Episode 537: Choices

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Dave

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Zombie Cliche Lookout: Trade Off

Building on what we were talking about in the last episode, one of the toughest things writers like throwing at characters are life and death binary choices. One way or another, someone is going to die, and it’s up to you to figure out who. That’s rough, especially considering the person that has to die is going to get torn to shreds by several zombies, screaming in absolute agony all the while. That’s a heavy load to put on someone’s shoulders.

An interesting side-effect to this trope, at least when it’s actually carried out to its logical conclusion, is that there is a survivor. One person dies, but the other lives. Sure, it’s great to not die, but at the same time, you’re indirectly responsible for someone’s death. You have to weigh your life against that persons, and that’s not easy to do. Unfortunately, this isn’t something that’s explored terribly often in zombie media.

About this Episode:

I’m going to be doing that thing where this comic and the next take place at exactly the same time. So we are seeing what’s going on with Cheryl and Stewart right now. Next time around, we’ll be checking in with Brent. Take that for what you will.

Other News:

We’re wrapping up the voting tomorrow afternoon, and I’ll be announcing our winners on Wednesday. Thank you all for your votes, and thanks to the entrants for their incredible work.

Discussion Question: So How Was The Walking Dead?

I’ll be posting my review of The Walking Dead shortly. In the meantime, what did everyone here think about the season premier? I have to say, I’m really looking forward to it. I think that the show really struggled in the first couple of seasons, but things have really been coming together lately. They shook things up last season, and I’m definitely excited to see where they take things.

22 thoughts on “Episode 537: Choices”

  1. Typo Alert, Discussion Question title: “So was The Walking Dead”. I figure Dave means to write “So how was” here. 😀

    Other than that, the typos are thinning out a lot, I can’t seem to find many to report! 😀

    • Fixed!

  2. She saved Stewart! But that means it’s time to get on munching Brent! (Seriously though, R.I.P. Brent. You were my bro).
    Regarding today’s question, I still haven’t watched due to the fact I don’t live in the USA, but I’ll watch it today, and I’m really excited to know where they take the story. I think that people complain a lot about the last three seasons, but to me each one of them was great. And since I started reading the comics and I’m on the 90th issue, I’m eager to see what goodies from the comics they’ll be bringing to the TV Show.

    • Brent seems like he’d be a lot of people’s bro.

      I’m looking forward to watching it tonight. I don’t have cable, so I subscribe to the show from Amazon. Works well, but I have a wait to watch, which sucks.

      • I just watched it, and to be honest, I think that the return of Scott M. Gimple is doing wonders for the show. Can’t wait for the review so we can go into detail on the episode.

        • Outstanding! I’m really glad to hear it.

          Also, it looks like your reply worked. I tried a fix this morning; here’s hoping that did it.

  3. Here’s a thought: what if by some other chance Brent doesn’t get killed/zombified?

    You’d then have the person knowing he wasn’t chosen in a group with the person who chose not to save him, and the person who did get saved.

    Awwwwwkwaaaaard!

    • Oh wow, that’d be super crazy.

  4. I don’t really see saving someone as a choice. if you’re going to save someone it’s most likely the person nearest you. But human nature is more complex than an either or type of choice. There’s complicated body language, and influencing factors, combined together they mean that if you do decide to save someone, it’ll all be predetermined long before you actually make your choice.

    That being said, movie and TV show makers milk this trope for all it’s worth whenever they get the opportunity! 😉

    • That’s definitely the pragamatic approach, but I don’t know anyone who would save someone closer to them if, say, their mom was another fifty feet away.

  5. Gah!!! Spoilers! Spoilers everywhere!!!! Ha ha, just kidding. I haven’t watched it yet, but I’ve heard it’s just as good, if not better, than the past seasons. And RIP Brent 🙁

    • Glad to hear it!

  6. By the way, is it a bug or is it just impossible to reply after four replies?

    • I’m not really sure at this point; I’m really not finding much on the internet about it, so it’s kind of looking like something on my end, but I’ll damned if I know what it is.

      And, it looks like you were unable to reply again. My theory is that it only works for logged in users. Time to do some more testing.

  7. “Everybody lives! Everybody lives awkwardly but everybody lives!”

    • Hah! Nice.

  8. Dang it, that was supposed to be directed towards Louise’ comment.

    • Yeah, I’m trying to get to the bottom of that. It seems like I’m the only one who can properly reply.

  9. I just saw the episode (luckily Dutch television broadcasts TWD only one day after the USA these days), I have to say I loved it! It has a bit of everything.
    I think this is one of my favorite episode from the last few seasons. Last season was boring (imho), but it looks like things are taking a turn for the better!

    I don’t want to spoil anything so I wont say anything more except asking one question… has anyone else gotten the feeling from one of the final mystery-appearances (the one that got one of the prisoners, with that behavior and physical appearance) that an epic character is going to be introduced into the series

    • Oh, I’m intrigued!

  10. Okay, is it just me or is there a continuity error? He was down then up then down again in the last three?

    And, I don’t get it. Did she go for the “easy” win? It seems like she should have helped the person who obviously needed it more…

    • This time it’s not actually a continuity error; I’m just going for a really chaotic fight. Stew gets pushed down, fights his way back to his feet, rinse, repeat.

      As for as Cheryl’s motives go, well, we’ll just have to see what shakes out of that.