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Day 2: Forced to Violate Their Own Values – THE WALKING DEAD
Provide your insights/breakthroughs into what makes this character great from a writing perspective.
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11 Replies
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As described in the setup to the scene, RICK has lost his son, and his primed dad instinct is on high alert. Our hopes are up because the child picks up a cuddly toy, she has to be sensitive right? Then she turns. We notice him hesitating to pull the gun, and worry for his safety. The twist is not easy. We experience relief only for a second, courtesy of the brilliant editing that shows the child as a child that she is. At her most vulnerable, following a brutal end, totally milked by the director and editor based on the writing of the threat, as a child. A girl child. Mercy.
I don’t think I want to think too much about this scene, pure luck the lesson explains this scene is early in the plot, so I am happily not feeling guilty about studying the antecedents.
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just realized this little scene delivers all six elements on this week’s syllabus. truth of Rick’s dad instinct, shows his protective trait, uncomfortable moment, value clash, test, [and likely a breakdown after the scene? — he is a grieving dad afterall.] goodness i need to write a week4 scene so this one doesn’t live rent free top floor en mi cabeza.
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Sandeep. You see more than I do, and I’m glad you pointed out that all the elements of lesson 4 are in this scene.
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I have not seen this show – so everything is based solely on this scene.
This concept is brilliant, and I’ve never heard it articulated in this way – so it’s a real eye-opener about how a writer can make us feel deeply for a character.
We don’t really have to know anything about the Sherriff to understand that nobody would want to harm a little girl – especially one so vulnerable, unkempt, holding a stuffy, and wearing pajamas.
It’s clear he wants to help her. But when she turns around, we (and he) realize this is no ordinary little girl.
I thought it was interesting that they showed the bullet hit her head and we watch her go down hard. It’s very “flinch” to see that – even though we know she’s a monster.
Perhaps this is an important point they are making about how they can kill “zombies” – maybe they’ve got to hit them in the brain or something to bring them down. A softer version would have been for him to pull the trigger – hear the thud – and then see her lying there. However, I’m sure they are not going for “soft” in this series.
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: ) i guess “softer” was not on this show’s palette. kinda Guernica.
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Week 4, Day 2 – Walking Dead
I’m not into movies like this one. No interest, even if the writing is considered by some aspects good – questionable. However, the grim moment of shooting a child and seeing the bullet hole for shock value, doesn’t necessarily mean “great writing.” At least, to me.
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Week 4, Day 2–Forced to Violate Their Own Values–The Walking Dead
I’ve never seen this series-it just doesn’t resonate with me. So the review is only on the basis of this scene and the setup. Officer Grimes just lost his son. By his career choice, he swore to protect and serve his community. As a Dad, he has the same code to protect your children. When he saw the little girl, he wanted to assure her that he was a Policeman (authority and help) and to not be afraid. As he approaches the girl she pauses and turns to reveal that indeed, he should be afraid of her since she is a “walker” aggressively pursuing Officer Grimes. You can see his angst about the decision he needs to make that goes against his heart, yet he needs to survive to be able to protect others in the community. He knows that to destroy the “walker” that inhabits the little girls body, he will have to destroy her brain–thus he, shoots her in the head. He feels remorse after.
The scene creates tension-Grimes’ internal conflict, values life in a confusing reality. The “walkers” come in all shapes and sizes. It is a predator-prey survival of the fittest.
Each of the characters are living in their truth-at opposite ends of the continuum.
What I learned from this assignment: Although I don’t favor this genre, I can still appreciate well written/acted scenes as examples. There are lots of movies, series, etc. that exemplify this. I awakened early morning and couldn’t sleep so turned on TV and an episode of The Rookie was on that totally exemplified the question of violating values (John, saving his fiancée or shooting the serial killer in cold blood, at her request). It is making me a better observer of characters.
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Karyn. Wow! Truths at the opposite ends of the continuum–that completely escaped me. I never thought or felt to look deeper than the obvious into the philosophical implications, a kind of archetypal revelation, whether the writer intends it or not. I feel like I’m back in grad school–and loving it. Thanks for that.
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Thank you for that “confidence builder as I am so new to this type of writing at a later stage in life.
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Week 4 Day 2 Forced To Violate Their Values THE WALKING DEAD
FIRST WATCH
How was this value shown: In a very gentle voice he calls her “little girl”, and tells her he’s a policeman and not to be afraid. He reaches out his hand, implying he’s someone who can help her, even as she’s walking away in her robe and pjs and slippers, carrying a teddy bear.
What caused him to violate that value and what are the consequences? When she turns to face him, she’s all dirty and deformed like her face has been punched pretty hard and she’s been tortured. Then she snarls and comes at him, like a monster. He shoots her in the head. She falls backwards, dead.
SECOND WATCH
Drama this scene built around There are no other people than the two of them. Cars are either wrecked or parked all which away. No sound. When he/we first see her from him looking under a car at her, she’s reaching to pick up a teddy bear. For all we know, she’s a lost child, and in shock.
Profile He’s kind, protective, gentle, caring, can kill to keep from being killed.
She’s dead, or something.
Interesting character from writer’s p.o.v. He has all those sweet traits, but underneath, he’s as much a killer as anyone. After all, he’s carrying a gun and uses it. But with the suspense of his kindness, will he shoot her?
My own writing I need to show more explicitly what Sadie values, and how she is tested when her father kills the deer and she picks up the rifle and aims at him.
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Hi everyone,
I already replied to this, but don’t see it?? To sum up, this would not be a movie that I would watch or like – very dark and negative. However, the acting and writing do accomplish what was set out to do – intimidate, frighten and possibly enjoy watching a psychopath do what is expected – be strangely weird, uncaring, unnerving and frightening. Good job at this – no redeeming-value human being. I’m hoping not to encounter this type of character anywhere, anytime, living or imagined by me.
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