The Walking Dead.

[findingZzero]

I had a very disturbing dream last night. A post-apocalyptic world where giant reptilian creatures ( dinosaur, raptor like) would come out of nowhere and rip you apart. In the beginning of the dream, one huge beast noticed me and had its snout on my cheek. I held still and it moved on. Nowhere was safe. We tried to sleep huddled in bathroom stalls, but still felt vulnerable. The fear was unbearable and corrosive. Then, the threat became gangs and death cults which were even worse. You would take your chances outside with the creatures rather than be trapped inside by fellow humans. We didn't have any weapons. The bad guys did though. Machetes and pistols. I was about to be killed (beheaded, I think) when I awoke. Needless to say I didn't feel rested. I should write this down. Hmmmmmmmm...

 

[Libertarian01]

I had a very disturbing dream last night. A post apocalyptic world where giant reptilian creature ( dinosaur, raptor like) would come outof nowhere and rip you apart. In the beginning of the dream, one huge beast noticed me and had its snout on my cheek. I held still and it moved on. Nowhere was safe. We tried to sleep huddled in bathroom stalls, but still felt vulnerable. The fear was unbearable and corrosive. Then, the threat became gangs and death cults which was even worse. You would take your chances outside with the creatures rather than be trapped inside by fellow humans. We didn't have any weapons. The bad guys did though. Machetes and pistols. I was about to be killed (beheaded, I think) when I awoke. Needless to say I didn't feel rested. I should write this down. Hmmmmmmmm...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT9Lm4Y886k

 

[printcraft]

I think the people or whats left of them in Alexandria are recruiting for the defense of the zone.
They are facing some kind of as of yet unseen outside threat and they aren't equipped to deal with it so they are
offering "memberships" in a safe zone as an carrot to down on their luck outsiders.
They increase their numbers and the people they bring in automatically have a vested interest in protecting the zone.
They can't just invite anyone in that's why they were watching Rick's group to see what kind of people they were.
The claimers group would not have made the cut.

 

[bluewraith]

I think the people or whats left of them in Alexandria are recruiting for the defense of the zone.
They are facing some kind of as of yet unseen outside threat and they aren't equipped to deal with it so they are
offering "memberships" in a safe zone as an carrot to down on their luck outsiders.
They increase their numbers and the people they bring in automatically have a vested interest in protecting the zone.
They can't just invite anyone in that's why they were watching Rick's group to see what kind of people they were.
The claimers group would not have made the cut.

When Aaron saw the flare go up, he seemed to be really scared. I don't think it was a fear for his lover, but more a fear of their rival group discovering them out and unprepared. He didn't want to travel towards the flare until Rick said that's where the others would be going as well, thinking that Rick had the only flare gun.

 

[findingZzero]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT9Lm4Y886k

First I laughed heartily, then I thought, this aint no party, this aint no disco....* this is "The Walking Dead" thread.
[video=youtube_share;OVHNwBbkSj4]http://youtu.be/OVHNwBbkSj4[/video]

 

[dusty88]

I think the people or whats left of them in Alexandria are recruiting for the defense of the zone.
They are facing some kind of as of yet unseen outside threat and they aren't equipped to deal with it so they are
offering "memberships" in a safe zone as an carrot to down on their luck outsiders.
They increase their numbers and the people they bring in automatically have a vested interest in protecting the zone.
They can't just invite anyone in that's why they were watching Rick's group to see what kind of people they were.
The claimers group would not have made the cut.

Interesting thought. You need people for defense, and you need people of certain skills. But it would be difficult to provide food, water, and sanitation as you get more people in a concentrated area. Maybe the need for more "defense" is the explanation for why they would be recruiting (assuming it's not something sinister of course).

 

[CathyInBlue]

Let's take a survey of the group to determine what skills they might bring to the table.

Rick Grimes: law enforcement
Carl Grimes: kid
Judith Grimes: infant
Michonne: ?
Glenn: pizza delivery
Maggie: agriculture
Father Gabriel: religion
Carol: house wife/child care
Daryl: professional bad-ass?
Sasha: ?
Abraham: soldier?
Rosita: ?
Eugene: science teacher?
Tara: ?

Other than dish washers, ditch diggers, and cannon fodder, the only ones with clearly useful skills would be Rick, Maggie, and Carol. If they stick to Eugene's story from the comic, a science teacher could be useful for a growing community with school-aged children.

 

[Kutnupe14]

One thing I noticed the other day, when watching a clip from the first season, and noticed that the zombies were way more agile. In "guts," when the guys were being chased the zombies after the rain washed off their "scent," the zombies were climbing the chain link fence, rather that simply massing along it and pressing until it fell (like at the prison). Just something interesting I noticed.

 

[actaeon277]

One thing I noticed the other day, when watching a clip from the first season, and noticed that the zombies were way more agile. In "guts," when the guys were being chased the zombies after the rain washed off their "scent," the zombies were climbing the chain link fence, rather that simply massing along it and pressing until it fell (like at the prison). Just something interesting I noticed.

Over time they are "aging" the walkers.

 

[CathyInBlue]

The producers, when guests on Talking Dead, have mentioned that they've tried to keep the zombie makeup and action consistent with walking corpses that have been decaying for years. In those first season eps, the zeds would be… "fresher".

 

[dusty88]

The producers, when guests on Talking Dead, have mentioned that they've tried to keep the zombie makeup and action consistent with walking corpses that have been decaying for years. In those first season eps, the zeds would be… "fresher".

It seemed to me that the zombies they encountered in Noah's subdivision were a bit stronger, which would fit as one assumes this area collapsed fairly recently.

Other than dish washers, ditch diggers, and cannon fodder, the only ones with clearly useful skills would be Rick, Maggie, and Carol. If they stick to Eugene's story from the comic, a science teacher could be useful for a growing community with school-aged children.

In a world without electricity and other modern conveniences, I'd rate Darryl's skills at the top of the list. He can hunt, forage, track, and he's pretty good at making something from limited resources. Michonne's sword skills are also important if you don't want to waste ammo.

But it could be as simple as Aaron pointed out: the group was cooperative even when starving. You need people to do basic gardening work, enforce walls, etc so I guess the "skill" of cooperation is also important IF you have enough basic resources such as land and water to support them.

 

[MCgrease08]

I still don't trust the new guy. How can you trust someone that does impressions?

[video=youtube_share;CzXUUS4weSU]http://youtu.be/CzXUUS4weSU[/video]

 

[Kutnupe14]

The producers, when guests on Talking Dead, have mentioned that they've tried to keep the zombie makeup and action consistent with walking corpses that have been decaying for years. In those first season eps, the zeds would be… "fresher".

And apparently smarter. A zombie in Guts picked up a rock and smashed the department store window.

 

[CathyInBlue]

I just caught Emily Kinney (Beth Greene) guest starring as the roommate of the murder victim on an episode of Forever on ABC.

Edit: Oh look. She's really the psycho killer.

 

[dusty88]

And apparently smarter. A zombie in Guts picked up a rock and smashed the department store window.

That's right.... and zombie Morgan's wife was trying to turn a doorknob.

They did change writers after the first season.

 

[VERT]

Maybe the Zeds were smarter. The brain does deteriorate with decay. Hitting stuff with a rock or grabbing a knob is s pretty basic instinct for an animal with a thumb. Keep in mind they can still see, hear, smell. But those senses would also go away after some time. Plus the heads are getting nice a mushy, perfect for a good curb stomp

 

[JeremiahJohnson]

Speaking of skills, the apple sauce was home made in a re-usable container. So, they're growing their own food and know how to preserve it. Apples come from an orchard, so they have an orchard of some kind too. Therefore, we have agriculture and food preservation skills in the new camp. I remember the mention of a doctor/surgeon too. This sounds more like a true community with attention to skill sets.

 

[A 7.62 Exodus]

I think the people or whats left of them in Alexandria are recruiting for the defense of the zone.
They are facing some kind of as of yet unseen outside threat and they aren't equipped to deal with it so they are
offering "memberships" in a safe zone as an carrot to down on their luck outsiders.
They increase their numbers and the people they bring in automatically have a vested interest in protecting the zone.
They can't just invite anyone in that's why they were watching Rick's group to see what kind of people they were.
The claimers group would not have made the cut.

Without any spoilers. In the comics, there is a character that is pure evil. He puts the governor to shame with all of the things he does. He's SUPER important in the comics too. I imagine he'll be introduced here soon, but as for your theory I think it's spot on. They're trying to increase their defensive ranks, because of this "yet to be introduced" character

 

[ccrubaugh]

Much better episode than last week. I know some people like the slow dark episodes every once but this week got back to some good ole Rick paranoia.

 

[Kutnupe14]

Without any spoilers. In the comics, there is a character that is pure evil. He puts the governor to shame with all of the things he does. He's SUPER important in the comics too. I imagine he'll be introduced here soon, but as for your theory I think it's spot on. They're trying to increase their defensive ranks, because of this "yet to be introduced" character

I wonder. There about 60 issues between them meet Aaron, and the guy your talking about.