For years, the members of SQ Reviews have heard stories about the A&E sensation, The Walking Dead. We gnawed our pillows in envy. Finally, we joined the land of the living in 2014 when KRON 4 syndicated Walking Dead (WD). We could then put our pillows to proper use – a cushioned tray for a bowl of snacks.
WD is such a sensation in San Quentin that several Incarcerated-Americans greet each other on what we call Walking Dead Day with “It’s Tuesday!” We depart with the same exclamation; it’s like the new “bonjour.”
SQ Reviews meets in the lot between the education department and the San Quentin News office to talk about the fifth season of Walking Dead. We quickly fall into disagreement about a central character, Rick Grimes. Grimes is a former sheriff who served as the show’s bright moral compass in Season 1 but who in Season 5 becomes a Machiavellian killer.
“I’m not saying Rick is a homicidal maniac,” says Joe Krauter, the newest member of SQ Reviews. “Yes, the Terminus people had to die, and yes, Rick chose to hack that man to death with a machete, but maniac …?” Krauter scratches the stubble on his cheek while he waggles his free hand, unsure of where he falls on the subject.
Terminus is a town of cannibals who lure desperate travelers with the hope of safe harbor, only to imprison them in cattle cars for eventual slaughter.
“Rick is a good dude, but he does bad things,” says Rahsaan Thomas. He compares Grimes’ decisions to his own past mistakes. He appreciates that WD examines what even the best people will do under extreme circumstances. “Rick had to kill the cannibals. They would’ve either come after him later or other innocents.”
“Can you see what’s wrong with that logic though?” Emile DeWeaver asks. He gives real-world examples that show the flaws in this logic. “‘We have to invade Iraq or they’re going to come for us.’ Or ‘This guy at the party has an angry look, so I have to pull my gun on him before he hurts me.’ If these examples aren’t moral uses of force, how does Rick gain the moral high ground to pre-empt bad behavior with executions?”
Krauter says, “Well, The Walking Dead is a complete and utter breakdown of society and law. In your gun example, you can turn to the law for recourse. There’s no one Rick can turn to for the cannibals.”
“Yeah, every time Rick kills, it’s out of necessity,” Thomas says. “He’s a little messed up in the head, but it’s not like he enjoys hurting people.” Thomas again expresses an affinity with Grimes who, in Thomas’ opinion, makes regrettable choices in difficult situations. “We’re not exactly the same, I get that. Like Joe said, Walking Dead is post-apocalyptic.”
Juan Meza shakes his head. “No, it is the same. You’re always talking about how bad it was in Brownsville when you grew up [New York, in the 1980s]. Violence was daily life. Brownsville was an apocalyptic crap-fest.”
Thomas frowns at Meza’s description of his home. “I wouldn’t call it apocalyptic. It wasn’t always crazy. Before the ‘80s, we used to leave the doors open. Then crack hit. Police stopped caring. There was no law.”
“You do realize,” DeWeaver says, “you just described the general plot of every post-apocalyptic story I’ve read.”
“Right,” Meza agrees. “And there still came a point where Rahsaan Thomas decided it’s not okay to hurt people because they might hurt you.”
“Okay, so Rick just needs therapy,” Thomas says. “That’s what I needed.”
The members of SQ Reviews wonder what Thomas could teach Rick Grimes about finding humanity post-apocalypse.
