Fast forward through the Workaholics episode, "In Line" written by Adam Devine, and you will come to a part where Adam's character (Adam) has mistakenly wandered into a "clean needles" line. He has followed a pale, lethargic wanderer who he presumes is an avid fan of the new zombie game that is to be released. As he waits in line, he grows impatient and begins interacting with what we as an audience understand as drug addicts, tasting the "fake blood" off of one addicts face and commenting on how fascinated he is at the dedication people take to make their fake blood taste so real. Quick to try to make friends, Adam asks his line-mates (and obvious comrades) where he could score something to "Shhmmmmeee" flashing a wad of cash. This is the only moment where we see any affect from the addicts, as their eyes light up and they persuade him to follow them to a back alley-way.
Adam takes a puff of what he believes to be marijuana, but it's revealed to him that its PCP, and that he should hand over all of his money including his wallet if he wants things to go over smoothly. There is a cut to a close up of Adams face, where (off camera) a strong red light is positioned in front of him facing him. The light creates an eeriness for the following cut, which is his psychedelic trip; a reverse shot revealing the addicts as zombies. He freaks out, and the chase soon begins.
This episode directly addresses the addicts as zombies metaphor. Like zombies, addicts lack agency in their decisions. This social commentary allows the audience who's used to seeing the main characters destroy their brains, understand a dark reality to their antics. I love how zombies can be used deter physical and mental negligence.
Although it makes running through the streets blasted off of PCP seem entertaining, don't try it.
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Great find and blog post. Now that you bring it to light this is an awesome play on zombies. Just like we talked about in class how the zombies main prey is their main predator, the drug addicts are in a very similar position. This was also a hilarious segment of the episode, and anyone not watching workaholics should start immediately.
It is a great show and I thought this segment was hilarious. Certainly, the 'Zombifying' effect of drugs is played on in this episode, but you are right how it also acts as a deterrent for Adam, and by extension, the audience.
I saw this episode and laughed my ass off. Great reference.