NORMAN REEDUS: Daryl grew up with a brother like Merle, who’s racist and he takes drugs. He doesn’t want to be his big brother. Merle is like your drunk uncle at a Christmas party, where you’re like, “Shut up, man! Just shut up!” So, a lot of the big moments between Merle and Daryl in Season 3 are Daryl telling him that he’s not his big brother. This conflict with Merle and other people in our group puts Daryl in the middle of it. He’s trying to put out fires, and that, at some point, he’s like, “He’s my brother, but this is what’s happening.” Certain things happen where Merle tries not to be so Merle-y, and Daryl sees through it and tells Merle that he’s not him. Daryl is passing Merle. Daryl is not Merle.
Source and more: Collider
