# 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:** 14\ **Page:** 7
**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 5, 2014, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/121 "2014-11-05T04:36:06Z")
> [@GrumpyBunny](#): > > Quim pro quo. Ugh. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/122 "2014-11-05T11:50:42Z")
This episode shows that even when moved to _TWD_, Gorman is still an asshole. Obligatory _Aliens_ reference. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/123 "2014-11-05T11:55:27Z")
Borderline nonsensical episode, the “society” depicted made not a lick of sense. You’re telling me that for close to three years after the ZA this has gone on? Laughable. ---
**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:** [November 5, 2014, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/124 "2014-11-05T14:06:58Z")
> [@grude](#): > > Borderline nonsensical episode, the “society” depicted made not a lick of sense. You’re telling me that for close to three years after the ZA this has gone on? > > Laughable. +1. A complete waste of space episode that neither explored the cities (of which we’ve seen nothing since very early on) nor served as solid setup. We didn’t even get a good look at an alternate society, just a lurid tabloid take. We could have seen Beth’s situation and met Noah in 10-15 minutes max, and moved on. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/125 "2014-11-05T16:56:08Z")
I think it would have been more interesting if we really saw it from the staff’s side - and we didn’t even know beth was there until later in the episode - I do like seeing how ‘other groups’ are coping, and it can make the series last longer if they do it right - but they have to learn how not to make every other group ‘clearly evil’ every fracking time. As to the potential/expected ‘rape’ of Beth - while evil Cop was clearly intent on ‘taking’ what he was ‘owed’ (even said ‘she was supposed to be mine’) - I didn’t take what the ladycop said as condoning ‘rape’ - moresoe - a trade of services - keep the guards ‘happy’ - still despicable of course, but thats likely how she was justifying it AND she seemed intent on trying to impress upon Beth to be a ‘willing’ part of it, as well as trying to keep evilCop on a leash. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/126 "2014-11-05T19:22:46Z")
> [@grude](#): > > Borderline nonsensical episode, the “society” depicted made not a lick of sense. You’re telling me that for close to three years after the ZA this has gone on? > > Laughable. I believe the current “society” would have developed and redeveloped into what it currently is. The current hospital society may be 6 months old or 30 months old. The writers have recreated “Lord of the Flies”, “The Time Machine” and many other societies. Dawn’s guards could be the Morlocks while Beth, Noah, and Carol could be the Eloi, but Eloi with really sharp teeth and friends. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/127 "2014-11-05T19:37:30Z")
> [@simster](#): > > I do like seeing how ‘other groups’ are coping, and it can make the series last longer if they do it right - but they have to learn how not to make every other group ‘clearly evil’ every fracking time… It would get boring fast, but it would be nice if Rick’s group just once met with another where they had mutual distrust, but no reason to hate each other. They have to do something where they had to rely on each other to succeed, whether it was a walker attack, or hunt, or something else. Give the 2 groups a chance to mingle, swap characters, and maybe do some trading of material. Not all interactions in a real ZA would be hostile. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/128 "2014-11-05T19:53:41Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > It would get boring fast, but it would be nice if Rick’s group just once met with another where they had mutual distrust, but no reason to hate each other. They have to do something where they had to rely on each other to succeed, whether it was a walker attack, or hunt, or something else. Give the 2 groups a chance to mingle, swap characters, and maybe do some trading of material. > > Not all interactions in a real ZA would be hostile. You’re describing Rick’s group’s interaction with Hershel Greene’s group in season 2. ---
**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 5, 2014, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/129 "2014-11-05T23:22:39Z")
Also the army guy on his way to DC. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2014, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/130 "2014-11-06T00:34:38Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > You’re describing Rick’s group’s interaction with Hershel Greene’s group in season 2. Yeah, sort of, but I’m not thinking of a plot line that takes a season to resolve. ---
**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 6, 2014, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/131 "2014-11-06T03:32:04Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > Yeah, sort of, but I’m not thinking of a plot line that takes a season to resolve. Why would two groups of people who are able to work together not stay together? ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2014, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/132 "2014-11-06T03:34:47Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Why would two groups of people who are able to work together not stay together? I can’t imagine it would make a very interesting story, either. “Hi, how are you guys doing?” “Fine. You?” “Okay I guess. Usual apocalypse stuff.” “Yeah. Well, catch ya later.” ---
**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 6, 2014, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/133 "2014-11-06T04:12:26Z")
I’m still wondering how the army guy’s group doesn’t qualify. It seems to meet every criteria exactly: \>\>\>\>it would be nice if Rick’s group just once met with another where they had mutual distrust, but no reason to hate each other. Check. That perfectly describes the dynamic between the army guy and Glenn when they first met. \>\>\>They have to do something where they had to rely on each other to succeed, whether it was a walker attack, or hunt, or something else. Check. They had to escape from Terminus together. \>\>\>Give the 2 groups a chance to mingle, swap characters, and maybe do some trading of material. Check. They mingled at the church, then split back up. They swapped characters (Glen, Maggie and what’s-her-name went on the bus) and the material they traded was the bus. \>\>\>\>Yeah, sort of, but I’m not thinking of a plot line that takes a season to resolve. Check. It took what, three episodes this season plus a handful from last season? ---
**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 6, 2014, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411/134 "2014-11-06T04:19:34Z")
Another example is the group of gangbangers running the nursing home who kidnapped Glenn back in season 1 or 2. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-04-the-slab-open-spoilers/703411.md?page=6)