# The Walking Dead 5.04 "The Slab" (open spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 3, 2014, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411 "2014-11-03T02:09:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/21 "2014-11-03T06:03:12Z")
Beth just isn’t interesting enough to spearhead a Quentin Tarantino episode of ER. ---
**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:** [November 3, 2014, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/22 "2014-11-03T06:19:13Z")
Aside to _Homeland watchers: Anybody else find it funny that tonight’s Walking Dead_ episode had the whole clozapine/clonazepam mixup as a minor plot point, and then in tonight’s \*Homeland \*the fact that Carrie is taking BOTH of those exact same drugs (along with two more!) is also a minor plot point. Is Big Pharma doing product placement, or something? ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/23 "2014-11-03T06:19:46Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > You like that you’ll love this: I’ll also bet that Daryl and Carol found Noah, he told them the whole deal about the hospital and Beth, then Carol got herself intentionally “rescued” to get on the inside, while Daryl went back for reinforcements. This was also my exact theory, that Carol basically faked injury to get inside the hospital. ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/24 "2014-11-03T07:25:10Z")
Not as good as the rest of the season but still wth is up with this seasons writing? Am I tripping or did the writers suddenly get halfway to decent? ---
**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:** [November 3, 2014, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/25 "2014-11-03T07:48:15Z")
I recognized the actress who plays Dawn but couldn’t remember from where for the life of me. It was bugging the crap out of me, even to the point of rewinding and watching the “Guest Starring” credits at the top of the show. No name jumped out at me. IMDb to the rescue: Christine Woods. I don’t know the name, but I definitely remember the face, primarily from last year’s short-lived HBO series _Hello, Ladies_. ---
**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:** [November 3, 2014, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/26 "2014-11-03T08:03:06Z")
And in other casting news, the lovely Alexandra Breckenridge (the hot maid in season 1 of American Horror Story) has apparently signed on to play someone the producers are calling “Samantha”, but they often use fake character names for cast announcements. ([Link](http://deadline.com/2014/10/alexandra-breckenridge-the-walking-dead-cast-recurring-852258/)) > [@Sampiro](#): > > Beth just isn’t interesting enough to spearhead a Quentin Tarantino episode of ER. I find Beth to be one of the more interesting characters on the show. She’s one of the few who have gone through significant character development. (Rick and Carol being the other two that come to mind.) ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/27 "2014-11-03T13:04:46Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > I’m betting that Daryl’s “teaser” companion is Noah. That’s my guess too. Also I woudn’t be surprised if Carol got herself injured intentionally to get inside the hospital. I thought this was a very telling episode as far as Beth is concerned. They touched upon her character’s development during Talking Dead…she’s not only quite the observer, but she’s also a hell of a lot stronger than she – or anyone else – thinks she is. IMO it’s nice when walkers aren’t a focal point in an episode. ---
**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:** [November 3, 2014, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/28 "2014-11-03T13:33:03Z")
Loved the line: _"They think I’m scrawny. They think I’m weak. But they don’t know shit about me._ So, was the plan all along for one of them to make a break for it while the other one gave themselves up? Cause Noah sure looked like he left Beth behind without too much a moral dilemma. ---
**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:** [November 3, 2014, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/29 "2014-11-03T13:38:22Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > You like that you’ll love this: I’ll also bet that Daryl and Carol found Noah, he told them the whole deal about the hospital and Beth, then Carol got herself intentionally “rescued” to get on the inside, while Daryl went back for reinforcements. It was fairly predictable from last week’s episode that it would be someone who was held captive with Beth, and I agree with your take on the rest. I’m just not sure about Carol being intentionally save-napped. That may be what the writers made happen, but it doesn’t make much sense from a realistic standpoint. One thing I wasn’t clear on was whether there was a greater community than we were shown here. There were about five people they showed - three guards, a doc and an orderly (well, 2 to start with). That’s just not enough people to keep up the resources they show here. Electricity, gardening, going on runs with their fleet of cross-cars, chilling to music and working out. Where’s everyone else? And if that’s all there is, there would be no need for the convoluted escape plan. Get the key for the safe route that those in charge use and just go that way. There aren’t enough guards to keep it monitored, especially when you just killed one of the main ones. Also, a cardio workout makes little sense. Yes, keeping in good condition would be extremely valuable, but it would be a struggle to find enough calories for just living, let alone burning a bunch for exercise. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/30 "2014-11-03T14:31:53Z")
> [@kiz](#): > > That’s my guess too. > > Also I woudn’t be surprised if Carol got herself injured intentionally to get inside the hospital. > > I thought this was a very telling episode as far as Beth is concerned. They touched upon her character’s development during Talking Dead…she’s not only quite the observer, but she’s also a hell of a lot stronger than she – or anyone else – thinks she is. > > IMO it’s nice when walkers aren’t a focal point in an episode. Liking this idea! ---
**Author:** ![SykoSkotty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SykoSkotty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SykoSkotty)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/31 "2014-11-03T14:55:53Z")
Was coming to hear to post that Noah would be Daryl’s forest guest - everyone beat me to the punch. I hadn’t thought about Carol intentionally going into the hosprison but that’s a great theory that makes alot of sense. So Daryl goes back - gathers reinforcements and we have a rescue mission to save Beth & Carol from the hosprison. Unfortunately it looks like next week’s episode is all about the DC gang, so we’ll likely have to wait a few more weeks before we confirm the above theory. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/32 "2014-11-03T14:58:50Z")
I should have hated this episode because I really didn’t like the Beth heavy episodes but heck, I liked it. I liked that it was different and set somewhere new. There were some logistics that made no sense: how could they be back in Atlanta again when they seemed so far away? Also why were the cars they use everyday in a lot swarming with Zombies? I also believe Carol is there as part of a rescue plan. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/33 "2014-11-03T15:03:07Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I’d have to go back and watch that episode from last year - Daryl and Beth were together at the mortuary, Daryl and Beth were fighting zombies, and Beth just disappeared into the black car with the cross on the back window? That she doesn’t remember any of that tells me they drugged her though, and when Daryl came out the only thing around was her bag, no zombies at all. ---
**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:** [November 3, 2014, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/34 "2014-11-03T16:20:36Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > I find Beth to be one of the more interesting characters on the show. She’s one of the few who have gone through significant character development. (Rick and Carol being the other two that come to mind.) 😕 While I agree that Beth is an interesting character and has evolved as the show has progressed, I disagree that only she, Rick, and Carol have undergone significant character development. Such evolution is the rule rather than the exception. Carl, Daryl, Glenn, and Tyreese are not the same people they were when they were introduced. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/35 "2014-11-03T16:26:33Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > They didn’t even save her, they kidnapped her. Yup; as DigitalC said, I would bet that nice doctor gave her a med that screws up one’s memory of events that occurred just before the drug was given. And I was glad when horrible cop guy was knocked out by the glass jar of lollipops and left for the zombie. Justice! ---
**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:** [November 3, 2014, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/36 "2014-11-03T17:32:51Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > That she doesn’t remember any of that tells me they drugged her though, and when Daryl came out the only thing around was her bag, no zombies at all. That makes a certain kind of sense, assuming that they drug and take people just to make the people they take work for them, rather than actually saving people who are in need of medical assistance. We did see them bringing in a couple of other people who were injured and deciding how many resources to use on them, though. Not saying you’re wrong; just not sure how Beth ended up there yet. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/37 "2014-11-03T17:43:06Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > …Also why were the cars they use everyday in a lot swarming with Zombies? > > I also believe Carol is there as part of a rescue plan. The writers sure know how to create drama and drama (or sex) keeps viewers interested. I assume next weeks show will center around Sergeant Abraham Ford’s group to bring that timeline up to date. The following weeks show might conclude the Beth kidnapping storyline. I assume Officer Dawn Lerner allows the walkers inside the parking lot to prevent the inmates from stealing a vehicle and escaping. When Dawn’s guards need to leave, they have the manpower and protective gear to clear the walkers out. I like the idea of Carol being a Trojan horse. Darryl and Noah bring back the apocalypse version of seal team 6 (Rick’s group) and OCD Lerner’s group will be in for some serious bloodletting. But who will Rick’s group lose? ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/38 "2014-11-03T17:44:55Z")
So was the creepy church a Red Herring, or does the hospital use it to lure people in? ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/39 "2014-11-03T17:45:46Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > That she doesn’t remember any of that tells me they drugged her though, and when Daryl came out the only thing around was her bag, no zombies at all. Date rape drugs? Rohypnol (ruffies)? ---
**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:** [November 3, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/40 "2014-11-03T17:45:53Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > So was the creepy church a Red Herring, or does the hospital use it to lure people in? How would that work? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411.md?page=3)