The Walking Dead: Why The TV Show's Version Of The 'Stephanie' Saga Is So Different From The Comics

The Walking Dead TV series has long been known for twisting and remixing certain events and storylines from the comics, often to keep comic reading viewers on their toes, or spare fan favourite characters who would otherwise have died. This remixing of storylines has become especially necessary in the currently airing eleventh and final season, as certain major players from the comic's final story arc are either missing (like Rick Grimes), part of an earlier storyline remix that sent them travelling to parts unknown (Michonne), or off having their own adventures in Fear The Walking Dead (we're looking at you, Dwight).

One curent storyline that's had a few more added twists than expected is the tale of Eugene and his radio sweetheart, 'Stephanie'. Let's take a look at how the two versions of the storyline differ, and why these changes might have been made.

Stephanie In The Comics

In The Walking Dead comics, Eugene, while grieving the death of his wife, Rosita, at the hands of the Whisperers, is surprised and delighted to make contact with a woman, Stephanie, over Alexandria's radio. Though wary of each other at first, Eugene and Stephanie slowly bond over the course of their radio conversations, and, as the conflict with the Whisperers draws to a close, Stephanie arranges a meeting between Alexandria and her community, the Commonwealth. However, when he arrives at the meeting place with a small delegation from Alexandria, Eugene is instead met with Commonwealth representative Lance Hornsby and a group of soldiers. Stephanie, as punishment for conversing with Eugene and arranging the meeting without permission, is barred from contact with Eugene until he and the other Alexandrians are approved to stay at the Commonwealth.

Once they are granted permission to talk to one another, it is Stephanie who fills our heroes in on the finer details of the Commonwealth's rigid class-based social structure. Eugene and Stephanie bond further over a mutual desire to restart the train system, allowing for easier travel between the communities, and eventually develop a romantic relationship. After Rick Grimes is murdered by Sebastian Milton, Eugene and Stephanie, out of respect for the fallen leader. join the large convoy formed to escort Rick's body back to Alexandria.

Following the comics' final time jump, we learn that Stephanie has recently died from an unspecified illness. However, she and Eugene did accomplish their shared dream of getting the trains running again before her death.

'Stephanie' In The TV Show

In The Walking Dead TV series, the voice of 'Stephanie' is first heard on the radio in the closing moments of the season nine finale, before Eugene begins making regular contact with her in season ten. This contact comes at a similar point in the story, during the main group's conflict with the Whisperers. The pair slowly develop a friendship through their radio conversations, and Stephanie eventually arranges a meeting at a train yard between the two communities. Eugene sets out with a group including Yumiko, Ezekiel, and later Princess, only to be captured by Commonwealth soldiers when they reach the train yard. After passing the Commonwealth's brutal screening process, Eugene is introduced to who he thinks is Stephanie.

The pair bond, or so Eugene thinks, and even exchange 'I love yous', but after 'Stephanie' goes missing in episode 11x11, Eugene learns that 'Stephanie' is actually Shira, an impostor hired by Lance Hornsby as part of a plot to manipulate Eugene into revealing the locations of Alexandria, Hilltop, and Oceanside. Eugene is heartbroken, but the twists didn't end there. In the episode's closing moments, Pamela Milton's assistant approaches Eugene, revealing that she was the woman he had been talking to on the radio. In episode 11x12, she explains the story from her perspective, including the fact that she, like Eugene, had fixed a broken radio, and reveals that her name is actually Max, and she is the sister of Captain Mercer.

Eugene, still reeling from Hornsby's manipulations, rejects Max at first, but approaches her towards the end of the episode to make peace. There may be hope for these lovebirds yet!

So, why the change?

Well, in the comics, Eugene slips into the background after meeting Stephanie, with no major important moments for the rest of the story. He is only seen briefly during the flashforward that concludes the series, discussing the new railroad with Carl, as well as his apparently failing health.

In the TV series, Eugene, and Josh McDermitt, the actor who plays him, are both firm favourites. Fans would notice, and be upset, to see him suddenly slip out of focus. The twists regarding Eugene's relationship with Stephanie/Max, as well as his personal knowledge of Hornsby's manipulative nature, are likely intended as a way to keep the character front and centre as The Walking Dead enters it's final stretch.

Will it be happily ever after for Eugene and Max? We'll have to keep watching to find out!