The Walking Dead: Did Eugene Betray Rick's Group For Negan In Season 6?

04/17/2017 05:40 pm EDT

It's no secret that Eugene Porter is a coward on The Walking Dead. Some may consider the character a chameleon, blending in with his surroundings to provide better odds of survival, but the fact is he betrayed the people who kept him safe in favor of a man who killed their friends.

A new theory, though, suggests that Eugene may have betrayed Rick's group much earlier than when he was brought to Negan's Sanctuary to make bullets, thicken the defenses, and eat pickles.

In the Season 6 finale, which saw Negan introduced to the AMC series for the first, the group set out on a path through the woods in the middle of the night as Eugene took the RV in a separate direction. He was making an effort to mislead the Saviors and allow Rick's bunch enough time to get an ill Maggie to the Hilltop.

However, the Saviors began giving chase to Rick and the gang and forced them right into a situation which saw them surrounded and ready to die. Upon arrival, they found their RV and Eugene who appeared to have been badly beaten. As the story goes, Negan would have to kill somebody, and his pick would be the biggest threat: Abraham.

At Walker Stalker Con in San Francisco over the weekend, Abraham and Eugen actors Michael Cudlitz and Josh McDermitt took the stage for a panel in which they were asked whether Eugene sold the group out all the way back in the season 6 finale. Neither actor denied the theory.

Cudlitz says he can't concern himself with the thought too heavily, or else he'll end up laying in bed wondering, "I'm dead and he's not and how to he sabotage my career?"

"We have to process what we're given and move forward," Cudlitz said of the script and material the cast had on set.

"I'll say this, it's great to still have a job!" McDermitt added. "It's every man for himself on The Walking Dead set!"

Although the actors appear to be alluding to Eugene's betrayal coming much earlier than fans have been made aware of, it seems quite unlikely that he helped the Saviors prior to Season 7. When he arrived at Negan's Sanctuary in Episode 7x11, he had to introduce himself by name to the Saviors and Negan, specifically.

Still, it doesn't seem unlikely that Eugene would spew out Rick's location and plans upon receiving a couple of punches to the face. If this is the case, is Eugene, in part, responsible for Abraham's death?

MORE WALKING DEAD: TWD Actor Teases Epic Return From Season 1 / Five Comic Book Moments Coming In Season 8 / Why Rick Will Never Bow To Negan Again / When Does TWD Season 8 Premiere? / Three Things TWD's Time Jump Will Skip / FTWD Renewed For Season 4 / TWD Showrunner Joins FTWD

The Walking Dead will return for its eighth season in October of 2017. The first trailer will arrive at San Diego Comic Con in July. For complete coverage and insider info all off-season long, follow @BrandonDavisBD on Twitter.

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