There are theme songs that are so widely recognized you can start humming them just about anywhere public and someone will know them. Star Wars is a great example, but not too far behind are the opening songs for certain famed television shows such as M.A.S.H. or Cheers. Harry Anderson just passed away recently and what was the first thing that popped into my head? It was not “R.I.P.” (though may he), but those first few slap bass notes of the Night Court theme.
It used to be that every show (for better or worse) had opening music, but these days it seems to have become less fashionable to have one, or if there is one it tends to be truncated after the first few episodes as if everyone’s impatient to just get it out of the way. Agents of SHIELD remains a current favorite of mine but it’s a good example of a show that has a theme but exiles it to the end credits, while the beginning is a cold open that will eventually flash onto the title card before continuing. Supernatural was the same way. Screw this opening music-and-montage nonsense, let’s get down to business.
Yet on the other hand, prestige television revels in embracing opening sequences and more often than not on my Netflix binges I would find myself watching the beginning credits of, say, Daredevil over and over, whether or not a cold open was involved. Properly composed, such sequences can be a hypnotic gateway into the other world. Or as Cheers so aptly put it, “Wouldn’t you like to get away?”
But yeah, a TV show that chooses to theme has that multimedia luxury of drilling the theme into your head. Zombie Ranch (or technically, the show-within-a-show of Zombie Ranch) has a theme, a theme I actually got some talented individuals to record soon after the comic started, and yet to this day there are long-time readers unaware it even exists. We don’t exactly shove it in the face of new readers, either, it’s buried away in an Extras section which people may not even ever see if they use a reader or feed rather than visiting our site directly.
Also, other than brief bits we’ve never taken the time to show it in the comic; perhaps understandably so given the problems inherent in just trying to represent a musical experience with little note graphics.
But y’know, new arc. New opportunity. So what the heck, it’s about time to give it a try.
10 thoughts on “540 – Trick Hello”
Scarsdale
Called it, she figured he’d do this, if by choice or by zombie voodoo. I’m sure the “friendlier” questioning will start soon, if she doesn’t just kill him out-right. Or just add him to the herd.
Crazyman
Gotcha!
Zombatar
This turn of events is a surprise only to Eustace. And, maybe, Eustace’s subconscious. After all, this way he doesn’t have to actually risk actually attacking Suzie, which gives him a greater chance of survival than actually attacking her. I wonder what he was promised/threatened with?
ConcordBob
Not to nit-pick, but since sights are on target, finger should be on the trigger. Especially this close.
The usual rule is “keep finger straight and off trigger until sights are on target”.
Dr. Norman (not a real doctor)
Not to nit-pick, but since that was current philosophies regarding trigger discipline have evolved.
Of course, it will depend on who you get/got your training from.
Experiments have determined that the fraction of a second to go from finger off the trigger to finger firing when appropriate is insignificant, and the risk of firing unintended is greatly reduced.
Dr. Norman (not a real doctor)
I did the google thing and I believe I saw how you reached this conclusion … but there are two parts to it – One should not omit the second part.
“Trigger Finger Discipline: · The practice of keeping your finger “off the trigger” until your sights are on target AND YOU ARE READY TO DISCHARGE THE FIREARM.” (Caps are my own)
Crazyman
She wants him alive so she can question him; otherwise, he’d already be dead.
ConcordBob
Good discussion on trigger discipline!
His skin is very pale / gray. Is this malnourishment, or has he been poisoned with a mind-control drug? I would have to go back and look a t all various of skin tone.
TKG
On a prior page we discussed what he’s likely got running in his system. I suggested that it’s probably Borrochero (Brugmansia arbora) which is already used by Colombian cartels to eradicate the free will of their victims.
Dr. Norman (not a real doctor)
Now can we satisfy my curiosity? Colt, Smith & Wesson, Ruger, or other timeline variant?