He is charismatic, theatrical, and frequently a magnet for attention, both good and bad. Several characters view him as overly dramatic, seeing his self-sacrificing behavior as going beyond altruism into masochism. Portia sums up this vexing trait of his by saying that Julian is "always shouldering someone else's burdens while lamenting how heavy the load is." Julian struggles with accepting the help of others, instead frequently diving headfirst into dangerous situations.