The Walking Dead: Are people fundamentally good?
By Susie Graham
The question of people being fundamentally good is a point of disagreement between showrunner Scott Gimple and creator Robert Kirkman of The Walking Dead.
This is a big question. Usually I have my opinions about things like this, but this time, I’m going to interject as little as possible. I did what we do nowadays and Googled the question. On one site the answers in the poll leaned toward the side of no.
I’m purposely waiting to tell you which side Gimple and Kirkman fall on to let it swirl in your head for a moment. And if you read my posts at all on Undead Walking, you can probably figure out which way I lean. Although I think the question doesn’t necessarily have a black or white answer.
As part of the commentary on the season 6 DVD, we found out that this was something that Kirkman and Gimple disagree on and MIchael Cudlitz, like I tend to do, muddied the waters a bit. (Via Entertainment Weekly)
"On the commentary for “No Way Out,” Gimple relays a big difference between himself and comic creator Robert Kirkman. “We had a long talk about whether people are fundamentally good. And Robert and I still have that disagreement, which is that I do believe that people are fundamentally good. He does not.” Then Michael Cudlitz chimes in by opining that, “I would say that people do not fundamentally want to hurt other people. But that doesn’t mean they’re good.”"
Knowing this might be an interesting thing for fans when considering the villain of Negan and perhaps The Governor or the Gareth story line in the comics and more ambiguous plots and characters that Kirkman has created.
It also gives more depth of understanding to the flawed character of Rick Grimes right from the start. He has never been a squeeky clean hero. He has always tried to do good with many bad results causing pain to himself and those around him at many turns from the very start.
I’m not sure what it helps explain with Scott Gimple. He knows it’s The Walking Dead and characters have to die. But I think he wants happy endings inside of the bleakness somewhere. I’ll have to give that some thought. Maybe you can do the same.