Wasn't said in Romero's Night of the Living Dead either.

People die. If you don't add members you will perish. Strength in numbers. A grown man would be useful. The kid would have probably been pretty grateful for them saving his life after his 'companions' abandoned him. They could have treated his wound and, logically, he's probably not going anywhere. They would have been his savior. That would give them an advantage over a potential enemy as well.

Instead Rick makes a pussy decision. He saves his life only to condemn him to death in a way that is easier on his conscience. Either save him or kill him... but make a real decision. You don't torture him for three days and then waffle on killing him. He only views them as captors now.

While you can argue the realistic/literal level of this show all you want, it's clear to me that the writers are going for something entirely different as of late. Like aturnis said, the "filler" is what the show is about. You're not going to get back-to-back zombie gore-splatter action throughout the episode. That's not the point of the show.

They're moving more and more into an allegorical examination of the dissolution of society and the use of power in the vacuum of government. I love the direction the show is going. I thought the last episode was awesome, and packed a ton of meaning into the various trajectories and uses of power the different group members represent. This should get even better as they travel to different areas.

Lots of comparisons to Lord of the Flies. Some of Watership Downs also comes to mind.

People whining about the literalness of this show would be the same people whining about Gus Fring's cinematic last scene in BB.

That being said, there are valid criticisms to level at the show: dialog gets wooden and drawn out, pacing can be off, they tell instead of show too often, can be heavy handed with the character development, etc...

I hope they do. That really set a tone to the novels early on.

So when you become a zombie, do you become superhuman as well? A regular human can't just rip flesh open in seconds with his bare hands like the one did to Dale. But a rotting slow corpse can?

Since zombies work on a brainstem level (higher functions are shut off), I envision it being exactly like one of those "superhuman" moments of emergency where a mom lifts a car off her child who is trapped beneath it. With the taste of "brainz" imminent, the zombie suddenly is flooded with adrenaline (or something) in a last ditch effort to eat.

But yeah, I thought that was pretty over the top. That being said: visceral (haha) moments like that are what much of the zombie-loving audience clamor for.

you do have some valid points. but....as someone else mentioned....this guy stayed with them after the rapes. very suspicious. as I said before...don't foget he told Carl-tard he'd take him to his people if he helped him escape....wonder when that info will come out? he just MAY be OK and he just MAY be an asset....but if he gains trust and then runs off in the middle of the night....Ricks group is absolutely ****ED! my wife and my kids are the most important thing. I'd kill him. it's harsh. it's the right move. no friggin way you could risk this guy running off to his buddies and bringing them back.....NO WAY! there is no other option.

Ready for shit to hit the fan..

Rick and Shane must have been two of the worst police officers in the world.

They interrogate the kid only after the failed attempt at releasing him? Here's an idea, when he's all drugged up from getting his leg repaired question him. Make him think he's your friend, after all you just saved his life and his old "friends" abandoned him.

Does anyone really think rooster Shane is going to let someone else interrogate and beat the kid without him being present?

News flash. People ARE stupid.

Yeah, just take a look around this place.

I'm thinking that since the flesh around their fingers has rotted off and their finger-nails are longer, the zombie had the ideal stabbing weapon in order to gut the old man like a fish.

They saved him but how in the hell is he walking after having his foot amputated?

According to the Wiki, exposure to small amounts of zombie fluids isn't enough to get you...

Read if you want but there are spoilers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Walking_Dead_(comics)