Walking dead is the king of spreading 4 episodes of content across 12 episodes. You could watch the season opener, the 2 episodes that close the first half and start the second if each season, and the finale, and not miss anything of substance.

I watched up to the point where they pretended the Asian lad was dead, but actually he was hiding under a bin.

Not because it was cheap, but because I realised I no longer cared one way or the other.

The first few episodes were a slog, but it got much better.

I recomment to give it a try. Maybe start straight from season 2.

I watched the first 2 seasons or so. It felt like all the clichés from all the zombie movies put together in a single show, but worse.