Do Something Useful
Eugene Porter (Josh McDermitt) Photo by Gene Page/AMC
Remember the "rat" that Gavin mentioned earlier this season? In a meeting with the top Saviors, he explains that the right kind of rat can kill a lot of people. He suggests that there must be a Savior that is double crossing them and aiding Rick. At the time, we assumed this was directed toward Dwight. Now, not only can that statement apply to just about any Savior at this point, but I think the statement is actually best suited for Eugene. We don't get a lot of screen time with him lately, but each time we do we see his character twist into an increasingly desperate and literally disgusting shape. His physical behaviors are taking on that of some kind of rodent -- his revolting mandatory sardine lunches, him puking it on Rosita to get away, him hiding in burnt human remains just to survive -- it seems there is nothing sacred left for Eugene, physically or morally. So, what is his worth?
Nobody cares about Eugene anymore but everybody still needs him, and he knows it. With this lack of rapport or solid inclusion with any one person or community, he has to find another way to stick around, and that is to be not only useful but indispensable. Negan doesn't care about Eugene at all and probably already has him sniffed out. Rosita would have killed him already were it not for "what's in there," meaning his brain. But for all the brains he's got and the power and value that comes with it, it seems that Eugene is still the pawn in this game. Will that change this season?
