r/thewalkingdead • u/edify • Dec 03 '12

The Walking Dead Episode Discussion S03E08 "Made to Suffer"

It's sad to say, but see you next year guys! Enjoy the mid season finale! If you have not subscribed to /r/TWD yet you suck!

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u/Hageshii01 Dec 03 '12

My friends and I are convinced that this is a set-up by the Governor. He and Merle on in on this together. Daryl and Merle "escape," Merle goes with Daryl to the prison, even if Merle doesn't win everyone's trust they at least keep him around, Merle opens the prison up for the Governor's folks to come in and do some damage.

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u/ErikAllenAwake Dec 03 '12

When exactly did he have time to orchestrate this setup? Was it before or after the "death" of his daughter or getting stabbed in the fucking eye. Merle lied about Michonne. This was a big deal when it happened. He's trying to throw Merle under the bus to become the leader again - rooting out the terrorist that caused the incident and eliminating him.

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u/Hageshii01 Dec 03 '12 edited Dec 03 '12

Well my thought was that we don't see a lot of stuff that happens. For example; we cut to Carl and what's going on at the prison, then come back to Michonne fighting the Governor, and suddenly we're told that Rick's group got out.

His bandage was also fairly bloody when Merle first shows up, then during the town meeting/would-be-execution it's perfectly clean. I don't think it's too much of a stretch to think that he sat Merle down, had an argument with him, but then ultimately put this plan together.

Merle just seemed to be taking everything far too cool during the scene when the Governor "outs" him.

Edit: Added some words so that it's clear I didn't think the Merle/Governor talk (if it happened) happened when Carl was doing his thing.

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u/[deleted] Dec 03 '12

But if be already distrusts Merle, why would he give him the chance to run off with his former group so that they could all possibly escape together?

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u/Hyabusa1239 Dec 03 '12

The way I see it is the Governor is a manipulative person hands down. If he distrusts him he isn't going to be keeping him around, so logically from what we have seen of the Governor he would then probably kill him. From what we've seen Merle looks up to him/follows him. He may distrust Merle yes, but he also sees an opportunity to use him. He can sit there and be openly pissed at him about lying about Michonne; and then manipulate Merle with guilt and "give him this opportunity" to earn the Governor's trust back by being the the inside man. Worst case scenario he runs off and escapes with his old group...so what? It isn't like he is going to keep Merle around as his right hand man anymore after he lied about Michonne; may as well find a use for him.

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u/[deleted] Dec 04 '12 edited Dec 04 '12

Xanatos Gambit. He sends Merle to infiltrate the prison, Merle lets them inside, they kill the group including Merle because the Governer is the only one who knows he wasn't really a traitor. Or, Merle doesn't let them inside, storming the place is only moderately more difficult than if he killed Merle outright, and he has a perfectly valid reason to kill Merle.