Review of “The Walking Dead” 407 – “Dead Weight” By RC Murphy
Having a double helping of something good isn’t always a pleasure. After five episodes without the Governor, watching two episodes focused solely on him chokes the pacing of “The Walking Dead” halfway through season four. The energy viewers get from characters like Daryl and Michonne is impossible to duplicate for the parallel story line following Phillip as he finds himself again after setting Woodbury ablaze. Unfortunately, what seemed like something viewers would enjoy, isn’t paying out as expected. While there are some stand-up-and-yell-at-the-TV moments, they’re too few and far between to keep the momentum rolling into the mid-season climax on December 1st.
Don’t go into the light! It’s the vast brightness of the many spoilers lurking below.
A couple times during the episode, it became painfully apparent that Phillip had forgotten who, exactly, he’s dealing with as his “family.” The way he looks at Meghan is a look reserved for someone who’s watched a child learn and grow since the day they were born. He’s only known the Chamblers for a couple of weeks, a month maximum. There’s no way his connection to Meghan is that rock solid. Toward the middle of the episode, Phillip tells Lilly that he can’t lose them again. Only, he’s never lost them. He lost his wife and Penny—the walker he kept captive in hopes of finding a way to fix her short of putting a bullet in her head. Phillip’s attachment to the Chamblers, namely Lilly and Meghan, is disturbing. He’s out of sync with reality, leaning on two people he hardly knows to keep his humanity in check. It didn’t work.
Martinez’s days were numbered. There’s no use lying to ourselves. Once he made it crystal clear that he was in charge of the camp, things were already set in motion. When he asked Phillip to help him, work for him, there was only ever going to be one outcome. The Governor fully returned to power. He’s so desperate to keep Lilly and Meghan safe, he’ll jump back into the darkness he used to keep Woodbury going during the last weeks of its existence. Even though he repeatedly says, “I don’t want it.” Doesn’t want what, the responsibility of leadership or the blood on his hands from securing his place at the top of the food chain? Does it cost Phillip anything to kill anymore? Anytime we see Rick pull the trigger, you see a piece of his soul wither. With Phillip, who knows? He’s a hard read, a violent man with sociopathic tendencies. However, he makes this impossible connection with a woman and her child that goes against everything known about sociopathic behavior. Is it an act? But to whose benefit? Surely he can’t be trying to fool himself after all this time.
How difficult is it to form a functioning society when everyday Joes are forced to become murderers? Since day one we’ve seen survivors struggle to regain some semblance of normality by coming together to form little neighborhoods. Places where they should feel safe enough to relax, let their kids play. But they don’t in most of these camps. Everyone ends up on edge, watching the one or two people who enjoy the death and destruction around them a little too much. The apocalypse is the maniac’s playground, guns their toys of choice. And since they’re so willing to kill, inevitably, they’re the ones to gain power, become the person to look up to. It corrupts the people in the camp eventually. Look at Woodbury, at how many of the soldiers willingly followed the Governor into battle against Rick and the prison crew. And it is happening all over again next week. Why? Because Phillip knows how to work people. He told Mitch, “You’ll never have to worry if you’re doing the right thing or the wrong thing. We will do the only thing.” That was exactly what the other man needed to hear. He needed a way to absolve the guilt he felt for first, not securing the supplies for the camp, then killing the injured old man, and lastly not killing Phillip after he murdered his brother, Pete. Fighting for the safety of the camp gives Mitch his Get Out of Jail Free card.
Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown . . . covered in the blood of his predecessors. Can Phillip succeed this time? Will this new group of survivors secure the golden egg—the prison? Tell us what you think in the comments.
Review of “The Walking Dead” episode 406 – “Live Bait”
Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC
In a jarring turn of direction, the writer’s for “The Walking Dead” took viewers completely out of the prison and the lives of the people inhabiting the safe haven within the failing fences. We spent an hour catching up with the Governor, Phillip, Brian—whatever name he’s going by this week. The man changes his name as often as a woman changes her clothes an hour before a hot date. His identity changes with each new name, as well. We met a new version of the Governor in this week’s episode. But how much of that was for show?
Don’t look now, but there’s spoilers sneaking up behind you. Dangit! I told you not to look.
We picked up with Phillip right were we’d left him at the end of season three—standing over the corpses of the men and women from his personal army he’d slain after the failed attack on the prison. From there, it jumps to the next night, or possibly a week later, or a month. Hard to tell with the way the time line jumped back and forth at the beginning. Anyway, it becomes obvious something in Phillip is broken after the mass slaughter of his people. Disgusted, the two living members of his army pack up and leave him on his own. Over time, Phillip stopped taking care of himself. He grew The Beard. You know, the mangy, dead beast looking thing that seems to signify on the show when a male character has given up. Rick grew an impressive one before Michonne brought him a beard trimmer and not-so-subtly hinted that he looked like hell. What are friends for if not to tell you there’s a problem with the way you’re not taking care of yourself? Only, Phillip has no friends. He’s completely alone. The man doesn’t even have a home in Woodbury to return to. He burned it to the ground.
Miserable to his marrow, Phillip wandered on foot through walker-infested roads and towns. Honestly, that he survived at all with his obvious lack of will to live is amazing. He became a ghost, passing through, but never really affecting anything. Until he finds a family of survivors—Tara, Lilly, David, and Megan Chalmers—who are far, far too kind to him.
He tried to cover up his tracks when he burned Woodbury, like the fire would cleanse his foul deeds from his soul. When it didn’t work, Phillip tried for another method—being a decent human being. Something tells us this version of the man, the one known to this new family as Brian, is as close as we’ll ever get to seeing Phillip before the walkers took over the world. He’s soft-spoken, thankful, respectful, and helps when he can. However, the man still punishes himself for quite some time after being taken in, as though he doesn’t feel he deserves something as simple as a meal cooked by someone who genuinely cares about his health and safety. Kindness is not something he has experienced for a good long time. Even when he ran Woodbury, the nice things done for him always had a dark tinge. A taint stemming from the heavy-handed way he ran the town. It wasn’t a safe haven in Woodbury. Phillip turned into a small army base, with himself as the general.
There’s a moment where “Brian” is playing chess with the youngest member of the family, Megan. Suddenly everything about the previous season makes sense. He saw himself as the king, with Rick as the opposing king on the board. Phillip had his knights, rooks, and bishops as his personal circle of enforcers. The others were all pawns. Megan asked when he taught her how to play chess if you lost the game if a pawn died.
“You can lose a lot of soldiers, but still win the game.”
But he didn’t win. Not by a longshot. In war, there are no real winners. Everyone loses men. Life isn’t a game and it took a little girl and her family for that to start to sink into Phillip’s thick skull.
Time will tell if he’s truly learned how to change from the sociopath we saw at the end of season three. From the looks of the preview for next week, he hasn’t. It’s always hard to tell given the way the teasers are edited, though.
Phillip couldn’t look Megan in the eye when he first met the Chalmers. Why do you think he couldn’t? Let us know in the comments below.
In our new ongoing assignment, the Orange Brigade took on the job of scouting possible food sources during the zombiepocalypse within each of the zones laid out for our Tasty Survival series. One thing we’re all guilty of is not looking in our own backyards for ways to survive. Check for local farms you can hit on your escape routes to add to the canned/dried goods that should already be in your go bags. Grab fresh produce while you can. It will not last long once there is no one to tend to the crops. Kill only what livestock you need to feed your party. Don’t waste food others could use.
This is what we discovered for the Purple zone in western United States.
Alaska: A scant 1% of Alaska is used for farming.
Just over half of farms in the state, 54%, house livestock. The main focus is on processing dairy products, followed by cattle and hogs.
The remaining 46% of farms in Alaska grow hay, potatoes, barley, and oats.
The harsh climate makes surviving in Alaska a crapshoot to begin with.
After looking at these numbers, we advise brigadiers to stock up well on canned/dried goods before planning their escape routes.
California: Though top-ranking in crop production, only 27% of California is dedicated to farming.
27% of state farms house livestock. The primary focus is on dairy products, then cattle and eggs.
The majority of farms in California produce a wide range of crops—grapes, almonds, lettuce, strawberries, tomatoes…the list goes on and on.
California ranks #1 in production within the United States for the following products: Almonds, avocados, broccoli, celery, dairy products, grapes, greenhouse plants, hay, lemons, lettuce, onions, peaches, pistachio nuts, plums, strawberries, tomatoes, and walnuts.
If you’re in California, stay there. Set your sights on Central California, where the majority of produce and cattle farms, and chicken farms are located. There’s more than enough variety in food to keep survivors healthy for a long time.
Oregon: Approximately 28% of Oregon is dedicated to farmland.
28% of farms in the state produce livestock—cattle, dairy products, chicken eggs, and chicken.
The remaining 72% primarily grow greenhouse plants, hay, ryegrass, and wheat. However if you know where to look, you may also find onions, potatoes, pears, cherries, blackberries, and grapes.
Oregon ranks #1 in production within the United States for the following: hazelnuts, ryegrass, blackberries, and fescue.
This is another well-rounded state as far as variety of products goes. Plot your escape routes to hit as many farms as possible to stock up.
Washington: 36% of Washington is utilized for farming.
Only 30% of farms in the state house livestock, focusing on processing dairy products, followed by cattle, and aquaculture.
70% of Washington farms produce crops like apples, wheat, potatoes, hay, cherries, and grapes. Washington ranks #1 in production within the United States for the following: apples, asparagus, cherries, hops, Kentucky bluegrass, mint, and pears.
There is plenty of variety in products available in Washington, which is a good thing. Folks from nearby states may need to find their way to Washington in order to find enough food to get by.
Idaho: Only 22% of land in Idaho is used as farmland.
58% of farms in the state house livestock, focusing on processing dairy products, cattle, aquaculture, and sheep.
The remaining farms, 42%, grow crops such as potatoes, wheat, hay, sugar beets, and barley. You can also find onions, dry beans, apples, and sweet corn grown in the state.
Idaho ranks #1 in potato production. They also are the largest producer of rainbow trout—grab your fishing poles, guys.
Montana: Over half of the state, 65%, is dedicated to farming.
57% of farms in the state house livestock, with the vast majority focusing on cattle, followed by dairy products, hogs, and sheep.
43% of Montana farms produce crops like wheat, barley, hay, and sugar beets. If you know where to look, you may also find potatoes, cherries, dried beans, and oats at farms throughout the state.
North Dakota: The majority of North Dakota, approximately 89%, is used for farming.
Only 23% of farms in the state house livestock—primarily cattle, dairy products, and hogs.
77% of North Dakota farms are dedicated to growing crops like wheat, soybeans, grain corn, sugar beets, barley. With some searching you can also find farms growing potatoes. North Dakota ranks #1 in production within the United States for the following: flax seed, canola, dried peas, barley, dried beans, lentils, and oats.
Though boasting a vast amount of farmland, most of the products available in North Dakota require extra processing to be edible, which won’t help any of us on the run. Grab what you can, but plan to escape to a resource-rich state.
There you have it, the products available from the Purple Zone. The West Coast is full-to-bursting with produce. California alone could feed the entire Zombie Survival Crew for quite some time. Keep these states in mind when plotting your escape routes.
Successful novelist and mom by day; bada** zombie-killing machine by night—when it comes to the Infected, Serena Rouge knows what it takes to make the killing blow. When the FBI forces her into a Special Ops, Serena’s all well and fine with the mission . . . until her targets kidnap her children. Then, all bets are off and she’s looking to kill.
“I’ve trained for years to learn how to take down the zombies–and avoid them the rest of the time. Now the FBI wants a writer to go undercover and get information? My gut says something isn’t right, and the rest of me will pay for not listening to that instinct.”
—Serena Rouge
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Getting kidnapped by the FBI is pretty low on my list of things I want to do. It’s right up there with meeting terrorist groups and writing their side of the story. Why a successful novelist like me? Turns out I’m a scapegoat for someone with some serious health issues—they’ve contracted the zombie virus.
I’m a zombie killer, killing them as quickly as I can. But I’m only one woman. You’d think being an Immune was great, but no. Ever since the government purposely tried to infect me with the zombie virus, they watch me closely to see if I turn. Not happening.
The FBI wants me to accomplish something big two thousand miles from home. When I arrive in El Paso, Texas after my strenuous drive from Washington, my contact agent, Joseph Connelly, isn’t available. Being tortured by a zombie for two days is an excuse I can accept after saving his ass. These aren’t your Hollywood zombies; not right away. They never get sick, their IQ triples, and their sex appeal? Off the charts. Until they die and resurrect as true horror flick zombies, with brains. Trouble is, some of them have developed a taste for meat—human meat—before they die.
Problem with governments screwing around with our DNA is things never go as planned. When terrorists kidnap my kids, all bets are off, and Agent Connelly agrees. If we don’t save my kids and steal the antivirus without getting killed, the whole world is going to have a really bad day.
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Mayhem in Mexico will be available on Amazon, All Romance eBooks, iBookstore, and Nook on Halloween for $4.99. Click HERE for more details.
*Warning: strong language and graphic violence
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Leona Bushman goes by many names, but the most common one is Superhero. She earned this name from saving a kangaroo from a tree—and yes, that is as hard as it sounds. The dragons taught their queen how to write, and Queen Leona hasn’t looked back. Even when her muse tries to muck things up.
She can be found goofing off and loving dragons and other creatures of the supernatural at the following sites:
Being alone is rarely a pleasant thing. Humans crave contact with others, need the interaction to keep themselves happy and mentally healthy. Finding companionship in the zombie apocalypse is next to impossible. From what we’ve learned on the show since day one, human nature demands that most folks take care of numero uno first, then their family. If you’re a stranger, kindness has to be earned. Even after making that vital, living connection, there are moments when a person may find themselves surrounded by others, yet utterly isolated by circumstances no one else can understand. This week on “The Walking Dead” we saw a lot of people suffering on their own, forced to make terrifying personal sacrifices in order to keep one step ahead of not only the walkers, but also the illness plaguing the prison population.
Spoiler Warning: This review contains potential spoilers. If you aren’t caught up with the show, what are you waiting for?
The graveyard in the prison yard is larger than the garden. That alone speaks volumes about the harshness of life for the characters on the show. By the time this illness plays out, many others will join the dead already in the ground. At some point, they’ve stopped creating new life and instead focus on tending to those who’ve passed. Rick tried to convey the importance of focusing on the living to Tyrese, explaining how his time was better spent securing their future food sources than looking into the past and crippling himself with their losses—a rare moment for Rick considering how far afield his mind wandered last season after losing his wife, Lori. Is justice something that even factors into their world? How far can it go toward righting wrongs in a lawless world full on unnecessary death? Tyrese is uneasy killing walkers, even those who are an immediate threat to his survival, yet he demands the head of whoever killed two of their own. We’re seeing a turning point in his life. He’s consumed by rage, becoming a different man. Rick is still on that road and no longer recognizes himself, especially after his fight with Tyrese. What will Tyrese do when he learns the truth? Venturing too far down that road leads to trouble.
Glenn wishes he could move on into the future. He’s never been one to linger in the past, with the exception of Maggie’s abuse at the hands of the Governor. The couple have been the poster children for a promising future since they finally got over that awkward relationship stage in season two. Despite all odds, they found love. They’re planning to marry. At some point, Maggie wants to start a family—when Glenn feels it is safe enough to birth and raise children. Everything they do is focused on tomorrow, what it could bring in the way of happiness and an end to their troubled times. The two of them aren’t stupid. Nothing is going to be fixed overnight. And now, the bright lives ahead of them are in trouble. Glenn is sick and without him to keep her grounded, Maggie turns to her family. Only they’ve been separated from her because of the illness.
The Greene family firmly believe in duty above all. If there is any way they can be of help to their fellow survivors, they do it. Maggie remains on duty as a council member and one of the guards while everyone she cares for is taken away from her. Beth has grown in leaps and bounds emotionally since leaving the farm and accepting the reality of their world. She doesn’t behave like a teenager, takes responsibilities no one should ever ask from someone her age. Would anyone so young willingly be locked away from her loved ones to care for a child who isn’t part of her blood family? Not only that, Beth has learned to accept her father’s calm demeanor. She’s become the voice of reason for the family, allowing Maggie and Hershel to act in instinct—something their positions on the council require. There’s not a lot of time to think when one threat to their survival will eat them alive, and the other takes no prisoners and cannot be stopped in a world where modern healthcare is as rare as a unicorn. Hershel sets the bar for honor and sacrifice for his girls when he willingly walks into the quarantined section of the prison to care for the sick, knowing full well the medicine they need may come in a day, or a week—there are no guarantees in their world.
“We don’t know if we get a tomorrow.” Unlike Glenn and Maggie, Carol is not as convinced they can make everything work in their favor. She’s stood by, quietly caring for everyone under their roof as she’s always done. But there came a point when she knew it wasn’t enough. Being the quiet, motherly figure wouldn’t keep the children from getting sick. Wouldn’t provide the water they need to keep going on into a future she can’t even fathom at this point. Her hand aren’t tied by the position she’s in with the council. At one point or another, they’ve all done horrific things to protect the group. In this episode, we saw just how far Carol would go. Her transformation throughout the series is astounding. We met Carol when she was broken, powerless in the face of her husband’s abuse. After she lost her daughter, her only living relation, she adopted the group as her new family. Some of the impotent rage she suffered then, simmering over the weeks spent searching for Sophia, blew up this week. She went to the dark place and gathered that rage close in order to do what she thought necessary to protect everyone. Only time will tell if it changed her like Rick’s kills changed him, and Tyrese’s rage is beginning to morph him into a colder man.
Too many lives hang in the balance. It is impossible to figure out what will happen next on this show. Daryl, Michonne, Tyrese, and Bob are on foot, surrounded by thousands of walkers. We have no clue how many folks in the prison are sick, or will be sick and waiting for medicine that may never arrive. How long can the remaining council keep them safe and healthy with two of their best fighters in the field?
Did Carol go too far in this week’s episode? Could you have done what she did? If not, what would you have done differently to stay one step ahead of the illness in the prison?
In our new ongoing assignment, the Orange Brigade took on the job of scouting possible food sources during the zombiepocalypse within each of the zones laid out for our Tasty Survival series. One thing we’re all guilty of is not looking in our own backyards for ways to survive. Check for local farms you can hit on your escape routes to add to the canned/dried goods that should already be in your go bags. Grab fresh produce while you can. It will not last long once there is no one to tend to the crops. Kill only what livestock you need to feed your party. Don’t waste food others could use.
This is what we discovered for the Light Blue Brigade’s zone in the central United States.
Iowa:
Nearly the entire state is utilized as farmland, totaling approximately 89%.
Half of the farms in Iowa raise livestock, with a focus on hogs, cattle, dairy products, and eggs. The other half of farms in the state produce grain corn, soybeans, hay and greenhouse plants. Now very good for gathering supplies on the run.
Iowa ranks #3 in the country for total agricultural production, though most produce is grown to feed livestock. The state ranks #1 in grain corn and hog production. We suggest grabbing what meat you can safely store and moving on to a state with more variety in produce.
Kansas:
A total of 90% of Kansas is dedicated to farmland.
Approximately 68% of farms in the state house livestock—primarily cattle, hogs, and the production of dairy products.
The remaining 32% of Kansas farms grow crops ranging from wheat, grain corn, and hay, to soybeans, sorghum grain, and cotton. Kansas ranks #1 in sorghum and hay production.
This is another state with crop production focusing mainly on maintaining their livestock. Gather what you can and move on quickly to another state.
Missouri:
68% of the land in Missouri is set aside as farmland.
About 53% of farms in the state raise livestock, housing mainly cattle and hogs, as well as facilities to manufacture dairy products.
The remaining 47% of Missouri farms focus on growing soybeans, grain corn, cotton, wheat, and hay.
In the right season, you may be able to find potatoes, apples, and watermelons. Don’t bank on it, though.
Oklahoma:
Over 77% of Oklahoma is utilized as farmland.
The vast majority of farms in the state, 79%, raise livestock, focusing on cattle, hogs, and chicken.
Only 23% of Oklahoma farms grow crops, mostly wheat, greenhouse plants, cotton and soybeans.
You may be able to find peanuts, watermelon, and peaches—try to plot your escape routes to pass through these farms.
Arkansas:
Less than half of Arkansas is dedicated to farmland, approximately 43%.
63% of the farms in the state raise livestock, with a focus on chicken, cattle, and chicken eggs.
The remaining 37% of Arkansas farms grow mostly rice, soybeans, cotton, grain corn, and wheat. In smaller quantities they grow tomatoes, peaches, and blueberries.
Arkansas ranks #1 in the United States for rice production, and #2 for production of channel catfish and bait fish.
Texas:
Approximately 68% of land in Texas is dedicated to farming.
67% of state farms house livestock, with an obvious focus on cattle. They also produce chicken, eggs, and dairy products.
37% of Texas farms grow crops such as cotton, greenhouse plants, grain corn, hay, and wheat. If lucky, you can find a farm growing onions, potatoes, and cabbage to go with your beef on your quest to survive.
Texas ranks #1 in total livestock production, and #1 in total cattle production in the United States. The state also ranks #1 in cotton and cabbage production.
Louisiana:
Only 28% of the state is used as farmland.
39% of state farms house livestock, including cattle and aquaculture (fish, shellfish, etc.). Some of these farms likewise process dairy products.
61% of Louisiana farms produce crops ranging from Sugar cane, to rice, soybeans, cotton, and grain corn. You may also find sweet potatoes, peaches, and watermelon grown in the state.
There it is, folks. These are the resources available in the Light Blue Zone. A lot of the focus in the area is on livestock. We suggest grabbing what foods you can and make your way south to the more resource-rich states.
Last week’s episode of “The Walking Dead” must have been the writer’s idea of the calm before the storm—despite the attack at the store and unfortunate death because of it. This week, we really got to see how quickly things can go wrong for a group living in a fortress when someone is working from the inside to sabotage everyone’s safety. Not to mention, the zombie FX for the second episode in season 4 were some of the sickest we’ve seen to date, but not quite as downright disgusting as the Well Walker. KNB EFX outdid themselves . . . again.
Caution: Spoilers below! You guys know the drill.
Who the heck is dumb enough to feed the walkers? This mystery saboteur must be crazier than a basket of cats, hamsters, and puppies combined. The prison was secure, safe. Whoever is at fault for luring in the walkers puts themselves at risk, right alongside a large group of people who only have the council to fight for them. Aside from one or two of the newcomers, for the most part the council takes care of the killing. And scouting. And runs into nearby towns for supplies. There’s a handful of folks working their backsides to the bone to protect the strays Rick, and then Daryl, brought under their wings. Is it fair? No. But they know better than most, the vast majority of people can’t do what is necessary to protect themselves from the undead and living threats in their newly reformed society. Look how fast cell block D was overrun with walkers. The threat started inside and ate away at the living like cancer. In less than an hour, about a quarter of the people living in the cell block were eaten or turned into walkers. It was a great reminder of how quickly things can go downhill. The fallout from the attack drove the final nail in the coffin—without the council, these people would be food—when the two girls failed to fully understand that their father wasn’t their father anymore, and the walker they’d claimed as a pet of sorts, would rather eat the soft meat of their livers than play tag. Sure, they’d be running, but once he caught them it was game over. Permanently. This is why Carol’s scheme to teach the children weapon’s skills is vital.
All of the pressure to be the savior is starting to weight on Daryl. He’s fully stepped into Rick’s abandoned post, doing everything necessary to keep the people safe. Only, Daryl doesn’t have the massive guilt handicapping Rick. From a young age, he was forced to fend for himself—to survive growing up and endure his messed up family. Life hardened Daryl’s heart long ago, something Rick is only developing now with the loss of his wife, his best friend, and the hazy future for his son and daughter. But can Daryl learn to open himself up again? Last week there were glimpses of a softer side to his personality. We even saw a smile or two, though they were hard to spot past the mask he wears to keep everyone at arm’s length. This week, there was none of that. Is there time for emotions when Death comes knocking on your front gate every day? Not when everyone relies on your skill as a killer to make it to tomorrow.
A cold-hearted killer is what Michonne set herself out to be once the first walker attacks happened. Or so it seems. We know so little about her history, about how she came to be the woman who saved Andrea with two mutilated walkers in tow. Heck, we don’t even know who she was before the undead rose, before everyone was infected with the virus. Michonne is a pro at not forming relationships. She doesn’t do permanence, relies on herself to get by, and yet still stops in to visit with the prison council. There’s a part of her true self leaking through her uncaring mask. A part which shattered her calm when she held Judith for the first time. Not only did we see her break, we saw her vulnerable. A position she is never in. She’d rather be eaten than have someone see her unable to fend for herself. The shadows haunting her eyes while she held Judith were heartbreaking. Did Michonne have a child, or maybe a younger sibling she raised? It is possible. Her past is by far one of the greatest mysteries on the show. In time, we’ll learn more. But only when she’s ready to open up.
Rick and Carl spent quite a bit of time opening up to each other, trusting each other again. For quite some time, it seemed like Carl blamed Rick for stripping him of his childhood, for putting a gun in his hand and turning him into a killer. After all, it was Carl who cleaned up Rick’s two biggest mistakes—Shane and Lori. But even when he loathed his father, Carl still wanted to immolate him, using Rick’s passed-down deputy hat as his totem for when he meant bloody, violent business. Carl didn’t seem happy with his invisible farmer’s hat. Then again, neither did Rick. Despite putting distance between himself and violence, it still found Rick. Only now, only after the attack on cell block D, does Rick understand it has to be all hands on deck. He has a skill the others need. Now he just needs to learn how to distance himself, to find the cold, calm place where he’s capable of pulling the trigger and not killing a piece of his soul. Is Rick’s return to the fight too little too late? They’ve suffered massive casualties and more are bound to be on the way with the mystery person baiting zombies and taking out anyone who may be infected with the deadly strain of flu going through cell block D.
The prison has been compromised. Unfortunately, there’s nowhere for them to run—not with so many people in tow. What would they do with those suffering from the flu, leave them to die alone in the prison, locked in a cell on death row? Could Tyreese’s conscience handle that? Or is he too far gone after the attack on Karen? We’re two episodes in and so far, there’s a slew of questions to answer.
Here’s a few questions for you, readers. What would you do in the council’s shoes? How would you deal with this deadly flu outbreak?
In our new ongoing assignment, the Orange Brigade took on the job of scouting possible food sources during the zombiepocalypse within each of the zones laid out for our Tasty Survival series. One thing we’re all guilty of is not looking in our own backyards for ways to survive. Check for local farms you can hit on your escape routes to add to the canned/dried goods that should already be in your go bags. Grab fresh produce while you can. It will not last long once there is no one to tend to the crops. Kill only what livestock you need to feed your party. Don’t waste food others could use.
This is what we discovered for the Yellow Brigade’s zone in the mid-west.
Wyoming:
Just over half of the land in Wyoming is dedicated to farmland.
86% of farms in the state raise livestock and process livestock products. Cattle are the primary product, by a large margin. Hogs and sheep can also be found if you know where to look.
The remaining 14% of farms grow crops. While the top crop is hay, Wyoming also offers sugar beets, barley, dry beans, and wheat.
Make a pit stop for meat and hope you find a farm with edible produce on your escape routes. You’re not going to find a lot of variety, but at least you’ll have food.
Nevada:
Only 9% of Nevada is used as farmland.
68% of Nevada farms house livestock, with a focus on cattle and dairy products.
32% of the farms produce crops, with a large focus on hay.
You can also find onions, potatoes, wheat, and garlic at select locations.
Utah:
22% of Utah is used as farmland.
A vast majority, roughly 79%, of the farms in the state raise cattle, hogs, sheep, and process dairy products.
21% of Utah farms grow crops. The top two products are hay and green house plants. However, you can still find wheat, onions, and apples on your way through the state.
Nebraska:
An overwhelming portion of Nebraska is utilized as farmland, approximately 93% of the state.
The majority of farms raise livestock. The main livestock is cattle, followed by hogs.
The remaining 38% of Nebraska farms grow grain corn to feed the cattle, soybeans, wheat, hay, and dry beans.
While this state is rich in farms to visit on your escape routes, the variety of food leaves much to be desired. There are few crops that will sustain humans for the long-term after the zombiepocalypse.
Colorado:
Just under half of the land in Colorado is used as farmland.
76% of farms in the state raise cattle and hogs. Colorado is the number one producer of lamb and sheep for consumption in the United States.
24% of Nebraska farms grow crops. The top two commodities are grain corn and greenhouse plants. However, you may still find wheat, potatoes, onions, and dry beans at farms on your way to safe haven.
Arizona:
Approximately 36% of the state is farmland.
47% of Arizona farms house livestock, with a focus on cattle on dairy products.
The remaining farms grow lettuce, cantaloupes, broccoli, and cauliflower.
Despite the temperatures, Arizona produces a wide variety of food that should sustain survivors for a decent amount of time.
New Mexico:
Over half of the state, about 58%, is dedicated to farmland.
A large majority of farms house livestock and process livestock products. The main focus is on dairy products, cattle, and sheep.
22% of New Mexico farms grow crops ranging from pecans to chili peppers, corn, onions, and wheat.
Like its neighbor, Arizona, there is just enough variety in produce and livestock to keep survivors in the state fed for a while.
It would be wise to find ways to preserve or dry meat, since it is the most prevalent commodity.
Hawaii:
Just about 32% of the island state is farmland.
Only 17% of Hawaiian farms raise livestock, focusing on cattle, dairy products, and chicken eggs.
The majority of farms, roughly 83%, grow crops. There is quite a bit of variety, including pineapple, sugarcane, macadamia nuts, papaya.
Hawaii is the only state to grow the following: Coffee, bananas, ginger root, guava, macadamia nuts, papaya, pineapple, and taro.
This means once the zombies take over, the rest of the U.S. can kiss these items goodbye. Life without coffee? Start stocking up now, guys!
There you have it, the resources available to brigadiers living in the Yellow Zone! This zone has a wide range of food available to them. Other brigades should take note and consider these states for their ultimate safe haven.
It has been far, far too long since we’ve had the opportunity to sit and catch up with our favorite band of zombie apocalypse survivors. “The Walking Dead” returned to AMC this week with a whopping 16.1 billion ravenous viewers, crushing every other show airing Sunday night with their ratings. While we at the ZSC know we love this show, it is staggering to see how many others are out there watching, and screaming at the TV, alongside us. So, what have Rick, Daryl, Carol, Glenn, Hershel, Maggie, and all the others been up to in the time they’ve been absent from our televisions?
Caution: There may be spoilers below.
Apparently Rick fancies himself a gardener nowadays. As Hershel said, all he needs is a pair of overalls and a piece of wheat to chew on. Rick spent the weeks since bringing in the survivors from Woodbury transforming the yard in the prison into a small farm, complete with vegetable garden and livestock—although the pig, Violet, keeled over for unknown reasons. From what we were able to glean from Hershel’s talk with Rick, the former sheriff’s deputy has taken the passive road since the Woodbury showdown with the still-missing Governor. Rick was resistant to orders to take his iconic Python pistol with him when he goes outside the fortified fences of the prison. All of the violence, and his tango with insanity, turned Rick into a new man. He hesitates to draw his gun. He’s isolated himself from the community for the most part. It seems he’s content to be the absent caretaker for all of these people—the true number of which we’re not sure. Rick’s new take on life is tested when he finds a lone, starving woman in the woods while checking the snare traps they use to gather rabbits for food. It’s hard to say if he passed or failed the test. A lot of the ugliness inside his head was reflected in this woman’s circumstances, giving viewers an all too clear look at how bad he could have gotten after Lori’s death.
An unlikely savior, Daryl has stepped into the savior role Rick abandoned. He’s still rough around the edges, keeping everyone at arm’s length. However, there’s a gleam in Daryl’s eyes when he’s thanked for finding someone and bringing them into the safety of their prison community. His relationship with Carol is unclear. They seem to have found a comfortable rhythm with each other—which is adorable to watch. This will be the season when we see what truly keeps Daryl going. He’s lost Merle for good. There’s no longer the off chance that he’ll be reunited with the only remaining survivor in his family. Perhaps that lack of blood family has Daryl reaching out for connections with others. Even the most solitary person needs a touchstone to remind themselves they’re human, that they matter in the grand scheme of things. It is far too easy to drown in the miserable existence in the show’s world without human interaction.
That interaction is what keeps Michonne around. She seems to spend most of her time outside the prison, with her gorgeous horse, searching for traces of the Governor and other things that’ll keep the few people she considers family happy. Michonne is far from soft and cuddly, but it spoke volumes when she brought back a stack of comic books for Carl and a beard trimmer for Rick. She’ll never find the closeness she had before with Andrea. That line of trust has been severely damaged. But she won’t leave these people who fought by her side, took her in when she surely would have died on her own. Michonne’s code of honor is warped, yet functional.
Glenn and Maggie are still the strongest pair from the original group of survivors—though plenty of others have found love in the weeks since season three ended. Unfortunately for Maggie, Glenn’s need to protect her lingers at the edge of their relationship. Maggie was the one to step up and become the protector, the backbone, for her family after the disease took the majority of them. Hershel did what he could, but he lived with the belief that there was a cure, something Maggie dismissed long before her father. She has to be an active part of the community in order to feel like everything is okay. She’ll never, ever sit back and be the little lady. However, she knows when to pick her battles. Stepping back from going outside the gates protected Glenn from worry. They feed on each other’s emotions. If he were upset, she would be too. They’re still finding a balance after the Governor threw them for a loop. Maybe they’ll even find a way to settle down. Once Glenn feels it is safe enough to start a family. Judging by what he said toward the end of the show, it is a ways off.
“How can you say that after today, after Lori?”
Maggie responded with, “Because I don’t want to be afraid of being alive.”
And that is the theme for these two, staring Death straight in the eyes and refusing to step back because they have each other and a small, strange family of people they’ve chosen and trust.
The season premiere tackled the psychological issues hitting the survivors. There’s plenty of walker action, no doubt, but it wasn’t anything on par with the mess inside everyone’s heads. Tyrese grows increasingly uncomfortable with killing walkers. Some of the new folks want to help, but may find themselves in Tyrese’s shoes, or dealing with deeper, darker secrets. Poor Beth is so accustomed with death, she can’t cry when they add another death to the growing tally. And Carol worries so much about the children they’ve brought in, she’s been secretly teaching them how to fight walkers.
We weren’t left without a mystery to solve at the end of the episode. What do you think happened to Patrick? Could it be connected to the pig’s sudden, unexplained death?
For our newest assignment, the Orange Brigade took on the job of scouting possible food sources during the zombiepocalypse within each of the zones laid out for our Tasty Survival series. One thing we’re all guilty of is not looking in our own backyards for ways to survive. Check for local farms you can hit on your escape routes to add to the canned/dried goods that should already be in your go bags. Grab fresh produce while you can. It will not last long once there is no one to tend to the crops. Kill only what livestock you need to feed your party. Don’t waste food others could use.
This is what we discovered for the Blue Brigade’s zone on the Northeast coast:
Maine:
Only 7% of the land in Maine is used for farmland.
60% of farms in the state house livestock, focusing on dairy products, chicken eggs. Aquaculture is also important—cultivating fish, shellfish, and other aquatic species.
The remaining 40% of Maine farms grow crops ranging from potatoes, to blueberries, apples, and corn.
We suggest grabbing as many potatoes as you can carry. They have vital nutrients and do not spoil quickly if kept in a dry, dark environment.
New Hampshire:
A small percentage of New Hampshire is utilized for farmland—roughly 8%.
44% of the farms are used for livestock, with cattle, dairy products, and chicken eggs being the most prevalent.
56% of New Hampshire farms are used for crops. The main focus is on greenhouse plants, however many farms also produce apples, sweet corn, and maple products.
Don’t linger long in the state. Route your escape routes to hit a couple farms, then head to a state with a wider variety of food available.
Vermont:
21% of the land in Vermont is farmland.
The majority of farms in the state—85%—house livestock or create livestock products. By far, the number one commodity in the state is dairy products.
Only 15% of Vermont farms produce crops.
The main crop is greenhouse products, not very useful. However you can still find apples, sweet corn, and maple products in the state.
Massachusetts:
A scant 10% of the state is dedicated to farming.
23% of the farms house livestock, with a focus on dairy products, cattle, and seafood.
The remaining 77% of Massachusetts farms focus on producing greenhouse plants, cranberries, sweet corn, and apples.
Grab what food you can on your way out of the state. The supplies won’t last for long.
New York:
A quarter of the land in New York is used as farmland.
63% of the farms house livestock, with the main commodity being dairy products, followed by cattle and chicken eggs. New York is the only state producing duck for consumption.
37% of New York farms produce crops. You’ll be able to find apples, onions, potatoes, and cabbage on your way to safe haven. The state ranks second in apple production.
Grab a duck, some apples, and an onion to roast together. Dang, I made myself hungry.
Rhode Island:
Approximately 9% of the small state is utilized as farmland.
15% of Rhode Island farms house livestock. The main focus is on dairy products and cattle.
A vast majority of the farms produce greenhouse plants. However, you may be able to find sweet corn, potatoes, and apples if you know where to look.
Grab and go, guys. Rhode Island isn’t large enough to sustain large numbers of survivors.
Connecticut:
Only 12% of the state is used for farmland.
34% of Connecticut farms focus on dairy products, chicken eggs, and seafood.
The remaining 66% of farms in the state grow greenhouse plants, sweet corn, and apples. If you’re lucky, you’ll also find farms with peaches, pears, and mushrooms.
There you have it, the local resources housed in the Blue Zone. This isn’t a resource-rich area farming-wise unless you are near the coast and are able to fish. Take extra care when plotting your escape routes. Make sure to hit a few farms on your way through to a safe haven.
Martinez’s days were numbered. There’s no use lying to ourselves. Once he made it crystal clear that he was in charge of the camp, things were already set in motion. When he asked Phillip to help him, work for him, there was only ever going to be one outcome. The Governor fully returned to power. He’s so desperate to keep Lilly and Meghan safe, he’ll jump back into the darkness he used to keep Woodbury going during the last weeks of its existence. Even though he repeatedly says, “I don’t want it.” Doesn’t want what, the responsibility of leadership or the blood on his hands from securing his place at the top of the food chain? Does it cost Phillip anything to kill anymore? Anytime we see Rick pull the trigger, you see a piece of his soul wither. With Phillip, who knows? He’s a hard read, a violent man with sociopathic tendencies. However, he makes this impossible connection with a woman and her child that goes against everything known about sociopathic behavior. Is it an act? But to whose benefit? Surely he can’t be trying to fool himself after all this time.
Leona Bushman goes by many names, but the most common one is Superhero. She earned this name from saving a kangaroo from a tree—and yes, that is as hard as it sounds. The dragons taught their queen how to write, and Queen Leona hasn’t looked back. Even when her muse tries to muck things up.
Being alone is rarely a pleasant thing. Humans crave contact with others, need the interaction to keep themselves happy and mentally healthy. Finding companionship in the zombie apocalypse is next to impossible. From what we’ve learned on the show since day one, human nature demands that most folks take care of numero uno first, then their family. If you’re a stranger, kindness has to be earned. Even after making that vital, living connection, there are moments when a person may find themselves surrounded by others, yet utterly isolated by circumstances no one else can understand. This week on “The Walking Dead” we saw a lot of people suffering on their own, forced to make terrifying personal sacrifices in order to keep one step ahead of not only the walkers, but also the illness plaguing the prison population.
“We don’t know if we get a tomorrow.” Unlike Glenn and Maggie, Carol is not as convinced they can make everything work in their favor. She’s stood by, quietly caring for everyone under their roof as she’s always done. But there came a point when she knew it wasn’t enough. Being the quiet, motherly figure wouldn’t keep the children from getting sick. Wouldn’t provide the water they need to keep going on into a future she can’t even fathom at this point. Her hand aren’t tied by the position she’s in with the council. At one point or another, they’ve all done horrific things to protect the group. In this episode, we saw just how far Carol would go. Her transformation throughout the series is astounding. We met Carol when she was broken, powerless in the face of her husband’s abuse. After she lost her daughter, her only living relation, she adopted the group as her new family. Some of the impotent rage she suffered then, simmering over the weeks spent searching for Sophia, blew up this week. She went to the dark place and gathered that rage close in order to do what she thought necessary to protect everyone. Only time will tell if it changed her like Rick’s kills changed him, and Tyrese’s rage is beginning to morph him into a colder man.
Only 7% of the land in Maine is used for farmland.
