Zombie Cliche Lookout: Setting Expectations
One zombie is much like another, at least in this story. Generally, when there are “special” zombies, it’s in a video game and they’re needed for a variety of reasons beyond the narrative. While there are certainly exceptions here, we’re not going to worry about “special” zombies, because they’re a bit of an edge case. People, on the other hand are varied and unique. Everyone has a different background, different experience, different perspectives, and different tolerances. In the genre, one of those tolerance tends to become very important: the tolerance to using violence as a tool.
To most of us (hopefully 100% of the readers of this site), the idea of violence as a way of getting what you want is an absolutely horrifying prospect. But that isn’t true for everyone, and in certain circumstances, they can use their ability to tolerate violence as a tool to get ahead in life.
About this Episode:
The way I’m writing these episodes is for Bill and Jess to work together well to use a lot of words without actually giving a lot of information. If Henry is the politician, these two are the spin doctors who are really good at burying the real story under tons and tons of empty words. I’m not sure whether that’s coming across, but I certainly hope it is.
Discussion Question: A Good Villain
Genre fiction is often defined by the strength of it’s villain. Or, in the case of ongoing series, it’s villains. For me, this was one of the big reasons why I gave up on The Walking Dead. It’s villains just didn’t work for me. The Governor was underdeveloped and not scary. Negan just seemed goofy and irritating, which is a shame since i think the actor playing him is generally really solid. So what makes a good villian? How would you write him or her?
Just one typo I can see: “bit of a edge case” a–an 😀
Fixed. Thanks.
Also, since when has there been any such thing as a “good” villain? That is a total contradiction in terminology right there, the villains are almost always portrayed as bad villains! 😀 Never a good villain, except one that got redemption somehow! And they turn out to be a critical story element in some cases! 😉 There’s also the other kind of villain, the one everyone thinks is a villain, but who really isn’t one, it’s just that everyone thinks he is one until some critical plot point gets revealed!
Perhaps “well developed” or “realistic” would have been a better choice of phrase.
So, what exactly does this group expect our current group to do about this other group? That hasn’t been revealed yet, although an idea that immediately popped into my head is to take down the other group’s leader a peg or two, by whatever means necessary! 😀 Are our current group members going to have to do something bad or morally wrong in order to rectify things, and are they going to like being pushed in this direction at all? 😀
Hah, I won’t comment here, but I like the way you think.
I mean, Dave says he can’t get 187 episodes out of this, I say there’s more than 187 episodes left for him to get to 1,000! 😉
There are also a metric ton of plot points he could explore just getting this done, I’m quite sure he could get the episodes he needs! 😀
Bigger and more complicated is better, because every time I see another episode in this unfolding drama, the more I want it to continue! 😀
It’s like a properly heated choc-chip muffin: It’s got a nice soft and textured outside and has a center filled with molten choc chips that make you want to find and consume every last one! 😀 Like this story that’s unfolding, I want to take it all in! 😀
Hah, I get your point.
Write the villain as the hero, whoes goals will conflict with the actual hero or put them in harms way 🙂
No ever truely thinks they are the bad guy
Well said, sir.
I just had a really terrifyingly realistic possibility for who the leader of this other group is: Clark’s long lost evil twin brother! 😀
A villain is the main character working against the person or group we are supposed to be rooting for. While the really evil truly disgusting ones usually used are too simple. They are bad they do bad things you hate them. A good villain is does not have to be complicated but the reasons they are the villain should make them interesting. Two good examples of good villains would be Hannibal Lector from Silence of the Lambs and Ed Rooney from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. One was pure evil but interesting and almost likable. The other wasn’t evil at all but actually trying to do the right thing against someone who was doing wrong for reasons that were mostly selfish.