High Ewe

I wonder if Cobalt is a code for fire-bombing the city, like they did in Atlanta. That could explain why they have people fenced up. Tell them it's to protect them from the walkers, but it sure makes for easier targets gathering them all in specific places.

I'd absolutely agree if they were thinking clearly. But the way I read the scene suggested they're not; they were just on autopilot. I got permission to repost this from a poster on another board. I really liked his read of the situation: "My favorite moment thus far was the intentional surrealism of Travis dragging out a corpse and burying it in one scene, and then putting the blood soaked carpet into the trash receptacle, and dutifully taking it out to the curb. The juxtaposition of this absolutely all-rules-have-changed scenario of a zombie shot in your house with the everything-is-just-fine scenario of the automatic behavior of taking the trash out to be collected was a perfect encapsulation of what the writers were trying to convey...as in the first step of dealing with the grief of society's death is a denial of that fact. "I also like how both Travis and the neighbor taking his trash out at the same time looked at each other with suspicious expressions. To me, this was a sign that they are beginning to change, but don't realize that about themselves yet." I hadn't thought about the characters' actions (in the show as a whole) in terms of grieving before, but after reading this I think he may be onto something. His point about people starting to change but not realizing it was spot on as well, IMO. Part of the reason why they aren't talking neighbor to neighbor may be because they don't know who to trust anymore. For me it doesn't excuse intentionally keeping the familial characters in the dark (I mean, come on), but it's a reasonable explanation for keeping your cards close to the chest with outsiders, neighbors notwithstanding.

I hear you. I don't think it's as much a problem with the acting as the writing and directing for the most part, but that's me. Based on the comparatively lower volume of discussion I've observed at various forums for this show, in contrast to TWD, you're far from alone in your assessment of/disappointment with the show. The writers are in a tough spot. I think sometimes (and I include TWD in this) they try too hard to appeal to all sides of a disparate fanbase instead of just telling the story they want to tell and letting us along for the ride. I also believe they're really trying to distinguish the two series by their storytelling choices for this show. Still, some of the writing is a bit clunky in places, and I agree that there is a degree of lazy writing in play. Not to beat a dead horse, but leaving the door wide open, for example, was just dumb dumb dumb. They really couldn't come up with a more plausible way of getting the walker in the house? That said, I enjoy the show, and am looking forward to watching these characters adapt (or not) as civilization falls to pieces. I don't feel the same affinity for them as I do TWD cast/characters, but I care enough to root for (most of) them. [Edited to add:] I do think the "distance" of the characters observing all hell breaking loose is a deliberate choice. When things are happening "out there" there's an almost dreamlike quality to the scenes, which for me adds to the sense of disbelief and unreality. What I see (or perhaps hope I'm seeing) is a gradual merging of the horror they're observing from afar with their own personal experiences until they reach the point where one by one, they can no longer deny that this is happening and the world they inhabited no longer exists.

LOL. That would be very funny. And so typical. Still, as an unabashed cat lover, given the track record of the writers in the Walking Dead universe, I just know they'll go there if a feline ever makes it to screen. I'm perfectly okay comforting myself with the notion that we don't see cats on the show(s) because they're so smart they know how to stay out of sight. ;)

Given what he's seen, it stretches credulity, but that's how I interpreted Travis' mindset as well. What if they really are just terribly sick, what if they can eventually be cured? Is it any more outrageous than believing dead people are reanimating? Nevertheless, he better figure it out and get with the program soon, before he gets himself or someone else killed.

This is a good point. Travis berating Daniel for showing Christopher how the shotgun works seemed very shortsighted, and I was thinking he may very well regret cutting off this lesson later. Still, Daniel was very matter-of-fact, cold even, when he blew off the neighbor's head. I could see Travis finding this guy pretty barbaric and not wanting his attitude rubbing off on his son. Daniel's refusal to see the value in these people who clearly are looking out for each other is his weakness, just as surely as Travis' reluctance to resort to violence when necessary is his. I wonder what will it take for them to realize, like it or not, their key to survival is sticking together?

Travis was driving me crazy this episode with his (to me) denial of reality. But when the cavalry rides in, I felt his relief. Being the kind of person he is, after a night like that? I could see just wanting to let The Professionals take care of this mess. I do find it challenging at times to remember they don't know as much as we do. After a second viewing it's easier for me to sit back and reflect on what people might actually do in a situation like that. It (usually) eases some of the initial frustration I feel when the characters don't behave the way they're supposed to, dammit. LOL That said, leaving the freaking sliding glass door wide open is pretty much indefensible. Talk about a facepalm moment.

I also thought the neighbor had his own horror from the night before. They're acknowledging that something has gone very, very wrong, they've (presumably) had to do terrible things, but what can they say? "We had to kill our neighbor last night." "Yeah, so did I." I think it's a combination of shock and fear. Civilized people don't blow their neighbor's heads off; if things ever go back to normal, what will the authorities do to me/us if we confess what we've done (even as they have the bloody evidence right there in the trash cans in front of their house)? As far as taking out the trash is concerned, I also saw that as a by-product of shock; they both looked dazed and confused (alright alright alright ;). It's something you do without thinking, a normal, everyday task. The contrast of clinging to normality in the face of unspeakable horror...it worked for me. I thought that moment was well done.

I agree, on both points. Once--or if??--he gets straight, Nick may be one of their strongest assets. It's strange to think that his myopic, utterly self-destructive behavior in the normal world could very well be what gives him an edge in surviving its downfall.

It's funny how the characters vacillate between sensible and maddening. Nick is the only one who truly understands what the walkers are (though Daniel, and Madison to some degree, seem to get that things are seriously going to shit fast), yet his junkie ways has made him such a liability. He's being so selfish. Frank Dillane is killing it. Totally reminds me of this alcoholic I once knew; nobody and nothing matters except the next fix, even at the end of the world.

Travis is in serious denial. Maybe taking out Artie up close and personal shortened Madison's learning curve.

Okay, Madison's getting it. Get with the program, Travis!

Heh heh. Me too

Good thing the apocalypse is nigh. That's gonna be hell to get out of the carpet.

They went there. BASTARDS! RIP Doggy. :( You're surprised there's someone in the house when you left the door wide freakin' open?! D'oh!