The Walking Dead 401: Early glimpse into Lizzie’s walker supremacism

Walking Dead’s 4th season begins with a bang, as we catch glimpses of Lizzie Samuel’s creepy and complex philosophy regarding the undead.

With the citizens of Woodbury now at the prison on The Walking Dead, it seems like a fresh new start for Rick and the gang. In fact, Rick has used it as an opportunity to step down as “Ricktator,” and instead focusing on farming. In certain scenes of this episode, Chandler Riggs shines as Carl. His performance shows his character’s blend of satisfaction and frustration over general conditions at the prison.

For example, when a pig named “Violet” becomes ill, Carl almost seems to blame it on his dad’s incompetence – something which becomes clearer as the series progresses. At the same time, Carl seems to appreciate his father’s new role, and he wants to respect it. When Rick instructs him to stop naming the pigs, Carl seems obedient, although almost sadly so.

Carl no doubt wants his father to resume his previous leadership role, where he seemed more respectable and powerful. For him to now be a pig farmer with dying pigs is kind of embarrassing. In fact, a little later on, Hershel Greene even shows up to give Rick some pointers on planting, implying that Rick’s no seasoned pro at his new, self-assigned job. In apparent contrast, Daryl Dixon has demonstrated his prowess at hunting (as before), as if it’s a natural skill.

A walker by any other name would smell as sour

Many prison citizens spend daylight hours clearing fences of the walking dead. As expected, some people are better at it than others, and there are disagreements over how it should be done, and even how much of a threat walkers are. Here Carl comes into play again, as he disagrees with two other kids, Lizzie and Mika, for naming the walkers at the fence. This, of course, echoes his father’s previous lesson about naming pigs that are about to be killed. Why treat them like they’re worth caring about? However, Lizzie’s philosophy about the undead retaining humanity (or even supremacy) will remain an issue for The Walking Dead, and sort of transforms her character into an inadvertent villain down the line.

Her opinion is both due to her innocence but (apparently) a deeply held conviction that they are a superior form. More broadly, she probably wishes to see humanity in their faces, as part of her search for sanity in a world gone mad. How does a child process something like a zombie apocalypse? It’s something that can’t go well, and certain ideas may be formulated for protection, as a form of mental weaponry.

Bob’s life and Zach’s death

This Walking Dead premiere episode introduces two characters: Bob Stookey and Beth’s love interest Zach. Though their introduction seems distant from Lizzie, the events do tie into her ideas. Little is known about either Bob or Zach as they join Daryl and the others on a supply run, but we one of Bob’s flaws. Bob’s desire for alcohol ends up knocking over an entire shelf of bottles, which traps Bob underneath it and attracts the attention of walkers on the roof. As curious rooftop walkers amass to investigate the noise, the decaying structure gives way and they collapse onto the humans down below! Zach dies heroically while freeing Bob, but Bob ends up burdened with the unintended shame. Quite simply, the whole scene is full of bloody action, but it shows that death is around every corner.

When Beth learns of his death she changes the dry erase board statement from “30 days without an accident” to “0 days.” Daryl tries to console her, but she gives the impression that she doesn’t need it. As would be the case for many, she has grown accustomed to death and dismemberment all around her. For many, it only seems like a question of when. It seems this is exactly the reality for Lizzie, who ends up processing such events in a more peculiar way.

Rick and Clara, foreshadowing Lizzie’s ideals

While the others were out scavenging, Rick sets out to check traps. While out and about he encounters a woman named Clara, who he initially mistakes for a walker, due to her emaciated state and dirty appearance. However, she speaks (which probably confuses some viewers the first time around). She asks Rick if she and her husband can join the group. She almost gets accepted, until she suddenly tries stabbing the Rick man! He disarms her pretty easily, then reveals that her husband’s actually a walker’s head. She asks to be stabbed in the stomach so she may join him, and Rick takes enough to pity to respect her request, leaving her behind like a forgotten memory.

While it’s an interesting moment unto itself, it becomes more interesting because it foreshadows Lizzie’s concept of keeping walkers alive as if they were normal. While the third season isn’t deep into Lizzie’s mentality by its premiere episode, there are strong hints that this will be a major developing theme. The interesting question is, how crazy is the idea, really? As Rick seems to understand (and even respect), it gives people great comfort and solemnity to cling to a dead person’s memory and identity. While Clara wasn’t necessarily a walker supremacist, it no doubt has a starting point in a view like hers.

Meanwhile, as we see sickness begin in the prison (due to a swine flu scenario), it seems that Lizzie’s view has a chance to gain traction, as death is an inevitable part of life. When the dead come back to snack, it’s almost understandable why some would revere the phenomenon. While most would see it as a great, hideous evil, it would nevertheless be a powerful new reality. Perhaps they deserve some respect — even if after their heads are blown off.

What are your thoughts on this Walking Dead episode? Let us know in the comments!