The Naked Truth...

Tonight's episode of AMC's The Walking Dead has got me thinking about a few things.

1) I am not pleased with the current portrayal of Michonne.  I can't place my finger on whether or not it's the writing or the acting... but Michonne isn't screaming "badass" to me right now.  She's actually screaming "probable daddy issues."

2) I know I'm treading dangerously close to rehashing a consistent joke here... but lay off the black guys!  Seriously!  We meet Oscar as a true option for joining the group, so you kill off T-Dog.  Now Tyreese joins the cast  so it's time to kill off Oscar already?  This isn't Highlander.  There CAN be more than one!

3) Kill Andrea.  For fuck's sake, just do it.

4) More Rick.  More Darryl.  Less not-Rick and not-Darryl.  Thank you.

5) Carl, get back in the---no.  I won't make that joke.  I'm sorry for even considering it.

6) AMC... it's not a "cliffhanger" if your montage of clips from future episodes shows the character hanging from the cliff in a state of clearly not hanging from a cliff.  Anti-climaxed.

7) I'm still waiting for Wil Wheaton to join the cast.  Get back to me.

Now that I've got all that off my chest, let's talk nudity.

Last week, Maggie was figuratively stripped of her dignity with some literal stripping of her clothing.  This week, we were reminded of that in the "last week" compilation.  We also see Maggie wearing Glenn's shirt this week as he's gone all Conan the Korean Barbarian.  I don't get it.

Actually, I do get it... but I don't.

I understand that there's an aspect of modesty and appropriateness to Maggie being clothed (not to mention decorum guidelines networks have to follow).  And I understand that it's a reinforcement of Maggie and Glenn's bond and his desire to help look out for her and so forth.

I just think it sends the wrong message.

Not to the audience, but to their captors.  Putting aside the possibility that to even survive in the Zombie Apocalypse, one would most likely have to, at least, loosen one's sense of modesty - Maggie wearing clothing is exactly what her captors want.

Follow me on this... because I way I see it, the whole point of stripping Maggie of his clothes was to establish dominance.  And it sent a powerful message to Maggie.  She's no longer in control of even her own body.  She's got no physical barriers protecting her from unknown intentions.  It can sow the seeds of mistrust with Glenn, because he's going to wonder why she's been paraded in naked (or, topless as the case may be).

And it works.  Maggie's shame (and fear) is obvious.  She covers up instantly with her hands, and switches to a new shirt as soon as is possible.

Would it not have been a more effective counter-technique for Maggie to stand tall in the face of her shame?  An attitude of nonchalance (even if feigned) would be a powerful weapon of defiance in the face of domination.

After all, it's just nudity.  Is there really that much shame to it?

Why?