You have a bad habit of trying to write for the series--filling in for the avoidance of reason. I'm talking about all characters--even more established groups like that seen at Woodbury, or an indivdual who was not living in primitive shambles such as Jenner at the CDC. No excuses. ...and exactly how did it all fall apart in mere days? Again, you cannot avoid the strong suggestion that society fell while Rick was in the hospital--and considering the peculiar habits of walkers, he would not have lasted for an extended amount of time. So, tell us how society (including communications) fell so quickly.
Jenner did explain that he lost contact. What other characters did we see that had access to satellite communications and someone to talk to? Not even sure how this relates to the statement you quoted. What does the speed of how things fell apart have to do with satellite communications in the current conditions of the setting? As for how long Rick lasted, I suggest you watch this set of webisodes: http://www.amctv.com/the-walking-dead/videos/the-walking-dead-webisodes-the-oath-part-1 particularly the end of part 2: http://www.amctv.com/the-walking-dead/videos/the-walking-dead-webisodes-the-oath-part-2
Referencing Jenner points out that everyone was not straggling in the woods, or running from one place to another--such as Rick's group. Further, what about the Woodburys of the world? If functioning mini-societies exist on that level, who would think any manned source of communication would not exist on some level as well? Again, convenient writing has the world falling so quickly. Access. Attempt. Why the characters are behaving as if they think everything has fallen apart, when it is not plausible in so short a period--particularly in the joined season 1 & 2 period. That webisode is as convoluted as the notion of society falling as fast as suggested in the pilot. Moreover, the mercy-killing-happy woman would have dealt the same murderous action to Rick if she did something as simple as....check the rooms. She gives no indication of how much time passed, but it would not matter, since Rick--in an exposed environment--would have been killed, either by mercy-killer (again, if she bothered to check the room of her own facility), by walkers, or even the living. He could not have been exposed with no nourishment/care for long. In that time, the would would not fall apart to the degree depicted in the series. Come on. That webisode is not even close to proving explanations. ...and like Star Wars or Star Trek EU, if you need a webisode to explain what the series should have, then there's a problem...
Dude, you're over-thinking it. Yes the premise doesn't make sense and in "reality" society wouldn't collapse in the time that likely took place between Shane visiting Rick in the hospital and when Rick woke up (at most a week) but the idea was also supposed to be this was all going on for quite sometime before it became a huge problem. (re: The times Jenner gives on the sickness being first found and it going global.) I don't think anyone could argue that it doesn't make sense that society fell apart in a matter of weeks or maybe months. Point is, it did. End of story. "Somehow" it just did. Whatever happened initially was too overwhelming for society to cope with it and fight it off. Maybe the first wave that took everyone out was a much more lethal and faster-acting strain of the illness? Doesn't matter as, really, the zombies and how it all happened really isn't the point of the story.
Trek_God_1. Go out and access a satellite and hack its communications grid real quick. I'll be over here waiting while you do that. (Oh wait, what's that, you can't and don't have any idea how to? Hint: That's the biggest answer to your question.)
I mean, let's look at who we have right now in the series. Do any of these people seem like they have any clue how to access and make use of a communications satellite? And with what, exactly? The power grid is gone! Satellites and ground communication systems haven't been used or maintained in almost two years! Are these people in *any* position to even *try* to make use of a satellite?
Yea, that's pretty much what the Series is based around, it happened, we're not gonna insult you by trying to spell it out, just accept this is where we begin. If you can't accept starting from there, you're always going to be disappointed, because they aren't going to bother explaining where you have your disappointment.
Woodbury was mainly focused on surviving and trying to maintain some level of civilization. They barely seemed to have the lights going. They actually mention that are wasting what electricity they have powering the experiments that were being run on the walkers to either cure or control them. I highly doubt that they could maintain communication equipment or had anyone who knew how to operate it. That's assuming that there was anyone else out there who was doing the same. Probably the most likely scenario when it comes to communication would be Ham radios, but it's not a priority when you're struggling to survive. Also Woodbury is a small Georgia town, the most advanced thing in most of them is a Wal-mart.
It has already been established that this discussion is not limited to Rick's group. They are not the last people on earth, and we are supposed to believe everything went to crap in what could not be more than a few days. If anyone buys that, then I have some absolutely gorgeous, peaceful land in downtown Crimea to sell you...right now.
At least YOU can admit that. Ah, but the series does not open with that--we are simply expected to believe the ZA exploded so fast, most of civilization was brought to its collective knees in no time at all--meanwhile, Rick lay safe--in a hospital said to be raided/attacked..and has more than a few walkers within its walls. With luck like that, he could walk through an army of walkers and Governors and come out as clean as a dry-cleaned shirt. ....yet another member is trying to perform message board gymnastics trying to defend the very things you say are not the point of the story.
The collapse of civilization is a given of the Zombie Apocalypse genre. World War Z did a wonderful job of lending verisimilitude to the idea, but it would never happen like that in real life, even if there were flesh-eating zombies. It's like all aliens speaking English in Space Opera or cops being stupider than old ladies in Cozy Mysteries. Just roll with it.
You have to 'roll with it' to continue enjoying the show. If we enjoy the show, why don't we think of ways it could have happened rather than fighting to the death about how there's no reality to it at all. Find a way, in universe, for what we see to have happened or why bother watching. For myself, I won't waste time on a show if I can't accept the premise or am not able to 'roll with it' (or for any number of other reasons) I can't explain how the ZA happened so fast but there must be a way for it to have happened as depicted on the show or the characters we follow wouldn't be doing what they are doing; they would be farming or prosecuting or enforcing the law or...
Dude, we are ST fans. It's on our genes to, "over think," everything. in fantasy land wanna be captain Kirk wouldn't ever get arrested for a drunk or disorderly in real life, Chris Pine gets arrested for a DUI in New Zealand. In short - it's fun to talk about all the variables. Why else are the fuck are we here?
Fair enough. But, if you're still so bothered by the very set up of the Series, 4 Seasons in, then what's the point in watching? It's been there from the beginning, and won't ever change, it's no different than accepting Warp Drive and Transporters. If you can't accept it, that's understandable (Many people can't, that's why a new Star Trek Series isn't expected to pull in 10 Million viewers), but, what's the point of watching? It's perfectly understandable to mention you don't watch a show because you can't accept the set up, but, it makes no sense to complain about the Series Set up conceits, every episode, 4 seasons in.
You're not allowed to hope for change in a series? Not to go full-tilt science on us, but can't wish for even a little bit of explanation or flashback to show those parts? We've gotten a LITTLE of that in the past, doesn't exactly make people haters to want more. You can enjoy something, and still get annoyed by things they do, or wish for a slightly different direction, or try to come up with explanations for how things work. Hence the couple million posts in the Trek-themed fora above this one
I take it you have never complained about anything in life but still liked it? I love Trek - but every once and a while you get a Threshold episode and/or a Nemesis film. Walking Dead is the absolute best IMO there is on TV today - Game of Thrones and House of Cards a very, very close second. But it's still fun IMO to talk about TWD flaws.
Sure it's fun. But when every conversation is hijacked by people complaining about what the show isn't it gets tedious. Sometimes it seems like we can't even discuss what actually happened on the show because people are too busy harping on their pet peeves.
Another thing to consider is soldiers are trained to make torso shots, not head shots. In conventional battle, you it your enemy in the torso, he goes down. It's not the movies where they keep fighting. Only special forces or snipers have the training to consistently make head shots. Regular army would have a learning curve once they realize those they shot are still coming, and then may not have the skills necessary to make those head shots. Drones do much of their work exploding and distributing shrapnel. That may tear up a zombie, but it may not kill one. Even with the loss of a couple of limbs, a zombie could crawl, and still be a danger.
Eh, but the entire bunch of characters in "The Walking Dead" have learned to do head shots pretty easily and quickly. They're all pros at it this point to where it becomes pretty silly that they can't make a head-shot when they need to! (Like when fighting The Governor's and his men.) Hell, even Carol is capable of making headshots when they first cleared out the prison yard! So, regardless of real-world training, it seems head-shots aren't likely what held the military back.