pollardsvision
Footballguy
I think that's a pretty interesting issue.Did Shane shy away from shooting the Sophia? I have a hard time imagining that. I don't doubt for a minute that he personally had a problem doing it.I can only think of 2 reasons he might've:1-He knew it would come off a bit too savage if he did it. If he knew that he was already starting to be viewed as out of control, it was a tactical move.2-Is it possible he doesn't want to be the leader?Still have no idea why Shane didn't do it. I know why the writers had Rick do it (more dramatic and establishes his leadership). I just don't know why Shane allowed it.I agree that it was written to allow Rick to step up. But I also think that Shane building up to take over the leadership role during the entire episode was a set up for him to fail as that leader. The scene was as much about Shane as it was Rick.'Jayrok said:I'm not saying that Shane turned to look at Rick as if to say "your call". But I believe it was written to allow Rick to step up and make the call. As far as Shane, I don't think he ducked away from shooting her. If he had shot her the second she came out, it wouldn't have made for a season ending scene. I guess I'm saying that I don't believe the writer's intent was to show that Shane was all talk and no action, but more that Rick was the only person in that group that had to shoot the girl.'boubucarow said:The person that Shane professes to be, the person that is needed to survive their environment, and the person that Rick is incapable of being would have shot zombie Sophie in a split second just like all the rest of them. There was no purpose in allowing her to "live" for even a second longer except that everyone hesitated to pull the trigger. And everyone additional second she was "alive" would increase the torture for the group. It wasn't until Shane and everyone else hesitated that Rick stepped up to do what needed to be done. If you are implying that Shane hesitated solely so Rick could affirm his leadership, I don't see that at all.'Jayrok said:I don't think Shane froze when the girl came out. I think it had more to do with the conversation Shane had with Rick's wife. He told her Rick wasn't equipped to live in this new world, much less lead the group. Rick shooting the girl not only proved to his own group (especially Shane) that he is, after all, ready to live and lead them in this new world, and that he is ready to move on. He got closure on the girl because he felt it was his fault she got lost in the first place. But he also showed Hershel that he is prepared to treat walkers the same way, regardless of personal ties or affiliation with his group. Hershel viewed them as sick family members/friends. Rick had to shoot the girl, because if Shane had done it, the question of Rick's leadership would have remained an issue. But I have no doubt that Shane or Daryl would have shot the girl before she had a chance to hurt anyone else. But Rick needed to do it.