‘The Walking Dead’ Is Not A Show About Survival, But About Humanity

thefederalist ^ | Nov. 27, 2015 | Jay Caruso

[PROCON]

Since “The Walking Dead” premiered in 2010, non-fans have often asked fans about the appeal of the show: “Who wants to watch people constantly on the run from zombies?”

They mistakenly equated the show with feature films about zombies. Zombie movies almost always have the same underlying theme: survival. From “Night Of The Living Dead” to “28 Days Later” to “World War Z,” there is only one question viewers pose to themselves: “Will the characters survive?” There is never enough time to go beyond the theme of survival and really become invested in the characters.

In “The Walking Dead,” survival is part of the show. But it is not a show about survival. The walkers serve as a plot device, but overall the show is about people and what happens to their humanity when they face such situations. Viewers get to invest in the lives of the characters, allowing us to go beyond the circumstances they face or the world in which they live. This dynamic enhances the story.

[CatherineofAragon]

The racist white guy, Merle, disappeared for a while and then came back in Season 3 (or was it 4). He was pretty much given a hero’s death.

[laplata]

Thanks for the ping, C J.

[laplata]

Chuck would be one bada$$ zombie, LOL!

---

He’d eat other zombies eyes for breakfast.

[chuckles]

I watch for one reason only,....The pro gun people rule! The wussy peacenicks show they are bound to die and can't learn. Myself,....I'm waiting for the guy with the stick to get his guts strung along the fence. You notice the old lady with the short grey hair went from idiot to killer toot suite when she figured her way wasn't working. The Elvis impersonator needs to be written out pretty soon also. Either that or start whacking skulls with a crowbar. Living behind the skirts wanting to protect him can't last long. Exactly what use is the preacher that let his flock die?

I predict more thinning of the heard in the future.

[Demiurge2]

A pretty good definition of “psycho.”

[Demiurge2]

The most depressing show on television. The TWD world is a pretty good definition of hell. Worse, it’s gotten stale. The plot arc of each season seems to be “Rick and his pack of survivors move to some new place, have various psychodramas, things go to hell, a black character dies, the zombies attack, Rick and crew bug out...” and repeat. This season I think they’ve jumped the shark.

[CatherineofAragon]

"A pretty good definition of “psycho.”"

Not at all.

[circlecity]

"The racist white guy, Merle, disappeared for a while and then came back in Season 3 (or was it 4). He was pretty much given a hero’s death."

I didn't see Merle so much as a racist as a totally anti-social southern biker type who hated anyone and everyone who got in his way. He seemed to be able work with the black guys at Woodbury as long as it suited his purposes.

[CatherineofAragon]

"I didn't see Merle so much as a racist as a totally anti-social southern biker type who hated anyone and everyone who got in his way. He seemed to be able work with the black guys at Woodbury as long as it suited his purposes."

That's a very good point...Merle had a problem with everybody, lol.

[PROCON]

The most depressing show on television.

On the contrary, it's a show about SURVIVAL!

Despite the general theme of the show; the end of society as we know it, these few folks overcome insurmountable obstacles to survive another day.

I enjoy it immensely, it reinforces my prepper mentality.

[IronJack]

It’s turning into a show about a bunch of sniveling navel-gazers.

[Brooklyn Attitude]

“I just want to know what oil, gas, batteries, sparkplugs, and solenoids all those cars the survivors get in and they just start right up..... 2 TO 4 YEARS AFTER THE ZOMBIE APOCOLYPSE STARTED!”

How about the grass that hasnt grown over in the yards or roadsides. Maybe someone trained the Zs to use mowers. Or the skulls that are so soft a knife slides in like it was a melon, even for the recently killed. To enjoy the show you have to go with it and not over-analyze. I struggle with that often.

[Hot Tabasco]

I just want to know what

Just because you want to know doesn't mean I'm going to tell you. There are some things in this world that are better left unanswered.......

[DCBryan1]

Yeah, season 1 chapped my butt when the whole group of survivors walked in/ran out of CDC and didn’t touch the M2/M4/M203/M240/M249s laying around everywhere.....and staying in the RV rather than switching out to a Deuce and a half.

[dmz]

Where’s the zombie show that features a zombie as the hero?

<><><><

It’s a cop show called iZombie that you are looking for.

Female lead character is a cop AND a zombie.

She eats the brains of murder victims to both satiate her needs as a zombie and to learn what happened to the victims.

I would recommend a couple of shots of tequila or a few bong hits before watching.

[Bigg Red]

...but overall the show is about people and what happens to their humanity when they face such situations.

***
Then why include such a stupid conceit as zombies?
No sale here.

[dmz]

Meh. For a show with ~42 minute run time I can watch a DVR’d episode in about 7-8 minutes by fast-forwarding through all of the exposition designed to elucidate the character’s humanity or lack thereof.

Carol going from a battered wife to a psycho. Yeah, I really want to spend six seasons exploring that character development.

<><><><><

Likely the reason tvs have channel changers.

It’s a fun show that I don’t spend much time thinking about its deeper societal implications.

[dmz]

I had to stop watching after three or four episodes of season one, because of the ridiculous portrayal of the racist white guy, and absurd, calculated diversity of the cast

<><><

LOL.

So you pretty much know absolutely nothing about the show.

Thanks for opining.

[dmz]

Then why include such a stupid conceit as zombies?

<><><><

Because vampires have run the string?

[raybbr]

Right, because after the zombie apocalypse only one race will survive.