# The Walking Dead; 5.02 "Strangers" (open spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 20, 2014, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-02-strangers-open-spoilers/701868 "2014-10-20T00:12:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**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:** [October 21, 2014, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-02-strangers-open-spoilers/701868/141 "2014-10-21T19:02:45Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > \ > And yeah, it’s obvious to anyone who’s survived a few months that a strong, lightweight pike or halberd is THE weapon of choice, backed by a big knife and a pistol, and a few sniper rifles. But you rarely see anything but the fortunately-grabbed stick or broom handle, or someone making a caveman-crude spear, which is never seen again. > > I am so tired of making these observations. I am so tired of what should be the most gripping and intense show on the small screen being a complete dipshit-fest. The idiots should have died off long, long ago, in a matter of weeks, leaving only those with enough forelearning or hard-earned experience to be doing it all a lot better. It’s like Max Brooks never even wrote “The Zombie Survival Guide”! > [@brewha](#): > > But who would watch an hour of well-dressed, well-fed, well-armed, well-first-aided and even well-entertained and -groomed people running over zombies in their well fueled 4X4’s? > > Doesn’t sound like entertainment to me. Me. These shows always gloss over the things that really interest me about apocalyptic scenarios - the breakdown of civilization, and what people actually do afterwards. I don’t need non-stop running from zombies thrills - I want to see how average people live in a world like that. ---
**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:** [October 21, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-02-strangers-open-spoilers/701868/142 "2014-10-21T19:27:23Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > It went like this: > > 1. In an early zombie fight, Michonne reaches for her katana out of habit, realizes it’s not there, then proceeds to kick ass with her sharpened quarterstaff. Rick notices this in passing. > 2. Later, as they are taking the provisions from the food bank back to the church, Rick asks her if she misses the sword. Michonne says no. The sword isn’t really her own, she adds; she acquired it after the zombie apocalypse began, and its true owner is dead. > 3. Clearly surprised, Rick asks how she got so with it. Michonne replies that it was from necessity, when she was all on her own fighting zombies all the time–strictly on-the-job necessity. But that wasn’t a life, she says. A life is what they had in the prison; it’s what she has now, with Carl & Rick the the rest. Being all alone with her sword wasn’t a life. > 4. “I miss Andrea,” Michonne says. “I miss Herschel. But I don’t miss that sword.” I’m going to be disappointed if she doesn’t acquire another sword or find the same sword again. It was like a character defining weapon - like Rick with his stupid limp wristed Python, Daryl with his crossbow, and Tyrese with the framing hammer. Michone with a giant rifle is not as cool. Maybe when they meet up with the escaped Terminus people one of them will have it. That would be a crappy contrivance, but I will be satisfied. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-02-strangers-open-spoilers/701868/143 "2014-10-21T19:30:19Z")
> [@brewha](#): > > Doesn’t sound like entertainment to me. What if they were all super hot and wearing skimpy clothing and having wild sex all the time? Killing Zombies by day, party all night. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-02-strangers-open-spoilers/701868/144 "2014-10-21T19:35:30Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > I’m going to be disappointed if she doesn’t acquire another sword or find the same sword again. It was like a character defining weapon - like Rick with his stupid limp wristed Python, Daryl with his crossbow, and Tyrese with the framing hammer. Michone with a giant rifle is not as cool. I won’t be disappointed if Michonne doesn’t find another sword, and I’ll be actively irritated if she reclaims the same one. I might have felt differently before “Strangers,” but the exchange between her and Rick changed my mind. It was all about her not wanting to be defined as the badass sword chick. ---
**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:** [October 21, 2014, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-02-strangers-open-spoilers/701868/145 "2014-10-21T19:36:31Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Oh, and for this episode: What was with the repeated coming-over-a-rise shot? It must have been used ten times, a pair or group slowly walking towards the camera over a long rise. It was too deliberate to be accidental but if there was any meaning - rising from the debris/pit of Terminus? - it escaped me and any overt writing. It is artistic. The Walking Dead is know for it’s beautiful cinematography. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-02-strangers-open-spoilers/701868/146 "2014-10-21T19:37:49Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Another reason why I’ll die in the apocalypse. Bulges just mean the stock boys bumped it. 😕 How do you figure being dropped causes a bulge? A bulge has to indicate pressure coming from inside, no? ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-02-strangers-open-spoilers/701868/147 "2014-10-21T20:25:06Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I won’t be disappointed if Michonne doesn’t find another sword, and I’ll be actively irritated if she reclaims the same one. I might have felt differently before “Strangers,” but the exchange between her and Rick changed my mind. It was all about her not wanting to be defined as the badass sword chick. Come on, one of the surviving Termites must have nabbed that sword, as it _is_ a very good weapon against zombies. I’d be very surprised if Michonne doesn’t end up reclaiming it when their paths cross. Either that, or she ends up getting killed by it… ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-02-strangers-open-spoilers/701868/148 "2014-10-21T20:25:11Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > It is artistic. > The Walking Dead is know for it’s beautiful cinematography. They need to work on their choreography, though. Those walkers can’t line dance for shite. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-02-strangers-open-spoilers/701868/149 "2014-10-21T20:25:50Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > 😕 > > How do you figure being dropped causes a bulge? A bulge has to indicate pressure coming from inside, no? It was just a light comment. This isn’t GQ or GD. I actually have read about the shelf lives of canned goods and various warning signs of spoilage. Okay? But come the ZA, I’m ignoring the expiry dates on most canned goods. Food poisoning probably isn’t what’s going to kill me. Anyhoo, the show is based on a comic book. I didn’t know that when I first started watching and things like not grabbing a fresh change of sturdy clean clothing from every sporting goods store they pass bugged me. But, most of the characters have a signature look and that’s the comic book part. I really wish Daryl would cut his hair. Other people obviously do. Jumping into a pool of slime, filth, disease and zombies is nuts though. Michonne needs her sword like Daryl needs his crossbow. Michonne saying her sword was part of the past she’s leaving behind is fine, but I wouldn’t mind if they stumble across a martial arts store someday and she’s like, “oooh.” ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-02-strangers-open-spoilers/701868/150 "2014-10-21T20:26:17Z")
deleted dupe post ---
**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:** [October 21, 2014, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-02-strangers-open-spoilers/701868/151 "2014-10-21T20:33:31Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Michonne needs her sword like Daryl needs his crossbow. Michonne saying her sword was part of the past she’s leaving behind is fine, but I wouldn’t mind if they stumble across a martial arts store someday and she’s like, “oooh.” It would be hard to justify only Michonne grabbing a sword from such a store, as opposed to everyone in the group. A sword is about as good as it gets vs zombies, in that it’s much easier to carry around with you than a halberd or a pike. And if fighting a large group of zombies I think I’d rather have a sword than a polearm. ---
**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:** [October 21, 2014, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-02-strangers-open-spoilers/701868/152 "2014-10-21T20:42:51Z")
I still favor a handgun and double tap. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-02-strangers-open-spoilers/701868/153 "2014-10-21T20:43:41Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > It would be hard to justify only Michonne grabbing a sword from such a store, as opposed to everyone in the group. A sword is about as good as it gets vs zombies, in that it’s much easier to carry around with you than a halberd or a pike. And if fighting a large group of zombies I think I’d rather have a sword than a polearm. All the other equipment is fake practice stuff and there’s only one real katana in a display case. 😛 Everyone should be better equipped than they are. And someone needs to put Eugene into a daily exercise program so they don’t have to save his ass all the time. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-02-strangers-open-spoilers/701868/154 "2014-10-21T21:03:39Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I still favor a handgun and double tap. > :rolleyes: Guns makes noise, even with silencers, thus attracting more zombies and potential enemy humans. Plus, they use ammo, supplies of which are limited. One of the things that constantly irk me in this show is when they so often use guns unnecessarily. \*Everyone \*should have a non-gun weapon to use as their first-resort for the easy, non-panic kills. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-02-strangers-open-spoilers/701868/155 "2014-10-21T21:12:50Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > And if fighting a large group of zombies I think I’d rather have a sword than a polearm. Rule 1: Don’t fight “large groups of zombies.” Allowing yourself to get into a situation where a large mob could corner or surround you is, well, WD-script-dumb. Allowing yourself to be cornered in a tree or up on a wall where your sword can’t reach the walkers is just as dumb. But hey, if you had a long, sturdy lobotomizer, you could work a lot of very effective tactics around it. As for making group numbers of pikes:\* Every single house they pass \*probably has at least two or three big-ass kitchen knives. Poles are everywhere. So make a shorty version to carry on your hip along with the distance-poker. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-02-strangers-open-spoilers/701868/156 "2014-10-21T21:17:51Z")
Speaking of silencers, those are obviously going to come in handy soon. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-02-strangers-open-spoilers/701868/157 "2014-10-21T21:19:09Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Speaking of silencers, those are obviously going to come in handy soon. Oh, you could read the “Chekhov” brand on them, too? ---
**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:** [October 21, 2014, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-02-strangers-open-spoilers/701868/158 "2014-10-21T21:32:20Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Oh, you could read the “Chekhov” brand on them, too? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-02-strangers-open-spoilers/701868/159 "2014-10-21T21:46:20Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > And yeah, it’s obvious to anyone who’s survived a few months that a strong, lightweight pike or halberd is THE weapon of choice, backed by a big knife and a pistol, and a few sniper rifles. Yeah, this annoys me as well. A nice, sharp, long-hafted weapon is ideal, with a sword or big knife as a secondary weapon. Having a gun is great, but it is going to be noisy and attract more zombies. ---
**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:** [October 21, 2014, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-02-strangers-open-spoilers/701868/160 "2014-10-21T21:52:08Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Rule 1: Don’t fight “large groups of zombies.” Allowing yourself to get into a situation where a large mob could corner or surround you is, well, WD-script-dumb. > > Allowing yourself to be cornered in a tree or up on a wall where your sword can’t reach the walkers is just as dumb. But hey, if you had a long, sturdy lobotomizer, you could work a lot of very effective tactics around it. > > As for making group numbers of pikes:\* Every single house they pass \*probably has at least two or three big-ass kitchen knives. Poles are everywhere. So make a shorty version to carry on your hip along with the distance-poker. I was thinking more along the lines of when they cleared out the prison. If I were part of that, I’d rather have a sword than the polearm. But really, any time it’s more than one I think I’d rather have a sword. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-02-strangers-open-spoilers/701868.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-02-strangers-open-spoilers/701868.md?page=9)