avclub-a0ea6fa95cf00d3fb7dda101a033e888--disqus
monkeytorture
avclub-a0ea6fa95cf00d3fb7dda101a033e888--disqus

I think it makes sense in this way: The only person Merle has ever cared about during the shows run (besides himself) is his brother.  Since they reunited, Merle has realized that his brother has changed, in that he genuinely cares about and likes the Prison Gang, and that feeling is reciprocated from the group.  To