# The Walking Dead; 5.05 "Self Help" (open spoilers)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-05-self-help-open-spoilers/704199>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [November 10, 2014, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-05-self-help-open-spoilers/704199 "2014-11-10T00:55:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 119

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**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 11, 2014, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-05-self-help-open-spoilers/704199/119 "2014-11-11T04:38:09Z")

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As far as I’m aware, there has never been a “comics don’t exist” rule in TWD threads. Maybe, _maybe_, in the threads for the very first season, but certainly not for the last several seasons. I definitely do NOT remember “hashing this out every season.” There are plenty of comics references in the various episode threads, but for the most part people have done a great job of spoiler-boxing spoilers and discussing irrelevant minutia openly.

So I’d like cites of examples where it’s stated the “comics don’t exist” is a rule in these threads.

I’d also like cites of examples where it’s being “hashed out every year.”

I think the “comics don’t exist” rule can’t possibly work for TWD specifically because of The Talking Dead. Case in point: They did NOT say the reason why Abe killed those dudes in the grocery store on the Talking Dead. The actor who played Abe was very specific: “That scene was a callback to the comics. In the comics, those guys were his neighbors and friends when the apocalypse hit, and were part of his group. Abe had gone off on a supply run and those guys raped his family, so he killed them. That’s what happens in the comics, anyway; the writers could very well revisit that scene and make it some other reason.”

I highly doubt the writers would change the reason, but the explanation given was specifically “this is what happened in the comics.” NOT “this is what happened in the show.”

I find this hand-wringing over “the comics DON"T EXISTS!!!1!!” shameful and embarrassing, a showcase of the worst aspects of SDMB culture.

Link to me the last time this was an issue. Also, link me the last TWD thread that didn’t mention the comics.

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