out. To his dismay one of the dead military personnel is in the tank and tries to eat Rick. He shoots the zombie but the sound rings loudly in the tank causing some disorientation. Trying to figure out a way to get out of the tank Rick looks out the top with walkers climbing to get him he locks himself in trapped with no way out. Then a voice of a man comes across the CB asking "hey you, in the tank, cozy in there?" We leave this episode with Rick trapped and the walking dead surrounding the tank. (Darabont, 2010-2013)

Works Cited

Frank Darabont. (2010-2013). Days Gone By Season 1 Episode 1[The Walking Dead]. Gale Anne Hurd.  Atlanta, GA: Stargate Studios.

How the brain Learns. (2012, November 13). Retrieved April 25, 2013, from UF Project Flexner: http://projectflexner.sites.medinfo.ufl.edu/how-we-learn/