# BrainDead (By the producers of The Good Wife) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 15, 2016, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braindead-by-the-producers-of-the-good-wife/757394 "2016-06-15T03:05:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braindead-by-the-producers-of-the-good-wife/757394/21 "2016-06-15T18:41:33Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > … > What was the obviously rehearsed line that everyone said to explain the behavior of the merchant marine? It was something about how a sea voyage changes people. Everyone used the same exact line, word for word. To answer my own question, the line was: “Everybody comes back a little changed from the sea. You’re out there for four weeks. You got seasickness. You got the time change. It takes your family a while to adapt to you and you to them.” It sounds more like a canned line rather than a real explanation. I think maybe it’s meant to be an allusion to political talking points. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braindead-by-the-producers-of-the-good-wife/757394/22 "2016-06-15T18:54:44Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Personally woulda preferred not to see the brain drip out of Shaloub’s ear and then explode, or the splatter gore when the professor’s head apparently exploded. (Why? Because he was fighting it?) > [@](#): > > “Some people die from it. Some people who resist, their brain explodes. Usually either your brain is weak enough that you accept it and you’re taken over, or if you resist too much — boom!” > **[‘BrainDead’ Bosses and Cast Break Down How the Bugs Work and Who’s in Danger](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/braindead-postmortem-michelle-robert-king-901408/)** > > “He's the more extreme version of himself. He's unwilling to compromise. He'll drive the whole government off a cliff if that's what it takes,” co-creator Michelle King tells THR of the bugs' first victim, Wheatus. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braindead-by-the-producers-of-the-good-wife/757394/23 "2016-06-16T14:02:41Z")
This was … not … good. Will not watch a second episode. Sorry, Tony. While it had Clinton and Trump running for President. It also has (had) the Dems. controlling the Senate. Why bother using any Real World candidates at all? I don’t see how the humans can fight back. These bugs can clearly take over and rule fairly quickly. Any organized opposition will have its leadership gone in a flash. To take them down will require a _deus ex machina_. Maybe something a bit more interesting than the common cold or an AC but it would still be gimmicky. Already in the “separated at birth” pool, both [Danny Pino](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0992694/) and [Mark Consuelos](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0176175/) are playing Senators in TV shows. And does it have to _You Might Think_? Now, if it was _My Best Friend’s Girl_, I’d be a lot more interested. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braindead-by-the-producers-of-the-good-wife/757394/24 "2016-06-16T14:17:58Z")
You’re expecting the SciFi aspect of it to make sense. It’s political satire, not hard SciFi. Every day we see many of our politicians acting in totally insane ways. That’s what this is about. I do wonder, though, how the writers can keep the infection in check so the show doesn’t degenerate into mindless happy-bots interacting with each other. I think the point of using _You Might Think_ is the full line: “You might think I’m crazy”. Also, it’s cheesiness adds to the humor. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braindead-by-the-producers-of-the-good-wife/757394/25 "2016-06-16T16:22:12Z")
I had a feeling from the description that it wouldn’t be my thing, but I loved _The Good Wife_ and I love Tony Shalhoub so I decided to check it out anyway. Turns out I was right. I wouldn’t call the premiere a bad episode, it’s just not for me; I’m not interested enough in the alien/satire combo. I won’t watch the second episode. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2016, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braindead-by-the-producers-of-the-good-wife/757394/26 "2016-06-17T04:45:07Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > I expected a political thriller similar to _The Good Wife_. It is not what I expected. Well, it is and it isn’t. Um…what gave you that impression? I haven’t seen it, but all the promos I’ve seen suggested a farce about either zombies or aliens. Nothing remotely suggestive of it being serious. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2016, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braindead-by-the-producers-of-the-good-wife/757394/27 "2016-06-18T04:23:18Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Um…what gave you that impression? I haven’t seen it, but all the promos I’ve seen suggested a farce about either zombies or aliens. Nothing remotely suggestive of it being serious. The only promos I had seen, or at least paid much attention to, didn’t indicate that. I don’t watch a lot of broadcast network TV. I was only interested because I has seen some brief promos during the final episodes of \*The Good Wife \*, a show I liked. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2016, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braindead-by-the-producers-of-the-good-wife/757394/28 "2016-06-20T21:29:42Z")
Loved it. Both the genre and the lead are right in my wheelhouse. As a big fan of horror – both cheese and quality – I’ve been a big fan of Mary Elizabeth Winstead since Final Destination 3. Other horror projects of hers I was excited about (and enjoyed) largely due to her include Black Christmas, The Thing, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, The Returned, and 10 Cloverfield Lane. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2016, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braindead-by-the-producers-of-the-good-wife/757394/29 "2016-06-20T21:46:06Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Loved it. Both the genre and the lead are right in my wheelhouse. > > As a big fan of horror – both cheese and quality – I’ve been a big fan of Mary Elizabeth Winstead since Final Destination 3. Other horror projects of hers I was excited about (and enjoyed) largely due to her include Black Christmas, The Thing, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, The Returned, and 10 Cloverfield Lane. I liked _Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter_. Ridiculous premises can sometimes make for entertaining movies or TV, but other times they just fail. For example, the premise for _[Iron Sky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Sky)_ was brilliantly ridiculous but it just kind of fell flat. I’m still undecided on BrainDead. I think it’s on again tonight, so we’ll see how this one goes. ---
**Author:** ![Cayuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braindead-by-the-producers-of-the-good-wife/757394/30 "2016-06-21T22:05:56Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Um…what gave you that impression? I haven’t seen it, but all the promos I’ve seen suggested a farce about either zombies or aliens. Nothing remotely suggestive of it being serious. I saw about a thousand promos – or rather, the same two promos 500 times each – and had not a single clue that aliens or zombies would be involved. It was positioned as a political satire/mystery. The only indication was the squashed ant in the logo, but I failed to make the leap from that to zombies and aliens. ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2016, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braindead-by-the-producers-of-the-good-wife/757394/31 "2016-06-23T18:12:01Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Her brother was appealing in some respects, but impressed me as WAY too young for a senator. Danny Pino is in his mid 40’s. There are 14 current US Senators in their 30’s and 40’s. ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2016, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braindead-by-the-producers-of-the-good-wife/757394/32 "2016-06-23T18:21:58Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Loved it. Both the genre and the lead are right in my wheelhouse. > > As a big fan of horror – both cheese and quality – I think it’s the right mix of cheese and quality. I’m loving it. It’s not too deep but it’s not too dumb either, the twists are funny as hell (cancer girl being Atheist Annie) and Tony Shalhoub and Dany Pino are hilarious as foes. It’s like a really well mixed cocktail. A fun way to spend a half hour. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2016, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braindead-by-the-producers-of-the-good-wife/757394/33 "2016-06-23T18:26:41Z")
After watching the second episode, I’m still enjoying it. ---
**Author:** ![TPWombat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbce88/32.png) [@TPWombat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TPWombat)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2016, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braindead-by-the-producers-of-the-good-wife/757394/34 "2016-06-23T21:56:16Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > After watching the second episode, I’m still enjoying it. Likewise. The musical recap at the start of ep 2 was funny. “Looks like Scarlett has a space bug problem too You know your day was lousy when somebody’s head explodes on you” ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braindead-by-the-producers-of-the-good-wife/757394/35 "2016-06-24T17:56:34Z")
It’s OK, not great but OK, as a political satire. The bugs stop it dead every time they appear. They have to explain what the bugs do soon. They seem to make people even more of what they already are, but the writer friend seemed to have reversed herself. And why are any heads exploding? Seems like that would be the last thing the bugs want. No way this will last past the summer. Unless they’ve already shot all the episodes, they’d be smart to cut their losses and give us proper answers soon. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braindead-by-the-producers-of-the-good-wife/757394/36 "2016-06-24T18:09:28Z")
I also noticed how the friend seemed to react differently. Maybe she had really become more conservative since the last time they saw her, and the bugs then amplified it. I think maybe people who are stronger willed or more intelligent fight it and end up having their head explode. Notice how they were yelling “get them out, they’re in my head”. That didn’t seem to happen with people who were easily infected. But whatever, as silly as it is I’m still entertained by it. It’s no _Breaking Bad_ or even _The Good Wife_ but I’m enjoying it. To each his own. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2016, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braindead-by-the-producers-of-the-good-wife/757394/37 "2016-06-25T15:20:26Z")
Exapno Mapcase wrote: “And why are any heads exploding? Seems like that would be the last thing the bugs want.” In every war there are going to be casualties. It’s just that a certain number of people…er…refuse to be bugged. The bugs can’t do anything about it even if they don’t like it. So far we’ve got two cases, the scientist guy and the chess player. Maybe it’s a certain personality type thing. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braindead-by-the-producers-of-the-good-wife/757394/38 "2016-06-28T01:18:40Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > They have to explain what the bugs do soon. They seem to make people even more of what they already are, but the writer friend seemed to have reversed herself. And why are any heads exploding? Seems like that would be the last thing the bugs want. > [@davidm](#): > > I think maybe people who are stronger willed or more intelligent fight it and end up having their head explode. Notice how they were yelling “get them out, they’re in my head”. That didn’t seem to happen with people who were easily infected. See post #22 > **[‘BrainDead’ Bosses and Cast Break Down How the Bugs Work and Who’s in Danger](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/braindead-postmortem-michelle-robert-king-901408/)** > > “He's the more extreme version of himself. He's unwilling to compromise. He'll drive the whole government off a cliff if that's what it takes,” co-creator Michelle King tells THR of the bugs' first victim, Wheatus. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braindead-by-the-producers-of-the-good-wife/757394/39 "2016-06-28T20:35:20Z")
Saw the first episode. I will have to pass. I mean, as comedy, it’s not that funny. As sci-fi, it’s not nearly creepy enough for me. ---
**Author:** ![Orpington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/cc9497/32.png) [@Orpington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orpington)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braindead-by-the-producers-of-the-good-wife/757394/40 "2016-06-30T18:37:47Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > You’re expecting the SciFi aspect of it to make sense. It’s political satire, not hard SciFi. Every day we see many of our politicians acting in totally insane ways. That’s what this is about. > > I do wonder, though, how the writers can keep the infection in check so the show doesn’t degenerate into mindless happy-bots interacting with each other. > > I think the point of using _You Might Think_ is the full line: “You might think I’m crazy”. Also, it’s cheesiness adds to the humor. The song is an earworm. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braindead-by-the-producers-of-the-good-wife/757394.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/braindead-by-the-producers-of-the-good-wife/757394.md?page=3)