# The Walking Dead; 4.16 "A" (open spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 30, 2014, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-16-a-open-spoilers/684942 "2014-03-30T23:37:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-16-a-open-spoilers/684942/81 "2014-03-31T15:15:57Z")
> [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](#): > > When was that stated? I don’t recall them discussing that. Was it when they were talking to the CDC doctor? I don’t know who else would know such a thing. It wasn’t, I’m basing it off the episodes from the pilot forward. Hell this season we saw an entire unlooted grocery store! ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-16-a-open-spoilers/684942/82 "2014-03-31T15:32:35Z")
When Darryl told Rick that Beth was just ‘gone’ and Rick didn’t ask for any further explanation, it reminded me of the countless, ‘It’s complicated’ moments from “Lost”. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-16-a-open-spoilers/684942/83 "2014-03-31T16:03:51Z")
> [@randwill](#): > > When Darryl told Rick that Beth was just ‘gone’ and Rick didn’t ask for any further explanation, it reminded me of the countless, ‘It’s complicated’ moments from “Lost”. Yeah, that was annoying. I was hoping that she might actually make an appearance at some point this episode, but I guess that we will just have to wait for next season for that subplot to be resolved. ---
**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:** [March 31, 2014, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-16-a-open-spoilers/684942/84 "2014-03-31T16:04:00Z")
Seeing Rick bite the throat out of that guy was pretty much worth the entire price of admission for this episode. My immediate thought was, “hey, they’re learning something from the walkers!” ---
**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:** [March 31, 2014, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-16-a-open-spoilers/684942/85 "2014-03-31T16:09:14Z")
I also think cannibalism is a valid guess at this point. Though it’s a dangerous idea and humans might be more valuable in other ways, but a group people coming to a shortsighted conclusion is not out of the realm of possibility. Also the juxtaposition of warrior and farmer might have historical precedent but we’re seeing this through the eyes of the modern person. Look at us: wouldn’t we be wishing we had our iPhones or other modern conveniences all the time? Who’s going to be thinking about historical precedent? We want comfort, dammit. As far as the cult aspect, we have precedent in this program. Look how people were very willing to flock to the governor. People want a leader. Most people anyway. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-16-a-open-spoilers/684942/86 "2014-03-31T16:45:02Z")
> [@randwill](#): > > When Darryl told Rick that Beth was just ‘gone’ and Rick didn’t ask for any further explanation, it reminded me of the countless, ‘It’s complicated’ moments from “Lost”. Specially since anyone with half a brain would think Terminus was the likely culprits. ---
**Author:** ![McDeath\_the\_Mad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@McDeath\_the\_Mad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/McDeath_the_Mad)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-16-a-open-spoilers/684942/87 "2014-03-31T17:13:14Z")
Am I the only one who thinks that the empty powdered milk packaging means that Baby Judith was in that container at one time? I was expecting her to be in there when Rick went in. She wasn’t, so my prediction is she was in there either before Glen’s group got there, or while Glen’s group was there and had been moved for some reason. I definitly got a weird “cult” vibe from everyone there. I don’t know if they’re Canibals, I’ll admit all of the “used” bones did look human, but could have been some other type of “live stock”. I definitly think they’re in a bad spot, if it was a “screening” or “quarantine” process their equipment wouldn’t have been confiscated, taken and spread out among the “Others”. MtM ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-16-a-open-spoilers/684942/88 "2014-03-31T17:41:17Z")
> [@sir\_viks](#): > > This is a better theory – the group just didn’t seem like cannibals or a cult to me. The actually seemed kind of normal. Except for the Cuckoo Bananas room with candles and the pile of human bones. ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-16-a-open-spoilers/684942/89 "2014-03-31T17:47:25Z")
A The name of the episode was “A” The doors they were herded through at the end were all labeled “A” The Train car they were loaded into was labeled “A” The candle room had something about them going first. I’m thinking maybe something else is going on. How about human experimentation to fight the disease? Shipping container A is a bunch of lab rats? ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-16-a-open-spoilers/684942/90 "2014-03-31T17:59:23Z")
I just cant buy cannibalism as a motivation in a post zompocalyptic world. Can you imagine what it’d take to put signs up at every road crossing at every railway leading from terminus? Wouldn’t’ that effort be better spent planting some corn and raising cows? You know the cool thing about cows? They don’t realize that you want to eat them. And if they did, they wouldn’t try to kill you back first. Best part? If a cow dies, it doesn’t come back to life as a killing machine. And you don’t have to make sure that when you kill the cow, it stays dead! Your holding tank full of humans is one bad cold away from being a holding tank full of geeks. The only way cannibalism is a sustainable business model is if you lure people in under good faith, drug them so the go to sleep peacefully, and then take them to the butcher for processing. Any thing else is just unnecessary risk. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-16-a-open-spoilers/684942/91 "2014-03-31T18:01:35Z")
> [@brewha](#): > > A > > The name of the episode was “A” > > The doors they were herded through at the end were all labeled “A” > > The Train car they were loaded into was labeled “A” > > The candle room had something about them going first. > > I’m thinking maybe something else is going on. How about human experimentation to fight the disease? Shipping container A is a bunch of lab rats? Or Grade A, as in meat? The potential cannibalism thing squicks me out. I am in agreement that it doesn’t make sense for survival since the Walkers, who also want to eat people, outnumber the living humans. Humans aren’t really a sustainable food source at this point, even if they breed their own. They have this well protected place that could be used for growing their own food. But I also have to agree that the bones and the memorials seem really suspicious. ---
**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:** [March 31, 2014, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-16-a-open-spoilers/684942/92 "2014-03-31T18:02:36Z")
> [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](#): > > Cannibalism? I guess I need to watch it again, because nobody would include graphic novel spoilers. You do need to watch it again, no passive aggressive complaints about spoilers from the comic books necessary. > [@Human\_Action](#): > > Further, writing them as planning on raping and killing everybody neatly obscured their very valid beef with Rick for murdering one of their men without provocation. There was plenty of provocation. Rick heard them planning to rape Michone when she got back, and he knew her return was imminent. His only chance to save her (and Carl, as it turns out) was to exfiltrate that house asap. Casualties were justified. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-16-a-open-spoilers/684942/93 "2014-03-31T18:09:11Z")
Yeah, cows would be much easier. If they couldn’t find cows or regular livestock, they could raise rabbits and deer or something. If they’re cannibals, it would have to be a cult religious thing rather than because they’re starving. How long has Glen’s group been in that train car? In the hot Georgia sun it wouldn’t take long for them to die from the heat. ---
**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:** [March 31, 2014, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-16-a-open-spoilers/684942/94 "2014-03-31T18:26:25Z")
Is it winter? Everyone seems sort of bundled up. ---
**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:** [March 31, 2014, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-16-a-open-spoilers/684942/95 "2014-03-31T18:27:47Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > How long has Glen’s group been in that train car? In the hot Georgia sun it wouldn’t take long for them to die from the heat. Ringleader, open the door to the oven, erm, boxcar, and step inside. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-16-a-open-spoilers/684942/96 "2014-03-31T18:32:05Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > Is it winter? Everyone seems sort of bundled up. The time of year is a good question. I’m not familiar with the climate in Georgia, except it’s really hot in the summer and the winters are mild. Not sure what “mild” means. Don’t we have some natives watching the show? ---
**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:** [March 31, 2014, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-16-a-open-spoilers/684942/97 "2014-03-31T18:37:31Z")
We saw some people’s breath as they talked, so it can’t be that hot. I forgot which scene, but I noticed it at the time. One of the “bad guys” said something about it being New Year’s eve. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-16-a-open-spoilers/684942/98 "2014-03-31T18:41:13Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > The time of year is a good question. I’m not familiar with the climate in Georgia, except it’s really hot in the summer and the winters are mild. Not sure what “mild” means. Don’t we have some natives watching the show? Judging by the leaves on the ground and the foliage still on the trees, my guess is they shot the scenes in early October. I will also second the dialog shout-out to New Year’s Eve. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-16-a-open-spoilers/684942/99 "2014-03-31T18:43:35Z")
I’m not spoiling anything from the comics, I’ve purposefully avoided the comics. One of my co-workers has the whole collection, and I’ve refused to look at them. Someone mentioned the book _Lucifer’s Hammer_ upthread, and that’s exactly what i was thinking of when I began to think cannibalism. Here is why. In the book, the world has devolved into gangs and factions fighting each other over dwindling resources. One of the groups of “bad guys” turned to cannibalism fairly quickly after food stocks began to dwindle. It really had two purposes though, and caloric value wasn’t at the top of the list. Cannibalism was used as an initiation rite to join their gang. The thinking was that once someone turns cannibal, they are pretty much shunned by any other group. That breaks the spirit of the individual, and pretty much guarantees their loyalty to the gang. And, in the book, some guys began to like it. So, back to TWD. Newbies arrive at the front gate, spooky lady immediately tries to serve them a steak. Oh, you like that, huh? Guess what, you just ate a person! Welcome to the crazy train!!! I think it’s plausible. ---
**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:** [March 31, 2014, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-16-a-open-spoilers/684942/100 "2014-03-31T18:47:06Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Yeah, cows would be much easier. If they couldn’t find cows or regular livestock, they could raise rabbits and deer or something. If they’re cannibals, it would have to be a cult religious thing rather than because they’re starving. \ Yeah, breed rabbits - I’ve heard they breed like, well, rabbits. 🙂 A couple of litters a year, ready to eat in months instead of years, only need grass to eat - why doesn’t everyone have rabbit pens? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-16-a-open-spoilers/684942.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-4-16-a-open-spoilers/684942.md?page=6)