Fear the Walking Dead Season 1 discussion and spoilers.
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"I need my meds," he says like a person recovering from cancer treatments and needs the medication in order to live. You're a junkie, dude. You don't "need" anything. You need to be locked into a room and strapped to a bed so you can tough it out for a few days. Yeah, not liking junkie son any bit at all. Survival Scale remains a 1. He may have actually dropped to a 0.
I see Travis is clearly on Rick's arc as he's the one who's most going to need to be coaxed into dealing with the realities of this new world including killing people and being okay with guns. (Which, Rick, actually was even OK when his son wanted to learn to use guns after recovering from a near-fatal gun-shot wound. But Rick was a sheriff deputy in the South and Travis is a teacher in California so different ends of the political spectrum.)
Mom still seems to be on a "saner" Shane arc as she more and more realizes the realities of this world but at the same time still has some grasp of reality, humanity and touch of civilization. She seems to have an ounce or two of "Season 1/2 Rick" in her with her also having some desire to remain in society and in touch with her humanity, like with her dealing with the neighbor and wanting to go back to help the husband.
I like the Salazars, but I think dad is a bit too much of a hardass dick-head. Travis didn't have to take him and his family in, save his wife from the tipped-over scaffold or give them shelter for the night; or event he minimal medical treatment Ex-Mrs. Travis can provide and the confiscated opiates Madison provided. (Which, okay, they explained the school had them because the police hadn't confiscated them yet. Still, it strikes me as very, very, odd the police would just let opiate medication hang around a school in a crummy utility cabinet and that there'd be so many opiate meds in even an LA school's confiscation stash.) I get he's the "hardass survivalist" but he seems to be taking it to the max.
I'm sort-of expecting him to introduce some "real world" background to the "walkers" by bringing in the first use of the word "zombies" or some derivative of it by knowing the real-world ancient myths and superstitions about the reanimated dead. Just because zombies don't exist in this world's popular culture doesn't mean they don't exist in this world's fables and ancient beliefs. Though I doubt it'll go as far as using the word "zombies" and probably "ghouls" (a'la Night of the Living Dead) or something along those lines; most likely no "real world" word will be used and we'll stick with various terms; which this episode may have introduced it's first word for them with "The Infected."
The Walker/Infected noshing on the dog seemed pretty slow to react to Travis, et.al. entering the room, usually they're pretty quick to react to someone entering the area even if they're doing their best to be quiet (and Travis, et.al. weren't.)
Mom, I feel, still is trying to protected the daughter from what is going on which almost did daughter in tonight. Mom probably still believes that society is recoverable.
I'm impressed the riots in the streets got so bad, even for L.A.
I'm more impressed Travis' truck remained unmolested during the riots that didn't seem to be showing any favorites towards other vehicles along the road. Though, again, it's a 40-year-old truck so maybe even rioters want nothing to do with it.
Episode needed more Acne Kid.
A wide shot of the hovering Chinook helicopters looked kind-of hokey. Usually the VFX on TV-series look good and given limited time and budget are forgivable when not perfect but, I dunno, those hovering choppers in a wide shot looked about as real as the birds in "Birdemic." (Okay, maybe not that bad.)
They played an entire session of Monopoly inside of a couple of hours and didn't hate each other afterwards, every sentence them saying being filled with bile and resentment? Most unbelievable thing to happen in a franchise filled with reanimated dead people.
Mom sure seemed quick to agree to the idea to break-in next door to steal the shotgun.
Some more good eerie shots showing the "background" of everything collapsing, between the riots, seeing people in the streets being bitten/eaten by Infected and the crashed ambulance and encoutner/blockade at the hospital.
In this episode we see a wide-shot of the city as the power fails with airline navigational lights flashing over the city, and then we had the late shot of the plane in the sky, flying low, and apparently yawing out of control. I sort-of expected seeing or hearing a crash from it. Sort of more interesting hints of the wider scale of things and of the rumored mini-series set on a plane.
I think the quality of the episodes have progressed nicely, this one was very good and still look very forward to where it ends up; but I still wonder where the greater series is going to go in future seasons without being too derivative of the parent series. But, as I think I said above, I guess it'd be no different than any other TV Franchise with spin-offs where the spin-offs deal with the same formula but with just a different setting and characters.
But, seriously, die Nick. And I agree with people who've said that the schluppy way he walks is going to get him mistaken for a Walker/Infected by someone and get him shot.
I see Travis is clearly on Rick's arc as he's the one who's most going to need to be coaxed into dealing with the realities of this new world including killing people and being okay with guns. (Which, Rick, actually was even OK when his son wanted to learn to use guns after recovering from a near-fatal gun-shot wound. But Rick was a sheriff deputy in the South and Travis is a teacher in California so different ends of the political spectrum.)
Mom still seems to be on a "saner" Shane arc as she more and more realizes the realities of this world but at the same time still has some grasp of reality, humanity and touch of civilization. She seems to have an ounce or two of "Season 1/2 Rick" in her with her also having some desire to remain in society and in touch with her humanity, like with her dealing with the neighbor and wanting to go back to help the husband.
I like the Salazars, but I think dad is a bit too much of a hardass dick-head. Travis didn't have to take him and his family in, save his wife from the tipped-over scaffold or give them shelter for the night; or event he minimal medical treatment Ex-Mrs. Travis can provide and the confiscated opiates Madison provided. (Which, okay, they explained the school had them because the police hadn't confiscated them yet. Still, it strikes me as very, very, odd the police would just let opiate medication hang around a school in a crummy utility cabinet and that there'd be so many opiate meds in even an LA school's confiscation stash.) I get he's the "hardass survivalist" but he seems to be taking it to the max.
I'm sort-of expecting him to introduce some "real world" background to the "walkers" by bringing in the first use of the word "zombies" or some derivative of it by knowing the real-world ancient myths and superstitions about the reanimated dead. Just because zombies don't exist in this world's popular culture doesn't mean they don't exist in this world's fables and ancient beliefs. Though I doubt it'll go as far as using the word "zombies" and probably "ghouls" (a'la Night of the Living Dead) or something along those lines; most likely no "real world" word will be used and we'll stick with various terms; which this episode may have introduced it's first word for them with "The Infected."
The Walker/Infected noshing on the dog seemed pretty slow to react to Travis, et.al. entering the room, usually they're pretty quick to react to someone entering the area even if they're doing their best to be quiet (and Travis, et.al. weren't.)
Mom, I feel, still is trying to protected the daughter from what is going on which almost did daughter in tonight. Mom probably still believes that society is recoverable.
I'm impressed the riots in the streets got so bad, even for L.A.
I'm more impressed Travis' truck remained unmolested during the riots that didn't seem to be showing any favorites towards other vehicles along the road. Though, again, it's a 40-year-old truck so maybe even rioters want nothing to do with it.
Episode needed more Acne Kid.
A wide shot of the hovering Chinook helicopters looked kind-of hokey. Usually the VFX on TV-series look good and given limited time and budget are forgivable when not perfect but, I dunno, those hovering choppers in a wide shot looked about as real as the birds in "Birdemic." (Okay, maybe not that bad.)
They played an entire session of Monopoly inside of a couple of hours and didn't hate each other afterwards, every sentence them saying being filled with bile and resentment? Most unbelievable thing to happen in a franchise filled with reanimated dead people.
Mom sure seemed quick to agree to the idea to break-in next door to steal the shotgun.
Some more good eerie shots showing the "background" of everything collapsing, between the riots, seeing people in the streets being bitten/eaten by Infected and the crashed ambulance and encoutner/blockade at the hospital.
In this episode we see a wide-shot of the city as the power fails with airline navigational lights flashing over the city, and then we had the late shot of the plane in the sky, flying low, and apparently yawing out of control. I sort-of expected seeing or hearing a crash from it. Sort of more interesting hints of the wider scale of things and of the rumored mini-series set on a plane.
I think the quality of the episodes have progressed nicely, this one was very good and still look very forward to where it ends up; but I still wonder where the greater series is going to go in future seasons without being too derivative of the parent series. But, as I think I said above, I guess it'd be no different than any other TV Franchise with spin-offs where the spin-offs deal with the same formula but with just a different setting and characters.
But, seriously, die Nick. And I agree with people who've said that the schluppy way he walks is going to get him mistaken for a Walker/Infected by someone and get him shot.
So, as some tried to explain here. mom was trying to shield the daughter from the horrors of what was happening. Still hoping it would blow over eventually. And, as some tried to explain here, some of them, mainly dad, are still not convinced that the dead are walking as opposed to this just being very sick people.
Honorable? What are these Klingons living by some code?
Honorable? What are these Klingons living by some code?
Well, the kid was a giant ass for saying he needed his damn drugs more than his mom; who seems tho have been overwhelming supportive and caring towards him. I mean, she didn't have to get him medication to wean him off, she could have just made him tough it out. But boo-hoo, she gave some pain killers to the woman with a crushed foot. He's a punk.
Yeah, he's still responding like the junky he is. Gotta keep the drugs for himself.
I think the only reason mom hasn't cut him off cold turkey is because of all that's going on right now. At least while he's on the drug she's giving him there's some rational behaviour and control of him.
A junky in withdrawal would be a much more difficult situation to deal with at the moment.
I think the only reason mom hasn't cut him off cold turkey is because of all that's going on right now. At least while he's on the drug she's giving him there's some rational behaviour and control of him.
A junky in withdrawal would be a much more difficult situation to deal with at the moment.
Yeah, probably, but giving him his next dose on demand when he isn't even breaking a sweat is doing anything to help him detox, he's getting his fix; his high, not weaning. He should be taken to the breaking point where he's shaking, in pain, and can't take any more and then given a dose. Each next dose being a little smaller than the previous one and each time making him stay longer out on that edge. Giving him one whenever he calmly asks for it isn't helping him any.
And he's clearly not trying to wean off it, he's wanting a fix. He's crushing the pills for quick delivery and, again, not reaching a PONR before given a dose.
Call me cold or whatever, but I have little respect for addicts of hard-drugs like this character is; especially when they're abusing the kindness of others for a fix. His mom has been pretty damn supportive of him and he's taking advantage of her to get high and then he admonishes her and pretty much dis-owns her in favor of his pills. Screw him.
Mom should have slapped him, flushed the pills down the drain and told him to deal with it at that point. She went to considerable risk to get that stuff for him (risking her job, in fact, if we accept she doesn't know the world is ending) and he's all like, "Wah! I need my pills, not you!"
Go make yourself walker-food you little punk, give me Carl's whiny ass over him any day. At least Carl's a pre-teen/teenage boy dealing with new emotions and feelings and going through that second phase in life where a developing person realizes their independence again. (Similar to the "Terrible Twos")
This punk has no excuse other than the toxins he dumps into his body.
You can go cold turkey, but it's a bit more dangerous to do. Weening off is a smarter move.
It seemed likely that that's what they were going for, but it still doesn't make much sense. What kind of parent is so shielding of a 17 year old? And why would they expect them not to find out about the events even if things did blow over? And seriously, how can a parent expect a child to listen to or trust them when they don't at all communicate? Madison is a terrible parent, probably even worse than Lori. It's frustrating to see characters that lack any sense.
It seemed likely that that's what they were going for, but it still doesn't make much sense. What kind of parent is so shielding of a 17 year old? And why would they expect them not to find out about the events even if things did blow over? And seriously, how can a parent expect a child to listen to or trust them when they don't at all communicate? Madison is a terrible parent, probably even worse than Lori. It's frustrating to see characters that lack any sense.
True enough. But, still, I doubt the right way is to just hand them the stuff when they pout and ask for them.
The way he's been limping lately, plus how he looked when he was on drugs...it just seems like they're setting him up to look like a walker, and someone shoots him by accident.
And depending how, either blowing his head off, or killing him once, and then again to finish the job..it'll be "tragic", at least to the families.
But this new military takeover thing...i take it they're in a nice suburb or something? I am guessing not everyone is getting that "protection". With 3 episodes left, i guess the fall of authority comes quick? Not sure how they're going to go from Government run camp to complete chaos that quick.
And the aim was for the Desert? Or is that a nickname for someplace?
Oh, and sad for the Asian-American man losing his wife, but glad he's alive. Hope we see him again.
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The plan is to keep him lucid and mobile.
Getting off the drugs would come later, when they got to where they were going.
"Howl at the moon"
You're right about the junkie, but don't count his Survival Scale dropping. TV loves trying to make "heroes" out of losers like this, so in some utterly improbable way, he might be the last one standing.
Travis is still in denial after witnessing zombies in action; Rick merely needed Morgan to explain what was happening, and he accepted it. Its as though Travis' sociopolitical mindset prevents him from thinking of a possibility of the dead actually rising. He's still thinking its some illness (never mind that no illness in world history ever triggered anything like that).
About guns? He's an idiot. Andrea was a lefty lawyer, but her political leanings did not prevent her from understanding she needed to use a gun to survive.
But the last thing I want to see, is Travis facing some dire situation and SUDDENLY he wakes up at the last second, and becomes The Man With No Name of zombieville.
Other than that, he whines too much.
Although she's still needlessly confrontational, as seen in her approaching the soldiers. Her "it's his wife's blood," was barking out of her ass; she said it as if any bodily fluids from a creature she knew was a walking corpse could be safe.
The problem with the mom is that Kirkman, et al., think making her an aggressive asshole = heroic or assertive.
That's not working out that way.
But Travis would not be alive at all if not for the Salazars. If he refused to help them after saving Travis and the Dysfunctional gang, Travis would come off as self-serving as the Governor (pick any number of situations) or Shane (with Otis).
...but he's the only character making sense. No one has ever witnessed the dead rising, and there's general anarchy all around, so he knows you either defend yourself (not mercilessly murder like Shane, Terminus or the Governor) or die. No time for hand-wringing, pointless debates on a very clear matter.
If this series wants to play it realistically, Travis should end up with a bite while trying to play humanistic crusader during a life-threatening situation.
Agreed. Kirkman and company are rather ridiculous that "zombie" is forbidden in that world, since its common use and origin predate filmed and even written entertainment. It would be as paranoid as not saying "monster" in a monster movie, because of an overreaction to the entertainment created by others.
It almost smells of a creative and/or professional resentment that one film or genre could be so identified with the word, long before TWD came along, so in comes the "don't use zombie!" mandate.
Mom needs to go. She lives in a netherworld, and apparently desires others to live there too, considering her behavior over a clearly dead neighbor. ..and you do not need previous experience with zombies to know a dead person when you see one.
Yes--wild, senseless and self destructive beyond belief. That's L.A.
In the season finale, he will suddenly show up, inexplicably a seasoned zombie-fighter....only he will be as believable as...Episode needed more Acne Kid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPPj6viIBmU
Remember, she's supposed to be the aggressive, confrontational badass, so...
...and with people being predictably wild and free of common sense, it should not take long for bitten people to run off in all directions, eventually spreading the disease rapidly.
Again, I go back to the 2011 study from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health...
...and that's without the imaginary effects of a zombie disease. Add all of the murders, end-stage (but out of hospital) death by disease, natural causes, suicide, accident, etc., and the entire city would be swarmed with zombies almost overnight. No one should be completely ignorant or in denial of what's happening. Yes, i'm looking at Travis and Angry Mom.
So far, the Salazar family is the draw for me, as they are not pulled from the modern TV "this is real and dysfunctional" file overused by producers. I would like to see them survive the season, and if so, it would actually make sense.
I cannot be sure, but in the preview, it looks like he's falling back--as if shot. Do we feel lucky to tune in next week?
Addict vs. National Guard. THAT is must-see TV!
I thought for sure he was going to get capped by a soldier when he was limping around the side of that house looking for drugs in a very zombie-like way.
The kid that plays Nick is the son of Stephen Dillane, who plays Stannis Baratheon on Game of Thrones. So, if you don't like the character, between being the son of Father of the Year Stannis and playing a young Tom Riddle/Voldemort, I'd say he's got some bad luck coming his way.
The high school (Woodrow Wilson High in real life) and house is in a community in East LA called El Sereno, the oldest in the city (ten years older than the incorporation of the city itself), and it's predominately lower to mid-middle class Latino (81%) and Chinese (5%) families, so they've gotten the depiction down pretty accurately. It's not typically the type of community who gets preferential treatment from the government, no.
After the pilot, everything but the occasional establishing shots moved from LA to Vancouver.
http://www.seeing-stars.com/Locations/FearTheWalkingDead.shtml
http://www.lamag.com/culturefiles/did-you-spot-these-l-a-locations-in-fear-the-walking-dead/
Nope, it's the actual desert. It's just over the mountains and accessible by freeway (at least, in non-state of emergency times).
They were probably going to try and meet up in Lancaster, Palmdale, or Littlerock depending on which routes out of the LA Basin were still open and had traffic moving.
Hard comparison there. It's a little apples to oranges because they are at different places in their understanding and acceptance of what zombies are. I agree that even with what they see now, he should be more willing to accept that a gun is his friend, but it's not quite fair to compare him to Andrea's willingness to accept guns weeks in to the apocalypse. If it gets to the point where they've learned what zombies are and how they work and Travis is still anti-gun, then I'll agree with you.
I think my favorite part of the episode was either the hospital or when they were leaving and the power was turning off. Some of those society falling apart moments are the best thing about this show in contrast to TWD. This show definitely makes me feel more nervous and I think is generally scarier.
Personally I have no problem buying that the parents are still largely in denial about the whole thing. And that regardless of how unnatural these walkers may look, it must still be hard for them at this point to see them only as monsters that need to be killed immediately and not just severely sick people who could still be helped.
Obviously when these people are still moving around with half their face blown off, they're beyond the point of no return. But before that point many of them (like the neighbor lady) appear like they probably could still be cured somehow, as Travis clearly seems to think.
As for not telling the daughter, the impression I get is that Maddie was simply trying to keep her from learning the truth about what her boyfriend was about to turn into. Because we saw in this episode just how badly she reacted to that idea.
Obviously when these people are still moving around with half their face blown off, they're beyond the point of no return. But before that point many of them (like the neighbor lady) appear like they probably could still be cured somehow, as Travis clearly seems to think.
As for not telling the daughter, the impression I get is that Maddie was simply trying to keep her from learning the truth about what her boyfriend was about to turn into. Because we saw in this episode just how badly she reacted to that idea.
Actually, Drug Boy left the back door open when he let the dog in and they all ran next door to get the gun. Text Girl saw him going in the open back door when they were in the other house.
My two cents on the ep:
At least DB gets points for thinking of going somewhere to get a gun.
Text Girl gets a point or two for finally realizing the danger...too bad she almost had to get eaten by Dead Neighbor Lady for it to happen.
And Kudos to Bodega Man for getting it! Unfortunately, that probably means we won't see him again after next week because nobody with sense is allowed to be on the show. Still he had presence of mind to try and teach Protest Kid about guns...until Teacher Man had a hissy fit. (I wanted him to tell his daughter that the reason they can't stay with the family is because Travis is a naïve douche that will get them all killed.)
And Travis is not just still stupid...he's regressing. Really? You're going to stand there and try and talk to Pete while he's trying to EAT YOU??? Violently trying? Don't you think at some point it would occur to you that maybe it's him or me and I vote "me?" Lecturing Bodega Man about blowing Pete's head off is such a dick move.
Moron Drug Addict Son left the sliding door open when he let the dog into the house. No one closed it when they went to the neighbor's to swipe the shotgun. Zombie Neighbor wondered into the room going after the dog.
Q2
*ninja'd by Admiral2*
