[The Walking Fred]

My vote goes to The Guv, after he sees the possibility that Merle may join his brother and leave him.

[SheyIG]

I'm between The Governor or Daryl. Somehow forcing Merle's knife/hand into his own throat. I'm not sure that's possible but he needs to go by means of that damn thing he's so proud of. It would just be epicly ironic.

[PrayingForTheZA]

Merle embodies so much of what is wrong with humanity. Someone like him, in real life I'd never want to know and I'd truly despise. For some odd reason though, I really like the character.

Does he really have to die? Every show needs a bad guy. Then again, in comparison to the Governor who, in my opinion is pure evil, Merle isn't evil so much as he is uneducated and ignorant. The Governor is cold, calculating, manipulative, and cruel. Merle's just dumb. I guess the Governor makes a better bad guy. Still, I'd hate to see Merle go.

Daryl is the only poetically just executioner or Merle if he has to die. Which, he doesn't...

[ThinkPurple]

I'm hoping that it's Darryl. I think that would do a lot for his character.

On the other hand, I wouldn't object to Merle killing himself while surrounded by hungry walkers.

[PrayingForTheZA]

I don't see Merle as the do himself in type of guy. Anyone who can cut their hand off with a hacksaw wants to live and will go down fighting.

[Ricktatorship]

Rick because I dont think Darryl will be able to do it

[lilasskickergrimes]

Daryl has no reason to kill Merle, if it were a stranger to him,sure. But these guys are brothers, bound by blood. Correct me if I am wrong but this would be the first pre-walker-family kill.

I think the governor will kill Merle, for lying to him about Michonne and jeapordizing his Woodbury kingdom. And through this he will somehow in a strange way (i don't know how) sacrifice his life to save his "baby brother".

[biancardi]

I believe it will be Daryl. I think either that Merle will be threating one of members in Rick's group and Daryl will kill him to protect them OR Merle will decide to take down his baby brother and Daryl will be forced to defend himself

lilasskickergrimes, they are brothers, bound in blood, but I feel that Rick is more of Daryl's "brother" than Merle is - at this point in the story line. Family is so much more than blood ties. I do believe that Daryl is conflicted with his relationship with Merle. I think Merle takes his brother for granted and doesn't think much about who his brother is, what type of man he grew up to be. He always calls Daryl his "baby brother" - so there is that aspect of control and dominance that Merle has and how he views Daryl. I believe that Merle is not going to be happy at all with how his brother has become his own man.

[mdearth70]

It would be epic to see it in my opinion.

[TheLethalWeapon]

I believe Merle will most likely side with The Governor, but has mixed feelings about his decision. Then he takes a bullet for Daryl.

[BizarroGlen]

I wouldn't be shocked if Merle ended up offing Daryl first. They seem to do a big death for the mid-season finale. Much to the chagrin of the fanboys and Reedus camp. Lemme state I don't want Daryl killed, but someone important from Rick's group will die in the big show down and killing Oscar doesn't accomplish that affect.

The Gov. will force Merle to choose sides and Merle would rather be the Devil's right hand, than in his path. So he kills his brother and a pissed off Rick gets Merle. The gov. runs off after seeing what a mad man Rick can be and the chase ensues for February!

[DoctorManhattan89]

I didn't realize this when I said Glenn way earlier in the thread because the interrogation episode hadn't happened yet but that's kinda crazy that I randomly guessed him! I still think he might be a likely choice but the thing is I don't think he could beat Merle in a fist fight and if he shoots him that would be kind of anti-climactic. The only people I think could beat Merle in hand to hand combat is Daryl or Rick and after that what would they do, shoot him or throw him to zombies? I'm not sure! I guess we'll find out.

[Not_Undead]

I didn't realize this when I said Glenn way earlier in the thread because the interrogation episode hadn't happened yet but that's kinda crazy that I randomly guessed him! I still think he might be a likely choice but the thing is I don't think he could beat Merle in a fist fight and if he shoots him that would be kind of anti-climactic. The only people I think could beat Merle in hand to hand combat is Daryl or Rick and after that what would they do, shoot him or throw him to zombies? I'm not sure! I guess we'll find out.

You don't THINK he could beat Merle in a fist fight? There is doubt in your mind?

As for who could beat Merle - don't forget SuperMichonne.

[PrayingForTheZA]

I wouldn't be shocked if Merle ended up offing Daryl first. They seem to do a big death for the mid-season finale. Much to the chagrin of the fanboys and Reedus camp. Lemme state I don't want Daryl killed, but someone important from Rick's group will die in the big show down and killing Oscar doesn't accomplish that affect.

The Gov. will force Merle to choose sides and Merle would rather be the Devil's right hand, than in his path. So he kills his brother and a pissed off Rick gets Merle. The gov. runs off after seeing what a mad man Rick can be and the chase ensues for February!

I don't think the writers would do that (kill Daryl). He is just way too popular (and awesome) and it might hurt the ratings.

A thought I just had:

Penny kills Merle. Let's say the Gov. puts Merle in a position of him (Daryl) or me, choose now, one of us dies. Merle chooses to save Daryl and kills the Gov. Penny sees this through her holding area, breaks out in a rage, and bites Merle. Merle kills Penny, then Daryl, out of mercy, ends Merle (though he would not have actually been the killer since he was already dead (so to speak)).

Chances are it wouldn't actually be Penny exacting revenge on her father's killer so much as she's just hungry but it could then also have them pursue further Milton's idea that somehow a part of the consciousness continues.

I realize the whole thing sounds a little far fetched but stranger things have happened.

[Not_Undead]

I realize the whole thing sounds a little far fetched but stranger things have happened.

LOL

You ain't just whistling Dixie there, son.

[BizarroGlen]

I don't think the writers would do that (kill Daryl). He is just way too popular (and awesome) and it might hurt the ratings.

A thought I just had:

Penny kills Merle. Let's say the Gov. puts Merle in a position of him (Daryl) or me, choose now, one of us dies. Merle chooses to save Daryl and kills the Gov. Penny sees this through her holding area, breaks out in a rage, and bites Merle. Merle kills Penny, then Daryl, out of mercy, ends Merle (though he would not have actually been the killer since he was already dead (so to speak)).

Chances are it wouldn't actually be Penny exacting revenge on her father's killer so much as she's just hungry but it could then also have them pursue further Milton's idea that somehow a part of the consciousness continues.

I realize the whole thing sounds a little far fetched but stranger things have happened.

Maybe not so soon, but it would get immense "heat" on the Governor or whoever killed him and make him a TRUE villain. I don't like these half-assed bad guys who have "reasons" to do bad things.
Ratings for the show would not drop if Daryl died, they sure didn't when Shane died because his death was done right. As I'm sure a potential Daryl death would be.

Yes, Daryl is extremely popular, but so was Shane and even though his death was seen coming a mile away. It was still a shocker they did it so early and really changed the direction of the show.

Again, I don't wanna see it happen, but I fear now that all bets are off on who dies and how, there probably will be another key member killed to give the Gov. his evil moment and leave a huge cliff hanger until Feb.

[d2daybreak]

I am still leaning more towards Milton, but I also think Hershel is a likely candidate now that Merle has kidnapped Maggie.

[DoctorManhattan89]

Merle will commit suicide after realizing what a colossal douche he's been to everyone.

Daryl did say the only person that can kill Merle is Merle...

[lee63]

Zombies

I think that Daryl would stop anybody killing his bro......blood being thicker.

[thelastpaul]

I think it'll be walkers who will kill Merle, but the twist is Daryl will have to make a decision to either save Rick (or one of the members from the group) or Merle and he choose to save the group and watch Merle get eaten by walkers.

This is my prediction.

That would be so badass.

How crazy would it be if Merle kills Daryl though? It would be such an unexpected gut punch. Everyone including myself are so sure that Merle dies, what if he kills Daryl and dissapears? DUN DUN DUNNNN

[Not_Undead]

Merle meets up with Daryl. They have a short conversation and head off together to kill the REAL villains - THE WRITERS.

[popeye]

Either Daryl or The Governer depends on which side he falls on at the end of this scene. Merle is so unpredictable this season it's really hard to read into why he does some things it's like he's schizophrenic sometimes.

[LittleAssKicker]

My ideal:

He falls into the Walker pit.

Daryl did say the only person that can kill Merle is Merle...

And then takes himself out with his knife-hand.


Reality:

Probably Daryl, although I like the idea of Hershel doing it, as mentioned upthread.

[Tardis00]

Merle may show he is willing to kill his bro, but someone will kill Merle before he can do it. Rick should be the one. I'm not sold on Merle dying this season break though

I think Maggie may die, making Glenn that much more of a crazed warrior. Maybe this Tyrese guy everybody talks about will get Merle .