Saturday, November 20, 2010

"The Walking Dead"

Has anyone seen AMC’s new show, “Walking Dead?”

I am still not sure what I completely think about it, but I have found the first three episodes rather engaging.



(Credit)



The show is set around a police officer who was shot in the line of duty and went into a coma. When he wakes up, the hospital had been abandoned – well in a frame of speaking. The viewers find out with the character that a virus has turned most of the population into zombies and his family has disappeared from their home.

I am not a big zombie movie fan. Perhaps it is because of my inability to comprehend a virus that enables a person to move, eat, and moan while their body is rapidly decaying. Just doesn’t make sense.

But! This show is different.

Within the first 15 minutes I found myself personalizing with the main character and almost forgetting about the irrationality of the zombie concept all together. Instead of intense zombie annihilation, the characters are trying to make sense of their new “normal” and attempting to survive.

“Walking Dead” has posed several hard post-apocalyptic questions that really makes the viewers question what they, themselves would do in that situation. In the first episode we watch as husband explains when his wife came down with the “fever.” Now, him and his son watch in agony as she wanders around outside, occasionally trying the door handle of the house they currently reside in. The husband has taken aim at her multiple times with a rifle, but has failed to complete the task. During the breaks I asked my own husband how we would survive if there was a zombie virus outbreak. His answer, “tree houses.”

I furrowed my brows at him. I imagined us huddled on a platform, peering down at former neighbors and friends salivating at the thought of chewing on our limbs. (Slightly disturbing, I know.) I told him I would feel safer if we just barricaded ourselves in our townhouse. He shook his head and responded, “Well, we could build a network of tree houses, so we could travel in the trees.”

Now we just have to hope that the zombie virus people contract disables them to the point where they can’t climb trees. Oh, and if there is a tornado, windstorm, or pretty feisty termites, then our whole little community will be SOL.

If you are looking for a new show to try out, I would suggest “Walking Dead.” It is on AMC Sundays at 10/9c and full episodes are online and on “ON DEMAND.” You can visit the episode by going HERE. I do want to warn you, it can be rather graphic… but it is interesting.


So what would you do to try to survive a zombie epidemic??





Well if you are looking for a place to start, here are ten (out of the 32) slightly humorous, yet logical Zombie Survival rules, provided by the movie Zombieland…


Rule 1: Cardio:
How many overweight people do you see at the end of the world when its zombies doing the ending?

Rule 2: Beware of Bathrooms: Really not just bathrooms. Any good apocalyptic zombie survivor should know better than going into a bathroom, small closet or any other small room with only one way in or out. Only thing stupider to go into then a bathroom is a movie theater. Lots of places to run around before you get eaten.

Rule 3: Seatbelts: It’s a safe bet unless you’re a complete dumb dumb ( see rule #7 ) you’re not going to be hoofing it on foot in the event of a zombie outbreak. So when travelling on four wheels wear your seat belt. Nothing worse then finding yourself ejected out of your car into the loving and oh so hungry arms of zombies.


Rule 4: Doubletap:
Carrying a gun is a great idea but it should never be your primary weapon. When you do end up using it for that last minute 'oh shit' moment remember to double tap. Its an emergency and thats why your using it and not your cricket bat so why skimp? One bullet more in the head will go a long way to ensuring your survival.

Rule 5: No Attachments: This is a tough one but you can not have attachments. If you got kids or a wife your less likely to survive then the gal or guy who has no attachments and nothing slowing him or her down.

Rule 6: Travel in a Group: The best way to increase your odds of survival when travelling in a zombie outbreak is to make sure you’re a traveling buffet. Going it alone gives the zombies no choices but to eat you. Going it with the old man with the limp, the little kid who can’t run and the middle aged woman with the plastic leg gives the zombies more options and you better odds you can run away faster than they can.

Rule 7: Keep the Dumb Dumbs Close at Hand: One of the most sure fire ways of making sure you survive is keeping the less intelligent as close at hand as possible. When you find somebody who asks you 'Whats going on? What Happened? Those are the ones you want with you. That way when the zombies come they are likely too stupid to realize it’s not Amway calling and run.

Rule 8: Kill with Efficiency: Its not about pretty its about efficiency. Alot of folks run for the gun cabinet where as the truly savvy go looking for the most blunt and effective way to destroy the brain. That can be anything from a baseball bat... to a toilet lid! Kill with Efficiency... dont use weapons that need something to work and use weapons you can swing over and over and over again. You don’t tend to run into one zombie at a time.

Rule 9: Guns Are for Hunting, Not for Zombie Killing: This one is simple. Guns need bullets. When you’re running who has time to stop for bullets? Keeping a shotgun with buckshot on hand is important but only when your pinned in and need a quick getaway. It’s not a proper means for killing zombies as they run out of ammo and need reloading. Remember a Cricket Bat, or Toilet Lid do not need loading!

Rule 10: Be Quiet: It’s the end of the world as you know it so try to avoid squealing like a 4th grade school girl and perhaps invest in some good sneakers. Nobody said you have to kill all the zombies and there is certainly no shame in sneaking around and surviving versus tearing around like a madman and ending up being an undead happy meal.


And Rule 32…
Rule 32: Enjoy the Little Things: Its the end of the world. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Loot a neighbourhood or two, trash a car, speed! Do the little things and enjoy em. Who knows how long you have to live!


Heaven forbid, Me as a Zombie… (At least I am a happy zombie.)

1 comment:

Tom said...

wonderful show! I love it. Thanks for the zombie killing tips!
Tom j