# The Walking Dead; 1.02 "Guts", (open spoiler) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 8, 2010, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855 "2010-11-08T01:52:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/21 "2010-11-08T16:42:15Z")
I’m not sure where this concept can go, plot-wise. There’s only so many variations of “So what do we do now to try to survive?” that you can run through before repetition sets in. Eventually they’ll likely run into some biochemist who has a notion as to how the plague started, and how it can be stopped. I voted “Didn’t like it” BTW, so I’m not sure I’ll be following it much from now on. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/22 "2010-11-08T17:15:35Z")
No idea if it’s in the books or not, but these zombies clearly have some tiny filament thin but extant vestigial memories: the little girl in ep1 who picks up her stuffed animal (no reason to- she can’t eat it and it’s no use to her), Duane’s mother who alone of the zombies goes to the porch of her old house and turns the door knob, and even just some of the expression on the faces- one last night was of a businessman who had an almost “don’t I know you?” expression. And then they can use tools- at least big rocks. I actually like that they’re not like the most brain dead zombies. And I gotta say I’m crushing on Glenn. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/23 "2010-11-08T17:28:24Z")
I liked it. Not as much as the first episode, but still quite a bit. I will definitely be watching the series. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/24 "2010-11-08T17:33:59Z")
This episode wasn’t nearly as good as the pilot, but it was OK. I don’t like that the zombies can run either. It’s called _Walking Dead_, and they’re called Walkers. ---
**Author:** ![Moment\_Slayer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Moment\_Slayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moment_Slayer)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/25 "2010-11-08T17:40:19Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > This episode wasn’t nearly as good as the pilot, but it was OK. I don’t like that the zombies can run either. It’s called _Walking Dead_, and they’re called Walkers. Maybe the runners were speed walkers in real life. Speed shuffling? Did they keep both feet on the ground at all times. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/26 "2010-11-08T17:49:55Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > Ok, so redneck bad guy is so obviously a bully, racists, and a danger to the group to where they have to lock him up. If he’s a danger to the point where you have to handcuff him why doesn’t someone just put a bullet through his head? You know it’s just going to bite you in the ass later. > > Some dude calls me a nigger and beats my ass no way in hell would I try to keep him alive. I was thinking the same thing. Put that dog down, he’s gone rabid. He’s murderously racist, he’s making gross sexual comments to the women, and he’s high on coke. Who needs this guy in their group? I think it was another case of distinguishing who are the “good” survivors who are keeping their humanity. That being said, I realize that T-Dog was panicking at the thought of being left behind, but it surely would have been more merciful to kill Merle than leave him handcuffed and exposed on a roof in ATLANTA. It doesn’t seem to be full summer, but he’d still die of dehydration, if not heat stroke. There was a clear shot of T-Dog tripping over the bag and spilling tools - including the hacksaw - on the roof. I’m thinking Merle gets free of the handcuffs, but gets bitten or eaten when he goes into the building for shelter (not knowing the walkers have breached the front door and are in there). I was also very glad I wasn’t eating my leftover pasta and marinara during last night’s episode. ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/27 "2010-11-08T17:52:42Z")
Darabont is showing his usual disregard for the source material(cf The Mist). The series is flowing well, but he’s forcing in the usual things that show up in zombie movies Which is not the point of The Walking Dead. He’s already deviated heavily from the early issues, in ways that are severely annoying to me. In particular, the Rick/Glenn/Atlanta stuff has been all squished together, and diminshes to an extent the competency of Rick and Glenn, and in particular the uniqueness of Glenn as an uber-scout and forager. The series is good, though, but a different animal from the graphic novels. And what is it about genre casting that seems to inevitably lead to casting UK actors in lead roles? Not complaining, but it’s odd. ---
**Author:** ![emarkp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3be4f8/32.png) [@emarkp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emarkp)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/28 "2010-11-08T18:47:59Z")
I’m loving this show, but I’m concerned about the running/climbing zombies. The comic clearly emphasizes that individually, zombies are not dangerous if you’re not surprised, but only in large numbers. The dynamic will be different and I wonder how several key story elements will have to change. At any rate, I love how human the characters are. Rick is desperately hanging on to his humanity. They’re all learning the new rules of what is left of civilization. “Is that looting? I don’t think those rules apply any more.” This is the story I’ve been wanting to see for a long time–the long-term story of survivors. Rick is clearly a leader and he’s creating a community wherever he goes. He’s also a problem solver, which will help the group stay alive. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/29 "2010-11-08T18:57:08Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > For what it’s worth, they seem to be diverging from the Comic already since, while it has been a while since I read it, I am pretty sure in the comic, Rick only met Glenn while in Atlanta and the redneck character did not exist at all which for me is good because I was hoping there would be surprises in store for people who read the source material. I agree, and I don’t like it. Now I’m trying to figure out who these new characters are in the book. I think I know which ones they are. I think that some of these characters are the ones they meet in the prison. Certainly the big black guy and the redneck. I can’t remember who else they met in Atlanta in this version. There was a black female. I really hope it isn’t the one I think it is, because the whole way they met was significant. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/30 "2010-11-08T19:28:34Z")
> [@WarmNPrickly](#): > > I agree, and I don’t like it. Now I’m trying to figure out who these new characters are in the book. I think I know which ones they are. I’m spoilering this because it’s speculation from the book. I’m guessing the new people are going to die soon, specifically because they’re not from the book. We need to know a few people who die for the horror of it all to continue. If zeds kill off a bunch of off-screen survivors, it just doesn’t hold much weight than if “that guy we saw for quite a while on the Atlanta roof” dies. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/31 "2010-11-08T20:55:53Z")
I was expecting them to use racist cokehead guy as zombie bait- handcuff him and toss him out to lure the zombies away from an entrance. I agree that shooting him would be both more practical and more merciful. ---
**Author:** ![kathmandu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kathmandu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kathmandu)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/32 "2010-11-08T21:43:35Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > Ok, so redneck bad guy is so obviously a bully, racists, and a danger to the group to where they have to lock him up. If he’s a danger to the point where you have to handcuff him why doesn’t someone just put a bullet through his head? You know it’s just going to bite you in the ass later. > > Some dude calls me a nigger and beats my ass no way in hell would I try to keep him alive. The “good guys” can’t put a bullet in him, as they would then become the bad guys - murderers are worse than bully racists in my book. I don’t see why they didn’t do what seemed to me to be the obvious solution to the problem - don’t unlock him with the handcuff key, but give him the hacksaw when you’re on your way out the door. It will take him awhile to free himself, so you have time to get away, but you’re giving him a fighting chance. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/33 "2010-11-08T22:03:13Z")
Spoiler request: Do the graphic novels have a flashback to the beginning of the Plague (or whatever)? I’m curious to see it through the eyes of somebody like Rick’s wife or the others who weren’t comatose when it happened. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/34 "2010-11-08T22:19:33Z")
I, too, am hoping that we see the outbreak and collapse of civilization through a flashback, or someone telling their story to Rick, maybe. I liked this episode a lot! A nice change of pace from the pilot (which I also liked). The 90 minute pilot only had a couple of scenes where It felt like the characters might be in danger: in the hospital, and the very end when he rides into the city. Last night’s was a white-knuckle episode all the way. I could actually feel my heartrate speed up and I found myself holding my breath and squirming in my chair when the two guys started walking out amongst the zombies. I’m not affected by most horror movies/tv shows. Vampires, werewolves, aliens, monsters, etc.–they don’t really scare me because I just can’t suspend my belief enough to take them seriously most of the time. But zombie movies scare the shit out of me. I don’t know what it is. I guess the everpresent threat of not just one “monster” but the collective undead, and the sense of being surrounded and cornered all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/35 "2010-11-08T22:21:30Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > …the racist redneck was a bit of a caricature, one that I did not enjoy… Yeah, that was bad writing. Oooh, it’s set in Georgia; let’s bring in a racist character! We’ll have him shout racial epithets while he’s beating up a black man! Oooh, and let’s make him a boorish sexist to boot! (Should we have him wear a Confederate flag T-shirt? Nah, _that_ would be taking it too far!) ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/36 "2010-11-08T22:25:44Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > Yeah, that was bad writing. > > Oooh, it’s set in Georgia; let’s bring in a racist character! We’ll have him shout racial epithets while he’s beating up a black man! Oooh, and let’s make him a boorish sexist to boot! (Should we have him wear a Confederate flag T-shirt? Nah, _that_ would be taking it too far!) I didn’t see it as a regional slam; Rick’s a sheriff from rural Georgia (two demographics not often stereotyped as being race liberals) and he’s not like that. I saw the guy as just a paint by numbers dick who survived, not a representative Atlantan, which is entirely conceivable that a few bad guys would survive. Since he probably went around hitting crack houses and drug dealer’s places during his salvaging he’d probably be doing more coke than he’d ever been able to afford in his previous life so he’s probably particularly feeling his oats. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/37 "2010-11-08T22:30:32Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > I didn’t see it as a regional slam; Rick’s a sheriff from rural Georgia (two demographics not often stereotyped as being race liberals) and he’s not like that. I saw the guy as just a paint by numbers dick who survived, not a representative Atlantan, which is entirely conceivable that a few bad guys would survive. Since he probably went around hitting crack houses and drug dealer’s places during his salvaging he’d probably be doing more coke than he’d ever been able to afford in his previous life so he’s probably particularly feeling his oats. Well Rick is in the original comic. But (based on the comment upthread) they seem to have added stereotypical-racist-guy for the TV series. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/38 "2010-11-08T22:53:26Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Spoiler request: Do the graphic novels have a flashback to the beginning of the Plague (or whatever)? I’m curious to see it through the eyes of somebody like Rick’s wife or the others who weren’t comatose when it happened. Nope, not at least through TPB 11. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/39 "2010-11-08T22:53:43Z")
So is the woman who’s making the beast with two backs the wife of the cop who was shot? ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/40 "2010-11-08T22:56:05Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > So is the woman who’s making the beast with two backs the wife of the cop who was shot? Yep. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855.md?page=3)