# The Walking Dead; 1.05 "Wildfire" (open spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 29, 2010, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234 "2010-11-29T01:05:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/41 "2010-11-29T18:28:34Z")
> [@mr.jp](#): > > - Are the zombies dying off? The ones lying around in front of the CDC? It looked to me like many of them had head wounds. ---
**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 29, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/42 "2010-11-29T18:40:12Z")
Seriously, they DO need reflective vests. When they came in all guns-ablazin’ last episode, I had visions of one or more of them shooting someone else in the back. The way Dale stared at Shane, though, indicated to me that he didn’t buy Shane’s excuse - he looked seriously troubled. I noticed too that the women don’t seem to be armed yet - maybe it’s because the one woman with a gun pulls it on group members when she feels like it. 🙂 Regarding the science/safety measures/lack thereof - when you make science fiction shows (and I think zombie shows qualify for that), you have to know your audience - us. We notice things like using the wrong microscope, and not using even the most basic safety precautions that you would have used in dealing with an AIDS patient. You don’t have to show us the scientist firing up an electron microscope (and as a former lab tech, I KNOW how long it takes to make proper slides for study), but for the love of furry kittens, if you can’t show it right, don’t show it at all. I would have been perfectly happy with, “Insert scientific hand-waving here.” ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/43 "2010-11-29T18:49:06Z")
> [@mr.jp](#): > > Other question: > > - Why did it take the scientist so long time to open (other than suspense)? Because he is going crazy? He is reluctant to let in an armed group, any of whom may have been bitten, and none of whom appear to have any food or supplies with them (meaning they will be taking his food and supplies, presumably). Not to mention the risk that zombies will make it inside along with the survivors. ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/44 "2010-11-29T19:08:58Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > I don’t know what you mean by more afraid as many in the group were quite clearly afraid. Jackie had a pretty strong reaction when she found out Jim had been bitten and so do the others when she made them aware. Daryl in particular was all set on simply putting him down as quickly as possible. I think they should be afraid of even touching the diseased. Especially if there is blood involved. ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/45 "2010-11-29T19:10:45Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > He is reluctant to let in an armed group, any of whom may have been bitten, and none of whom appear to have any food or supplies with them (meaning they will be taking his food and supplies, presumably). Not to mention the risk that zombies will make it inside along with the survivors. But he considered suicide anyway. How much worse is low supplies really. Plus he could see them hold off the zombies (for now). And would he really let them die even if there was a small risk? That’s evil. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/46 "2010-11-29T19:35:30Z")
> [@mr.jp](#): > > But he considered suicide anyway. How much worse is low supplies really. Plus he could see them hold off the zombies (for now). And would he really let them die even if there was a small risk? That’s evil. Which is why he let them in. But it was entirely appropriate for him to take a minute to do a risks/benefits analysis. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/47 "2010-11-29T20:01:50Z")
I don’t understand the “that’s stupid, they would never do that” complaints. It’s like people live in a different planet where humans don’t do the stupidest thing possible 90% of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/48 "2010-11-29T20:15:11Z")
I figured leaving Jim behind is going to come back to bite them in the future. Heh. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/49 "2010-11-29T20:50:03Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > I don’t understand the “that’s stupid, they would never do that” complaints. It’s like people live in a different planet where humans don’t do the stupidest thing possible 90% of the time. Indeed, much like me continuing to watch this show. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/50 "2010-11-29T21:34:30Z")
> [@cerberus](#): > > At this point, Teh Stoopid is in full force. > > They’ve pretty much just making shit up now. > > The CDC stuff will be the usual mix of bad science - I can see a mix of The Stand meets Andromeda Strain. Wildfire indeed. No doubt, the science will be bad… but really, how could it be otherwise? What kind of “scientific” explanation for dead bodies rising up and becoming cannibalistic monsters COULD satisfy anyone? ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/51 "2010-11-29T22:08:42Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > No doubt, the science will be bad… but really, how could it be otherwise? What kind of “scientific” explanation for dead bodies rising up and becoming cannibalistic monsters COULD satisfy anyone? I just wish they could get the little things right- turn the microscope the right way and put in a lens! Don’t pretend to see viral DNA. X Files had crazy scientific explanations, but it often worked because they got the little details that could be right, right. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/52 "2010-11-29T22:15:16Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > I just wish they could get the little things right- turn the microscope the right way and put in a lens! Don’t pretend to see viral DNA. X Files had crazy scientific explanations, but it often worked because they got the little details that could be right, right. 99.9% of the population won’t even notice something like that, i certainly wouldn’t if it hadn’t been pointed out here. The sad truth is that it is not worth the effort to get things right. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/53 "2010-11-29T22:19:29Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > 99.9% of the population won’t even notice something like that, i certainly wouldn’t if it hadn’t been pointed out here. The sad truth is that it is not worth the effort to get things right. Of course. I certainly am not suggesting it ruins the show or it’s some big tragedy. But it can still drive me a wee bit nuts when I see it… Not that I need much help in the being nuts department. ---
**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:** [November 29, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/54 "2010-11-29T22:20:49Z")
Fortunately, constant nerd-whining about esoteric minutia isn’t annoying at all. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/55 "2010-11-29T22:52:21Z")
Constant nerd whining? Really? An original comment on a topic of interest and a few follow ups to other people’s comments is constant nerd whining deserving of a snarky smack down? ---
**Author:** ![Sri\_Theo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Sri\_Theo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sri_Theo)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/56 "2010-11-29T22:58:33Z")
The microscope stuff is hilarious. I really like the episode. At the heart of most Zombie fiction is the breakdown of society, that some people fear and others secretly crave but what naturally follows from that is the recreation of a new order. Which is what I find the most appealing about post-apocalypse stories. This episode had opposing views - Andrea was holding on until the last so she could say goodbye to her sister, while the others were just “she’s dead”. This contrasts with Daryl on the other end who wanted to kill bearded guy but the others still considered him “one of them”. Plus there was Glen’s insistence upon burying not burning “their” dead. I like the questions about how values and norms are created when traditional society evaporates. ---
**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 29, 2010, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/57 "2010-11-29T23:18:05Z")
Speaking of burning the dead; what the hell were they using as fuel? 😕 Wouldn’t it take a really long time to burn over a dozen corpse on an open pyre without using gas or kerosene? They can’t possibly stupid enough to waste their gas supplies burning corpses. Especially given that they were leaving anyway. I understand wanting to bury their own dead, but they should’ve just thrown all the zombies in a pile and left them to rot before leaving. ---
**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:** [November 29, 2010, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/58 "2010-11-29T23:20:46Z")
> [@Sri\_Theo](#): > > I really like the episode. At the heart of most Zombie fiction is the breakdown of society, that some people fear and others secretly crave but what naturally follows from that is the recreation of a new order. Which is what I find the most appealing about post-apocalypse stories. I was forced to rethink my concept of “post-apocalypse” after watching The Road this weekend. Compared to The Road, the Walking Dead depicts a glorious, heavenly paradise. The Road has no reveals or surprises; the plot elements are spelled out clearly and early, and the story flows from there. So the following spoilers are not actual spoilers:[spoiler]Whatever killed society also killed _all the plants and animals, too_. Holy shit! Pretty much the only thing left to eat is, well, other people. The only thing anyone has to look forward to is committing suicide before they get killed and eaten by roving gangs of marauders. Unless you’re female, of course, where you’ll be raped first, then killed and eaten. Good times.[/spoiler] ---
**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 29, 2010, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/59 "2010-11-29T23:22:17Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > No doubt, the science will be bad… but really, how could it be otherwise? What kind of “scientific” explanation for dead bodies rising up and becoming cannibalistic monsters COULD satisfy anyone? _I Am Legend_ (the movie) did a fine job with it - the virus that cured cancer turned human beings into zombie-like creatures. We’re science fiction fans; we don’t have a problem with fiction premises that start with “What if…?” I have an ongoing problem with how Hollywood (and tv) treats science fiction, though; they treat it as if you take the guns out of a thriller and put in laser pistols instead, and VIOLA! instant sci fi. It takes a little more thought and a little more work than that. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/60 "2010-11-29T23:32:00Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > they treat it as if you take the guns out of a thriller and put in laser pistols instead, and VIOLA! instant sci fi. Instant string quartet, you mean. . . . . . . . . . . . (Ya mean “voila,” not “viola.” 😃 ) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234.md?page=4)