[Sweetsister]

Has anyone been surprised by the "love" the Dixon brothers have for each other? Sure they are brothers but that doesnt = love or even like (watch Jerry Springer). After Chupacabra I thought Daryl had come to a conclusion that although Merle is his brother, he diddnt treat him all that well and Daryl was fine with his surrogate family. I jst found it out of characte for both to be so anxious to see/save one another based on the the history we had on the show. Daryl even mentons he could play with friends when Mrle wasnt arround, just what kind of relationship did they have?

[Hannah]

I think that Merle was a bit if a bully, but what older bro isn't. Merle do love Daryl, but he knows that his brother can be soft. And by soft I mean shit that Merle might think is soft like "having feelings for others or making friends". Their chemistry is heavy. At some points Merle and Daryl are just alike; saying similar phrases and what not. From what I got from it Merle kind of replaced their father; making sure Daryl grew tough n strong. Daryl is by far the only person that Merle could and would ever like or love and I think this was there way before the ZA. I liked how they had Merle willing to off himself and wait For Daryl on the other side. Had the gov never showed up.

The part where he says that He had to wait till Merle was away to play with his friends with the bikes seemed like a regular thing where Merle probably made fun of him for making friends or The neighborhood kids was too Afraid of Merle to come around lol. At one point you can't blame Merle for treating others like that, such as what he did with Glenn, Michoone, or Carguilo. After all they're not his brother and Merle could less.

[meesha1971]

Has anyone been surprised by the "love" the Dixon brothers have for each other? Sure they are brothers but that doesnt = love or even like (watch Jerry Springer). After Chupacabra I thought Daryl had come to a conclusion that although Merle is his brother, he diddnt treat him all that well and Daryl was fine with his surrogate family. I jst found it out of characte for both to be so anxious to see/save one another based on the the history we had on the show. Daryl even mentons he could play with friends when Mrle wasnt arround, just what kind of relationship did they have?

I think it's a complicated issue for Daryl because he was neglected as a child. His mom died when he was young after getting drunk and passing out in bed with a cigarette. His father left him alone to go off with other women. It doesn't sound like Merle was around very much because he kept getting sent to juvie, but Daryl describes him as being rather controlling when he was around. That's what Daryl was used to and he does seem to have a lot of respect for Merle's abilities even though he realizes Merle treated him badly. Knowing your family has flaws - or what you consider flaws - doesn't necessarily mean you don't love them. I think Chupacabra showed that Daryl understood Merle was not a nice guy and was very flawed because the hallucination is pretty accurate to what we actually do see with Merle. However, that was also motivation for Daryl in the sense that he wanted to prove Merle wrong and that gave him the strength to keep going.

Ultimately, I think that's what it will come down to for Daryl. I think there is a part of him that wants to believe that Merle is good - at least in the sense that he would help his brother - but I don't think that blinds him to what Merle actually does. He was able to acknowledge that what Merle did to Glenn and Maggie was wrong and stay focused on doing the right thing to help Rick rescue them and get away safely. Daryl might have some conflict because of Merle, but he will make the right choice and I think it will probably be similar to what we saw with the hallucination in Chupacabra with Daryl being motivated to prove Merle wrong and being able to stand up to him. I think Merle is going to be surprised to discover that his baby brother is not so easily controlled anymore.

[Singlyme]

Wow. All this deep insight into their relationship. (I'm not poking.)

I never went beyond the mean and domineering older brother who squashed the humanity in Daryl. That humanity has emerged victorious. But like the Hatfield & McCoys, you don't have to love your kin to fight on their behalf.

If the gov forces them to fight to the death, though, I see Merle letting Daryl win - like a father sacrificing for his son. I think Merle loves Daryl more than Daryl loves Merle.

[Darylrocks]

Wow. All this deep insight into their relationship. (I'm not poking.)

I never went beyond the mean and domineering older brother who squashed the humanity in Daryl. That humanity has emerged victorious. But like the Hatfield & McCoys, you don't have to love your kin to fight on their behalf.

If the gov forces them to fight to the death, though, I see Merle letting Daryl win - like a father sacrificing for his son. I think Merle loves Daryl more than Daryl loves Merle.

I agree with this. I think that Merle feels guilty for the things he did to Daryl and for not being there for him. Can't wait to see what happens.

[michaelmyers]

Merle's disappearance is the best thing that could have ever happened to Daryl because it isn't love he feels for his brother Merle it's more about a form of moral obligation to your kin. Merle enjoys deating Daryl down, it gives him some pleasure to demean him. Daryle has never known any other 'family' until this little family unit he's now known over the course of the last 8-9 months and these people have now risked their lives for him and vice versa. Merle has never and he knows would never do many of the things these folks have done for him. I think when/if it came up he'd choose this group over Merle at this point. Folks like Rick have risked everything for him, what did Merle really ever do for Daryl? Daryl's self esteem has grown tremendously with his character through the course of this show no thanks to big brother Merle. I don't believe Merle would kill him, but beat him down physically and mentally I have no doubt.

[DAYE2232]

Merle's disappearance is the best thing that could have ever happened to Daryl because it isn't love he feels for his brother Merle it's more about a form of moral obligation to your kin. Merle enjoys deating Daryl down, it gives him some pleasure to demean him. Daryle has never known any other 'family' until this little family unit he's now known over the course of the last 8-9 months and these people have now risked their lives for him and vice versa. Merle has never and he knows would never do many of the things these folks have done for him. I think when/if it came up he'd choose this group over Merle at this point. Folks like Rick have risked everything for him, what did Merle really ever do for Daryl? Daryl's self esteem has grown tremendously with his character through the course of this show no thanks to big brother Merle. I don't believe Merle would kill him, but beat him down physically and mentally I have no doubt.

I agree with this. Where I do believe that Merle loves Daryl, I don't think he understands or knows how to love anyone other than himself enough to sacrafise for them. I think it would definitely be a fight for survival on both their parts, which is sad. Daryl loves Merle, but he's not stupid, and I think he loves what he wants Merle to be...

[Luv2readt.]

Wow. All this deep insight into their relationship. (I'm not poking.)

I never went beyond the mean and domineering older brother who squashed the humanity in Daryl. That humanity has emerged victorious. But like the Hatfield & McCoys, you don't have to love your kin to fight on their behalf.

If the gov forces them to fight to the death, though, I see Merle letting Daryl win - like a father sacrificing for his son. I think Merle loves Daryl more than Daryl loves Merle.

I do not see Merle letting Daryl win-but I do think he has a deep connection to Daryl. Just think how few survivors have anyone left from their lives before. Carol, Andrea, TDogg, Jim, Jacqui,Michonne, and Dale lost everyone and I can only imagine how that affected them.. Merle must have believed that Daryl was dead and finding him again was making him rebel a little from the Governor.
My real interest lies in how far Daryl will go to keep Merle in his life. I can not fathom Merle adjusting to the Ricktatorship, but would Daryl give up his new family for his blood brother? I think he would because the pattern of always choosing Merle over everyone else is so established by now.

[GirlsDeadMonster]

Yes, they care for each other, they're brothers. Daryl will always have a loyalty to Merle and this will make for interesting drama now that they are reunited. Daryl will have to chose between his brother and the group and Merle will find that Daryl is no longer the same man he left in Atlanta. With Merle gone it gave Daryl's character time to grow and have a loyalty to the group. There were some scenes of the upcoming episodes that show Daryl and Merle in a fight orchestrated by the Guv but I think they'll find a way to escape and make it back to the prison together.

[Singlyme]

Just watched some reruns this weekend and got a bit more insight during Daryl's hallucination. Merle referenced his "worthless ass." I believe that's how he always made Daryl feel. Hence, Carol's continued reinforcement that he had value in the group. That he was as good a man as any of them. When Daryl finally saw the truth in her words, he changed.

I'm wondering if, during the fight to the death, Daryl will seek retribution for the years of abuse. After all, Merle threw that first sucker punch, then strutted like a peacock. I believe that he THOUGHT he was hard on Daryl to toughen him up and that he loves him like a son. He's got something up his sleeve.

Obviously, they both survive the fight. Then....??

[DJ_HYDRAulics]

LOL I love how all the members here do a complete 180 on merle. I saw the love between these 2 brothers ever since season 1. In fact, I was even posting here a month ago about how merle showed extreme loyalty and respect to daryl and those were some of merle's endeering qualities. I not only got hundreds of thumbs down on it, at least 20 people flat out disagreed with me and called me an idiot starting a huge back and forth on the forums. Anybody with eyes can see that that was where the writers were going. The fact is, Merle has plenty of chances to throw daryl under the bus and side with woodbury. He's ALWAYS been on daryls side even to the point of threatening the gov. by saying "no one touches my brother" in episode 8. Say what you want about the big bad merle and how he "Treats daryl badly" you're all victims of societies new views on raising children. That's why this new generation is so spoiled and coddled. Merle treated daryl with tough love growing up. roughing him up to make him strongers as a person and man up. The fact is, if merle didn't exist, daryl would be as useless a character as lori, sophia, or carol. he is the badass everyone sees him as today because of merle.
I love how all the people vindicating merle a month ago and saying he had zero endeering qualities and is just a big dumb bully that doesn't give a crap about anybody but himself(including daryl) have all shut up now. The fact is, the dude lives by a code. just the same as daryl. He may have a crappier personality while doing it, but it's a quality i respect in both of these MEN

[Hannah]

LOL I love how all the members here do a complete 180 on merle. I saw the love between these 2 brothers ever since season 1. In fact, I was even posting here a month ago about how merle showed extreme loyalty and respect to daryl and those were some of merle's endeering qualities. I not only got hundreds of thumbs down on it, at least 20 people flat out disagreed with me and called me an idiot starting a huge back and forth on the forums. Anybody with eyes can see that that was where the writers were going. The fact is, Merle has plenty of chances to throw daryl under the bus and side with woodbury. He's ALWAYS been on daryls side even to the point of threatening the gov. by saying "no one touches my brother" in episode 8. Say what you want about the big bad merle and how he "Treats daryl badly" you're all victims of societies new views on raising children. That's why this new generation is so spoiled and coddled. Merle treated daryl with tough love growing up. roughing him up to make him strongers as a person and man up. The fact is, if merle didn't exist, daryl would be as useless a character as lori, sophia, or carol. he is the badass everyone sees him as today because of merle.
I love how all the people vindicating merle a month ago and saying he had zero endeering qualities and is just a big dumb bully that doesn't give a crap about anybody but himself(including daryl) have all shut up now. The fact is, the dude lives by a code. just the same as daryl. He may have a crappier personality while doing it, but it's a quality i respect in both of these MEN

Totally agree here. If one was to check my older posts, I never questioned Merle's or Daryl love for each other. Daryl picking Merle was a no brainer for me that I expected and was so glad it was delivered. Even in the future Merle will continue being that asshole bully towards everybody but this is nothing new for Daryl. Others just have to get used to it, and live with it because there is no Way Daryl will EVER turn his back on Merle and Merle will never 'intentionally' harm Daryl.

[Zeffiro]

It was always just Merle&Daryl before the apocalypse, but it was so even after. Rick wakes up after a lot of stuff has already happened, we "meet" the Dixons at the Atlanta camp, but they had to get there first...

When Daryl goes like "Man ya'll don't know", it also probably refers to the fact that they'd been 2 vs zombieworld before. As much as they respect their code, I doubt Daryl would take off with Merle if he wasn't sure they'd have a fair shot at making it through. They may be rednecks, but they ain't no suicides lol

[Singlyme]

I think things may be different for the brothers now. Daryl has spent many months being valued and appreciated. It's going to be difficult for him to hear his brother refer to his "worthless ass" again. Love and loyalty are there, but Daryl kept telling Merle to shut up. Blood is what took him from the group. Can that bond survive the change in Daryl?

And OMG, if we have to listen to Merle's mouth too much, my teeth will be ground down to nothing. What a pig!

[Sweetsister]

The one line that said t all to me was when Daryl said "don't ask me to leave him again, I already did that once" daryl must still harbour allot of guilt because his brother was 'abandoned" in a horrible situation. daryl must feel he has to stay with Merle since he "failed" him before. I did enjoy Rick knocking out Merle when he wouldnt shut up.

[Blasko_Z]

LOL I love how all the members here do a complete 180 on merle. I saw the love between these 2 brothers ever since season 1. In fact, I was even posting here a month ago about how merle showed extreme loyalty and respect to daryl and those were some of merle's endeering qualities. I not only got hundreds of thumbs down on it, at least 20 people flat out disagreed with me and called me an idiot starting a huge back and forth on the forums. Anybody with eyes can see that that was where the writers were going. The fact is, Merle has plenty of chances to throw daryl under the bus and side with woodbury. He's ALWAYS been on daryls side even to the point of threatening the gov. by saying "no one touches my brother" in episode 8. Say what you want about the big bad merle and how he "Treats daryl badly" you're all victims of societies new views on raising children. That's why this new generation is so spoiled and coddled. Merle treated daryl with tough love growing up. roughing him up to make him strongers as a person and man up. The fact is, if merle didn't exist, daryl would be as useless a character as lori, sophia, or carol. he is the badass everyone sees him as today because of merle.
I love how all the people vindicating merle a month ago and saying he had zero endeering qualities and is just a big dumb bully that doesn't give a crap about anybody but himself(including daryl) have all shut up now. The fact is, the dude lives by a code. just the same as daryl. He may have a crappier personality while doing it, but it's a quality i respect in both of these MEN

Well, one could easily argue that the rugged badass that Daryl became is amazing to watch on television, but that is where it ends. Beating a child down, day in and day out, to harden him up and "make him a man" (whatever the hell that means) will turn that child into a violent, emotionally-stunted man child, who never learned how to handle problems with anything other than his fist. I would say, after watching last night's episode, that Daryl became a good person while separated from Merle, but fell right back into his quick-tempered and emotionally-distant old self the second Merle is back. If you think the writers are using Daryl to redeem Merle, you are horribly mistaken.

[Singlyme]

Well, one could easily argue that the rugged badass that Daryl became is amazing to watch on television, but that is where it ends. Beating a child down, day in and day out, to harden him up and "make him a man" (whatever the hell that means) will turn that child into a violent, emotionally-stunted man child, who never learned how to handle problems with anything other than his fist. I would say, after watching last night's episode, that Daryl became a good person while separated from Merle, but fell right back into his quick-tempered and emotionally-distant old self the second Merle is back. If you think the writers are using Daryl to redeem Merle, you are horribly mistaken.

I completely agree. If anything, I hope Daryl is going to look at Merle through new eyes.

[Mamaof3Littles]

I am just SO mad about Daryl leaving. SO MAD. That is all.

[Sweetsister]

I completely agree. If anything, I hope Daryl is going to look at Merle through new eyes.

I think that Daryl will, hes done allot of "growing" while he was with the group. He may feel he has to be with Merle because Merle was abandoned before, but the more Merle talks about the Guv attacking the prison the more its gonna make Daryl want to go back and at least help his friends through the worst.

[Blasko_Z]

I am just SO mad about Daryl leaving. SO MAD. That is all.

I am a little mad about this as well, but it has nothing to do with the narrative implications of him leaving the group. I am a little upset because I feel that the show was over-condensing in the first part of season three, which was the cause of splitting the show in two: TWD: Prison and TWD: Woodbury. Now, with Daryl and Merle out on their own, it seems the show may split again, and follow three groups, making the writers have to condense even more.

[DJ_HYDRAulics]

Well, one could easily argue that the rugged badass that Daryl became is amazing to watch on television, but that is where it ends. Beating a child down, day in and day out, to harden him up and "make him a man" (whatever the hell that means) will turn that child into a violent, emotionally-stunted man child, who never learned how to handle problems with anything other than his fist. I would say, after watching last night's episode, that Daryl became a good person while separated from Merle, but fell right back into his quick-tempered and emotionally-distant old self the second Merle is back. If you think the writers are using Daryl to redeem Merle, you are horribly mistaken.

no i never said anything about the writers trying to redeem merle. The fact is, merle will always be the a*shole in the show. His personality and the way he can't play well with others will make him detestable because the average viewer doesn't understand that in order to have a great show, there has to be loveable characters and hateable characters.

To me, what makes a man in this world is not money, status, height, build, strength, etc. etc. What makes a man is loyalty, respect, and honor. While i agree that merle is a racist prick and would probably be a terrible person to be around in real life, his redeeming quality is that he has these 3 traits towards his blood and his kin. a strong point is shown right in the beginning of the episode. During the brothers deathmatch, all the people were watching. Merle could have easily shot out his armblade and killed daryl to show EVERYBODY in woodbury that he is on their side and daryl means nothing to him. Instead he put on that little show until rick and co. showed up.

Try not to make generalizations about how people grow up without being a psychiatrist or an expert on the human mind. Athough, you're assessment is sometimes true(mostly in TNT/USA dramas like Special victims unit where they take a small percentage of cases and make it seem like it's always like that), Most of the time, older brothers bully their younger brothers when they are kids and they grow up completely normal. My older brother used to knock me all around the place when i was younger while my parents weren't looking. When I got to high school, I joined the football team and started taking judo. It motivated me to try hard in both because I wanted to be able to defend from his onslaughts. I bulked up, and learned how to completely flip people. then around the second half of freshmen year, he got me in a chokehold. I picked him up over my head with brute strength and tossed him to the ground. Needless to say the bullying started disappearing after that.
I don't doubt daryl learned all his survival skills and obtained most of his strength as a product of merle's bullying. only because i've been through it myself with my brother. and you can bet your a*s that now that we are 2 grown men, if anybody were to ever touch him, i would rip their arm off and beat them with it. Loyalty, respect, honor.