Why Kill The Soldiers?

I don't understand the logic behind killing the soldiers. It seems to me like in a town like Woodbury, having 20 or so more armed TRAINED people who can help defend the town would be a good thing! More people to work, fight and yes feed. But he could send them out on scavenging patrols. They needed a place to go, so they would be grateful for something like Woodbury.

The only thing I can think of is that the Guv felt threatened that with so many armed military people in the town, they could someday attempt a coup if they didn't like how things were being run.

Yes, he did feel threated and knew anyone else with a big group could take over. It also illustrated how the Governor got all the supplies for Woodbury. Remember when Andrea stated they had a lot of firepower and the Governor said it was from searching and collecting supplies? What he did with the soilders was exactlt how he got the firepower, he killed the living for it. He made it appear to Andrea that found supplies, but in reality he took it by force.

The only thing I can think of is that the Guv felt threatened that with so many armed military people in the town, they could someday attempt a coup if they didn't like how things were being run.

You got it. The Governor doesn't want to risk any potential challenge to authority.

I think that the type of personality that the writers/directors are having the Governor portrayed as, is sociopathic and authoritarian. He just doesn't want any competition to his leadership, and he's twisted inside. I'm surprised that someone in the Gov's group hasn't already put a bullet into him.

I think that those military guys died WAY too easily. What were they, ROTC?
You are surrounded by enemies 24/7, who can creep up quietly, and you don't even post an outer perimeter or scouts? BS!

After dealing with remaining humans who can't be trusted, I'd have had my weapon trained on the Gov. and searched him, before standing down.

I had the same problem believing the laxness that Rick's group had(although they've gotten better).
I'd be sleeping so light, a mouse fart could wake me up, if I was in a zombie apocalypse situation. I would also have a hair trigger finger and be constantly looking around if I didn't have my back protected by concrete or steel.

Yes, he did feel threated and knew anyone else with a big group could take over. It also illustrated how the Governor got all the supplies for Woodbury. Remember when Andrea stated they had a lot of firepower and the Governor said it was from searching and collecting supplies? What he did with the soilders was exactlt how he got the firepower, he killed the living for it. He made it appear to Andrea that found supplies, but in reality he took it by force.

Good point, espt. about illustrating publicly how he takes care of his citizens. But why take by force when you gain more resources in the people you get on your side? You can't trust everyone,. But you have to trust someobody!

Military only follows orders according to their chain of command and the governor was just a civilian, he knew his power possition will be in danger if he let the military arrive to woodbury and in a ZA situation they might see any armed group as rivals plus even if they have ammo is always better to keep more in storage (plus heavy vehicles, food and drugs)

about how fast they got killed: As the pilot said they were desperated to find a safe place, they got resources but they were still vulnerable ... if their base got over run and then lost the chopter the remaining soldiers probably had low moral and were exausted... i doubt any of them sleept since they have to be ready in case zombies get closer ... in a situation like that armed civilian who know the location can plan and execute an ambush

I think that once an apocalypse happens, the old order of rank and authority would probably change.

The biggest and most heavily armed group would most likely hold power.

Currently, the military on a federal level, answers to a civilian government. Even Guardsmen of individual states, answer to the civilian government(Governor).

Anyone(soldier or not) with common sense, would have had rotating shifts guarding the camp, to allow everyone to have a turn at resting/sleeping.

It's quite simple in my opinion, anyone who is a threat to Woodbury of the Governor's leadership has to go! Just because these guys are soldiers doesn't mean they are good people in a zombie apocalypse anymore. Shane was a cop who was supposed to be a good guy right? These soldiers would either be hard for the Governor to control or they would outright threaten Woodbury. There was no way in hell the Governor would allow either one of those to happen. Therefore he had one option, wipe them out and gain valuable resources in their demise.

The soldiers were only a set up to show the audience that the Governor was a bad guy... and how he got his supplies.

Total BS and unrealistic on so many levels. I think it will hurt the series if this storyline lasts too long. (keep track of the ratings as this season progresses)

Care to explain why it was unrealistic Von?

I assume they'll use the soldiers for the lurker idea, they'll be used as camouflage.

I assume they'll use the soldiers for the lurker idea, they'll be used as camouflage.

Oooo. Good one. Camoflauge. Hadnt thought of that! Now THAT I would like to see since I love Michonnes pets. On Talking Dead someone said maybe we havnt seen the last of the pets. The Gov deinitely has a morbid curiosity of the zombies. Hmmm. Im getting more interested in Woodbury.

In a sick way, it definately made sense for the Gov to kill all the soldiers. And when he drove in, he said he was there to help them, they didn't trust him at first but he knew their liutenants name and that he sent him to go help. he was actually being completely honest. Everything he sdaid about the helicopter was true. He got past their guard and then shot them all down, though I do think it is unrealistic that after he shot the first guy, none of the soldiers shot him. there was a good 3-5 seconds between him shooting the first guy before the rest of his men got there, one of those soldiers would certainly have gunned him down. 2 in the chest, one in the head. But oh well, why talk realism in a Zombie Show?

Anyone(soldier or not) with common sense, would have had rotating shifts guarding the camp, to allow everyone to have a turn at resting/sleeping.

What if the soldiers HAD done this? what if there was a guy or 2 out on patrol or up in a tree as a lookout away from the main group? he might have been hidden (better than Andrea and Michonne) but seen enough to know not to trust the governor. perhaps he will end up at the prison and warn Rick and company?

There is no guarantee that the soldiers would follow the gov, especially with his kind of leadership. In the gov's mind, it is better to relieve them of their weapons, as well as their lives. He saw them as a threat, and he acted on it, the psycho that he is.

I assume they'll use the soldiers for the lurker idea, they'll be used as camouflage.

I think they will do that but not with those guys. It would be easy to figure out what happened if they say the soldiers were dead and then they show up with soldier pets full of bullet holes and not one bite. Plus they were putting them done. The Gov bashed the ones head in and then told evil Glen to put the other guy down.

The population of Woodbury appears to me at first glance to be: 3 girls for every guy. The Governor just doesn't want to make the place a sausage fest!

The population of Woodbury appears to me at first glance to be: 3 girls for every guy. The Governor just doesn't want to make the place a sausage fest!

Yes. It seems like lots more females than males. Im thinking the Gov wants to keep Andrea and Michonne because he likes Andrea and Michonne is obviously a badass woman. He doesnt trust men at all. He keeps a good eye on Merle. But who wouldnt? He has a few thugs for human protection and zombie killing...but I dont think he wants any more men than necessary.

The Governor did say that he had men on the walls all around Woodbury... so that is where the men are.

But I believe that in a ZA enviroment there would be more women survivors. Men have a tendency to get themselves killed off at a higher rate protecting the women, fighting the zombies rather than running, and more likely to do the traveling to get to their loved ones. Women are usually the ones protected, the ones running, and they would have been more likely at home during the initial zombie uprising (so they would have stayed locked up longer).

The Governor did say that he had men on the walls all around Woodbury... so that is where the men are.

But I believe that in a ZA enviroment there would be more women survivors. Men have a tendency to get themselves killed off at a higher rate protecting the women, fighting the zombies rather than running, and more likely to do the traveling to get to their loved ones. Women are usually the ones protected, the ones running, and they would have been more likely at home during the initial zombie uprising (so they would have stayed locked up longer).

Hmmm. I did not know that TWD world was set in the 1950's.

Were they the soldiers that abandon their post?

Hmmm. I did not know that TWD world was set in the 1950's.

Regardless of what feminist want to believe it is still the case today.

I think it was practical, from the governor's viewpoint. It's not just that they threatened his authority, but they were failures as survivors. They came from a settlement not very different from his, organized, confined, and closed off... And it fell because of ONE walker. These were men from a unit that opened the gates to more, and every single survivor had abandoned their post and fled their unit. In his mind, they were a threat to his community. If years of military training couldn't make them obey simple orders, then they were a liability. In the end he just needed their supplies, the soldiers themselves were in his way.

More mouths to feed, threats to your power, who knows what he's hiding a trained solider might pick up on. For him, it was a smart play to keep his regime in place.

Regardless of what feminist want to believe it is still the case today.

Actually that is not the case. The International Committee of the Red Cross finished a study of civilian casualties during wartime and civil unrest in 1999. Their finding was that since the end of WWII the percentage of civilian to military casualties in all studied conflict was at a ratio of 10 to 1. In other words for every soldier killed ten civilians were killed. The preponderance of civilian casualties consisted of women and children.

The study did not cover WWII, but the best case scenario for that war are 5 or 6 to 1 as a casualty ratio of civilian to military. Even at that the Soviets are known to have vastly understated their number of casualties incurred. I am sorry, but the facts do not seem to support your statement. Of course if you have any facts to support your assertion, I would be quite willing to keep an open mind.

Actually that is not the case. The International Committee of the Red Cross finished a study of civilian casualties during wartime and civil unrest in 1999. Their finding was that since the end of WWII the percentage of civilian to military casualties in all studied conflict was at a ratio of 10 to 1. In other words for every soldier killed ten civilians were killed. The preponderance of civilian casualties consisted of women and children.

The study did not cover WWII, but the best case scenario for that war are 5 or 6 to 1 as a casualty ratio of civilian to military. Even at that the Soviets are known to have vastly understated their number of casualties incurred. I am sorry, but the facts do not seem to support your statement. Of course if you have any facts to support your assertion, I would be quite willing to keep an open mind.

bwr maybe i missed something because of the language but what does what you just writte have to do with the amount of females survivors or i understood the other comments wrong.