# The Walking Dead; 4.09 "After" (open spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 10, 2014, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-09-after-open-spoilers/680934 "2014-02-10T01:12:38Z")\ **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:** [February 11, 2014, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-09-after-open-spoilers/680934/61 "2014-02-11T21:10:57Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Why? The entire world should be essentially unlooted except by the very small survivor pool. Even early looters’ caches should be right where they were left. Because they’ve been living there for quite a while an going foraging in much farther places? it makes very little sense that there would be unlooted houses within walking distance from where they’ve spent months living. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-09-after-open-spoilers/680934/62 "2014-02-11T21:13:29Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Because they’ve been living there for quite a while an going foraging in much farther places? it makes very little sense that there would be unlooted houses within walking distance from where they’ve spent months living. Yes, they have been making forays from the prison to find food and fuel. ---
**Author:** ![theR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@theR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/theR)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-09-after-open-spoilers/680934/63 "2014-02-11T21:26:17Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Because they’ve been living there for quite a while an going foraging in much farther places? it makes very little sense that there would be unlooted houses within walking distance from where they’ve spent months living. I can’t believe any group like that wouldn’t have plans for where to meet if they have to bug out from the prison, plus some supplies stashed outside the prison somewhere. It’s one of the first things they should have arranged when they originally started setting up the prison as their living space. (Did they talk about meeting somewhere? I thought they were going to get most people on the bus and go somewhere that was prearranged.) ---
**Author:** ![Reverse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@Reverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reverse)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-09-after-open-spoilers/680934/64 "2014-02-11T21:31:54Z")
> [@theR](#): > > I can’t believe any group like that wouldn’t have plans for where to meet if they have to bug out from the prison, plus some supplies stashed outside the prison somewhere. It’s one of the first things they should have arranged when they originally started setting up the prison as their living space. > > (Did they talk about meeting somewhere? I thought they were going to get most people on the bus and go somewhere that was prearranged.) They definitely did have some manner of bug out plans (the bus, at a minimum). However, the condition Rick was in his primary concern was to find some food and a safe resting place, so regardless of whether they had a meeting place planned out they can’t get there with his injured ass. ---
**Author:** ![Blueberry\_Buckle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3bc359/32.png) [@Blueberry\_Buckle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blueberry_Buckle)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-09-after-open-spoilers/680934/65 "2014-02-11T21:45:17Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > I loved the last scene where there’s a (Michonne) knock on the door, Rick looks out, turns to Carl and says, “It’s for you.” Almost as much fun as the in-print “Oh #@&\*!” for the Grimm mid-season cliffhanger. I don’t think it was Michonne at the door. Am I the only one? I only watched the episode once, but if I recall, the porch she was walking on had a couple white rocking chairs with cushions on it. The porch of the house Carl & Rick were in had old wooden porch swings. I think someone else is at the door. Creative editing, or bad memory? ---
**Author:** ![Reverse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@Reverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reverse)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-09-after-open-spoilers/680934/66 "2014-02-11T21:56:01Z")
> [@Blueberry\_Buckle](#): > > I don’t think it was Michonne at the door. Am I the only one? I only watched the episode once, but if I recall, the porch she was walking on had a couple white rocking chairs with cushions on it. The porch of the house Carl & Rick were in had old wooden porch swings. I think someone else is at the door. Creative editing, or bad memory? You are television illiterate. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-09-after-open-spoilers/680934/67 "2014-02-11T22:02:58Z")
> [@Blueberry\_Buckle](#): > > I don’t think it was Michonne at the door. Am I the only one? I only watched the episode once, but if I recall, the porch she was walking on had a couple white rocking chairs with cushions on it. The porch of the house Carl & Rick were in had old wooden porch swings. I think someone else is at the door. Creative editing, or bad memory? I believe she saw them through the window. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-09-after-open-spoilers/680934/68 "2014-02-11T22:21:06Z")
Well, I initially thought she was at the wrong house too, because of the Giant Vat o’ Pudding™ was out in the street. I assumed he threw it off the roof of the porch where he ate it, where the zombie took his shoe. Then I decided that I was mistaken, he must have tossed it on his way to “his” house … but now I’m not so sure. I don’t remember any porch furniture when Carl was luring off the original zombs. And too — they never showed either of them seeing one another, just smiles of relief so we _assume_ they see one another. Maybe there’s a teenage cutie outside Carl’s door, and Michonne is hallucinating her spouse is inside the house. ---
**Author:** ![Reverse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@Reverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reverse)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-09-after-open-spoilers/680934/69 "2014-02-11T22:36:50Z")
They clearly show her see Carl and Rick though a curtain, eating their breakfast. You people are either blind or stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-09-after-open-spoilers/680934/70 "2014-02-11T22:42:42Z")
> [@Reverse](#): > > You are television illiterate. > [@Reverse](#): > > You people are either blind or stupid. You’re not allowed to insult other posters here. Don’t do this again. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-09-after-open-spoilers/680934/71 "2014-02-11T22:45:15Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Why? The entire world should be essentially unlooted except by the very small survivor pool. Even early looters’ caches should be right where they were left. Some areas may have de-populated suddenly, but other places had refugee camps etc so there’s plenty of time for food production to break down and the remaining survivors to burn through existing food supplies before an area is completely abandoned. Why is this even a question? 🙂 ---
**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:** [February 11, 2014, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-09-after-open-spoilers/680934/72 "2014-02-11T23:28:01Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Kinda like [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUSvdqpQ6d0). That was a toddler, not an infant. And I was thinking more along the lines of the zombaby from the **Dawn of the Dead** remake. BTW what was that a clip of at the end with Denise Crosby? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-09-after-open-spoilers/680934/73 "2014-02-11T23:56:09Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Some areas may have de-populated suddenly, but other places had refugee camps etc so there’s plenty of time for food production to break down and the remaining survivors to burn through existing food supplies before an area is completely abandoned. Why is this even a question? 🙂 I think food production broke down immediately, and official refugee camps soon after. ---
**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:** [February 12, 2014, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-09-after-open-spoilers/680934/74 "2014-02-12T05:46:22Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > \ > [Honest Trailers - The Walking Dead](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNxvo8AcpQQ) Thanks - I was wondering what I was going to do for the rest of the week. 😃 > [@TBG](#): > > \ > Nicotero brought the head prop on Talking Dead, and holy crap that thing was incredibly realistic and creepy. Espcially when Hardwick fed it puddin’. The head sure was creepy when the mouth was moving and the spoon was near it. Yikes! > [@GreedySmurf](#): > > \ > I really don’t know how these people survive for so long, they are abject morons. This is the story of average people in the Zombie Apocalypse (ZA) - I’ve heard the argument that they’re doing just what any of us would do. That said, I think after a couple of weeks, I might learn to clear a whole house before assuming there are no zombies in it, always have a couple of sharp blades on me, and general survival stuff like that. > [@Quimby](#): > > I agree as others have said, it makes no sense for people to murder each other because there should be more than enough resources for everyone who’s left. That was why I was always sympathetic to Dale’s point of view. That’s my ongoing beef with this show - “We have to go kill everyone in the prison so we can be safe!” How about you go another ten miles down the road and make some other fortified building safe? My husband’s theory is that the most dangerous thing after the ZA is other people - I think we’d go the other way, that we’d band together since there are so few of us left. In this show, when groups meet each other, someone always ends up dead. Anyway, I liked this episode. Carl fighting against the father figure was pretty stereotyped, and Michonne being all PTSD was pretty stereotyped, but I still liked it. Carl got a lot off his chest, and Michonne chose life - good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-09-after-open-spoilers/680934/75 "2014-02-12T13:56:47Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > I do…but I guess for some reason I assumed zombies were killed when decapitated. That means Michonne has left a HUGE trail of hungry zombie heads in her wake! I thought that too, but if you look carefully when she uses the sword, she isn’t actually decapitating, but slicing through the head. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-09-after-open-spoilers/680934/76 "2014-02-12T14:02:14Z")
How many suicides and “mercy killings” have we seen now? Dozens(including Michonne’s dream)? Seems just as many people committed suicide as got zombified. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-09-after-open-spoilers/680934/77 "2014-02-12T14:05:29Z")
> [@grude](#): > > How many suicides and “mercy killings” have we seen now? Dozens(including Michonne’s dream)? > > Seems just as many people committed suicide as got zombified. That is not surprising at all. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-09-after-open-spoilers/680934/78 "2014-02-12T14:27:26Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > That is not surprising at all. Maybe years down the line when life is getting HARD, or in a true “almost no hope” scenario like in The Road. But hungry shamblers a 12 year old could learn to outwit 100%, seems crazy. ---
**Author:** ![Reverse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@Reverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reverse)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-09-after-open-spoilers/680934/79 "2014-02-12T15:08:44Z")
> [@grude](#): > > Maybe years down the line when life is getting HARD, or in a true “almost no hope” scenario like in The Road. > > But hungry shamblers a 12 year old could learn to outwit 100%, seems crazy. Jenner says that there was a rash of suicides as tons of people couldn’t deal and chose to opt out. This was roughly a month after it all began, in a secure, protected facility with food and water to spare. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-09-after-open-spoilers/680934/80 "2014-02-12T17:03:45Z")
> [@Reverse](#): > > They clearly show her see Carl and Rick though a curtain, eating their breakfast. > > You people are either blind or stupid. This is not only overly antagonistic, it’s just wrong to boot. They do NOT show Michonne seeing them. There was a shot of Michonne looking through a porch window and reacting with joy. There was a shot of Rick and Carl as seen through a porch window. There was never a shot of Michonne seeing Rick and Carl through a porch window. Thus, the implication of Michonne being at their porch door was clearly there, but there was also the possibility of this all being a head fake. Now, I don’t think it was, because Michonne’s story in the episode was clearly supposed to reflect a process of deciding about how to live in this world (isolative and like a zombie vs. in community with others), so the ending would make less sense, unless it’s some other people that she knows. Also, I finally watched Talking Dead last night, and Greg Nicotero, the director of this episode, and the actress who plays Michonne both spoke about the story as if Michonne did end up outside Rick and Carl’s door. On a separate note, Talking Dead highlighted a small example of the typically poor writing of this show: Nicotero said that when Carl ties the knot on the door, the written dialog was “Dale taught me.” He said that on the set, he and the actors immediately recognized that “Shane taught me” was a much better choice to draw out or amplify the conflict between the two characters at that point. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-09-after-open-spoilers/680934.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-09-after-open-spoilers/680934.md?page=5)