2.03: The Walking Dead - Save the Last One

[ctg]

While Greene and Grimes families wait for Otis and Shane to return with the medical supplies for Carl, Daryl and Andrea decides to continue hunt for Sophia.

There is much to be said about this episode. The whole situation is turning its ugly face up and when the truth finally appears it certainly isn't pretty. Far from it. Not only people are losing their fate, they have started to lose last pieces of the hope. And there is no way of knowing if Shane and Otis are going to return from the zombie infested town.

Who knows what would you do in same situation when you start questioning yourself of is this life worth anything at all?

The man that Daryl and Andrea encounters in the wood certainly had some sort of answer for that, but is it the same for the survivors. In the world that they are living in?

I'd say it's not. The world with its marvels is the world of yesterday. Nothing that you took granted isn't there any more. The only things that you have are your companions.

Do they make it worth living in the nightmare?

Well yes, because its you who is going to be the winner. And when I say you, I mean royal you, the whole population of survivors. In the world they are living in, the individuals has to stop naval gazing as it's not helping anyone. The time when you could live on your own and not care about the others is over. Period. The end.

However, it doesn't mean that you have to rip out your soul and turn into something that we have seen in the Borgs. Some could say that zombies are pretty much like the cybernetic race that threaten whole known universe with relentless assimilation.

To the survivors resistance is the only thing.

Resistance, perseverance and companionship.

You simply cannot give up, and that is the message you see in this excellent episode.



PS. What I didn't say is the spoilers. Just watch it and think about what I said.

 

[FireDragon-16]

To the survivors resistance is the only thing.

Resistance, perseverance and companionship.

You simply cannot give up, and that is the message you see in this excellent episode.

I have to agree, they can't start giving up because then there really is no point and it all comes to what Lori was saying to Rick, when she was questioning whether or not they were doing the right thing for Carl about not having to worry anymore. I think Rick was right in telling her that they had to keep going for the beautiful moments even though there aren't as many as there used to be

 

[ctg]

Rick is right about many things, but does he believe or even understand what they all means is another thing. Would they all start losing hope and connections to the past, it would be easier for them to put bullets in their head rather than trying to wriggle against the inevitable. Same thing goes to splitting up the group as there far more dead than alive, and those who're alive cannot all be nice and dandy. I bet that in the future we are going to start seeing groups that come from the end of the line.

 

[JagLover]

I thought shooting Otis was a very good plot twist but badly handled. If they had all that time to be wrestling on the ground then they had time to get away!
Reminds me of the suddenly appearing Zombie herd in Ep1, despite the guy on lookout. They have decent ideas but are just executing them really poorly at the moment.
Overall I preferred this episode, to Ep2, but they really need to get moving in this season and also start thinking things through better.

 

[ctg]

I thought shooting Otis was a very good plot twist but badly handled. If they had all that time to be wrestling on the ground then they had time to get away!

Exactly. That's the point that makes this plot twist so much better than anything else. They had time, but Shane couldn't, wouldn't see it. He didn't care as everything in his mind was about the escape and to him the mistakes just keeps piling up. So much so that I would say that at some point he's going to spill his beans and say that he had no other choice. It is almost as if Shane is walking towards darkness by shredding pieces from his should when as Rick is putting them together and trying to guide his flock in safe-haven.

The question should they let Shane to go on his own, or even drive him out from the group because of the atrocities, or should they try to forgive him in order to keep the numbers up?

 

[Dr.Jackson]

The question should they let Shane to go on his own, or even drive him out from the group because of the atrocities, or should they try to forgive him in order to keep the numbers up?

I think that were his actions to come to light, Rick would force Shane out of the group. It wouldn't be easy for him, but he always tries to do what's best for the group, whereas Shane seems to do what's best for himself. In the end, can they really trust Shane not to sacrifice any of them to save his own skin?

I like the fact that they kept Shane on, since he was killed off quite early on in the comics. It gives the series that element of unpredictability whilst it's still following the rough outline of the story from the comic.

 

[FireDragon-16]

I think that were his actions to come to light, Rick would force Shane out of the group. It wouldn't be easy for him, but he always tries to do what's best for the group, whereas Shane seems to do what's best for himself. In the end, can they really trust Shane not to sacrifice any of them to save his own skin?

I like the fact that they kept Shane on, since he was killed off quite early on in the comics. It gives the series that element of unpredictability whilst it's still following the rough outline of the story from the comic.

I agree, if Rick were to somehow find out (not sure how unless Shane breaks down (or maybe Lori about the whole affair thing)...), but if he were, I think he'd tell him to leave just because he wouldn't want to risk Shane doing something.

 

[ctg]

The question should they let Shane to go on his own, or even drive him out from the group because of the atrocities, or should they try to forgive him in order to keep the numbers up?

I think that were his actions to come to light, Rick would force Shane out of the group. It wouldn't be easy for him, but he always tries to do what's best for the group, whereas Shane seems to do what's best for himself. In the end, can they really trust Shane not to sacrifice any of them to save his own skin?

I agree because the group is living too close to the world of yesterday. The whole culture was built to cast bad light to the individuals who do bad thing, and I don't think that Rick - or the group - are ready to cast them away. However, would they had been living years in the zombie world, their morals might be different as then they might see his actions in the light of "strongest and fittest survives".

To us what he did was _so_ wrong and that's why it was so brilliant.

 

[Bugg]

For me, that was the best episode of the series so far. When Shane got back to the house you just knew something was wrong, but I still found it shocking when it was eventually shown what he'd done. I loved the idea of starting and ending the episode with the same scene, too. The different context placed on it at the end was amazing.

 

[Connavar]

The second ep was better to me and Shane killing Otis was predictable after half the ep.

Not because Shane is more important character but because the writing was more predictable.

 

[Rob Sanders]

I am liking this series, despite the fact that I don't know the comics. I too thought the Shane/Otis twist, while predictable, was satisfying. We've known that there's something seriously 'wrong' with Shane for a long time. For me the problem wasn't that he shot Otis, it was that the zombies seem suddenly to have started hunting on sight (Shane creeping around the school) and sound (survivors quietly hiding under cars) when formerly then hunted on scent (Rick et al draping themselves with rotting flesh and the danger of the rain washing the stench away). That said, it doesn't stop me enjoying what is a pretty solid zombiefest.



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Rob Sanders Speculative Fiction

 

[Dr.Jackson]

I am liking this series, despite the fact that I don't know the comics. I too thought the Shane/Otis twist, while predictable, was satisfying. We've known that there's something seriously 'wrong' with Shane for a long time.

I thought the 'twist' was pretty good. Whilst it was kind of predictable that Shane shot Otis to get away, it was the way in which that scene played out that delivered a look into the growing darkness in Shane.
Both could have gotten away, they had time to have a fight on the ground before the zombies got to them after all, but Shane made the decision to leave Otis as bait to allow himself to get away with plenty of leeway. It was an unnecessary act, but he took it upon himself to stack the odds of 'survival of the fittest' to ensure he survived. It's more 'survival of the craftiest double-dealing SOB' with Shane!

 

[Connavar]

I am liking this series, despite the fact that I don't know the comics. I too thought the Shane/Otis twist, while predictable, was satisfying. We've known that there's something seriously 'wrong' with Shane for a long time. For me the problem wasn't that he shot Otis, it was that the zombies seem suddenly to have started hunting on sight (Shane creeping around the school) and sound (survivors quietly hiding under cars) when formerly then hunted on scent (Rick et al draping themselves with rotting flesh and the danger of the rain washing the stench away). That said, it doesn't stop me enjoying what is a pretty solid zombiefest.



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Rob Sanders Speculative Fiction

Trust me its easier to like it when you dont compare it to the original story,characters. Its much harder to watch when the writing is weak because you have other versions of Rick,Shane and co in your memory.

The comic is easier to write when its one creator and his world.

Shane is becoming as twisted as i know him. Rick is my problem, does he seem to you like the hero of the story ?

 

[Rob Sanders]

I don't know the comic but I do understand that Rick progressively becomes more tortured and hollow as a result of his experiences among the undead. Is that right?

 

[Connavar]

I don't know the comic but I do understand that Rick progressively becomes more tortured and hollow as a result of his experiences among the undead. Is that right?

Rick becomes so different than he is from the start. Like ctg said Rick will be damaged by surviving so long in destroyed world. The way early tv Rick sees the world with the normal world of yesterday rules is far from future Rick.

Problem with early tv Rick is the actor. He doesnt look believable when Rick is emotional,struggling. If i didnt know and respect comics Rick i would not care about the tv version. He is very bland from the start to where the story is now in the tv show.

 

[Rob Sanders]

Comic to television translations can be difficult, can't they. I was surprised at the casting of Rick initially because Andrew Lincoln is a British actor. I totally sympathise with your issues with the actor and portrayal but I must admit to being pretty impressed with his depiction (accent etc) of a Kentucky deputy sheriff. Perhaps this is building upon a trend, with American characters like House M.D. being played by British actors.


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Rob Sanders Speculative Fiction

 

[Connavar]

Comic to television translations can be difficult, can't they. I was surprised at the casting of Rick initially because Andrew Lincoln is a British actor. I totally sympathise with your issues with the actor and portrayal but I must admit to being pretty impressed with his depiction (accent etc) of a Kentucky deputy sheriff. Perhaps this is building upon a trend, with American characters like House M.D. being played by British actors.


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Rob Sanders Speculative Fiction

Im impressed by how well he is faking american accent because i have seen him play the brit he is.

I think its a bit unfair to the actor alittle because Rick is POV character, the most important character of the whole comic series. Plus its as much fault of weak writing of season 1 than Jackson's acting job.

 

[ctg]

Comic to television translations can be difficult, can't they. I was surprised at the casting of Rick initially because Andrew Lincoln is a British actor. I totally sympathise with your issues with the actor and portrayal but I must admit to being pretty impressed with his depiction (accent etc) of a Kentucky deputy sheriff. Perhaps this is building upon a trend, with American characters like House M.D. being played by British actors.

Im impressed by how well he is faking american accent because i have seen him play the brit he is.

I think its a bit unfair to the actor alittle because Rick is POV character, the most important character of the whole comic series. Plus its as much fault of weak writing of season 1 than Jackson's acting job.

There's differences and you shouldn't let them get you, no matter how much one wants one being exactly the same as what you see in the comics because it will never be the same. Never.

However, so far the "TV" Rick has shown a great deal a character in his journey for the safe-heaven that the "comic" Rick doesn't find until the number 84 (if I remember correctly) forwards.

The reality as it's dawning to all these characters are far more grim than they realise and that makes it so pleasurable to watch. Well at least to me.

So I hope that this doesn't become a "pissing" issue as if you can recall, there hasn't been a "zombie" TV-series before. The bottom line is that this is a great series, and I will keep watching it till they cancel it. Which hasn't happened as they have already renewed the series for 3rd season.

 

[ctg]

Apologies. I didn't mean to be so obnoxious, and I'm sorry if I offended any of you. Please accept my apologies.

 

[Connavar]

Apologies. I didn't mean to be so obnoxious, and I'm sorry if I offended any of you. Please accept my apologies.

When i complain of the tv show i complain as fan,viewer of the tv version. I complain as Rick should be more interesting than Shane. I disliked the tv show in first season because of the weak writers not because it wasnt similar to comics. Frankly faithful adaptation would be boring to long time comic fan of the series like me. Kirkman said he want to surprise readers of the comic series too. Plus it is vastly different from the start than the comic.

I suspect it will only have important arcs in common with the comics. Like Hershel's farm/safe haven. That part happened in the comic too just like it has been in the tv show so far. It doesnt take 84 issues to find safe haven. They find several temporary safe havens like this farm.

I strongly disagree that Rick has grown as character alot. The weak writing of last season has made him not grow until now. This season is like how the first season should have been written. It feels like TWD story now. More intense,better human drama. Thats why i follow the show. Its not similar story,characters to comic but it has finally found alittle of what made the comic story be a best zombie survival story in any medium.

Right now im happy as TWD fan. I get the great comic series with the best characters every month and i get a good adaptation every week from AMC