The Ashcan

The Walking Dead Interrobang: Tell It To The Frogs (s01e03)

Posted on 16. Nov, 2010 by theashcan in Interrobang, Television

Anupa and Simon sure love television shows but are way too lazy to write proper recaps about them. Compromise? They will be discussing (zombterrobanging?) AMC’s new gore filled zombie series The Walking Deadas a means to flesh(!) out their questions(?) every week. Yea, that was awful, but you knew what you were getting into when you saw that interrobang symbol.

This week was short on zombies but high on survivor-style Lord of the Flies tension. Dig in as we discuss family reunions, ethics in a zombie world and whether the women on the show are all lame. And of course spoilers ahead.

*****

Simon: ok. that episode of walking dead was pretty awesome.

Anupa: YEAHHHH

Simon: I like how you knew the ending from the cold open

but it still worked

a lot happened this episode

Anupa: i liked that too

but i still don’t get why he cut his hand off?

Simon: yea, do saws not cut through handcuff chains?

Anupa: was that really easier than cutting the cuffs?

Simon: YES

or the pipe

Anupa: also, does that mean he climbed DOWN the building

with one hand?

bc he clearly didn’t go back through the door

Simon: and an open wound didn’t immediately attract zombies for a block party?

also, with no medical supplies

Anupa: i hope he’s dead on the street somewhere <— MEAN

Simon: I’m pretty sure he’d die

that’s a pretty large wound

Anupa: it’s TV, people don’t die unless they’re not-white

Simon: I hope he had his tetanus shots, that saw looked rusty

maybe he’s chillin with jack white zombie

but yea, let’s start at the beginning

big moment when they get back to camp

did it work for you?

Anupa: omg maybe he’ll become a racist belligerent zombie

Well before that

Can we talk about what our friend Sam (@caughtintheweb) brought up on Twitter last week?

Anupa: Which was, why is he driving that screaming car all over the place

Simon: they addressed that too, haha

Anupa: Did they really?

What did they say?

Simon: yea

they asked

why did you drive that here, you’ll attract zombies

Anupa: Right

Simon: they pulled the batteries out

then they said

it echoes off the quarry walls so much

it’d be hard to pinpoint exactly where it’s coming from

which seemed equal parts believable and arbitrary

Anupa: But TO ME, it’s completely illogical. Like in all reality if that happened in real life and you knew that sound attracted zombies, when you made the plan you’d say “let’s get to a rendezvous point so we can ditch this noisy car”

Anupa: And then proceed to the quarry in the truck together

Simon: Yes

Anupa: It seems completely illogical, given their caution and fear of creating noise to drive it right up to camp

Simon: they made a point

to say it was stupid

then Glenn says sorry, haha

Anupa: I accept your apology on his behalf since you’re Asian

Simon: I think the idea is he really enjoyed driving that car

and enjoyment comes far and few between days with them

Anupa: Right

I get it

Simon: that’s why he was so sad they stripped it for parts

Anupa: Also they probably need a reason for the zombies to start moving into their camp

It just felt like a clunky point in the midst of so much “being careful” you know?

Simon: yea, but I’m glad they addressed it

I had wondered about it too

it says a lot about the writing, and taking care of details

why they don’t regularly steal cars I don’t know

if the world ended that’d be one of the first things I did

stroll into a bentley dealership

Anupa: i’d steal a motorcycle

and a hummer

and a corolla because they’re good on gas

Simon: a hummer might be smart, although you’d have to get fuel all the time

EXACTO

so there was surprisingly little action

but also surprisingly lots of tension

Anupa: YES

Low on zombies

High on people hate

Simon: I thought they did the reunion really well

the actors played the moment with appropriate shock and awkwardness

Anupa: Well it was really not an incident

Yeah

It felt like people who had something to hide doing something to cover it up

So it’s safe to say the other people didn’t know about the relationship between best friend and wife?

Simon: I think they probably suspected

but I guess they did seem pretty coy about it

do you think Shane is an asshole?

Anupa: I think more may come to light, but yes I think he’s an asshole for telling Lori that Rick died

Simon: do you think it’s that simple though?

I mean, if you were in a coma overrun by zombies

I might assume you died too

Anupa: Sure

Simon: no offense

Anupa: but you make your own assumptions

Don’t tell people them

Simon: true dat.

Anupa: It’d be different if he said “he’s PROBABLY dead”

Simon: yea, we don’t know for sure what was said

Anupa: Anyway, so now there is this fundamental tension that came up

Back to the point I made with Jef last week about Rick being this Jack-from-Lost-Prototypical-Alpha-Male-Lead-Character

I didn’t like how Rick decided to go back to the city right away

Simon: yea

Anupa: What would you have done? Would you have told Redneck#2 that his brother could still possibly be alive?

Simon: I like how the characters are being shaded with ambiguity

Anupa: They were all willing to leave him in the first place

Simon: I mean, I guess it’s hard to argue with him morally

but I feel like the point is, what are the moral guidelines of the world they live in?

Can you expect to maintain the same principles you had in the regular world?

I like that they hung that arc on getting guns plus his promise to the family that helped him

it made it more believable

If he had gone back PURELY to save Merle

I think people would all think they’re nuts

I would not have gone back, myself

because I am not brave and altruistic

I am lazy and indifferent

Anupa: HAHAHA

This is why we’re friends

But the guns was a good point

Did you like how easy it was for them to get back into the city?

I mean, we had friends over (hi Sean and Rob!) who’ve read the book and they reminded us that it really makes the point that the humans create problems themselves

Like, if you get killed by zombies you’re kind of dumb because (in The Walking Dead world) the zombie problem is somewhat manageable as long as you follow common sense

Simon: yes and no

I mean, yes in the sense that they aren’t exactly had to out wit

but no in, I don’t know if it’s creating problems as much as taking necessary risks?

Like, I don’t think just turtling up in a camp is a viable solution right?

they need supplies

Granted, saving a crazy racist may not be a good reason

but eventually you’d have to take some risks

Anupa: Right

So far though, it all seems pretty patchy. They have tonnnns of trouble getting out but no trouble getting back in

But I guess that’s TV with the unpredictable consequences

Simon: word.

Anupa: How about that B plot

With the wifebeating dude and Shane kicking the shit out of him?

Simon: I think the camp relationships is by far the most interesting part of the show so far

Anupa: Related: those four women are infinitely more interesting together than they are apart, and I don’t know what that says

Simon: “I’m beginning to question the division of labour here”

is going to be my new catchphrase

Anupa: Put it on a shirt!

Simon: one day… one day.

Anupa: And I’m glad the camp relationships are interesting because now we’re seeing what’s going to sustain this show

Simon: It’s getting real Lord of the Flies

is this what Lost was like?

Anupa: It sucks because those men are really troublesome… they’re disagreeable and not easy to work with and, in the end, could get people killed

But they need the manpower

Simon: you are suggesting a society with all women would be more productive? hahaha

Anupa: That said, I also wish some of these women were a bit tougher, or given the opportunity to be tougher because of the circumstances

They’re talking about division of labour, but none of those women volunteered or even seemed CAPABLE of going back into the city

Whereas on LOST, for example, the women were very tough

Also, the whole zombie killing scene had the guys swarm around it while the women cowered in the corner

I’m not saying I’d go all G.I. Joe if there was an apocalypse, but I’d definitely be asking to go on killing duty sometime. The last thing I’d want is to be alone and not know what the fuck to do.

I’d really like to see the writers move a little bit beyond

Simon: yea, I wonder if it isn’t more related to pre zombie world culture than it reflects on the characters?

I mean, keep in mind they’re in the South

not to stereotype

but I think there’s some of that influence written in

You’re right though

Anupa: really? I don’t know

Simon: my friends would never voluntarily do all my laundry no matter how messed up the world was

Anupa: it’s not that difficult to make one of the women be okay with wielding a gun

Or smacking a zombie in the face

…. Or cover herself in zombie guts

Simon: I agree

Anupa: I am sad we didn’t see Jack White zombie this episode

Simon: although I think it’s hard to have that kind of character without her being a cliche

yes, I am curious where he went this episode

to be fair, we really didn’t see any zombies at all

like, 4 total

do you think saving Merle makes them better people?

Simon: also, I find his brother pretty amusing

I think it’s the fact he had squirrels looped around him and said “let’s stew ‘em up!”

Anupa: They’re realllllllllly dealing in cliches

and I don’t know if it’s staying true to the comic book genre, which can be kinda campy in that sense

or if it’s just poor writing

Simon: I agree that a lot of the characters aren’t really believable people

Like, sure, rednecks

but really? Zombie Apocalypse not making you rethink the way you live your life?

that Ed dude for example

it seems he literally does nothing?

he doesn’t trek to the city, doesn’t kill intruding zombies, doesn’t listen to campfire rules and doesn’t do laundry.

wife beating? check.

Anupa: HAHAHAH exactly

It’s been a couple of months, you’d think they would’ve established a chore system

Simon: if you really wanted to survive

I feel like your best bet would be an island

centre island

Anupa: but zombies can swim!

Anupa: then you’d be screwed

Simon: they can?

Anupa: Or float

they can float to centre island

the airport island would be good because then you can take off a plane from there

Simon: I feel like they lack the motor skills to properly swim

where are they going with the rest of this season?

I mean, is Merle going to be a bad guy?

can you have a human bad guy in a zombie apocalypse?

Anupa: Yes

I think that’s the direction this show is going

Also, did you not see the previews for next week?

If you didn’t then I won’t tell you

Simon: no, I don’t watch the previews

Anupa: Except for one hint: BAD GUYS

Simon: I feel like ultimately that’s where a lot of these types of shows head

like “in the end, the enemy is OURSELVES” type of deal

I thought this was the best episode though

despite the lack of undead

Anupa: Really?

I really liked last week

I prefer action

To wife beating

Simon: These episodes give me an appreciation for poltics

like, Ed is totally Iran

The sisters are Canada

it’s a model UN

Anupa: That’s two people

LOL

Also, re: the sisters

I hate them

That is all

Simon: they miss their benz and texting

and they know what’s best for others

what’s to hate?

Anupa: Too much crying

Simon: I am not surprised she misses her vibrator

Anupa: THIS SHOW IS SO CLICHE

Simon: I don’t know what I’d miss most

probably like, food

or running water

but it’s effective, despite the cliches no?

Anupa: You can say that because you’re a guy

Simon: you are truly perturbed by the female characters

Lori also seems kind of annoying to boot

Anupa: SEE

It’s not just me

Tags: can zombies swim?, cliches, gender politics, red necks, tetanus