MovieChat Forums > Survivors (2008) Discussion > What is it with writers in the post apoc...

What is it with writers in the post apocalyptic genre


I'm half way through the first episode, and the frustration is building in me already. Is it some unwritten rule in this genre that the characters who survive have to be the dumbest, most irrational people on the planet (not counting the ones in horror movies of course).

For starters, when the doctor is in the medical supply room, and makes the decision not to kill herself, why does she walk away without taking any of the supplies/medication with her?

Surely, as a medical professional she of all people should recognize the importance of the items within that room. Grab a backpack off of one of those bodies and take as much of the important items (antibiotics for starters) as you can. Heck, pull an SUV up front and take it all....it's not like anyone else will need it.

Secondly, people just start hopping in vehicles and driving away, without checking to see if there's gas in them. Sure, find a vehicle, but make sure there's fuel, and if there isn't, find somehwere you can secure fuel, in quantity if possible.

Once you have your vehicle, and your fuel, do you drive around hysterically, or get hammered and drive recklessly, or would your next task be securing water and food, and for that matter, firearms to ensure you can do so without someone taking said supplies from you.

These would all be logical, rational decisions, but you never see those types of decisions being made in this genre.

To any writers thinking of doing a story like this in the future, please give us at least one character who is reasonably rational, and can think on their feet. It may actually help the story along.

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The driving around like an idiot could have been working up to commit suicide, but the other points are valid. With such a massive amount of resource available, they seem to not use any of them. I'd go for radio equipment with generator is find out what's going on in the rest of the world. A military base would be a good place to look.

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It could be that doing anything with electricity, as per a generator required too much investment for a lone person or small group. If you put too much time and energy into lugging around a generator you are a prisoner of that to the point that it does not help you. Remember it was not until later that they found a place to live and were always having problems.

Like Sarah thinking she could defend that entire warehouse. The lighter someone can live the more appropriate they will be.

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it is because it is a drama if it was written with every one been practical you would not have much drama lol

just enjoy it for what it is (not a how to survive the end of the world)

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Hardly anybody's going to be logical and rational in circumstances like the aftermath of a global apocalypse caused by a pandemic. People are going to be hysterical, reckless and scared to death.

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[deleted]

disagree. quite a few people would figure out that they have to do some serious thinking to survive now that the sh has hit the fan. besides the doctor and the medication, and the really irksome thing about none of them going to a police station or military base to get guns and ammo, would be the fact that noone went to the nearest automotive parts store to get a hand crank siphon. perhaps in england siphons are harder to come by, i dont know.

"Malt does more than Milton can in justifying God's ways to man."

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> Hardly anybody's going to be logical and rational in circumstances like the aftermath of a global apocalypse

I am not sure about that. I think a lot of people like the Oxford History professor will have certain resources and enough time or the smarts to take advantage of other people and set up like this slave mining operation, or Samantha and her attempt to continue the government. These are artificial attempts at instilling and order. The thing is that desperate and traumatized people will be stuck having to follow the rules of these types. enough of them such that they put everyone in danger because they can wield power and control resources.

I thought for what this series was it portrayed that very well.

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It's possible that as they had just whitnessed everyone they know die they may have been a bit too traumatised to think rationally? It's only after the shock ebbs that people would really start thinking about survival.

Also, there's a gage on the dashboard next to the speedometer that tells you how much fuel is in a car.

Pass the buck far enough and you can always blame some germ for splitting in two.

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gauges dont accurately show how much gas is in the car until you turn the car on.


"Malt does more than Milton can in justifying God's ways to man."

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@Stephen: I personally think that I would be rational if I outlived the rest of the population IF I didn't have a son. If I could mentally survive outliving him and/or he could be with me and safe, I know I would be rational.

- I do think that they have a very rational character though. It's Greg.

What annoys me is that they stay in that one little area with Mr. Crazy and his crew laying claim to all the food in the grocery stores. There has got to be another grocery warehouse somewhere with people who like to share.

Although some of the choices are maddening, I like the show. I don't think it's bad writing at all . . . trust me, I've seen bad writing. I think it's interesting and purposeful writing designed to keep us engaged and yelling at the characters to grab the freaking food! lol!

Also, I don't like that Miss "I'm the Government" wants people to work! All I would do was read, cry, run (for exercise) and if I could find a cute survivor we would have to make whoopy! I mean the world just ended? Give me a break! (Again, not bad writing - good enough writing to keep me interested).

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> when the doctor is in the medical supply room, and makes the decision not to kill herself,
> why does she walk away without taking any of the supplies/medication with her?
> Surely, as a medical professional she of all people should recognize the importance of the items within that room.

That's a fair question, you just have to answer it for yourself. Apparently you think she was just stupid, but she was traumatized and did not want to live in the world she was stuck in, but did not have the guts to kill herself. She also was impractical when it came to force and guns. She just did not like or want anything to do with that part of life ... I don't think that made her stupid or irrational, it was just a part of her personality.

Some of this just cannot be shown in a movie. You cannot take time to show people going to the bathroom either you just have to ignore it and assume it gets done.

But you are right in some of your criticisms, like the fact that they rely on Naj way too much to always run towards danger, thus getting everyone in trouble. That is just lazy writing, but they do it so that you ID and brand certain characters. Like Tom was always flying off the handle and getting mad or violent, he could not help himself. It's not that any certain person would do that, but rather to show that kind of character as an archetype .... you have to remember or realize that these are not really people they are forces meant to be characters that we can identify with. No one can writer perfect characters in a book, the characters in books are not human they are distillation of symbols - stereotypes if you will.

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That's nice. Of course, we all know that in this situation, you'd *beep* yourself, crawl into the fetal position, and die of thirst.

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WORDS MEAN THINGS! Also, before you come to bitch about a plot hole, rewatch the show/movie.

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