Pilot (Fear the Walking Dead)

"Pilot" is the first episode of the television series Fear the Walking Dead, which premiered on AMC on August 23, 2015. The episode serves as an introduction to the Clark-Manawa family and their initial experiences as the zombie apocalypse begins in Los Angeles, California. It establishes the main characters, their relationships, and the early stages of the societal breakdown caused by the mysterious virus turning people into the undead.

The episode primarily focuses on Madison Clark, a guidance counselor at a local high school, and her boyfriend Travis Manawa, an English teacher at the same school. Their children, Nick Clark, a heroin addict, Alicia Clark, a high-achieving student, and Chris Manawa, Travis' son from a previous marriage, are also central to the narrative.

"Pilot" depicts the increasingly strange events leading to the recognition of the zombie outbreak. Nick's disturbing experience with a reanimated corpse at a drug den raises initial alarm bells, but his addiction issues cause his claims to be initially dismissed. As more incidents occur, involving disturbing attacks and unexplained absences, the characters and the audience begin to realize the severity of the situation.

The episode explores themes of family, addiction, disbelief, and the challenges of understanding a rapidly changing and increasingly dangerous world. It ends with a sense of growing dread and the realization that life as they know it is coming to an end. The episode acts as a setup for the rest of the season and the series as a whole, introducing the core characters and their struggles as they navigate the early days of the apocalypse.