# The Walking Dead; 5.08 "Coda" (open spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 1, 2014, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-08-coda-open-spoilers/705987 "2014-12-01T00:39:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disgruntled_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-08-coda-open-spoilers/705987/141 "2014-12-03T12:55:38Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Maybe it wouldn’t be about her having babies, but her having magical spit or blood or whatever. If that’s the case then the walkers would have to be supernatural right? Otherwise, why would she be the only one with magic spit? If that’s the case, then we would have to disregard the CDC guy since I doubt he was a qualified wizard. The only thing that differentiates Judith from the adults is she was inside another human being at the time the ZA started. If whatever the ZA cause was bloodborn, then she’d have it. Or, it would mean that the disease causes zombieism and infertility but can’t affect an unborn child nor ever affect them once they are born. Is there any way to science up something like that? I don’t see the show going this way and again ( though that could be the purpose of Father Gabriel I suppose ), if it does, then it follows that Judith would not be unique. SHe’d be a savior maybe but there’s no way she’d be THE savior even if our group never meets another one. That would be back to the supernatural again. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-08-coda-open-spoilers/705987/142 "2014-12-03T14:45:07Z")
These walkers (as with most zombie stories) violate basic laws of physics so egregiously that there’s no valid way to use science to rationalize anything. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-08-coda-open-spoilers/705987/143 "2014-12-03T17:36:45Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > These walkers (as with most zombie stories) violate basic laws of physics so egregiously that there’s no valid way to use science to rationalize anything. Stop that. If we can’t put physics and reality aside, there would be no zombie shows. 😃 Both Beth and Dawn know that only head shots count. Scissors to the temple or bullet to the brain. It would be pointless to stab someone in the chest. Another unbelievable issue is that both Beth and Dawn would have been burned and possibly blinded (temporarily?) from the muzzle flash, assuming either had survived. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-08-coda-open-spoilers/705987/144 "2014-12-03T17:52:17Z")
> [@marshmallow](#): > > Just in this episode Rick ran over a guy who had his hands tied behind his back. Then he summarily executed him. Ghost Shane approves. > > …On another site I saw a discussion over whether it’s realistic for a bunch of rapey dudes to let a woman be their leader for more than five minutes in the apocalypse. I think there’s some validity to that point, but there’s also a lot of historical examples of not-so-progressive types supporting a woman who “gets things done” and so on. Look how many [iron ladies](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Lady) there are. Bob II was escaping and he knew Rick’s group’s plans. Assuming he was running towards the hospital, he could have warned Dawn’s group as to how many foes they faced and that the hostages were planning to overthrow Dawn. Rick’s group would no longer have surprise on their side and Dawn wouldn’t have wanted the hostages back. As far the “bunch of rapey dudes” are concerned, they were dealing with a woman leader with a firearm who had the knowledge and a willingness to use it. Step right up and take your chance. First come, first served. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-08-coda-open-spoilers/705987/145 "2014-12-03T17:54:10Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > If I came at you suddenly, you might raise your arm between us in defense. I could see that happening and shooting after being stabbed, either in rage or just shock. My issue is that for all the fanwanking on how it was possible–the camera shots were poorly staged. They were close enough to embrace with no sign that Dawn appeared threatened or had moved her arm in the slightest. ---
**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:** [December 3, 2014, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-08-coda-open-spoilers/705987/146 "2014-12-03T18:48:54Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > … > > As far the “bunch of rapey dudes” are concerned, they were dealing with a woman leader with a firearm who had the knowledge and a willingness to use it. Step right up and take your chance. First come, first served. :eek: I think the rapey cops considered all the cops, including the women, as part of their group and they may have still had enough humanity to realize that you don’t attack the women in your group. However, the people that they “helped” owed them everything and they should be willing to do anything for them to pay them back for saving their lives. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-08-coda-open-spoilers/705987/147 "2014-12-03T20:42:04Z")
> [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](#): > > That is a cool skill but pretty useless if death is part of the deal. As I wrote in my most recent post: > [@](#): > > …I now see that I should have written: > > > [@](#): > > > > Then, some time later, from an unrelated incident, the attacker dies–but does not go walker. > > The point in my hypothetical was that something in Judith’s saliva had the heretofore unseen effect of keeping a person from going walker. I wasn’t saying that Judith’s saliva would kill. > [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](#): > > Now, if this is true I think we have just found a weapon for Father Gabriel. He surely wouldn’t object to wielding a baby. Heh. Great visual! (The ‘Father Gabriel’ action figure should SO include him brandishing a baby!) > [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > _Z Nation_ has already gone this route. In fact, _Z Nation_ is starting to shape up as the more entertaining, less-pointlessly-infuriating series. I agree. _Z Nation_ is very dumb-dumb at times, but is refreshingly unpretentious as compared with TWD. And, yes, Murphy’s saliva has anti-zombification properties…but would that stop TWD’s writers from using the same device? I’d guess it wouldn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-08-coda-open-spoilers/705987/148 "2014-12-03T20:44:54Z")
> [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](#): > > …Or, it would mean that the disease causes zombieism and infertility but can’t affect an unborn child nor ever affect them once they are born. Is there any way to science up something like that?.. How about “exposure to the Walkerizing Virus in the womb acts as a vaccine, conferring immunity to the fetus; this immunity can be passed on via the blood and/or saliva of the child once it’s born.” Or something like that. ---
**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:** [December 3, 2014, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-08-coda-open-spoilers/705987/149 "2014-12-03T22:34:02Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > How about “exposure to the Walkerizing Virus in the womb acts as a vaccine, conferring immunity to the fetus; this immunity can be passed on via the blood and/or saliva of the child once it’s born.” > > Or something like that. That works for me. The fetus incorporates the virus in its development and creates something that isn’t the same as a living human or a walking dead human. ---
**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:** [December 4, 2014, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-08-coda-open-spoilers/705987/150 "2014-12-04T00:59:20Z")
> [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](#): > > The only thing that differentiates Judith from the adults is she was inside another human being at the time the ZA started. If whatever the ZA cause was bloodborn, then she’d have it. Only if Rick is the father. If Shane is the father, she was conceived after the ZA started. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-08-coda-open-spoilers/705987/151 "2014-12-04T02:07:20Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Only if Rick is the father. If Shane is the father, she was conceived after the ZA started. Nope… Rick was in a coma for several weeks before it all started. Lori COULDN’T have been pregnant before. As skinny as she was, we’d have been able to tell if she ate an olive… ---
**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:** [December 4, 2014, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-08-coda-open-spoilers/705987/152 "2014-12-04T03:18:16Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Only if Rick is the father. If Shane is the father, she was conceived after the ZA started. Indeed. ---
**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:** [December 4, 2014, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-08-coda-open-spoilers/705987/153 "2014-12-04T05:17:34Z")
> [@PapSett](#): > > Nope… Rick was in a coma for several weeks before it all started. Lori COULDN’T have been pregnant before. As skinny as she was, we’d have been able to tell if she ate an olive… What are you saying “Nope” to? ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-08-coda-open-spoilers/705987/154 "2014-12-04T20:12:11Z")
Working with child/baby actors is very expensive and imposes considerable limitations on what you are allowed to do and how long they can work for. That’s probably why they don’t use them much. Plus you have to recast your babies between seasons, unless they are allowed to age in approximately real time. ---
**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:** [December 4, 2014, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-08-coda-open-spoilers/705987/155 "2014-12-04T20:21:29Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > What are you saying “Nope” to? I think it’s in response to the idea that Lori was pregnant with Judith before Rick was shot and went into a coma, therefore was a fetus before the zombie plague hit. I’m pretty uncertain on that, myself; I think that Lori became pregnant after the ZA, by either Shane or Rick, who showed up again just after Lori was messing around with Shane, so she had sex with Shane and Rick in a short period of time. My feeling is that Lori’s pregnancy started after the ZA. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-08-coda-open-spoilers/705987/156 "2014-12-05T01:57:06Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > What are you saying “Nope” to? Just saying nope because Lori couldn’t have been pregnant before the world went to hell in a handbasket. The timing was wrong, that’s all. 🙂 ---
**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:** [December 5, 2014, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-08-coda-open-spoilers/705987/157 "2014-12-05T02:05:24Z")
> [@PapSett](#): > > Just saying nope because Lori couldn’t have been pregnant before the world went to hell in a handbasket. The timing was wrong, that’s all. 🙂 Ah. I was confused because I never made that claim, or took any position on that question. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Elk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Anne\_Elk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Elk)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-08-coda-open-spoilers/705987/158 "2014-12-06T10:39:28Z")
Said Rick right after he runs over a fleeing Officer Bob. Did the writers insert that line into the script to reference to the Michael Brown, Eric Garner incidents? In all three cases simply stopping and complying would have changed the outcome. Sorry if this was already covered, My slow zombie brain took a while to notice it. ---
**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:** [December 6, 2014, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-08-coda-open-spoilers/705987/159 "2014-12-06T10:43:44Z")
> [@Anne\_Elk](#): > > Said Rick right after he runs over a fleeing Officer Bob. Did the writers insert that line into the script to reference to the Michael Brown, Eric Garner incidents? In all three cases simply stopping and complying would have changed the outcome. > Sorry if this was already covered, My slow zombie brain took a while to notice it. The script was written (and filmed) months ago. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Elk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Anne\_Elk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Elk)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-08-coda-open-spoilers/705987/160 "2014-12-06T12:52:39Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > The script was written (and filmed) months ago. Michael Brown died August 9th Eric Garner died July 17th Months ago [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-08-coda-open-spoilers/705987.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-5-08-coda-open-spoilers/705987.md?page=9)