The Walking Dead: Profiling Negan’s lieutenants

The Thinker

Dr. Eugene Porter has been a prized addition to Negan’s arsenal. Sure, he’s the man who manufactured the bullet that almost killed Negan (and managed to hit Lucille), but he’s also the man who manufactured the bullet that almost killed Negan. Being able to make bullets in this environment is what saved Eugene’s life, and he has been useful to Negan ever since.

Negan can rely on Eugene. Negan knows how to play Eugene. Negan knows that Eugene wants to survive and he sees in Negan someone who can protect him. That said, Negan knows how to dole out the threats in a way to remind him of the precarious situation he’s in.

Eugene knows the situation he’s in. If he doesn’t produce results, he’s gone. (Maybe – it does seem like Negan has a soft spot for the Mulleted One) But Eugene has been in some sticky moral predicaments and he’s found ways to navigate through them. He gave Sasha a suicide pill, he chose not to tell Negan about Dwight (for now) and Father Gabriel has definitely shaken him a bit.

Negan keeps Eugene around because he’s useful and he’s harmless. There will be no coup attempt from Eugene. (If anything, Eugene now knows that he must protect Negan at all costs if he’s going to make it out alive)