Walking Dead zombie questions

[Duer 157099]

These things bug me. I mean, if you're going to make a "realistic" show, then don't leave such basic things unanswered.

They started to address them on The Talking Dead, but then when they had the creator on, they never asked him the real questions, doh!

1) what is it, exactly, that transmits this zombieness? Because apparently getting their blood all over yourself doesn't do it. So then what is it?

2) Why do zombies need to eat living non-zombies? Is it fresh blood, so they're more like vampires? If they're all so hungry, why weren't they eating the dead people in those cars?

3) How can a zombie body continue to function when half of it is blown away? No heart = no blood circulation means no tissue oxygenation = tissue death. I guess that's just a trivial matter to them. But yet somehow their legs work.

And speaking of legs 4) why are so many zombies pigeon-toed?

4) Since the only way to "kill" a zombie is to destroy the reptilian portion of the brain, why do they die when they get hit in the top of the head?

5) why has fuel been such an issue in so many prior episodes when there seems to be plenty of abandoned fuel everywhere (as in tonight's episode when they finally figured out they can siphon the gas from cars).

6) In tonight's episode there were so many other vehicles with useful stuff in/on them that they never scavenged. The car right in front of the RV had some sort of large thermos tied on, why didn't they take that? And why not trade up all the vehicles? There were some decent wheels in that lot.

These kinds of questions distract me from "enjoying" (I use that in quotes because really, why should this be enjoyable to watch? and yet it somehow is) watching the show. You?

[texanwitch]

1. I agree.

I have a hard time watching shows and movies because of questions like that.

I would have lots of empty gas cans, and be watching for better cars.

I would have a pickup truck or two, like the one with the big cooler.

The blood thing bothers me also.

You think that getting their blood on you would be bad.

With this show I am just trying to enjoy it.

Those questions are there.

[Duer 157099]

2. And why, when they were in a clothing store last season

didn't they take some clothes so they can change out of their filty rags?

[texanwitch]

3. In the heat they are in you know the zombies can smell them coming.

I smell them over the tv.

[MrScorpio]

4. From what I know...

1. They're never going to answer that question. It's going to be an ongoing mystery.

2. They'll eat ANYTHING that's living

3. It won't last forever… They burn out eventually

4. Details, details.

5. Location, location.

6. When you're worried about being eaten at any given time, one tends to overlook shit like that.

[NewJeffCT]

5. Some attempts at answers

1) what is it, exactly, that transmits this zombieness? Because apparently getting their blood all over yourself doesn't do it. So then what is it? It's some sort of virus that infects everybody. I guess it's spread by zombie bite. However, one of the premises of almost all zombie apocalypse movies (and now TV shows) is that it's not really known how it's spread or how it came into being. It just happens and overwhelms society, which quickly breaks down into anarchy. World War Z had one origin that was found out afterwards (started in the polluted muck of the 3 Gorges Dam in China)

2) Why do zombies need to eat living non-zombies? Is it fresh blood, so they're more like vampires? If they're all so hungry, why weren't they eating the dead people in those cars? it's like getting the munchies after you smoke pot. The people in the cars are dead, so they're like stale food to zombies.

3) How can a zombie body continue to function when half of it is blown away? No heart = no blood circulation means no tissue oxygenation = tissue death. I guess that's just a trivial matter to them. But yet somehow their legs work. As long as the brain is still functioning, the body of a zombie can still move, it seems.

And speaking of legs 4) why are so many zombies pigeon-toed? probably from breaking bones, tearing muscles & ligaments, etc.

4) Since the only way to "kill" a zombie is to destroy the reptilian portion of the brain, why do they die when they get hit in the top of the head? I think it's blunt force trauma to the head which disrupts the brain.

5) why has fuel been such an issue in so many prior episodes when there seems to be plenty of abandoned fuel everywhere (as in tonight's episode when they finally figured out they can siphon the gas from cars). They're panicked & afraid to stop for too long a time?

6) In tonight's episode there were so many other vehicles with useful stuff in/on them that they never scavenged. The car right in front of the RV had some sort of large thermos tied on, why didn't they take that? And why not trade up all the vehicles? There were some decent wheels in that lot. They did show a pile of stuff the group had gathered near the R/V in a quick flash. Maybe they figured that was all they could carry? No idea why they didn't trade up car-wise? Maybe they're just comfortable with what they've got?

[savageals]

6. one more questions about season two first episode

I can not figure out who or why there were so many dead bodies in cars on the freeway. If they had been infected/bitten they would have become zombies. Is the virus also lethal? I thought everyone bitten died and then became a zombie? It seem ridiculous to think that they were in a traffic jam and then just died in their vehicles of starvation. It did not seem like they were all in a massive car accident killing everyone either. This bothers me and I have talked to other people and we can not figure it out.

[NewJeffCT]

7. welcome to DU

I am guessing that the dead people in the cars were killed by others stuck in the traffic jam until the zombies got to be too numerous.

For example, Ma & Pa Kettle get stuck in traffic, zombie breaks window and bites Ma Kettle. Luckily, Pa kills that zombie and they quickly roll the windows up & hide for a few hours... however, it's now apparent Ma Kettle has a fever and is dying, soon to become a zombie. A few hours later, she dies and Pa Kettle gives her a sharp blow to the head to make sure she doesn't rise. Pa Kettle then runs out of the car to meet whatever fate awaits him, leaving his dead wife behind.

[Orrex]

8. Okay, I've only just now finished episode 2, but one thing bothers me about the genre

When the characters conspicuously go out of their way to avoid calling the zombies by the one name that everyone would use for them, it simply seems contrived to me.

Otherwise, pretty cool so far.

[Lance_Boyle]

9. And how do they never fall down, given their awkward gaits?

I watched the scene from Sunday night's show where everyone is hiding under cars from the passing horde wondering how in the hell none of the walkers fell. They even showed a total of about 40 seconds of footage of crooked-ass zombie feet stumbling by the people under the cars. Not one of them tripped over its own mangled feet or those of its fellow walkers. Personally I'd like to see some of them do gymnastics 'cuz they could apparently stick the landing *every time*.