The Walking Dead, Survival Rule Of The Week: Know the signs

2) They straight-up tell you.

People can be surprisingly honest, even if they don’t intend to be. Sometimes, whether through angry outburst, Freudian slips, or other tells, hostiles might reveal to you their otherwise hidden hostile intent.

Tony, also from Season Two’s “Nebraska”, is probably our best example. While he and Dave were attempting to trick Rick, Hershel, and Glenn into revealing how big The Group was and where it was located, Tony angrily blurted at Rick that he’d shoot the trio in the head and take the farm. Dave attempted to iron out the situation, but, Rick knew the pair simply couldn’t be trusted after that.

This is especially true at the beginning of the apocalypse, before people truly grasp the breadth of the situation.

While people simply think the situation is just social upheaval, you’ll see a lot of truly terrible people start thinking they’re going to “take over” and, in their arrogance, make proclamations detailing their violent intent.

Should you encounter those people after everything goes to Hell, don’t forget what they said they’d do when they believed they had free reign to do it, and act accordingly.

Sometimes, hostiles won’t try to be that clever. Sometimes, they’ll just come right out and say it.

Next: It's All About Control