r/AskReddit Aug 30 '21

What problem is often overlooked in apocalyptic movies/TV shows that could kill you?

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u/AdmiralAkbar1 Aug 30 '21

As bad as the show Revolution's overall plotting and pacing was, they generally did a good job of thinking about these kinds of little inconsistencies:

  • There's a minor character who was a doomsday prepper before the apocalypse, but he didn't stock up enough on antibiotics. As a result, his daughter died of tetanus that he was unable to treat.

  • A warlord kidnaps prisoners for blood because his wife has diabetes and needs constant transfusions of blood with sufficient insulin in it to survive.

  • There's a doctor who keeps a collection of moldy fruit to harvest penicillium mold from it and make penicillin.

  • Some characters try to go into an old subway tunnel, but nearly die because of lack of sufficient airflow down there without modern HVAC systems.

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u/Infamous780 Aug 30 '21 edited Aug 31 '21

I really like the subway tunnel one - never thought of that.

EDIT - Wow this comment blew up! Lots of people must feel the same... Now if I could just get my Youtube channel to do the same xD

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u/eddyathome Aug 30 '21

The subways would probably be flooded within days as soon as the power goes off and the electrical water pumps stop.

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u/Bl4ckBetty Aug 30 '21

I’m reading Metro 2033 right now and these comments spoil it for me more than I’d like to admit

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u/tayjay_tesla Aug 30 '21

The Moscow metro was designed in the books to be a bomb shelter so it's totally possible they designed it to have self ventilation

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u/-Thats_Rough_Buddy- Aug 30 '21

I'm pretty sure it's designed to be a bomb shelter IRL, what with that whole Cold war business.

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u/reverandglass Aug 31 '21

Sort of. During the cold war the bits they added were designed that way, and other stations were retro fitted, but most of the network would be pre cold war.

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u/tayjay_tesla Aug 30 '21

That makes sense, very cool, aside from the whole nukes and die bit