Cranky Dog Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 (edited) Ahh. I don't watch TWD, or much tv at all... that doesn't make a lot of sense. I thought zombies needed brains to "unlive." Like most vampires in modern media, there are some features of zombie biology that don't have consensus at all. - Reasons behind zombiehood and how it spreads. - How fast/slow, smart/dumb they are - What attracts/repels zombies - How resilient they are to various forms of damage or exposure. It all comes down to what the author(s) want their zombies to do in a particular setting. Most agree that becoming a zombie is a Bad ThingTM. Edited February 23, 2016 by Cranky Dog 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gadgetman! Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 There's supposedly a parasite or something that takes over ants completely, and forces it to climb to the tip of straws so that it can be eaten by cows, because it needs cows to spawn new generations. How much of the brain it actually takes over isn't really clear. I would expect a virus or whatever that causes Zombies to walk would need to take control of the brain stem and the most primitive parts of the rest of the brain. Smell is a rather advanced sense, so it would be difficult for a parasite or virus to rewrite what is left of the brain to use that for tracking prey. Lets just assume there are distinct groups of zombies. Magical; Reanimated by magic. You can assume that at least some of the senses has been magically restored, and that it probably also has a purpose of some sort. Whether it's a 'valid' purpose, or it was a long lost cause... Technological: Did anyone see the Dr Who episode on the 'orient express' that flew through space, and where victoms were killed by a creature existing out of phase with the rest of the world. A soldier from a long forgotten war, still fighting. Expect weird stuff from these zombies. Braindead people with implants that are still running... Walt Disney... Virus/Parasite. Probably moves slowlly as the control of the body is poor, and if the host started out already dead, the muscles and nerve paths are beginning to dissolve. Senses are falling, so they probably have problems tracking 'prey', and probably also attacks each other. Fire and decapitation should do them in. Major structural damamge should also slow them down or stop them. It mayt be a good idea to NOT get any residue from them on you. May also be airborne... If they have a still living host, they're not by definition zombies. Hollywood; Who knows. Don't expect them to make sense, or even act in the same way for multiple scenes. If it 'makes the scene work' odds are the scriptwriters will use it, then discard it the moment they need them to work otherwise. Odds are that half the executives in Hollywood studios are zombies themselves. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nocturne Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 No, I understand that. But put it into context. In The Walking Dead, if you are covered in zombie guts, you can make normal noise, walk like a normal person, shoot a gun, stab a walker through the head, and they won't even notice you. Moreover, if you can tame a walker by cutting off its arms and jaw, you can just drag it around on a leash, and its mere proximity protects you from being noticed by other walkers. So, something else entirely is going on. It throws the entire concept of how they are detecting you into question. I've not watched the latest couple of episodes so it may have played out differently, but the comics version of the scene where they are covered in zombie guts in the town and someone isn't quiet and shambling quickly results in a reduciton in the number of main characters and the suvivors body parts. The smell fools the zombies but doing anything non-zombie like doesn't, 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nocturne Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 There's supposedly a parasite or something that takes over ants completely, and forces it to climb to the tip of straws so that it can be eaten by cows, because it needs cows to spawn new generations. Cordyceps fungus. It was the basis for the infection in The Last of Us which were zombies in anything but name, just ocassionally with mushrooms growing out of their heads. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CashWiley Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 In the NOTLD remake (1990), a brief scene shows a wandering zombie noticing the noise of hammering from the farmhouse... pauses... and turns toward the farmhouse and shambles towards it...I think the remake was pretty underrated. I love the original (just watched it again about a month ago), but I think the remake is just as good. Sounds like the walking dead show got silly, which often happens with series, whether tv or comics. Maybe double if both. Everyone knows that you can't tame a zombie, but you can chain one up in the shed and play video games with it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CashWiley Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Also, fast zombies are not real zombies, they're modified zombies. Same was chicago pizza is not the definition of pizza because it requires the modifier. Also, 1st ed AD&D (aka the only AD&D) lists them as "slow, always striking last". 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crowley Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Also, fast zombies are not real zombies, they're modified zombies. Same was chicago pizza is not the definition of pizza because it requires the modifier. Also, 1st ed AD&D (aka the only AD&D) lists them as "slow, always striking last". I approve this message. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kheprera Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 There's supposedly a parasite or something that takes over ants completely, and forces it to climb to the tip of straws so that it can be eaten by cows, because it needs cows to spawn new generations. How much of the brain it actually takes over isn't really clear. I would expect a virus or whatever that causes Zombies to walk would need to take control of the brain stem and the most primitive parts of the rest of the brain. Smell is a rather advanced sense, so it would be difficult for a parasite or virus to rewrite what is left of the brain to use that for tracking prey. Lets just assume there are distinct groups of zombies. Magical; Reanimated by magic. You can assume that at least some of the senses has been magically restored, and that it probably also has a purpose of some sort. Whether it's a 'valid' purpose, or it was a long lost cause... Technological: Did anyone see the Dr Who episode on the 'orient express' that flew through space, and where victoms were killed by a creature existing out of phase with the rest of the world. A soldier from a long forgotten war, still fighting. Expect weird stuff from these zombies. Braindead people with implants that are still running... Walt Disney... Virus/Parasite. Probably moves slowlly as the control of the body is poor, and if the host started out already dead, the muscles and nerve paths are beginning to dissolve. Senses are falling, so they probably have problems tracking 'prey', and probably also attacks each other. Fire and decapitation should do them in. Major structural damamge should also slow them down or stop them. It mayt be a good idea to NOT get any residue from them on you. May also be airborne... If they have a still living host, they're not by definition zombies. Hollywood; Who knows. Don't expect them to make sense, or even act in the same way for multiple scenes. If it 'makes the scene work' odds are the scriptwriters will use it, then discard it the moment they need them to work otherwise. Odds are that half the executives in Hollywood studios are zombies themselves. Good synopsis. Bolded part snarky retort: And most politians. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Guindyloo Posted February 23, 2016 Moderator Share Posted February 23, 2016 I'm a fan of both The Walking Dead as a comic and as a tv show, but it's an unfortunate fact that they have established rules without any explanation and part of that is due to the creator's refusal to explore and/or explain the origin of the zombie outbreak. He's literally said that the subject doesn't interest him. "I have ideas [about the cause of the zombie plague]...but it's nothing set in stone because I never plan on writing it. So yes...I do know...kind of." and ""...That starts to get into the origin of all this stuff, and I think that's unimportant to the series itself. There will be smaller answers as things progress...but never will we see the whole picture." It doesn't bother me that the characters don't know how it happened. They've established that things went downhill really quickly so no one really knew what happened. I'm fine with that. But in my opinion, if the creator and writers are flat out refusing to explore the origin, then you're establishing that you can do whatever you want and it doesn't have to make sense, which is a shame. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Darsc Zacal Posted February 23, 2016 Author Moderator Share Posted February 23, 2016 I'm a fan of both The Walking Dead as a comic and as a tv show, but it's an unfortunate fact that they have established rules without any explanation and part of that is due to the creator's refusal to explore and/or explain the origin of the zombie outbreak. He's literally said that the subject doesn't interest him."I have ideas [about the cause of the zombie plague]...but it's nothing set in stone because I never plan on writing it. So yes...I do know...kind of."and""...That starts to get into the origin of all this stuff, and I think that's unimportant to the series itself. There will be smaller answers as things progress...but never will we see the whole picture."It doesn't bother me that the characters don't know how it happened. They've established that things went downhill really quickly so no one really knew what happened. I'm fine with that. But in my opinion, if the creator and writers are flat out refusing to explore the origin, then you're establishing that you can do whatever you want and it doesn't have to make sense, which is a shame. I didn't know any of that. If they end the series with any of these: -it was aliens -it was all a dream -they were in hell the whole time I'm going to be VERY disappointed. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruunwald Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Most zombie myths don't explain how it happens, or at least don't go into detail. It is a normal trope in horror writing, to allow some mystery or to withhold information, as it has multiple benefits: 1. What we don't know or can't control frightens us more and heightens danger 2. Once you lock in "the rules" it is very difficult to explore new territory without "breaking them"; hence your creative endeavor has a much shorter life 3. Most audiences hate minutia and technical detail That last is important. As nerds, many of us here deal with highly detailed rulesets and enjoy technobabble and Star Trek. We forget that most audiences do not love or want those things. They just want to be entertained by the characters and story (and sometimes by the gore). 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranky Dog Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 I'm a fan of both The Walking Dead as a comic and as a tv show, but it's an unfortunate fact that they have established rules without any explanation and part of that is due to the creator's refusal to explore and/or explain the origin of the zombie outbreak. He's literally said that the subject doesn't interest him."I have ideas [about the cause of the zombie plague]...but it's nothing set in stone because I never plan on writing it. So yes...I do know...kind of."and""...That starts to get into the origin of all this stuff, and I think that's unimportant to the series itself. There will be smaller answers as things progress...but never will we see the whole picture."It doesn't bother me that the characters don't know how it happened. They've established that things went downhill really quickly so no one really knew what happened. I'm fine with that. But in my opinion, if the creator and writers are flat out refusing to explore the origin, then you're establishing that you can do whatever you want and it doesn't have to make sense, which is a shame. I didn't know any of that. If they end the series with any of these: -it was aliens -it was all a dream -they were in hell the whole time I'm going to be VERY disappointed. I don't remember where I read/heard it, but the point of the Walking Dead is that it is *not* story about zombies, but a story about the downfall of humanity and that the title itself refers to the human survivors. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Darsc Zacal Posted February 23, 2016 Author Moderator Share Posted February 23, 2016 I don't remember where I read/heard it, but the point of the Walking Dead is that it is *not* story about zombies, but a story about the downfall of humanity and that the title itself refers to the human survivors. Interesting. After watching the first few episodes it crossed my mind that the title could be referring to the survivors. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nocturne Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 I don't remember where I read/heard it, but the point of the Walking Dead is that it is *not* story about zombies, but a story about the downfall of humanity and that the title itself refers to the human survivors. Interesting. After watching the first few episodes it crossed my mind that the title could be referring to the survivors. Spoiler I guess, but the very act of replying to this feels like a spoiler Comic version in case you're not up to date as the TV version will give away some survivors and where's the peril in knowing who surivives? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Sundseth Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Same was chicago pizza is not the definition of pizza because it requires the modifier. Like "acoustic guitar", "ice hockey" (or "field hockey" if you prefer), "New York pizza", "manual transmission", .... Sorry, severe linguistic fail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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