# The Walking Dead; 2.08 "Nebraska" (open spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 12, 2012, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-2-08-nebraska-open-spoilers/612643 "2012-02-12T23:33:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-2-08-nebraska-open-spoilers/612643/61 "2012-02-13T19:19:37Z")
The actor who plays Hershel, Scott Wilson, must be one of the oldest seeming 69 year olds in the biz. I thought he was a good 10 years older than that. ---
**Author:** ![vandal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/858c86/32.png) [@vandal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vandal)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-2-08-nebraska-open-spoilers/612643/62 "2012-02-13T19:55:24Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > There’s no reason to believe anything the Philly Boys said, but otoh do you think any weight should be given to their comment about Ft. Benning? (I’ve never understood why the gang has any real hope for that place- true it’s a fort but it’s not like it’s sealed under a dome or is the most secure place on Earth.) Well, here’s the thing, what else do they have? Without a purpose or some sort of goal to look forward to, what’s to stop a few of the members from just giving up, or even from offing themselves? Remember the guy at the CDC? During his video diary, he was convinced he was alone in the world and mentioned that he was going to kill himself the following day. Then, Rick and company arrive, and they give him hope that maybe there is in fact some semblance of life left. I mean, they’re not naive. I’m sure the thought of Fort Benning being overrun has crossed their minds, but they’ve convinced themselves that they at least have to try. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-2-08-nebraska-open-spoilers/612643/63 "2012-02-13T21:24:48Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > However, was I the only one who thought it seemed out of character for what’s-her-face to profess her love to what’s-his-face so soon? A little quick, maybe, but there aren’t a lot of eligible bachelors left in the world, and she was obviously worried that Glenn was going to leave with the rest of his group. So, she may not love him, but we know she likes him, so perhaps some feminine wiles to get him to stick around. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-2-08-nebraska-open-spoilers/612643/64 "2012-02-13T21:47:32Z")
> [@LurkerInNJ](#): > > The whole bar scene was wonderful. I bet that’s the last time Herschel tells Rick to get off his land. > > I loved how Shane was being tender with Carol, washing her off. These two events are what make this show so fraught with moral questions, which is why I love it. Rick blowing those guys away was a little out of character for the Rick we knew up until that point, and he muddied his own morality by doing it, much like Shane…who is a self-serving d-bag for what he did to Otis, but its clear that Shane also cares about protecting the group (while privately wishing/plotting to get Rick out of the way so he can get his piece of ass back)… And while I’m at it, that zombie that Lori hit was the only live Walker during that entire episode, wasn’t it? Which shows another reason why I love this show so much…the zombies really only play an ancillary role to the plot…the real story is how the survivors live their lives and interact with one another under incredibly trying circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-2-08-nebraska-open-spoilers/612643/65 "2012-02-13T21:56:32Z")
Those guys went to attack Rick first. Killing them was not out of character at all. ---
**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:** [February 13, 2012, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-2-08-nebraska-open-spoilers/612643/66 "2012-02-13T22:26:08Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > And while I’m at it, that zombie that Lori hit was the only live Walker during that entire episode, wasn’t it? Well, there was Herschel’s zombie wife at the beginning of the episode who had “survived” the zombie massacre until Andrea dispatched her with the scythe (or whatever that was). ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-2-08-nebraska-open-spoilers/612643/67 "2012-02-13T22:49:07Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > I don’t know if they just liked the actor or if it was to make him intentionally suspicious, but any man who is that fat that many months into a zombie apocalypse begs some question. What exactly has he been finding to munch on and how exactly has he been successfully eluding close encounters with the lamebrains/walkers? You don’t know how fat he was to begin with, maybe he HAD slimmed down considerably. And Otis was bigger than him, and he was doing just fine against zombies until Shane kneecapped him. ---
**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:** [February 13, 2012, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-2-08-nebraska-open-spoilers/612643/68 "2012-02-13T22:51:55Z")
> [@Don\_Draper](#): > > Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but when Rick told them his name, “Rene” gave him a weird look, as if he knew that name… > [@AuntiePam](#): > > I saw the last 15 minutes on the repeat but still missed a few minutes. Did someone say that “Rene” seemed to recognize Rick? It wouldn’t surprise me if Merle’s brother was in that group. I would bet good money it had nothing to do with recognizing the name or having the first clue who Rick is. The Philly hoodlum no doubt had a weird look in reaction to hearing the name because Rick introduced himself as “ **Officer** Rick Grimes,” adding a little emphasis on the officer part. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-2-08-nebraska-open-spoilers/612643/69 "2012-02-13T22:58:00Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > Those guys went to attack Rick first. Killing them was not out of character at all. Eh, I misspoke. Not so much the killing of them, because at that point he didn’t really have a choice, but just how quickly he became resistant and unfriendly towards other actual live human beings. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-2-08-nebraska-open-spoilers/612643/70 "2012-02-13T22:59:01Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > Well, there was Herschel’s zombie wife at the beginning of the episode who had “survived” the zombie massacre until Andrea dispatched her with the scythe (or whatever that was). Damn…I missed the first five minutes or so of the episode…must have happened then. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-2-08-nebraska-open-spoilers/612643/71 "2012-02-13T23:17:14Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Eh, I misspoke. Not so much the killing of them, because at that point he didn’t really have a choice, but just how quickly he became resistant and unfriendly towards other actual live human beings. But those particular human beings were sketchy as fuck. He was onto them slightly before Glenn and Hershel, and he SHOULD be, because he’s a cop. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-2-08-nebraska-open-spoilers/612643/72 "2012-02-14T00:04:50Z")
I recognize that there would be much less drama on this show if the characters didn’t act stupidly but man it’s the little things that bug. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still my favorite show on TV. Why wouldn’t they poke the walkers after they shot them out of the barn? Once one comes back to life, wouldn’t the first thing you do be to poke the rest of them? And several of them have guns yes the weapon of choice to kill the remaining walker is a scythe? That seemed rather dangerous considering. ---
**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:** [February 14, 2012, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-2-08-nebraska-open-spoilers/612643/73 "2012-02-14T00:24:07Z")
Eh, not really. Walkers have no guile, nor do they pass out and come to. A better complaint would be to ask why the mother was quiet and still for so long, or for any amount of time at all. ---
**Author:** ![coolbyrne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc79bd/32.png) [@coolbyrne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coolbyrne)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-2-08-nebraska-open-spoilers/612643/74 "2012-02-14T03:17:13Z")
I didn’t think Shane was gently cleaning Carol solely out of compassion. I wondered if he was covertly checking to see if she had come into contact with a walker while she was out wandering in the woods. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-2-08-nebraska-open-spoilers/612643/75 "2012-02-14T03:47:43Z")
I gave up watching after the mid-season finale, but I was curious enough to peek at this thread. And my question is simply this, because it surprised me: Dale is psychic? Like really, conclusively, there is no possible interpretation? He’s not just claiming it at this point and maybe it’ll change? For comic readers… Is that supported by the comic too? ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-2-08-nebraska-open-spoilers/612643/76 "2012-02-14T03:56:36Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > You don’t know how fat he was to begin with, maybe he HAD slimmed down considerably. And Otis was bigger than him, and he was doing just fine against zombies until Shane kneecapped him. Well they both clearly violated Rule 1 of Zombieland: Cardio. ---
**Author:** ![Jilaad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jilaad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jilaad)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-2-08-nebraska-open-spoilers/612643/77 "2012-02-14T04:11:27Z")
> [@panamajack](#): > > I gave up watching after the mid-season finale, but I was curious enough to peek at this thread. And my question is simply this, because it surprised me: Dale is psychic? Like really, conclusively, there is no possible interpretation? He’s not just claiming it at this point and maybe it’ll change? Neither Dale himself nor anything else in the show has suggested that he’s psychic, and psychic powers have never been brought up. People are saying “Psychic Dale” because he’s latched onto the conclusion that Shane killed Otis when there was absolutely no evidence that would lead one to that conclusion. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-2-08-nebraska-open-spoilers/612643/78 "2012-02-14T04:26:02Z")
> [@Jilaad](#): > > Neither Dale himself nor anything else in the show has suggested that he’s psychic, and psychic powers have never been brought up. People are saying “Psychic Dale” because he’s latched onto the conclusion that Shane killed Otis when there was absolutely no evidence that would lead one to that conclusion. He doesn’t need to be psychic. It could be as simple as noticing that Shane returned with Otis’s gun, and thinking about how that might have come to pass. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-2-08-nebraska-open-spoilers/612643/79 "2012-02-14T04:43:00Z")
Re: the guys at the bar. When Rene hopped over the bar I just assumed he was looking for a shotgun under the assumption that most bars have shotguns down by the rail. I think Rick figured the same thing. When Rick put his hand on his gun I think that was to say “I know you’re looking for a shotgun…if you find it, I’ll shoot you” ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-2-08-nebraska-open-spoilers/612643/80 "2012-02-14T05:01:07Z")
> [@coolbyrne](#): > > I didn’t think Shane was gently cleaning Carol solely out of compassion. I wondered if he was covertly checking to see if she had come into contact with a walker while she was out wandering in the woods. This was my assumption as well. He appears to be checking her skin for scratches or bites as he’s washing her off. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-2-08-nebraska-open-spoilers/612643.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-2-08-nebraska-open-spoilers/612643.md?page=5)