From what I understood his father did that to him. Merle mentioned "something" like (not exact words), "he did that to you too?" Merle indicated the same thing was done to him which is why he left home.

 

probably something their father did to them.
Merle mentioned the same thing happened to him.

 

I'm pretty sure his dad was abusive.

 

Yeah that was a reference to their childhood...those were some big nasty scars presumably done by their father. I think Merle didn't realize that he left his brother behind to get the brunt of the abuse so when he's faced with it it definitely softens him up.

 

They looked like strap marks.

Meaning Merle and Daryl's father whipped his sons with a leather belt, or strap. Old school parental discipline.

Merle said he left home because he would have killed their father otherwise. Daryl was the baby of the family. From Merle's reaction he never thought their father would treat Daryl the same way.

What a powerful, sad moment.

 

So they are probably in 30-50 year age range, and neither of them has ever seen the other with a shirt off? Sometimes the writers are braindead in this show.

 

The abuse happened after Merle left home. It's not like Merle and Daryl hung out together at the beach as adults so it is extremely possible Merle has never seen Daryl's scars

 

Also, Daryl mentioned once that Merle was in a prison or juvie (i have no idea how it's spelled), so I guess they never had spent that much time together before the ZA.

 

Agreed. Probably they weren't hanging out much before the ZA. You could see in Merle's eyes that he kinda feels sorry that he wasn't there for him.

 

Yeah I noticed that, amazing acting by Rooker

 

Great actor. Rooker is playing this role really good, even though Merle is not one of my favorite characters.

 

Merle left the house, what, 30 years ago? Did they not meet up until the ZA? I know rednecks, and those shirts don't stay on when the beer starts flowing.

 

I think Daryl was embarrassed about them just the way he pulled his shirt/bag back on made me think he didn't want people to see them.

 

That's true I didn't consider that, lol

 

This.

 

I'm surprised that no one caught the bloopers during the "Back Scar" scene. When Daryl was on the ground struggling to get his pack back on, the angel/demon tattoos (and those are his real ones) were on the right side. Next scene as he's walking away, they were on the left. And in the scene after that he was in another vest that covered up the tear beneath his arm. Careless editors...