General Discussion

I have noticed that everyone has said that the ending of The Walking Dead Season 2 explains the zombie outbreak, but for me it kind of did and kind of didn't. I noticed that Shane and the guy in captivity turned after being killed. Though also it was an act of aggression that turned Shane, and was he slowly turning the whole show leading up? Did I get it right the first time and it was death that created the beast? Have I gotten it wrong on all accounts and I am just blind? Will someone explain my madness? Thanks in advance.

@FriendlyMarshmellow: I don't think they explained the entire outbreak. But because Shane and the other guy weren't bitten, they realized that they're all infected with the virus already--they just need to die and they'll turn.

@FriendlyMarshmellow: Shane was just breaking down mentally, it was unrelated to the zombie virus that's inside everybody.

It doesn't really have a logical basis. The virus is dormant inside every human being, but only transforms people after they die. Yet, there have also been instances of people slowly being killed by the virus after being bitten in a way that would normally not be lethal. Why the "bite virus" actively kills people, while the dormant virus just waits for people to die on their own, is beyond me. You just have to suspend disbelief.

People have also repeatedly been covered in zombie blood and guts, most notably T-Dog, who spent minutes under a dead walker while he had a giant open wound on his arm, without any effect. When they found a walker in the well, however, they were suddenly all worried about getting infected.

Just don't think about it too much.

@Sandor: Yeah there is a lot of inconsistency. But overall the best thing to do is to ignore that stuff and just enjoy the show.

@Sandor:

It's how the zombification works in Dawn of the Dead as well.

I always thought it didn't matter that T-Dog was under the dead (redead?) zombie because if they're all already infected, it doesn't matter. It only triggers after you die. If you die from a zombie bite, the virus kicks in. Only problem with this is if you get bitten, then get away, you still turn. I think the only time I remember this happening was Jim, but I don't remember if he "let it simmer" or not. If he did, maybe the zombie saliva accelerates lethal infection or something. I don't know. I'm just rambling now, aren't I?

@myketuna: Remember most people that have the unfortunate chance of getting caught by a zombie(s) usually just end up real dead with no chance of coming back (see Otis, Herschel's son (Randall?) and Otis' wife). Others (Dale, Amy, Shane, Sophia, Herschel's wife, etc.) get bit or killed in such a way that they would turn after dying. Also, Jim was going to turn, it was just a matter of time. That's why he told them to leave him behind.

The only exception is when