Zombie Roundtable: The undead among us

I know all the Zombieland rules, but could barely pass the road sign test at the North Carolina DMV when I transferred my license last year. “Daryl Dixon” is my code name when playing with my four-year-old niece. If zombies appeared in the Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit movies, I’d have no reason to watch anything else. Those would be on a continuous loop for the rest of my life.

Clearly, I have a zombie problem. But I am not the only one. While about half of the Nice Girls don’t care for the undead, the other half have a fond affection for them. Nice Girl Lisa is even on a friendly basis with professional zombie, Sonya Thompson, who has appeared in several episodes of The Walking Dead and in the movie Zombieland. And with no shortage of zombie-related media in the near future (a Zombieland sequel is in the works!), several of us pay tribute to the genre. We even recruited Sonya to participate!

Why do you love the zombie genre?

Lisa: It’s a great outlet and guilty pleasure. It can be fun to watch people become survivors in a post-apocalyptic world. And come on, zombies kills are pretty cool.

Roz: I actually love end of the world stories and a zombie is always one step away from the end.

Karen: I watch all the zombie stuff, since it’s derived from comic book stuff. I love iZombie because it’s fun and a new take on the genre, but I watch The Walking Dead and Fear The Walking Dead because it’s not really about the zombies. It’s about how the characters deal with life after a catastrophic event. I enjoy character studies. Ever since I saw 12 Angry Men in my younger days, I’ve been in love with deconstructing stereotypes.

Mynda: I have enough reality in my life, zombies are the perfect escape.

Bobcat: Like sci-fi in general for me, zombies are a break from the real world. But if the zombie apocalypse came, I’d be ready. I’d be the hero.

Sonya: I think people relate to zombies because they feel that they are shambling through life each day, taking one step at a time. Not really knowing what direction they should take but knowing that being in the safe zone and staying within boundaries keeps them on a one way course of reaching their goals.

 
What would be your weapon of choice in the zombie apocalypse? 

Lisa: Katana! I would kick ass and slice and dice zombies like Michonne.

Roz: Give me a big knife and I think I’m happy.

Karen:  I think I’d choose a shovel. I like tools that have more than one use.

Mynda: Nothing beats a great shovel, except maybe a banjo!

Bobcat: A hammer or screw driver—tools I am most comfortable with as a result of growing up with a mechanic father. He’d be so proud!

What is your favorite zombie film and/or show and why?

Lisa: The Walking Dead hands down. It’s one of the best shows on TV. It’s not just a zombie show; it’s a great drama with a variety of strong female characters. I love it! Pride and Prejudice and Zombies was dope. I loved that movie!

Roz: Sadly I’m going to say Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, if only because it combines my favorite book with a new twist to change (and then not) the overall story.

Karen:  I LOVE Zombieland. It’s meta and hilarious. I dig any show or movie that winks at the viewer.

Mynda: Syfy’s ZNation is killing it! The show is a fabulous blend of absurdity, humor and terror! Once you go blue you can never go back! Keith Allan is the perfect combination of creepy and cool. Russell Hodgkinson as Doc is also a favorite. They are the ideal men to take on a one way trip to wonderland. Zombie movies are a tougher choice. My top three would be Warm Bodies, Zombieland and Resident Evil.

Bobcat:  Resident Evil series. The first one is by far the best, but I’m addicted to all of them.

Sonya: Zombieland is my favorite zombie movie and it is also my favorite zombie role that I have portrayed. [She was the lunchroom lady zombie.]

Lisa: Thanks to my good friend, Sonya, for participating in our roundtable. You can keep up with her at professionalzombie.com.