I'm officially addicted to the TV show Walking Dead, thanks to my baby brother, who bought me the first season for Christmas. You all know I'm a huge chicken when it comes to horror movies/shows, but there's just something about this one that keeps me watching (albeit behind a pillow some of the time. Ok, ok, MOST of the time).
Maybe it's the skillful pacing, the action and excitement deftly sprinkled with scenes focusing on character development.
Or maybe it's the characters themselves. There's Rick, the main hero and leader of this ragtag group struggling to survive when the zombie apocalypse hits America. He's honorable and always tries to do what is right. (He also reminds me strongly of Viggo Mortensen/Aragorn.) But then there's his best friend and fellow police officer, Shane, who isn't above sacrificing someone to the zombies in order to save the people he loves.
I think it's cool that zombie stories are a study of human nature. What happens when you throw a bunch of folks who are used to Bluetooth and toilets and readily available food into a situation where their main objective is just to survive?
Frankly, I'd probably be the first to die in a zombie apocalypse. (In fact, it's already happened.) I would most likely decide to just give up and let them eat me (akin to the situation wherein I am a Hunger Games tribute and decide to just step off the platform so the mines can blow me up, since Katniss would end me in 3.2 seconds anyway).
But just for fun, let's pretend I am brave and am actually planning to survive. I can already run fast and ride a horse, so I'm good there.
From what I've learned by watching Walking Dead, here are some additional ways I would prepare:
- Learn to tolerate the sight of blood. Yeah, probably the biggest reason why I threw my hands up after three-and-a-half years of majoring in pre-med biology and yelled "I DON'T WANNA GO TO MEDICAL SCHOOL." Can you imagine me in the OR? Disgruntled nurse: "Great, the doctor's passed out over the patient's paper cut again." I figure there'll probably be lots of blood with zombies about, so I'd have to do something about this.
- Work on upper body strength. This will be handy for smashing zombies' brains in with blunt instruments. Also, climbing.
- Practice archery. Ideally with an Olympian, a la Jennifer Lawrence.
- Learn how to hotwire a car. There will be lots of stretches of highway with hundreds of abandoned vehicles. It's like a dealership without the annoying salesmen yakkety-yak-yakking at you. And it goes hand-in-hand with...
- Learn how to siphon gas from a parked car. People always seem to run out of gas whenever there's a herd of zombies nearby. I will not be a plot point to help you up the suspense, AMC. I refuse.
- Carry a flashlight w/ extra batteries. This is because when I'm waking up from a coma in an abandoned, zombie-infested hospital, I don't have to escape down a pitch-black stairwell with only a match to light my way (really, Rick?! REALLY?!).
- Always pack heat. Even if it's just pepper spray to ward off the people who would kill me for the last packet of antibiotics and bag of Doritos in the looted drugstore.
- Have some really good books. On the show, the characters are always complaining about the books they have at hand and grumbling that if they'd known there would be a zombie apocalypse, they would have brought better reading material.
Any other tips you'd like to add? And what books would you bring along for your downtime from braining zombies?
P.S. Remember to cast your vote for today's bout of WRiTE Club!
P.P.S. Will be taking a little blogging break to keep working on ELEGY. See you in a few weeks!
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28 comments:
Eeek! Just the thought of zombies freaks me out. I don't think I could watch that show. lol
And like you, I'd probably die pretty quickly. lol
I'd die very quickly. No upper body strength, I don't know how to hot wire a car, etc. I do have a Kindle packed with really good books, so maybe the warrior-type people would keep me alive for that. Or maybe they'd just steal it. :)
Oh wait, I do have one post-apocalyptic skill. I know how to brew beer--the warriors would totally keep me alive.
I can't stand the sight of blood, which is why I can't watch any horror movie without covering my eyes. I guess I'd have to figure out how to gather my own food if there was an apocalypse, though, because then there wouldn't be any stores open.
Brought better reading material!
Hey, I'd learn to master the double-tap and keep up the cardio - big rules in Zombieland.
I don't do horror because I wouldn't be behind the pillows. But if I lived in one? I'd carry a spork - the fork part for stabbing necks, and the spoon part for scooping out eyeballs.
Best wishes with ELEGY!
Like Alex, it would be the double-tap and the cardio. Also, I'd add to be prepared to discover new things about yourself. Never know what you'll do until you're in the position to act, not act or die.
Wishing you the best as you work on ELEGY!
I read the first volume of the Walking Dead but I haven't seen the show. When it comes to dealing with zombies, I imagine that running very fast would be a good skill to have... Like you, I don't enjoy the sight of blood very much either!
Nice list! I haven't actually seen this show, but I've heard quite a bit about it. Most of my TV time is spent watching Doctor Who, but maybe I'll check the Walking Dead out.
At least you know that you're prepared, just in case. :)
Alexandra~
Not a zombie watcher but I think I know what I'd do...become the BFF of someone who could do all those things you mentioned. :-)
I've never seen it - not even sure it's available here - but if there's an Aragorn-like character... maybe.
I need to work on that list - pretty sure I'd be the first to go!
Zombies aren't really my thing. I'd probably the first one gone.
Yikes, I hate zombies and horror too! D: I don't think I'd ever be able to watch Walking Dead...
I've never heard of the show!
Oh yikes, I'm not good with gory stuff. Not sure I'd make through a zombie apocalypse!
Have a wonderful, productive break.
I haven't watched this show yet. It would probably freak me out.
I still haven't seen this show... I'm curious, but not sure I can handle how graphic it is... we'll see! They film a lot of it where my friend lives in Atlanta, and she always sees the camera crews and stuff. She's paranoid about running into the zombies in full makeup LOL.
Hope you have a great break and can get a lot done!
Loved your sense of humor and take on the Zombie culture. I couldn't watch Casper the friendly ghost as a child, so Zombies are way out there for me. You did get me curious though. Good Writing.
Hahaha - as I'm reading this, I'm watching the zombie episode of Castle! Perfect timing.
My discomfort with blood and needles kept me out of med school too. Well, that and lousy science grades. :) And yet I have put up with blood, vomit, and other bodily excretions from my kids without batting an eyelid. Which leads me to believe that, at least for some of us, squeamishness takes a backseat when it really matters. Perhaps you'd be the same way, Julie? :)
I hope you have a productive blog break. Looking forward to your return. :)
"I will not be a plot point to help you up the suspense" - he he he.
Reminds me I still haven't read Zombies vs. Unicorns. Humans, so what - we're expendable. But unicorns? Zombies, don't mess with unicorns!
My husband loves this show - I hate it! (I'm a total wimp when it comes to gore)...I LOVE what you've learned from it though. I hope Camp Nano went well for you!! If you have a finished MS from it, you should enter it in just the agent round of GUTGAA! The beauty of GUTGAA is that you can pick and choose what to participate in!! Happy writing!!
Welcome to the Zombie World Julie :)
Personally, I've decided the first bullet I shoot will be in my own brain. I NEVER want to end up as a zombie.
Love your survival list :)
I love this show, I've watched it from the beginning, and cant wait til Oct and the 3rd season begins. One of the new girls uses Kitana's as her weapon of choice to slice off zombie heads. Awesome!!
But, I agree that there is more to The Walking Dead series than killing zombies, which is why I like it so much. The characters, the survival story line, the moral delimma's; all this could be any apocalypse event - nuclear war, solar flares, meteors, aliens, bio-chemical infections - and the survivor plot line still works.
Have a good break; enjoy your family.
.......dhole
Oh, I'm so scared of zombies. I saw the first episode of The Walking Dead, and I was scared to take a shower.
But thanks for the tips. ; )
Ha, that's great. I've only seen snatches of the show, but it seems like something I could get into. Number 7 made me laugh the most!
I love LOVE your zombie tips! I haven't watched any Walking Dead yet. I know! But I'm usually light years behind everyone else when it comes to popular shows. I think my zombie tip would be to invest in some good film FX make up so I could emulate zombies and thus blend in without them noticing me.
I love your list! I haven't seen the show, but I like the idea. And somehow I can just see you packing a huge Glock and a bow with a quiver of arrows... hee. Have a great break! I just got back from a huge one. <3
I haven't seen one episode of the Walking Dead. I just can't find the time to watch TV when the kids are asleep.
Maybe I got a little burned out from the whole zombie thing. But I still have a fascination with 'em.
I think it's great how Homeland Security is getting in on the Zombie Apocolypse bandwagon!
I'm not one much into zombies... though I may give zombie airsoft a try, cause it sounds like fun. The Walking Dead sounds like the zombie version of Falling Skies. (Or is FS the alien version of the WD?)
Allison (Geek Banter)
Jessica: Haha, I thought I would be too chicken to watch it, too, but it really does desensitize you after a while. (Not sure if that's a good thing.)
Connie: You know how to brew beer?! That would definitely keep you alive. All of the survivors would be fighting to have you on their team!
Workaholic: Darn, you're right... I was hoping I'd just be able to steal from a supermarket or a farm.
Alex: Cardio is a must! And running shoes, don't forget to have good running shoes.
Daisy: AHAHAH!!! Yep, a crossbow and a spork, and we'll be all set. And I always watch with a pillow anyway.
Angela: So true. I'd maybe throw in a little bit of boxing into our training too.
Cynthia: See, that's the thing... they're so darn fast in this show! I always thought zombies lurched around and dragged their legs.
Alexandra: I keep hearing about Doctor Who but have never seen it. I'm going to check it out soon!
L.D.: HAHA. Great strategy! :)
Jemi: Nope, I'm pretty sure I would be the first one to go. LOL.
Carol: Yeah I'd be useless in a zombie invasion.
Linda: It takes a little getting used to, but the story I think is worth it.
Talli: That makes two of us! Thank goodness we can just read and write about them!
Medeia: Thanks! My break was very productive :)
Kristin: Oh, geez, that would freak me out too! That's kind of cool that she gets to see where they film, though.
Allie: Aw, Casper was kind of creepy - even if he was a friendly ghost!
Nicole: Hahaha awesome! I've never seen Castle, but that's another show everyone is telling me to watch.
Colin: Hmmm, that's a really good point! I hope I never have to find out whether that's true, though :D
Margo: Oh, I should have put that as my #1 survival tip - buy a unicorn. Nothing beats unicorns.
Kimberly: I opted out of GUTGAA this year but I hope it's going well for everyone!! Did you enter?
Donna: Same here. I'd want to end it immediately! And exactly, the story and characterization is what keeps me coming back. I'm learning a lot about plot and development, actually.
Theresa: I know... after the first few episodes, it was better, but I had to turn on all the lights in the house for a while. Hahah!
Nick: You should catch up on it and we'll discuss! It's a great show.
Jayne: There's one episode where the characters cover themselves in guts to blend in with the zombies, so you're right on track (but with a less gross alternative!).
Jackee: HAHAHA!!! Thanks, what a compliment... a gun and a bow, eh? Hope your break was relaxing :)
Jay: Yeah, I know, it was pretty cool how the CDC released tips!
Allison: I've never heard of Falling Skies! Yeah, I've never been much into zombies either, but I do like this show.
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