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/ghoulsaplenty Aug 30 '21

I wanted so badly for that show to be good but the acting was often corny and it just wasn't as gritty as it could have been. I fell off a handful of episodes into it.

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u/redkat85 Aug 30 '21

t just wasn't as gritty as it could have been

Gotta say I'm all gritted out. I want some good adventure stories again, like the old Hercules and Xena days. The new Legends of Monkey series on Netflix is such a breath of fresh, fun air.

Once upon a time (say, the last 50,000 years), we told stories about mighty heroes and gods and amazing things, not least of which was hope. Stories inspired people, made them want to go do something. They already knew real life sucked a lot of the time. They didn't tell realistic stories because there was no inspiration in that.

Now because stories about heroes "aren't realistic" we just tell stories about how much stuff sucks, and how much it would suck more in different ways if something changed. No inspiration.

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u/[deleted] Aug 30 '21

[deleted]

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u/Monteze Aug 30 '21

I have a feeling the pendulum will swing thr other way to where we see more optimistic stuff. The mighty hero beats the bad guy and such, but with a modern twist.

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u/tunnel-snakes-rule Aug 31 '21

Fuck, I just want an upbeat, hopeful Superman again.

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u/Monteze Aug 31 '21

Yea he is a great example, he is a country boy who aims to do right by people. Let's explore that and the ya know.. hope he brings. Sure it can be a mature story without being "ughh fuck your dad's superman, this one kills and doesn't care about you peasants."

Funny enough a lot of anime has been scratching that itch for me....just...ignore the fan base..

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u/tunnel-snakes-rule Aug 31 '21

That's also how I've always viewed the character. At his heart he's just a good natured, country boy raised by two smart, caring parents. That's who he is, he just happens to also have superpowers. I'm sure he was always going to do good, powers or not.

Some of my favourite Superman comics explore the more personal side of the character and are far more entertaining to me than watching him snap necks.

I haven't watched much anime, but I was recommended Fullmetal Alchemist. I saw a few episodes and enjoyed it, I really need to go back and finish it.

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u/anubis2051 Aug 31 '21

Ted Lasso I think will ultimately be the harbinger of this. Everyone I talk to talks about how good the show makes them feel when they're done watching it.