Apocalyptic Worlds

I'm in zombie mode right now.. or end of the world mode... Yeah that sounds a little weird, even to me, but I've surrounded myself with it lately, and not on purpose. I read Article 5 (check out my review here), while simultaneously reading Hollowland, plus I can't get enough of The Walking Dead on AMC. I don't know if it's because it's 2012, "the year of doooooom! mwahahahaha,"  or if it's just because the idea of the world as we know it coming to end is starting to come to the forefront of everyone's mind ~ especially those in entertainment ~ but apocalyptic shows and dystopian novels are all the rave. Things are changing, there's no denying that. Prices are skyrocketing making are stagnant paychecks smaller and smaller every couple of weeks. I don't believe in zombies, but I think a change in the way we live is definitely possible. I'm not all about the 'doomsday' obsessed cults that are out there now, picketing about the end of life as we know it (instead of getting some smarts to prepare for what they so kindly predict for all of us), but I do think it's important we learn to depend on ourselves... Who knows what the heck could happen?

(Doesn't really do 'the look' justice ~ but if you've seen it, you get it)

Anyway, what I really wanted to write about revolves around episode 9 of The Walking Dead ~ "Triggerfinger." They are already gearing up for episode 11 (I think.. I don't know, I have a Roku minus cable), so this is nothing new to those who are fanatics about the show. I wanted to write about Rick and what's happening to him. Shane's already fallen down the looney tree and hit every branch on the way down, but Rick ~ solid, big-hearted, hold-on-to-your-humanity-Rick ~ is getting closer and closer to that point. Or is he? I'm wondering if he is inching closer to the truth of human nature in a world that requires ruthlessness or if he is getting further away from it. He shot the living without even blinking, something I never expected from him...and the look on his face right before the credits started rolling told me something significant had morphed inside him...

So about this thing we call 'human nature...'  what is it? Is it compassion or is it survival? Is it a little bit of both?

I'm gunna think on it and write my answer a bit later, but I want to know...

What do you think?

~ Keely ~