Shane (and S01) post-mortem
I’ve never been enamored with comic books, never got into it. I grew up in a communist country, where we traded in French PIFs (created by the French Communist Party) and RAHANs. I didn’t like them much and never had more than 2-3, so books and particularly SF quenched my thirst for adventure.
This series is the best introduction I could get to the genre. Yes, I watched some Batman, I did watch Spawn (and really liked it), but those lent themselves better to animation / dramatization. Here we have as bad guys “walkers”. That may be a good idea for a [static] cartoonish comic, but it doesn’t lend itself well to a dramatization. The “walkers” actually remind me of the Spoon Killer.
Looking at the reactions for the last night episode, people seem mad at Lori (jazzaplesky, simplemystery), and quite rightfully so. First, she got a hold of Shane as a replacement. Then she rejected Shane (quite rudely and forcefully) and re-embraced Rick. Then, just as Rick started to come across as weak and drowning in uncertainty, indecisiveness, scruples and ethical considerations, she turned to Shane and bought into his “fuck everyone” philosophy. Shane would not have turned against Rick without her encouragement and he seemed to have started to accept the “it’s not your child” idea, at least until she told him “I cannot know, I’m not sure”. Still, he was torn about killing his buddy and could not pull it off. Rick didn’t have a much easier time, but it helped being in self-defense.
Then again, we can’t blame her that much. Her survival and her baby’s survival is predicated on peace, stability and a safe environment. Any latent conflict between Shane and Rick (Santorum? hmm.. :D ) would better blow up and resolve now rather than later, when she’s about to give birth or when she’s nursing.
What bugs me is did Rick get it? She was demolished by the news of Shane’s death, which seems to suggest that she did have feelings for that fucker. And to be honest, I myself liked Shane more than Rick, he’s a more interesting character. He’s the underdog, there’s more opportunity for transformation, whereas Rick is the “first born”, he’s “authority”, he’s boring.
There can’t be something more devastating for a father than to realize that his baby’s mamma has the hots for some other dude, who happens to be your best friend and whom you just killed after he tried to kill you but hesitated.
And yes, I’m extremely intrigued by the lady with a katana and two well-behaved zombies chained to her. Will we be introduced to some BDSM? Can zombies be controlled / domesticated? Is she more like mind-controlling worm, virus or angler fish?
I tried looking into the comics quickly. It’s hard, because the characters look different. All I could tell is that the castle is actually a prison and that the black guy will end up behind bars..
UPDATE (SPOILER): Her name is Michone and she “declawed” the zombies she chained to herself to blend in and not be attacked. AWESOME!!!
(Source: hosstito, via hosstito)
