No he's not.

 

I thought he did a really, really good job, and im looking forward to what he brings now to the show

 

That is part of the character though, he doesn't talk like that in real life?

 

No in real life the actor is a very animated and lively person from what I've seen. Completely different from his character in all outward mannerisms.

 

The thing is, all of this:

Is part of the character. Eugene's a weird, socially awkward guy. He's not good at speaking to people or expressing emotions, or behaving appropriately. So in that sense, I think Josh McDermitt is playing the part pretty well.

The only complain I have about him is that I wish he'd speak clearer. I can't understand what he's saying quite often. I don't speak Texan Mumble.

 

Agreed, I think they're probably implying he has Asperger's Syndrome or the like.

 

Probably. He seems like the sort of person to have something like that.

 

I think dat was prolly apart of his pitch to trick Abe and Rosita, the cracka spoke so fast and mumbled that he made bullshit sound realshit.

 

As I read this post I hear it in Josh McDermitt's voice.

 

I'm almost positive that's how the character is supposed to come across. He's supposed to have trouble expressing emotions, and he's supposed to be a bit awkward. More than a bit actually. So yes, he talks monotonously and he doesn't show how he feels, but it's how he's supposed to be. With the occasional smugness (I'm still smarter than you) he doesn't, and isn't really supposed to, show very much emotion.

 

What is with the influx of newbie trolls?

Technically he's a very good actor - because if you saw him on Talking Dead or any other interview, he's very different to how he plays Eugene.

The character is supposed to come off the way he is played.

 

ee

This. He has all the usual signs.

 

Hopefully not too spoilerish, but I didn't like him at first in the comics either until after SafeZone. For me that's when he blossomed. So this should be Eugene at his worst/most pathetic.

 

Josh has done a great job so far. That's just Eugene. I think it's not very easy to act like that.

 

I think you just don't like Eugene.

 

Flat affect, difficulty communicating, fixation on things that most are not. Sounds about right. Ill check the DSMV when i get home and give you all a diagnosis then.

 

Asperger's patients have a lot of difficulty with mind theory, which means in part that they are unable to imagine what is going on in the minds of others, or to see things from the perspective of others. So, a patient with Asperger's would be unlikely to have the ability to manipulate the minds of others so well, with complex fabrications, the way he is manipulating Abraham and others.

 

Do you guys think Eugene comes across as that savvy and manipulative, though? He doesn't to me. It looked to me like Abe was desperate to believe him because he gave him a reason to go on. Abe seemed pretty convinced of this "mission" because he had to be in order to keep going, and came across as manic about it at times (putting others in danger at odd times, leaving in the middle of the night after Bob was hurt, wanting to go through a herd of walkers, etc). But Eugene? He seems sort of child-like to me (like when a kid is using "big" words but you know they have no clue what they mean), and the whole scientist story didn't come across as authentic at all. It seemed like Abe was blind to what was right in front of him for a reason, but it seemed odd no one else (now or in the past) would have questioned or doubted him. I mean, compare him to the CDC scientist from season 1, who to me did seem like a "real" scientist. I don't know, I guess I'm having trouble connecting with some of these new actors, too.