"Seed" is the third season premiere of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, which aired on AMC in the United States and Canada on October 14, 2012.

Set eight months after abandoning Hershel Greene's (Scott Wilson) farmland, Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and his group of survivors take refuge in the prison complex shown at the end of the previous episode.

Upon airing, the episode garnered 10.9 million viewers and broke several records not only for the series, but television history as well.

[1] Eight months after Rick kills Shane, and the onslaught at the Greene Family Farm, the world continues to grow increasingly more dangerous while Lori's pregnancy advances.

Rick, who has now assumed a dictatorial-like leadership over his group of survivors, and company are now in search of a safe haven, as Lori is due to give birth any day.

Elsewhere, Andrea has fallen severely ill with influenza since being separated from the group and taken in by Michonne, the hooded figure with the sword who rescued her from walkers attacking her in the woods.

Later, Rick, Daryl, Hershel, Glenn, Maggie and T-Dog go on a scouting mission to other parts of the prison and move deeper into the interior, many in total darkness.

They take refuge and barricade themselves in the cafeteria, where Rick, in an attempt to save Hershel, amputates his leg with a hatchet to prevent the infection from spreading.

The critics' consensus reads: Season three of The Walking Dead responds to its audience's call to action with "Seed," an action-packed premiere.

Club, gave the episode an A− on a scale from A to F.[6] Upon its initial broadcast on October 14, 2012, "Seed" broke several records when it reached 10.9 million viewers, becoming the most-watched scripted drama telecast on a basic cable network in history and the most-watched episode of the series to date, surpassing the previous record held by the season two finale, "Beside the Dying Fire".