The Walking Dead, Survival Rule Of The Week: No Other Choices

The Walking Dead – sometimes, you have to leave men behind

In this week’s episode of The Walking Dead, we learned the sad fate of Alden, who, in a confrontation with a Reaper, died after having to be left behind by Maggie. Alden realized the mission couldn’t carry on if she had to drag him along. It was a heartbreaking thing to see, but sadder still is the fact that, in a zombie apocalypse, it’s something that you may have to do.

Let’s look at Alden’s situation for a second: He had been wounded by the Reapers in their initial assault on Maggie’s team, he couldn’t run, he couldn’t defend himself (At least not against trained soldiers like the Reapers), and he was slowing Maggie and the team down. With Alexandria desperate for food, the Reapers pursued the team, and Daryl alone with them, Maggie and company needed to get to Meridian as fast as possible, something they simply couldn’t do with Alden slowing them down. This is why he told Maggie to leave him behind in the first place.

Sad as that all was, in a zombie apocalypse, that is a situation you could easily find yourself in. It wouldn’t take much for a team member to get wounded while you and/or your group are being pursued. Should you be in that situation, what do you do?

Would you drag your friend with you, risking your whole team getting caught, or would you try to do what Maggie did and find a safe place to leave your wounded friend until you complete your mission? Whichever way you go, something terrible is bound to happen to someone you care about. The difference is the number of people it’s bound to happen to. Regardless, the fact you might be saving some people in your group doesn’t mean leaving others to die gets any easier.