Zombie Cliche Lookout: Uncomfortable Questions
Once again, today’s cliche goes beyond the zombie genre. It’s actually a staple of drama in general. I’m speaking, of course, of confronting an untrustworthy character about their lies, or perceived lies. Typically speaking, this is a turning point moment in the plot, or at least in the relationship between these characters. It is at this point when a character realizes that the other person isn’t trustworthy, and can start acting accordingly.
Naturally, there are multiple ways for a person to approach this. More canny characters might decide to keep this knowledge close to their chest. They understand the other person isn’t trustworthy, but don’t confront them. Instead they simply sit back and observe. On the other hand, you can take the direct approach and simply confront the liar. That can be cathartic, but might not yield as much in the long term.
About this Episode:
Like the last episode, the photo quality here is higher than normal, and I honestly can’t figure out what I did differently. Needless to say, that’s pretty frustrating. One of these days, I need to take a real photography class to actually get better at this, rather that just playing around and watching the occasional YouTube tutorial.
Discussion Question: Clark’s Play
Put yourself in Clark’s shoes. You’ve just been confronted by Barb, and basically accused of doing something to Vicky and the kids. You’ve got a couple of options available to you, but keep in mind that Barb isn’t in a trusting mood. You can make denials. You can tell the truth. Or you can throw her for a loop and try a completely different tack. What’s your play, and why? Take this one step further: how will Barb react, and where will this ultimately leave the two of you?
Typo alert: ” It’s a actually staple of drama in general.” The “a” is in the wrong part of this sentence. Dave really needs to fix that! 😀
That’s a really strange one. Fixed.
As for the photo quality, it seems to be a bit brighter than usual in these last few comics. Maybe you forgot to apply a shader effect or something? 😀
Other than that, though, the quality is excellent. Keep ’em coming , good quality is always hard to find! 😀
It is definitely bright, probably a little too bright. That’s not a lack of a filter, that’s just my amateur skills.
As to what I’d do if I were Clark: I’d be very careful telling Barb anything. She did in fact threaten to shoot him with a gun at point blank range. Clark is most likely thinking about that right now, and in all honesty it ought to motivate him to come clean or get wiped out or at the very worst left badly injured with nobody to help him.
Therefore he will to have to tell her the truth, if he really wants to gain back her trust. Whether she’s going to believe any of it, however, is another story. He might tell her the outright truth and she doesn’t take it for granted, and either abandons him or shoots him.
Barb has just called him out on his lying, and being a nurse, she probably is going with a gut feeling she’s picked up from years of watching patients. So Clark is between a rock and a hard place. What he tells her has to not only be the truth, it has to come across as making sense to Barb.
If he really wants to stay with her even a short time longer, he has to tell her that he panicked and didn’t help them at all. That is the truth, and it’s going to be hard for him to admit that to her. It’s going to be even harder to admit it now that they have little to no chance of finding Vicky and the kids. 😀
Of course, we have very little idea of what being hit by Ted’s TV van did to Clark’s brain. He might not be all there, and from a certain standpoint that makes perfect sense. 😀
If Barb is recollecting recent events properly, she might remember that. If she does, then maybe she’ll let up on him, maybe not. I guess it depends on what her nurse’s training will tell her, and how she’s remembering things that happened very recently.
Of course, Clark should totally remind her he got hit by a TV van. 😀
This is meant to be a TV/Movie styled comic. Which means something like Clark’s head wound, which would be very serious in reality, is played as no big deal in media.
So what’s his sudden reluctance to help Vicky and the kids being played as? Outright lunacy? 😀
You know, Dave, every time I check the new episode for your comic, I keep coming up with more and more questions than answers! 😀 Are you canvassing for ideas on which way to take the story? 😀
Not necessarily, but let’s hear them!
I’m not sure what to think of this situation; I recently went back and re-read the entirety of the series, and Clark is suppose to be a (self-thought) outdoors man. A loner whom can survive on his own in this zombie apocalypse.
Now, his camp was overrun with zombies but by now they’ve all moved on–most likely chasing him as he booked it away. Ever since he’s met back up with society (the other characters) he’s seemed to have lost his nerve.
I feel at this point he WOULDN’T give ANY sort of explanation to Barb. He’d just grab his gear and head back to camp. Things, as they stand now, hold no real advantage to Clark if he choose to stay. The man would loose time finding a secure place only to have strangers be added to his responsibilities that have been shown to be unable to fend for themselves in any way.
The only question is weather or not Barb would shot Clark as he tried to leave?…
Man, this is a damn fine read on the situation. You really broke down Clark well as a character.
Thanks! Studied Shakespeare along with the other great writers of the past to learn about character analysis in college.
I fine it’s a great skill for understanding persons in any survival situation…so just remember: Study Literary greats = Great Zombie Stories 😉
If I was Clark I think I might try to brazen it out.
“I told you what happened but you’ve already made up your mind I’m lying. I’m done repeating myself, if you don’t want to believe me I’m leaving.”