This Eugene-centric episode actually isn’t terrible!
BY: JACOB POLITTE
Managing Editor
The Walking Dead: “Rogue Element”
Season 11, Episode 11
Airdate: 3/6/2022
Eugene isn’t exactly a likable character and never really has been.
For every instance that he’s shown brilliance, he’s much more painfully awkward to watch and not in a good way. Compared to his comic counterpart, he’s legitimately a coward most of the time, and a lot of his scenes just aren’t very fun to watch. This was especially true during the “All Out War” arc of Seasons 7 and 8, where I was so greatly annoyed by him that I really wished Rick would just shoot him in the face so we could be done with him. Plus, he was a literal traitor to the group and he shouldn’t have gotten a pass for that, despite being the only reason the group won that last battle with Negan.
However, Eugene has been a vital part of the series since his introduction, for better or worse. And finally, during this Commonwealth arc, he’s shining. Josh McDermitt is acting his ass off, and he more than many others in this episode make “Rouge Element” stand out.
Eugene is one of few characters on the show whose personality has evolved in an organic way (I’d say Carol is another). The episode opens with the implication that he finally got laid (congrats), which may or may not have been building up for six seasons. But right after he tells Stephanie he loves her, she ferociously packs her bags and vanishes. Rosita and The Commonwealth militia don’t get very far when it comes to locating her, and thus Eugene takes up the mantle himself.
What Eugene ends up stumbling upon shatters his world, at least for the time being. “Stephanie” was a plant, a ploy. Essentially, a spy. Her real name is Shira, she’s employed by Lance and she hates Iron Maiden. That should have been a dead giveaway to Eugene that he wasn’t talking to her on the radio.
That’s because the real person he was talking to was “Max.” Max is Pamela Milton’s personal assistant, and also Mercer’s sister.
It’s not exactly a plot twist if you pay any attention to iMDB, but it’s a cool cliffhanger to leave things on at the very least.
SCATTERED OBSERVATIONS:
– Eugene has been detained by the Commonwealth at least 4 times now. Dude has the biggest rap sheet in the zombie apocalypse.
– I really identify with Connie’s journalism arc. Finally, a show that gets me.
– No Daryl this week, which is weird but ok.
– Carol is still making deals with Lance, and in this episode they go to tie up some loose ends at a smuggling operation outside of Commonwealth jurisdiction. Hesienberg Carol is not as fun as it should be, but if anyone’s gonna have Hesienberg’s demeanor in dealing with a problem, it’s gonna be Carol.
– “You mother puss bucket” is funny for how stupid it sounds. Just let them say “motherf**ker” AMC. You can say that word, you’re on cable.
– They’re filming the final episode of the series as we speak, which makes me really sad.
