# 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:** 6
**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 30, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/101 "2010-11-30T19:40:55Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > I don’t think they ever clearly stated exactly where the CDC is [It’s in Atlanta](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centers_for_Disease_Control_and_Prevention). So, yes, for the heroes, who were just outside of Atlanta, it’s a lot closer than Fort Benning which is in a whole different county. ---
**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 30, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/102 "2010-11-30T19:45:03Z")
> [@MeanJoe](#): > > go to the CDC in Atlanta -or- go 100 miles in the opposite direction to Ft. Benning. But the real life locations are meaningless! Atlanta could very well be 600 miles in diameter in this universe! ---
**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 30, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/103 "2010-11-30T19:49:12Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > …Is it just me, or would anyone else be a bit uncomfortable about the two police officers taking over the group and abusing their authority like they have already done? Maybe that’s why the family went to “Birmingham;” they were just escaping their new dictatorship. :)… That’s bothering me too. I’m not fond of the way the female characters are being used either. [QUOTE=Lumpy] Re. military bases: doesn’t the military have contingency plans for a biowar/pandemic scenerio? So if a “wildfire” was declared, wouldn’t there be a response in place? [/QUOTE] I highly doubt the military has a specific plan\* in place to deal with _zombies_. They’d need to improvise and cobble a plan together out of the epidemic and civil unrest plans. And if TWD follows the standard zombie movie cliche of taking place in a universe without zombie movies there isn’t even a fictional reference for what’s happening. \*Of course the video log seems to imply that the government knew about zombies at least a couple of months before the big outbreak. ---
**Author:** ![MeanJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanjoe/32/5693_2.png) [@MeanJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanJoe)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/104 "2010-11-30T20:04:12Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > But the real life locations are meaningless! Atlanta could very well be 600 miles in diameter in this universe! Is this a whoosh? It was stated in the episode by the characters, who I’d assume you would classify as “in this universe” that Ft. Benning was 100-miles in the opposite direction. MeanJoe - Who is really done with arguing this stupid point. Atlanta is in GA. The CDC is in Atlanta. Ft. Benning is in GA. The show is based in GA. It is pretty damn simple folks. ---
**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 30, 2010, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/105 "2010-11-30T20:42:54Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > [It’s in Atlanta](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centers_for_Disease_Control_and_Prevention). How is a Wiki link relevant to what I said? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/106 "2010-11-30T21:11:56Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > It was fine and all, but I get tired of seeing references to other movies. I get it. WILDFIRE is a reference to The Andromeda Strain. Oh, ok. I was expecting a horse to die in a killing frost, but I guess that makes more sense. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/107 "2010-11-30T21:14:28Z")
They Eat Horses, Don’t They? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/108 "2010-11-30T21:27:01Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > But the real life locations are meaningless! Atlanta could very well be 600 miles in diameter in this universe! Sometimes, driving in Atlanta makes it _feel_ like the city is 600 miles in diameter… ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/109 "2010-11-30T21:33:32Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > I don’t think they ever clearly stated exactly where the CDC is, but they did say that it was much closer than Fort Benning, which they said was 100 miles away. The CDC is in Atlanta. They established this in the first episode. The campsite is not far from Atlanta, some of the guys had to hoof it back from Atlanta just last week. ---
**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 30, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/110 "2010-11-30T21:53:17Z")
At least bad-science dude got to scream n-o-o-o-o-o-o! I don’t think we’ve had one of those since Merle’s brother shouted it on the rooftop. I hate the still-alive blond sister: I’m surprised there’s any scenery left on the set after all that chewing through two episodes. Next prediction of teh stoopid: they won’t scavenge any of the multitudes of military weapons and other gear lying around for the taking. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/111 "2010-11-30T22:34:31Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > The CDC is in Atlanta. They established this in the first episode. The campsite is not far from Atlanta, some of the guys had to hoof it back from Atlanta just last week. They reaffirmed that this week. Rick said (via his radio communication) that they were at a quarry just northwest of downtown, which is exactly where they were filming in real life – the [Bellwood Quarry](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=900+Lois+st,+atlanta&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=31.922255,56.513672&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=900+Lois+St+NW,+Atlanta,+Fulton,+Georgia+30318&t=h&z=16). So they are sticking pretty close to real-world geography. (Fake CDC building notwithstanding.) [From the quarry to downtown Atlanta is 4.5 miles](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=900+Lois+St+NW,+Atlanta,+Fulton,+Georgia+30318&daddr=Atlanta,+GA&geocode=Ff2AAwIdn6P3-ilR_NQVygT1iDHQZs0YksCkOw%3BFQP4AgIdclf4-imNCZNpXQT1iDELYwuZL97-Zg&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=33.07001,-84.712155&sspn=1.983945,3.532104&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=13). [From the quarry to the CDC is 8.9 miles, in a different direction than downtown, and a 21-minute drive in real life](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=900+Lois+St+NW,+Atlanta,+Fulton,+Georgia+30318&daddr=1600+Clifton+Road+Northeast,+Atlanta,+GA&hl=en&geocode=Ff2AAwIdn6P3-ilR_NQVygT1iDHQZs0YksCkOw%3BFS-6AwId7ET5-inD-nNt9gb1iDGwSELta0s47w&mra=ls&sll=33.784061,-84.434017&sspn=0.007687,0.013797&g=900+Lois+St+NW,+Atlanta,+Fulton,+Georgia+30318&ie=UTF8&ll=33.788849,-84.37912&spn=0.061489,0.110378&t=h&z=13). [From the quarry to Ft. Benning is 122 miles in real life, in the opposite direction from the CDC](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=900+Lois+St+NW,+Atlanta,+Fulton,+Georgia+30318&daddr=Ft+Benning,+Columbus,+GA&geocode=Ff2AAwIdn6P3-ilR_NQVygT1iDHQZs0YksCkOw%3BFYjV7QEdnIHx-ilbsQvKUS7ziDE6dUYte068nQ&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=33.788849,-84.37912&sspn=0.061489,0.110378&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=8). Now can we stop obsessing about this stuff? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/112 "2010-11-30T23:02:16Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > At least bad-science dude got to scream n-o-o-o-o-o-o! I don’t think we’ve had one of those since Merle’s brother shouted it on the rooftop. I hate the still-alive blond sister: I’m surprised there’s any scenery left on the set after all that chewing through two episodes. Next prediction of teh stoopid: they won’t scavenge any of the multitudes of military weapons and other gear lying around for the taking. In their defense they were a bit occupied at the time. I don’t know if I’d stop to pick stuff up while I was on the look out for walkers to come bite me in the ass. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/113 "2010-11-30T23:11:27Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > They reaffirmed that this week. Rick said (via his radio communication) that they were at a quarry just northwest of downtown, which is exactly where they were filming in real life – the [Bellwood Quarry](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=900+Lois+st,+atlanta&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=31.922255,56.513672&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=900+Lois+St+NW,+Atlanta,+Fulton,+Georgia+30318&t=h&z=16). So they are sticking pretty close to real-world geography. (Fake CDC building notwithstanding.) > > [From the quarry to downtown Atlanta is 4.5 miles](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=900+Lois+St+NW,+Atlanta,+Fulton,+Georgia+30318&daddr=Atlanta,+GA&geocode=Ff2AAwIdn6P3-ilR_NQVygT1iDHQZs0YksCkOw%3BFQP4AgIdclf4-imNCZNpXQT1iDELYwuZL97-Zg&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=33.07001,-84.712155&sspn=1.983945,3.532104&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=13). > > [From the quarry to the CDC is 8.9 miles, in a different direction than downtown, and a 21-minute drive in real life](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=900+Lois+St+NW,+Atlanta,+Fulton,+Georgia+30318&daddr=1600+Clifton+Road+Northeast,+Atlanta,+GA&hl=en&geocode=Ff2AAwIdn6P3-ilR_NQVygT1iDHQZs0YksCkOw%3BFS-6AwId7ET5-inD-nNt9gb1iDGwSELta0s47w&mra=ls&sll=33.784061,-84.434017&sspn=0.007687,0.013797&g=900+Lois+St+NW,+Atlanta,+Fulton,+Georgia+30318&ie=UTF8&ll=33.788849,-84.37912&spn=0.061489,0.110378&t=h&z=13). > > [From the quarry to Ft. Benning is 122 miles in real life, in the opposite direction from the CDC](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=900+Lois+St+NW,+Atlanta,+Fulton,+Georgia+30318&daddr=Ft+Benning,+Columbus,+GA&geocode=Ff2AAwIdn6P3-ilR_NQVygT1iDHQZs0YksCkOw%3BFYjV7QEdnIHx-ilbsQvKUS7ziDE6dUYte068nQ&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=33.788849,-84.37912&sspn=0.061489,0.110378&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=8). > > Now can we stop obsessing about this stuff? 😉 What about: Boston Seoul Coney Island San Francisco Tokyo Burbank Death Valley Toledo Decatur Seoul Honolulu ? ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/114 "2010-12-01T01:49:35Z")
I want a story about a group of tough, smart survivors managing to make it on the ragged edge, not a bunch of stumbling idiots who manage to luck their way into not dying yet. Going to the CDC, arriving at dusk, and then saying “welp, that didn’t work, I guess we’re all fucked now, anyone have any ideas?” is just painfully stupid. Someone should’ve told the sister to move, and if she wouldn’t, shot Amy in the head. This shit is serious. You don’t survive the apocalypse by being wishy wishy and just hoping shit will go your way. Or, at least, if they’re dumb, they should get punished for it. Amy biting her sister would’ve been satisfying… although to be fair, I guess the Fish Fry Massacre is an example of this. ---
**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:** [December 1, 2010, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/115 "2010-12-01T02:01:52Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > \ Next prediction of teh stoopid: they won’t scavenge any of the multitudes of military weapons and other gear lying around for the taking. I’m not going to take that bet. I’m still waiting for the show to explain why they can’t use any of the five billion vehicles or guns lying around in Atlanta, and where all the gas and food went. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/116 "2010-12-01T02:07:50Z")
Y’know, they could go to some rural area, and hole up in some vacant house, and probably be entirely safe from zombies. But that would make a pretty boring show, wouldn’t it? ---
**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:** [December 1, 2010, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/117 "2010-12-01T02:12:47Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > Y’know, they could go to some rural area, and hole up in some vacant house, and probably be entirely safe from zombies. > > But that would make a pretty boring show, wouldn’t it? _“Big Brother: Zombie House!”_ That might be AWESOME! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/118 "2010-12-01T02:17:12Z")
I think what you all have to erae from your own minds is that we are familiar with zombies and post-apocalyptic scenarios, but they are not. To them this is all new, and getting their priorities sorted out in amongst blind panic and confusion is what the story has to sustain. You can’t assume they are familiar with Dawn of the Dead and should act like you see in the movies. To them this is all new and strange and unprecedented, and at every turn is wholesale unending chaos. Personally, if it was me, I’d throw logical behaviour out the window, curl up into a ball, and cry myself to death. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/119 "2010-12-01T02:20:00Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > _“Big Brother: Zombie House!”_ That might be AWESOME! [It’s been done.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Set_%28TV_series%29) ---
**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:** [December 1, 2010, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234/120 "2010-12-01T02:30:03Z")
Yeah, that “100 miles in the other direction” quote sounds familiar, so I’m thinking I misunderstood. I set the DVR to record it tonight so I can see exactly what they said. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-1-05-wildfire-open-spoilers/562234.md?page=7)