# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/61 "2010-11-09T16:09:08Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > Anybody who just wants to randomly, indiscriminately shoot at things in a situation where stealth and quiet is going to keep you alive, and who’s going to go out of his way to piss off anyone remotely able to help in the survival situation, isn’t going to still be alive at this stage of the fall of civilization. The thing is that those guys were in a “we are surrounded and about to die” situation at that point, not the stealthy in and out mission. I can easily see someone who’s been holding it together while things were going sorta ok just losing it at that point and thinking “well if we are all going to die anyways imma shoot me some zombies and smack around a negro”. ---
**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 9, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/62 "2010-11-09T16:18:08Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > Please label your spoilers on what’s inside them. We have comic book spoilers, "next week on “The Walking Dead” spoilers, and “I was on the set”/read an interview with Darabont type spoilers. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/63 "2010-11-09T16:53:00Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > True. However, I personally think that even if he was found by the others in a protected situation in which his idiocy hadn’t gotten him killed already, he (and they) wouldn’t have lasted that long outside of that protected situation. > > This can’t be the first time since the zombie uprising that he’s basically thrown caution to the wind to shoot things and/or randomly insult, torment, and assault other survivors. I thought the implication was that he’d found drugs and was high and therefore acting without inhibition (combined with the fact that they all thought they were screwed anyway and trapped at the store). Since he was so over the top, I had to assume that this was the first time they’d seen that type of behavior from him. or they wouldn’t have brought him along. Presumably, when sober, he knows well enough to hide his personality. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/64 "2010-11-09T18:48:17Z")
> [@obfusciatrist](#): > > I thought the implication was that he’d found drugs and was high and therefore acting without inhibition (combined with the fact that they all thought they were screwed anyway and trapped at the store). Since he was so over the top, I had to assume that this was the first time they’d seen that type of behavior from him. or they wouldn’t have brought him along. Presumably, when sober, he knows well enough to hide his personality. Oh, excellent point, I had forgotten ALL about that. Yea, it makes a bit more sense now (although I’m one of those people who thinks that drugs don’t make you different, they just make you MORE of what you already are, and I can’t help but feel that at least some of his dumbassery would have been noticeable before then). ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/65 "2010-11-09T19:15:38Z")
In a strange way I was touched by the dismembering scene. It was the only way they could think of to camoflague themselves. Yet actually starting to do it was hard. When the deputy got out the dead man’s wallet, and read out who he was, and that he had a girl’s picture with him, it was almost like the reading of a funeral service, and acknowledgement that this person was a dead _human_. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/66 "2010-11-09T20:57:41Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > In a strange way I was touched by the dismembering scene. It was the only way they could think of to camoflague themselves. Yet actually starting to do it was hard. When the deputy got out the dead man’s wallet, and read out who he was, and that he had a girl’s picture with him, it was almost like the reading of a funeral service, and acknowledgement that this person was a dead _human_. I loved how he mentioned that when he found his wife and son he would tell them about him, and that Glen pointed out he was an organ donor so they didn’t feel as bad about what they were about to do. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/67 "2010-11-09T21:25:24Z")
I am a big big zombie fan, and I am enjoying the series so far. As others have said, it’s clear they are taking most of the bones from the books, and just working new flesh on them, which is fine. I really hope they can maintain the level of grittiness that the show appears to have so far. Like others, I have been very struck by the “feel” of this after the end world. protip- The moment the word “nigger”, or coke showed up on a survivor, he is cast out. If he is a threat to the safety of the group (as our white trash friend here was) he gets one in the skull, quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/68 "2010-11-09T21:36:36Z")
[QUOTE=Tristan] protip- The moment the word “nigger”, or coke showed up on a survivor, he is cast out. If he is a threat to the safety of the group (as our white trash friend here was) he gets one in the skull, quickly. [/QUOTE] Also if any survivor attempts to use the apocalypse as an attempt to proselytize or sell AmWay (“By getting in on the absolute Ground Floor we will be the richest people alive when civilization is rebuilt!”) must die. A zombie apocalypse version of G&S’s “I Have A Little List (they’ll surely not be missed)” song from The Mikado might be interesting, but I’m afraid showtune singers might be on it. ---
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/69 "2010-11-10T02:16:30Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > I loved how he mentioned that when he found his wife and son he would tell them about him, and that Glen pointed out he was an organ donor so they didn’t feel as bad about what they were about to do. I almost fell out of my chair laughing at that line. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/70 "2010-11-10T20:05:26Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > In a strange way I was touched by the dismembering scene. It was the only way they could think of to camoflague themselves. Yet actually starting to do it was hard. When the deputy got out the dead man’s wallet, and read out who he was, and that he had a girl’s picture with him, it was almost like the reading of a funeral service, and acknowledgement that this person was a dead _human_. I found that scene cliche and cloying. But I just loved Glenn’s organ donor comment. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/71 "2010-11-10T20:16:35Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Please label your spoilers on what’s inside them. We have comic book spoilers, "next week on “The Walking Dead” spoilers, and “I was on the set”/read an interview with Darabont type spoilers. Sorry, **Munch** - my bad. Please don’t chain me to a roof in Atlanta. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/72 "2010-11-10T20:18:39Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > I loved how he mentioned that when he found his wife and son he would tell them about him One wonders what, precisely, he intends to tell his young son about the dead man he chopped into camo-goo. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/73 "2010-11-10T20:23:43Z")
> [@Tristan](#): > > protip- The moment the word “nigger”, or coke showed up on a survivor, he is cast out. If he is a threat to the safety of the group (as our white trash friend here was) he gets one in the skull, quickly. Bad idea, for a few reasons. First: you might need the bullet. In the TV show, a single zombie can be dangerous - that means you can die for want of a single bullet.\* Besides which - there just aren’t many people left, and it’s entirely possible people in your group will die. Do you really want to risk not having an extra able-bodied man around? For that matter, we’ve seen that, regardless of his faults (and they are legion), Merle is an acceptable shot. His judgment regarding _when_ to shoot is horrible, but he hits what he aims at - even when he’s blasted out of his mind on coke. Can you do that, even sober? Because I know I can’t. I don’t disagree that Merle might need a bullet - but there are very good reasons for keeping him alive until it’s absolutely certain there’s no way to live with the man. \*The other thing about a single bullet, of course, is that it may be your only escape from a really horrible death. In the event of zombie apocalypse, I’d make certain to carry a spare bullet in my pocket for precisely that reason - it would be the bullet with my name on it. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/74 "2010-11-10T22:02:29Z")
That would pretty much suck should you lose the corresponding gun. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/75 "2010-11-10T22:30:59Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > \ > > \*The other thing about a single bullet, of course, is that it may be your only escape from a really horrible death. In the event of zombie apocalypse, I’d make certain to carry a spare bullet in my pocket for precisely that reason - it would be the bullet with my name on it. Aahh… the infamous “Baldrick Defense” I see… (scraping noises coming from Baldrick’s location, Edmund gets curious) EBA; Baldrick, what are you doing? B; I’m carving this bullet, sir EBA; _what_ are you carving on it? B; I’m carving “Baldrick”, sir EBA; and exactly _why_ are you carving your name on it? B; it’s a _cunning plan_ actually… EBA; really… B; you know how they say that “somewhere out there is a bullet with your name on it…” EBA (exasperated) yes… B; well, I thought, if I _OWNED_ the bullet with my name on it, I’d never get shot with it… EBA; yes, more’s the pity then… ---
**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 10, 2010, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/76 "2010-11-10T22:36:42Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > Sorry, **Munch** - my bad. > > Please don’t chain me to a roof in Atlanta. Not a problem. I’ve read the comics, just wanted to head any issues off at the pass here and in future threads. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/77 "2010-11-10T23:00:38Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > I was wondering about this - did T-Dog do that to protect Merle from the zombies, or to keep Merle from coming after him if he escapes? The latter seems more likely. Under the circumstances, letting the zombies get at him is both more merciful - being torn apart by a horde of Walkers would be painful, but faster than starving to death - and…well, practical - if he’s torn apart, even if what’s left is enough to rise, it’s not going to be a threat. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/78 "2010-11-11T00:18:15Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > One would think that after using the hacksaw to get his cuffs off, he’d be smart enough to use the hacksaw on the chain as well. > [@drastic\_quench](#): > > The chain is on the inside of the door. > [@Munch](#): > > And it’s not tight. You’d definitely be able to fit a hacksaw through. For the purposes of television drama, you’d ABSOLUTELY be able to fit a hacksaw through. The chain on the door is also quite a bit thicker than the handcuffs. Even if he could get at it, I’m not so sure a hacksaw would cut it, at least not in a reasonably timely fashion. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/79 "2010-11-11T02:40:22Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > The chain on the door is also quite a bit thicker than the handcuffs. Even if he could get at it, I’m not so sure a hacksaw would cut it, at least not in a reasonably timely fashion. I’m sort of assuming that he’ll just break the door down some way, lock be damned. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855/80 "2010-11-12T00:50:07Z")
Perhaps the ‘mythical’ helicopter will buzz past, notice Merle and rescue him. It’d then be pretty easy for him to paint the others as the bad guys. It would have been more sensible and kinder to either kill Merle or take him with them, but they simply didn’t have time to make decisions like that. From the moment they chained Merle up, they were all busy running around trying to find a way out through the sewers, prevent zombies getting in or making zombie fancy dress. (I’m sure that scene was played for laughs, btw; ‘we need more guts.’ :D) The only downtime some of them had was spent up on the roof watching Rick and Glenn navigate the zombie hordes; Rick and Glenn had both guns, so killing Merle would have been a little more difficult and gruesome than just shooting him. They weren’t thinking about him then, anyway - they had more important things on their mind. How come they have so few guns, anyway? Why haven’t they broken into any gun stores? Sure, they’d be high security, but not impossible. Glenn is just adorable. What did everybody think of Andrew Marshall’s accent, btw? To me it sounded like a terrible cod-American accent from a Radio Four afternoon play, but I’m not American. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-02-guts-open-spoiler/559855.md?page=5)