The Walking Dead's Eugene Makes Service Episode More Fun

The longest episode for The Walking Dead season 7 has been anything but eventful or exciting. Save for one little revelation that helps paint a picture of just how thin the thread holding Rick Grimes together really is.

But beyond what we saw on TV, it seems that the cast had a better experience shooting the episode. Entertainment Weekly got Josh McDermitt, who plays Eugene Porter, to give his thoughts and anecdotes about just what happened to the group during that episode's shooting.

The episode had been filmed as early as June--which means that the cast member who may have had to tough things out was none other than our big bully Negan. If you remember, the episode, he was all over the place, walking and talking around in his signature leather jacket, all done during the height of the summertime heat in the location.

If there's any consolation for Negan about that episode is that you never got the feel of discomfort. Hell yes, Jeffrey Dean Morgan was a good actor, but McDermitt described the weather as "miserable if you don't find shade from time to time" due to the more or less 130 degree-temperature. Maybe all that talking had helped to take Morgan's mind off the heat.

Also, for those who don't follow the comics, McDermitt revealed that the big event of Negan taking all of the guns and weapons from Alexandria was not part of the original material.

"Taking the guns from Rick and the others leaves an already crushed and devastated group deeper in a hole. We start to get the sense that there's no way to win against these guys. With Negan showing up and snagging their firepower, it makes the stakes that much greater."

McDermitt pointed out one key aspect that can play a big role in turning things around. Negan is the type who's always one step ahead. He's already dealt with someone as stubborn as Rick and knows how to break him into submission. There's no longer an element of surprise, especially not with Rick who has opted to do as told to avoid more bloodshed.

He even pointed out what could be my personal favorite part of the episode: Spencer answering the door and actually saying "Um, who are you?" to Negan's face. There's something about the subversion of his dumb pretty boy stereotype in that scene that made me believe his defiance of the situation for the entire episode.

Hopefully, The Walking Dead will bring us the expected nice surprise in Maggie for next episode. I have so much high hopes for her transformation that I'm willing to let another piece-by-piece episode slide.

The Walking Dead will be back on Sunday, 9:00 p.m. on AMC.

Read: Justice Leaguemay get a new trailer.

Did you see Rick's big reveal?