1841

Isn’t this because the writers have made a conscious decision to not emphasize this angle of survival?

I think they are going for more of a “Lost” approach focusing on the characters rather than more of a “Survivors” approach focusing on food.

I don’t think this decision is an inherent flaw to the writing.

1842

Remember in season 1 when Rick got saved by Glenn, they specifically said they were scavenging downtown. Darryl wasn’t at the camp when they got back because he was hunting. The girls also fished in the quarry lake next episode. The head guy in charge of the group who wanted the guns talked about many survival aspects and mentioned how they scavenge, fortified their position and needed guns to protect their food against plunderers. When they get to the CDC in the final episode of season 1 they mentioned they hadn’t eaten in days and then had a feast. They then left the CDC in a hurry without any food.

In episode 1 of season 2 they do mention looking for food and water in the cars but then it’s all forgotten due to losing Sophia. Otis was hunting deer but other than that and the brief dinner scene at Herschel’s farm food hasn’t been a part of season 2. I’m not saying it’s a flaw but it was a bigger part of season 1 even if it was just something they were doing while talking. You noticed it was part of their lives while now it seems not to be. If I was Herschel I’d want them to leave because they are using up all the food at a much faster rate since I think Rick’s group is 10? and Herschel’s is 5 people? I just I don’t see the point of having a show like this if you are going to ignore survival aspects, especially when instead they are using a string of accidents and stupidity to drive events.

1843

It’s a farm.

1844

It was obvious (and funny), Pogo’s clearly in some pretty serious denial and probably has a copy of Deadgirl he is too afraid to watch, but often takes out and screams at while fervently pawing at the hermetically-sealed codpiece encasing his tiny penis.

1845

True enough. I was just hoping it would get better in season 2, not worse.

1846

So, what’s your point? All this farm seems to have is wells, hayfields, a few horses, and a barn full of zombies. I haven’t seen any crops growing or any livestock. Given how isolated it is it might be worse than being near Atlanta where at least you can go supply raiding.

1847

Nobody seems to be working to maintain the farm, which takes a lot of effort, and I didn’t see any liveshtock. Unless they are farming zombies (deadstock?). Maybe we’ll see Herschel’s secret zombie underpants profit chart.

1848

Well, who knows. I assume Herschel’s people are doing something all day, which we aren’t seeing. To me, though, the fact that they’re at a farm is enough justification to stop quibbling over food for the time being.

1849

Show’s getting a bit silly. I thought it was the greatest thing I’d seen in a while the first few episodes. And as the first season went on, I was hooked (this just about two weeks ago as I watched on Netflix).

But when my wife who doesn’t like zombie or horror general was hooked I thought I was missing something. But I figured, action, drama, suspense, what’s not to like? But there’s something wrong when she’s asking me something like, “Oooh, do you think she’ll tell Rick about the baby and lie about it being his?”.

It’s starting to feel a bit soap opera-ish.

1850

I’m torn on the farm/food thing.

On one hand, the fact that it’s a farm explains the food source without having to show the details of how it works. The kind of guy Herschel is also guarantees he’s making people earn their keep there by working. I don’t need to see them milking the cows, not when that screen time could go to more zombie action.

On the other hand, if they aren’t stashing their animals in the barn, where are the animals being kept? So from that perspective, yeah it would be relevant to see how the farm works. How is it that Herschel and his people have managed to make it seem natural and unsuspicious to Rick and his people that no one ever goes near the barn…on a working farm?

I’d settle for one scene where Rick hears a noise from the barn and tells Herschel “Your cows sure sound creepy when they moo.”. Then Herschel kicks a rock with the side of his foot and says “They’re just hungry is all” as he looks around all shifty eyed.

1851

I’d bet it’s a religious/optimism thing. Herschel is entirely pro-life, and just because a zombie is trying to eat him doesn’t mean he can take another man’s life. What if it’s just some weird disease and these people can be cured?

Oh, and while this season hasn’t been totally awesome, this episode was fine. Much of this criticism is just total nerdly, “If there was a zombie apocalypse, I’d totally know what to do.”

I love that when asked, Robert Kirkman says if there were a zombie apocalypse, he’d probably commit suicide, but more likely he’d just die in the first hours through being slow, stupid, fat and/or unlucky.

1852

First off… there WAS livestock! I saw cows! :)

I remember mentioning to my daughter, “Hey! They have cows! Taste better than deer!”

And my daughter said, “What if they use those for milk?”

And I said, “Not all cows are milking cows. A fat beef cow is good eatin’s!”

Then it got me thinking, I saw no fences. Those cows were free-range, grass-eatin’, fat cows just waiting for a wandering zombie to bite on some prime steak.

As for Hershell’s reasoning for keeping a heard of zombies in teh barn (I’ve never read the comics), I think they are friends and family that he couldn’t end their undead life.

I mean, he “might” be looking into a cure… but if he didn’t have the supplies on hand to remove bullet fragments, I don’t know if he has the lab equipement to find a cure. As to hoping to have someone DELIVER a cure to help those in the barn… that are already decayed… is that really what he wants to do? To cure someone, half rotting back from the undead, only to realize in the final moments of being a human that they have no living flesh, and die once again to a horrible painful death?

As for working a farm, Hershell would have to find a balance of workforce and resources. Working on a farm and creating a sustainable living is a lot of work.

1853

See, I think these two are connected, and that we will soon see a sly take on the current situation in Georgia regarding migrant workers.

…

OK, not really. But how cool would that be? Hershel chains up a bunch of zombies to a tiller and has his nubile daughter walk in front of them slowly as they plow his fields. Later in the season he puts blinders on them and chains them to a millstone like Ahnold in the first Conan movie.

When Rick calls him on it, accusing him of using these dangerous creatures for free labor, Hershel can come back with some racist line about how it’s no different from what he did with those Mexicans before the ZA.

And then Shane shoots him in the head.

1854

Leg. Shane shoots people in the leg.

1855

That’d be awesome. And we know from the ending of the documentary Shaun of the Dead that such things are feasible.

1856

LOL - I would actually pay to see the show pull that off. That’s awesome.

1857

I’d be happy if they just came up with something surprising, and non-stupid.

1858

I guess but Survivors for instance had a few farms in it and you saw with your eyes the chickens and crops, etc they didn’t spend a lot of time but just seeing it shows you it is there. I think it’d be easy for them to put a cornfield or more livestock in the shots if they wanted us to know they are producing food. I never noticed cows myself, most of the farm shots are just empty grass fields that stretch until forest. Martinez are you sure it wasn’t a horse?

But like in season 1 when they were fishing for instance you can do the little bits of people talking while they milk a cow or do chores. Glenn seemed to have just sat around all day this episode reading or playing guitar. Also there’s been so little zombie action this season compared to previously that I’d rather see more of that than just about anything now.

1859

Venison and wild boar. Probably Turkey, and tons of small game, too. Maybe Alligators or Bears, as well.

1860

I’m betting those zombies in the farm are Hershel’s wife and other relatives, friends and the guy thinks the ZA is God’s wrath and he’s holding them there in case God changes her mind and makes everything right again.