Zombie Cliche Lookout: Private Discussion
In zombie stories, there are characters who are capable of handling the stress (to some extent, anyway), and those who cannot. Writers can take these two different kinds of characters in a variety of different directions. Sometimes, the people who can’t cope are used to show the gravity of the situation. They are the early casualties that show just how dangerous the zombies are. Not only does this raise the stakes by making the monsters seem more threatening, it also makes the survivors seem more capable and competent.
Another option lies in keeping those characters alive, at least for a while. This introduces several new elements into the story. It forces more capable characters to move at the speed of the group, and take more risks to keep them all safe. That said, keeping those characters safe from the zombies opens them up later in the story where they might make an impact in some way. Sometimes they turn things around and save the day, and sometimes they turn into the villain. I like that kind of dynamism.
About this Episode:
Clark, while still very scared and in shock over what he inadvertently did to Ted, still recognizes the horrible danger they’re in. He knows that sitting around and talking will do nothing but get everyone killed, and targets the only person in the room who appears to be capable of making a decision: Barb.
Discussion Question: Non-Hackers
When you’re watching/reading/playing a zombie story, what do you like to see happen with characters that aren’t capable of taking care of themselves? Also, does it depend at all on the type of character? Do children get the benefit of the doubt? Do you want them to hold on because there’s a chance for them to turn things around later, or for some other reason?
Typo alert: “two different kind of characters” kind–>kinds 😀
Just one? Fixed.
On the discussion question:
Reguardless of the theme I like stories where the characters are not trained for the situation they are about to be thrown into.
At the same time I dont like them being too dumb to live.
Unfortunetly these kind of stories are usually filtered into 2 catagories: hero is imune / special and most of the cast are military who kick zombie but left and right, or, they are hollywood versions of normal who make idiot decisions just so the plot can move forward.
Thats why I like this comic. No one has tried to go commando on the zs yet, and the monsters are always a credible threat. At the same time they are not a flat one dimensional cast with one skill to bring to the group. Even if they are a useless snot they have a reason to be a useless snot xD
Thank you! That’s exactly what I’m shooting for in this comic. Regular people in extraordinary circumstances.
I’m not against more drama, punchlines or ridiculous reaction when it comes to telling a story. I like imagination better over reality. However, both reality and extraordinary, need to be told correctly and I see a story as a chain, all links are important, one as strong as the others… Or the chain breaks…
Characters that can’t take care of themselves? Sometimes you feel sorry for them and you want the heroes to give their life for them (Clementine/Lee from TWD the video game, man this is the best argument)… Sometimes they’re just stupid as*holes and deserve what obviously will happen to them… But as Steam Powered Spam pointed out, you hate them to be “plot required”.