Episode 192: Unfinished Business
By Dave on February 8th, 2012Zombie Cliché Lookout: Unfinished Business
When it comes to getting away from the ravenous hordes of the living dead, you need a pretty damn compelling reason to stick around any longer than absolutely necessary. But zombie stories love to force characters to stay in dangerous situations way longer than any of us would be willing. Because of, you know, unfinished business.
The unfinished business is generally one of two things: a character needs to find someone (the first half of The Walking Dead season two) who was left behind/lost/made a valiant heroic stand, or a character needs to complete some secret – usually sinister – goal they’re hiding from the rest of the survivors (Resident Evil is a good example of this).
Of course, sometimes writers have to come up with a reason to keep characters stuck in one place for a while because of various issues behind the scenes, often budgetary (I suspect season two of The Walking Dead had these issues). Sometimes this works out well, and allows you to explore the characters in more depth, and sometimes it’s just a punishing slog.
Discussion Question: Getting Around
It seems like the majority of zombie stories involve a group of characters sticking around a single location, although there are a few pretty notable exceptions. In those exceptions, characters travel from place to place, generally either on foot or in cars. One thing that has always bothered me is that, after a few months, how likely would it be that cars sitting unattended for that long would start or run reliably? How long does gas stay good? It seems to me that motor vehicles wouldn’t be the most reliable way of getting around in the post apocalyptic world, at least after some time has passed.
So what’s your transit plan? Hoofing it? Bikes? Horses?
Discussion (38) ¬
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BrickVoidFebruary 8, 2012 at 12:12 am | Permalink | Reply
While Murphy’s concern about this missing person shows that he cares, I wonder if it can even be completed? Let’s say the missing person is now a zombie or has died of starvation – what will he do then? Even worse, if he’s talking about Sam, I wonder if they’ll even have a clue where to look?
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DaveFebruary 8, 2012 at 8:33 am | Permalink | Reply
That’s the trouble. Good thing he’s got Stewart and Cheryl looking for clues.
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l3m0nm4nFebruary 8, 2012 at 12:16 am | Permalink | Reply
Well, from a quick google search I found that fuel stabalizer mixed in will keep the gas good for a little longer but even fresh gas goes bad after a couple months, so I personally would ride a bike/ hoof-it. Unless of course I can find an electric car and manage to put a solar panel array on top of it.
Or, since I live in a place with a lot of cows(it’s in oregon), I might be able to use a cow for moving around, it wouldn’t be very fast but it would conserve my energy.-
BrickymanFebruary 8, 2012 at 4:17 am | Permalink | Reply
Cows? at the first sight of a zombie it’ll throw you off and run away!
horses would have the same problem along with any other animal. I’d take a car until the petrol goes bad then walk. with walking you can climb to the tops of buildings and take shortcuts through houses which you can’t do with any other form of transport.
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DaveFebruary 8, 2012 at 8:34 am | Permalink | Reply
I’ve always liked the idea of animals reacting to zeds. It’d be really cool in a historical zombie story. A western, perhaps.
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l3m0nm4nFebruary 8, 2012 at 2:52 pm | Permalink | Reply
The cow would only be when I’m not in a hurry anywhere. But the minute I spot a zombie, ill ditch the cow and run like a mofo.
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YatkuuFebruary 8, 2012 at 5:10 am | Permalink | Reply
oh my, I love this cow riding image… and another good point, you could always eat it at some point!
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DaveFebruary 8, 2012 at 8:35 am | Permalink | Reply
Ride slowing down? Time for a steak.
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DaveFebruary 8, 2012 at 8:33 am | Permalink | Reply
I don’t know how well riding cows would work, but I’d love to see you try.
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YatkuuFebruary 8, 2012 at 10:58 am | Permalink | Reply
I’m sure that in the first season of TWD Rick would have looked way cooler on a cow instead of riding a horse. No kidding.
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l3m0nm4nFebruary 8, 2012 at 2:54 pm | Permalink | Reply
while riding a dairy cow wouldn’t be a good idea. the large beef cows would be good for short distances you don’t plan on rushing to get through in a hurry(cows don’t usually run unless they get scared or hurt I.E. branding or a zombie.).
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DigihumanFebruary 8, 2012 at 1:00 am | Permalink | Reply
Hm…I’d say wait for the initial calm-down (about four days) when most people have been turned or are in hiding, then steal a car and get moving with your group. Be sure to raid a deserted fuel station on the way so it can last…or actually pay for it if you’re that type of loser.
Alternatively, a push-bike is an option, but you won’t get very far. At least a car acts like a mini-house from weaker members of the undead. Course, a bike is quieter and less likely to attract the undead.
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l3m0nm4nFebruary 8, 2012 at 2:36 am | Permalink | Reply
but the gas will go bad after a couple months.
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DaveFebruary 8, 2012 at 8:35 am | Permalink | Reply
Indeed it will. And cars tires will go flat, and the battery will lose charge, etc.
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DaveFebruary 8, 2012 at 8:36 am | Permalink | Reply
I think a bike would be the way to go so long as you’re somewhere you can maneuver. Packed in tight, you’d be screwed.
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Silver FoxFebruary 9, 2012 at 3:26 pm | Permalink | Reply
Parkour training. Get up high and fast quickly.
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Tom WalshFebruary 8, 2012 at 9:12 am | Permalink | Reply
I think that I would choose bike/hoofin’ it. I feel it’s just more practical generally, it’s not like cars ever seem to protect people in the event of apocolypse Z. So not only do you contend with gases going bad, but becoming the newest version of meals-o-wheels. Or as I explained to my son, “it’s like the book-mobile, only tastier.”
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DaveFebruary 8, 2012 at 9:55 am | Permalink | Reply
Another thought: while the car might protect you in the short term, if you get surrounded and can’t move, you’re just stuck inside, starving to death.
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AngelinaFebruary 8, 2012 at 9:54 am | Permalink | Reply
Another person??? I thought that zeb on the gurney was the only one. I think in such small terms! lol
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DaveFebruary 8, 2012 at 9:54 am | Permalink | Reply
Hah. You’re over-thinking it. Who do we know that’s missing right now? And also, kind of out of shape.
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AngelinaFebruary 8, 2012 at 9:54 am | Permalink | Reply
Oh wait… it’s Sam. hahahahahaha
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DaveFebruary 8, 2012 at 9:55 am | Permalink | Reply
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AngelinaFebruary 8, 2012 at 11:27 am | Permalink | Reply
I would want to stay in a big vehilce but I know that would only be a short term plan. Eventually I think we would walk until we found a place to make a perminate home.
I would personally love to keep a horse since they are can carry us and our stuff but the spooked animal thing would suck,
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BobFebruary 8, 2012 at 11:55 am | Permalink | Reply
In my experience though, gas is not the problem, the battery is. Sometimes it seems like a battery can die overnight. Not a problem if you have another handy or can go get one, but in the event of zombies…
In other news, I’ve gone away for school and come back months later to start my car up and take off just fine. On the other hand, it was my father’s before I bought it off him, and he had trouble leaving it alone for more than a couple weeks, so maybe I’ve just got the magic touch.
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DaveFebruary 9, 2012 at 8:49 am | Permalink | Reply
Oh yeah, the battery is another huge liability, especially in older cars.
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