The Walking dead

[MalFet]

I used to work with a lot of fiction writers, and they were extremely concerned — obsessed even — with making their worlds feel consistent and plausible. The suspension of disbelief is indeed central to any work of fiction (particularly fiction involving zombies), but few writers I know would accept it as a free pass for clumsy or artificial plot mechanisms.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

I'm not knocking the show at all, I like it. The zombie slaying is done well, but in all other respects I honestly feel that it is an average show that I just happen to enjoy. It's TV, so average is actually not an insult IMO

 

[rifraf]

I used to work with a lot of fiction writers, and they were extremely concerned — obsessed even — with making their worlds feel consistent and plausible. The suspension of disbelief is indeed central to any work of fiction (particularly fiction involving zombies), but few writers I know would accept it as a free pass for clumsy or artificial plot mechanisms.

This part is key. As long as the fictional elements make sense within the "rules" of the world then people barely even have to try to accept it. However, the clumsy stuff then jumps out.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

I used to work with a lot of fiction writers, and they were extremely concerned — obsessed even — with making their worlds feel consistent and plausible. The suspension of disbelief is indeed central to any work of fiction (particularly fiction involving zombies), but few writers I know would accept it as a free pass for clumsy or artificial plot mechanisms.

Solo fiction writers, or committee TV writers? I think there is a huge difference. A show that is written by a solo writer or even a duo is very distinct from the usual American series written by a whole slew of writers. Solo writers can write very poor stuff or really great stuff. Either way, it is usually very easy to tell apart from the generic TV writing that is done by committee, which will hit all the targets set by the producers, and maybe lose any real identity it may have had.

 

[MalFet]

Solo fiction writers, or committee TV writers? I think there is a huge difference. A show that is written by a solo writer or even a duo is very distinct from the usual American series written by a whole slew of writers. Solo writers can write very poor stuff or really great stuff. Either way, it is usually very easy to tell apart from the generic TV writing that is done by committee, which will hit all the targets set by the producers, and maybe lose any real identity it may have had.

Either one, really. My only claim here really is that good writers generally don't generally feel that "it's just fiction" should let them off the hook of realism (what ever that means in the universe of the story).

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

Either one, really. My only claim here really is that good writers generally don't generally feel that "it's just fiction" should let them off the hook of realism (what ever that means in the universe of the story).

Yeah, I agree with that basis, and that addressees the point that ABG made earlier. The series is really coming to the stage where they need to start explaining some stuff about the virus. Where did it come from, what exactly does it do, etc. I feel that as things are at the moment they may try to avoid those elements and just trawl along with all the gore and character removals/additions.

I hope I'm wrong because I'd really like to see the series go somewhere along those lines. Experience has taught me though that they probably won't bother unless they feel they really need to keep the audience watching. Cue the focus groups, I guess.

 

[45_70sharps]

I love when folks get animated about the details of a fictitious concept. I think it's an indication of the quality of the storytelling. People get fully invested in the concept (read: Star Trek and Lost). Well done Walking Dead

Let's not get crazy.
The walking dead is a good show, but it's no star trek!
Lost? Now that show was just weird.

 

[mjdonnelly68]

Let's not get crazy.
The walking dead is a good show, but it's no star trek!
Lost? Now that show was just weird.

Wasn't comparing WD to Star Trek or Lost - just noting the similarity in audience engagement.

Walking Dead is a hot concept reasonably well executed. I like the show, but I don't think it'll have legs.

 

[45_70sharps]

Wasn't comparing WD to Star Trek or Lost - just noting the similarity in audience engagement.

Walking Dead is a hot concept reasonably well executed. I like the show, but I don't think it'll have legs.

I got it. Just messing with you.
Actually, the walking dead is far more popular than star trek was when the original series was on.
But like you said, time will tell the difference.
I don't think this will spin off three or four hit shows or be watched by millionos of loyal followers in thirty years.

Great show for what it is though. Especially in contrast to the lack of original thinking on the other shows on T.V.

 

[Revvy]

Well that was flipping awesome!!!!

 

[huntingohio]

Forget the decaying zombies, use the guaranteed head shots as an example. Since we "know" that they are living in our world + zombies, there's no indication that anything else exists which makes them more likely to be super marksman than anything that exists in our world. That said, it is completely unbelievable that every time any character whips out a pistol, a guaranteed headshot is imminent. Even with the experience they now have, it's still not believable. I know people who have served multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and have a fair amount of shooting under my own belt, and whenever we talk about the show at work, we laugh the hardest about this point. It's just nonsense the shooting skills they all have, right down to Carl.

The shooting is only semi, unrealistic, Combat shooting and Police drills create a certain kind of shooter. I'm not saying they are ill trained i'm saying they arent the most accurate.
When I was young [10-12] I used to hunt with a ruger markii. I could put about 70-80% of my shots right into a squirrels head or boiler room at anything under 30 yds. Now a squirrel isnt stationary for morethan a second, nor are they a large taget. Just because you cant do it, dosnt mean others arent geared for it. When you actually have to provide food and save every round you can, you learn. In this case it would be if you have to survive you learn to adapt. I'm chubby and a little rusty of a shot,<50% in 6inches last time I ht the range,me hungry again and give me a few practice rounds and i should be relatively good if not back in old form.
Combat shooters have horrible habits, and "good enough" accuracy beat into them. A torso is your target size, mines a quater to 8 inches depending on what im hunting.

Well that was flipping awesome!!!!

I thought so to great way to break the season. Between TWD, world warZ, and the dark tower series Ive been on the edge of my seat lately

 

[CGVT]

Ha!^^^^ They were making head shots on every shot out of moving vehicles. Give that a try.

There is nothing realistic about their marksmanship.

(I don't care though. It's a zombie show)

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

I'll have to leave this thread alone until I'm updated. I'm hoping that kid gets it soon. I hate that little prick. Boy, a zombie apocalypse certainly brings out the worst in me.

 

[huntingohio]

Ha!^^^^ They were making head shots on every shot out of moving vehicles. Give that a try.

There is nothing realistic about their marksmanship.

(I don't care though. It's a zombie show)

ence the reason I said kind of, that whole scence was whacked out, and yes a few of the shots would have been realy impossible. That dosnt take away from the fact that if you cant hit a 6 inch target under 20 yds with a pistol stationary at around 80% or moving at around 40-50% you should retire the pistol.
One would think the walkers would help weed out the bad shots

 

[Roadliner]

Well that was flipping awesome!!!!

AGREED.. Now we have to wait till flippin February though!

 

[JohnnyO]

I was hoping to see Michonne behead the Gov. He's creepier than a walker. He reminds me of how cheesy the walkin dude was in The Stand. Randall K somethingorother.

 

[Airborneguy]

Ha!^^^^ They were making head shots on every shot out of moving vehicles. Give that a try.

There is nothing realistic about their marksmanship.

(I don't care though. It's a zombie show)

Yeah, I'm going with this. Not to mention, the whole argument above was predicated on the fact that these people learned to shoot as hunters of small animals, which we know is not true because of the training scene they showed us in Season 2. Ergo, these people learned how to shoot mostly along the way. It is not believable at all that they ALL have such skill. One or two of them, fine. Rick? Maybe more believable, but EVERYONE? Hell no.

 

[45_70sharps]

I was hoping to see Michonne behead the Gov. He's creepier than a walker. He reminds me of how cheesy the walkin dude was in The Stand. Randall K somethingorother.

When she was fighting on the ground, I kind of hoped that the governor would get bit by on of the zombie heads.
Make his end worse.

Great way to go into break.
They left you hanging with the new people, Daryl and his brother facing an angry mob that wants them dead, the dangerous trip back to the prison, Andrea learning a lot more about what's going on, Michonne may or may not keep working with them ( at Rick's discretion ), the inevitable attack on the prison.
I will be watching the last few episodes on demand before it kicks back up again in February.

 

[huntingohio]

Yeah, I'm going with this. Not to mention, the whole argument above was predicated on the fact that these people learned to shoot as hunters of small animals, which we know is not true because of the training scene they showed us in Season 2. Ergo, these people learned how to shoot mostly along the way. It is not believable at all that they ALL have such skill. One or two of them, fine. Rick? Maybe more believable, but EVERYONE? Hell no.

I dont believe they should all be super markmen, popping zombies with a mirror taped to the buttstock backward, I was not arguing that they learned the skill by hunting small game. I was arguing that it is entirely possible to shoot extremely well in a short period of time. I referenced my experences because I only had started shooting 4 years before that and had the handgun maybe 2 months before hunting with it. I became proficient in a very short time frame for one reason, food. When pressed a human can adapt to do amazing things.

For another story that you may find more pleasing to your sensibilities, I have taught two females to shoot. One was afraid of guns, the other saw it as a mans thing. They both shot an LCR a compact polymer revolver. At first they couldnt hit the broadside of a barn from the inside. after 2 hours of drilling they both were shooting nice fist sized rapid fire groups with a flyer or two. Two more hours and they were doing it backward, forward, side stepping, easy as breathing, Maybe 100 rds a piece and they were shooters. I took them on a IDPA course using bowling pins as targets, from akward positions, even jumping out of a mock bed. One went 9 for ten the other 8 for ten.

I do agree that ALL of them shouldnt be amazing and they arent. Carl, Rick, Daryl, Andrea.. the only real shooters in the bunch, Maggie, Carrol, Hershel, and the others seem to either lob rounds or use a melee weapon.

Again I urge you not to set yourself as a standard, fancying yourself as a survivalist or prepper is just contemplation and fantasizing. "What new gadget can I cram in my b.o.b?, oh a $97 titanium spork", isnt survival Put real hunger in the pit of your stomach, and pain of death on your doorstep. You will be amazed at your increase in ability to see, smell, taste, let alone your ability to preform tasks.


On a side note, the previews for the upcoming season are killing me, Check em out will make waiting for the break to be over even harder

 

[Airborneguy]

Again I urge you not to set yourself as a standard, fancying yourself as a survivalist or prepper is just contemplation and fantasizing. "What new gadget can I cram in my b.o.b?, oh a $97 titanium spork", isnt survival Put real hunger in the pit of your stomach, and pain of death on your doorstep. You will be amazed at your increase in ability to see, smell, taste, let alone your ability to preform tasks.

I'm not trying to argue, believe me. I hope it didn't come across that way. I'm not a 'prepper' by any means. On the contrary, my hunting buddy who is one is always on my case because he wants me in his 'prepping circle' or whatever he calls it. He tries using my kids to pull on my heart strings, as if I'm a bad parent for not having 15 gallons of gas and 300lbs of rice in my garage. I guess my 200lbs of barley isn't good enough for him.

I've been around the shooting arts my entire life. I'm wearing a S&W 5946 9mm as I type this. I can't not judge this at least slightly based on my own experiences. My hunting has been purely for the love of the sport, but in a different capacity, my firearms have been important to my survival and my livelihood. I've unfortunately experienced in real life some situations close to what goes on in this show.

If we weren't literally talking about 99-100% accuracy, you wouldn't hear a peep out of me. If we weren't talking about this level of accuracy with head shots only, you still might not hear a peep out of me. But that many head shots, routinely, from people with very limited training is just not beluevable. It wouldn't have been believable with the Green Berets I served with in the Army. No cop I've ever worked with, including those who are on our competition shooting team. It just isn't a realistic level of skill for these characters.

 

[rifraf]

Not to mention that they were all trained by combat shooters (Rick and Shane), so would have picked up these "good enough accuracy" bad habits.

 

[Roadliner]

Why is everyone so worried that they can shoot well at point blank range? Half the time they are shooting at something 6 feet away from them. Take away fear (which by now I think they are fairly used to it) and it's pretty easy to hit a target the size of a head. Far shooting is tougher, yes, but learnable. And if they showed they entire several months that it took for them to learn.. would you still have interest in the show?

Plot:

Ep1
Opening scene
characters missing targets
characters getting angry
characters being instructed by Shane and Rick
characters getting better
roll credits

Ep2
Opening scene
characters missing targets
characters getting angry
characters being instructed by Shane and Rick
characters getting better
roll credits

etc. etc.

I just enjoy watching zombies heads explode.. doesn't bother me that the characters are good at making that happen any more than the fact that zombies even exist.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

When she was ******** on the ground, I kind of hoped that the governor would get *** by on of the zombie *****.
Make his end worse.

Great way to go into break.
They left you hanging with the *** ******, ****** and his ******** facing an angry mob that wants them dead, the dangerous trip back to the prison, ******* learning a lot more about what's going on, Michonne may or may not keep working with them ( at Rick's discretion ), the inevitable ****** on the ******.
I will be watching the last few episodes on demand before it kicks back up again in February.

Bloody hell, I know people need to be careful of spoilers on this thread, but WTF man!? Luckily for me I have now gotten all caught up before I came back here. :cross:

 

[GrogNerd]

Bloody hell, I know people need to be careful of spoilers on this thread, but WTF man!? Luckily for me I have now gotten all caught up before I came back here. :cross:

I tend to stay away from shows' forums like this until I've seen the show. It's MY fault if I come here and see a spoiler, because I come here knowing that they're going to be talking about the latest episode. I HAVE THE CONTROL

on the other hand, I don't have the control over Facebook friends, so I get pissed when someone posts a spoiler there (I don't do Twitter, I'm sure that's worse than FB). Last year some ******** posted "RIP Dale" before we got a chance to see the show and I had to unload on him.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

I'm not really going on about spoilers as much as that last one. It was if it was written to deliberately fill in any unsuspecting passer-by on the entire content of the show.

I knew not to come in here too, but only because i saw the updated comments beforehand. I watch all my TV on demand or on Hulu, and genuinely did not know what day it aired. That's not simply being lazy, a heck of a lot of people watch their TV the same way these days, so a little consideration wouldn't hurt is all I'm saying.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

To those that read the comics: That scene where the fish tanks are, was that directly from the comics? It just had that kind of feel to it for me. It was awesome!

 

[GrogNerd]

I read the recap over at ew.com and I seem to recall someone saying the fishtanks were in the comics

 

[bobbrews]

I'm paraphrasing him a bit; not a true quote...

Whining again, blah blah blah, something or other...

You must either really hate this show or have absolutely no suspension of disbelief --> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suspension_of_disbelief

 

[Airborneguy]

You really have a hard on for me huh? You're a funny dude.

 

[slomo]

That was a great mid season break. Spoiler alert!!! I was kind of hoping that Michonne was going to take one of the fish tank zombie heads and used to it bite the governor's nose off, but I was just as happy to see her stab the governor in the eye.

Andrea sweet Jesus. I didn't think that my hate for a character could exceed the hate that I had for Lorrie. She has a pretty good body, but she makes me want to find a bus and give her fictional a$$ a healthy face hating.