What Did the Walkers Eat in The Walking Dead? The Gruesome Truth Revealed
The question of what the walkers—the undead antagonists of The Walking Dead—actually consume is a frequent point of discussion and speculation among fans. While the show depicts them ravenously devouring human flesh, the reality of their on-screen diet is a bit more, let’s say, digestible. In short, the Walkers on The Walking Dead primarily “eat” pickled ham, rather than actual human remains. This article delves into this surprising fact, explaining the reasons behind this choice, and exploring various aspects of the walkers’ eating habits and “diet”.
The Shocking Secret of the Walkers’ Meal
Not Human, but Ham
The gnawing and tearing of flesh are staples of any zombie narrative. However, in The Walking Dead, what appears to be human flesh is actually ham soaked in vinegar. This revelation might seem anticlimactic, but it’s a practical and safe choice for filming. Imagine the challenges and potential issues of using actual human-like substitutes on set. Utilizing pickled ham provides a consistently usable, edible, and relatively safe prop for the actors who play the walkers.
Why Pickled Ham?
Initially, the ham used in the earlier seasons was coated in BBQ sauce, which gave it a more gruesome, bloody appearance. However, it was discovered that the vinegar component of the BBQ sauce was interfering with the zombie makeup used on the actors. As a result, the show transitioned to using “just” pickled ham, which did the job while preserving the integrity of the actors’ makeup. This practical detail shows how even the smallest production elements can be affected by the requirements of filming.
A “Sweet Deal” for the Zombie Actors
Far from being a gruesome process, eating the “flesh” actually became a rather appealing perk for the actors playing the walkers. They weren’t consuming some unidentifiable prop; they were eating a savory piece of ham. It’s a unique situation where the actors could actually enjoy their “gruesome meal” during takes.
Delving Deeper: Understanding Walker Consumption
Why Do Walkers Eat People?
The motivations behind a walker’s desire to consume flesh are not as simple as pure hunger. The cause of zombification in The Walking Dead plays a key role here. If the outbreak is due to a virus or parasite, the infection has likely evolved to keep the hunger and aggression centers of the brain active, as this is how the infection spreads most effectively. In cases where the cause is seemingly supernatural, the hunger for flesh may be driven by aggression and a contempt for life in general. This need to feed is crucial for the perpetuation of the infection.
Are Walkers Ever Starving?
Interestingly, the walkers do not really starve, not in a conventional sense. The infection or whatever it may be actually feeds on animal flesh, so when walkers cannot find a “meal,” it begins to slowly consume their own brain tissue. This is why there are walkers that appear to be very decayed, some are from the time of the outbreak, while others are more recent, having died later. The walkers do not stop or slow down because they haven’t “eaten”. Their behavior isn’t primarily driven by a need for sustenance but by their infection.
Why Acid in the Walkers?
In The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, the walkers sometimes exhibit the presence of acid in their system, indicated by pulsating veins and acid pockets. This oddity can be explained as a result of an unfortunate encounter with acid, causing them to adapt to the substance in their bodies. This addition to the series provides a new dimension to the lore and the walkers, making them even more formidable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Walker Consumption
1. Why Don’t Walkers Eat Each Other?
Once a person is infected and has fully transformed into a walker, they are considered no longer alive. Therefore, their flesh becomes “unpalatable” to other walkers. If all humans were either eaten or infected, walkers would not turn on each other or consume animals. Their drive is solely towards the flesh of the living.
2. Did Walkers Eat Lori?
Indeed, it is confirmed that a walker ate Lori Grimes after her death. Rick stabs the walker in the stomach to search for remnants of Lori’s corpse, indicating a grim and tragic truth about the show.
3. How Long Can Walkers Live?
Walkers can survive for an incredibly long period. According to information in the show, walkers can live up to 60 years or more. This extended lifespan highlights the persistent threat these creatures pose.
4. Was There Ever a Cure for the Walking Dead?
Although Fear the Walking Dead did not introduce a cure with much fanfare, there’s still a possibility that The Walking Dead universe may eventually introduce one. This would be a controversial plot point as it goes against the original intentions of series creator Robert Kirkman, but many fans would support it.
5. Why Did the Zombies Get Slower Over Time?
The fast-moving zombies seen in the first season were a result of the writers still developing the show’s zombie rules. As the series progressed, they settled on the more traditional, slow-moving walkers we see for most of the show.
6. Why Don’t Zombies Eat Animals?
Zombies don’t really eat anything in the typical sense. They lack a functional digestive system. Their drive to consume flesh is not for sustenance but due to a rage or compulsion created by the zombification agent.
7. Why Do Walkers Moan?
The reason behind the walker’s moans is theorized to be related to their breathing. Though technically dead, they still have some basic functions. They can breathe simply because they need to for other reasons, not for oxygen, and it is this breathing that causes the moaning sounds.
8. Who Fed the Walkers Rats?
Lizzie was the character who fed rats to the walkers. This was part of her disturbing behavior and her misunderstanding of the walkers, which led to more tragic events.
9. What Are the Guts Made Of in The Walking Dead?
The “guts” seen in the show are typically made from liquid latex, fake blood, and other special effects materials. The effects team once used real pig intestines, but the resulting stench was so offensive that they switched to more practical alternatives.
10. How Do Zombies Not Starve?
Zombies do not eat for sustenance. Their consumption of flesh is due to an induced rage caused by the agent of zombification. Not feeding doesn’t lead to starvation because they’re not alive in the normal sense and their bodies no longer function as a living creature would.
11. What Do Zombies Hate?
This is a humorous addition to the lore. According to the show and some behind-the-scenes material, zombies hate clowns, hippies, zip lines, penguins, moon penguins, nudists, weddings, sharing, and kittens. It’s a playful break from the typical horror of the show.
12. Do Zombies Ever Starve?
No, zombies do not starve in the traditional sense. Their bodies will decay over time, potentially causing them to fall apart. However, the decaying is a result of the rot rather than any starvation.
13. Are The Walking Dead Zombies Blind?
Walkers are not blind. They have most of their senses, particularly hearing and sight. This is evident from their reactions to visuals and sounds in the show.
14. Do Walkers Get Tired?
Walkers do not lose energy or get tired. Their movements are driven by their brainstem. They function at a lower energy level than living beings, explaining their slow movements and poor motor control.
15. Why Does Rick Always Look Wet?
This is a more behind-the-scenes question, but Rick’s “wet” appearance is often real sweat from actor Andrew Lincoln. The effects team actually works with the heat, rather than trying to avoid it, to enhance the authenticity of the show.
Conclusion
The consumption habits of walkers in The Walking Dead might be more nuanced than it initially appears. While the gore and horror are a staple of the series, the reality of their on-screen “meals” is far from human. Pickled ham serves as a practical, safe, and even tasty substitute, proving that even the most gruesome elements of television can have surprising origins. This article provides fans with a deeper understanding of the walkers’ actions, debunking some myths and explaining the rationale behind the show’s creative choices.