Weird Trope/Meme
We watch The Walking Dead and last week's episode had a narrative trope that I think is a little annoying. First of all, I can't remember who any of these people are. The episode begins with "The Lesbian" and "The Braids Guy" in a camper. We are supposed to like them, I think. The show has gotten a lot of criticism for killing the black guy... Anyway, "The Lesbian" and "The Braids Guy" are separated on the bridge. And the episode is about whether or not we believe people are inherently good or bad. Is cynicism a good strategy? Is evil real? That sort of thing. During the separation we are left to wonder, "Did 'The Braids Guy' abandon 'The Lesbian' on the bridge?" Thus confirming that we are all alone in the world and we can't rely on anyone, people will always put their own interests above others, and cynicism is the best strategy.
Eventually, "The Lesbian" makes it back to the bridge, where in a flashback it is revealed that "The Braids Guy" did NOT in fact abandon her, and therefore trust is the best strategy. While not everyone is good, some people are EVIL, most people ARE good and can be trusted. But where is "The Braids Guy" now? Did he survive? Oh no! There is a person who resembles "The Braids Guy" but is a zombie. Wait... they turn around... It is NOT "The Braids Guy!" It's just a fucking Rando! Yay! Fuck that random person! We are glad they are dead and not "The Braids Guy!" What a relief.
And this is irksome to me, because Rando was probably just as good a person as "The Braids Guy" for all we know. Poor Rando is just a tool in the narrative like a Henchman. I just think it's rude that some person's life is just used as a sort of punchline in the story.
(Says the guy who refers to the main characters as "The Braids Guy" and "The Lesbian.")