I had intended to follow the original RBM combo of drugs + heatstroke, but in rewatching the fight to assess possible injuries, I made the interesting note that neither Merle nor T-Dog are sweating anywhere near as much as some of the others (especially poor Rick). And while logically, that’s simply because both actors were better acclimatized to the roof than Andrew Lincoln, it gave me the idea to see what else could trigger Merle’s behavior on the roof, which is too weirdly controlled to be completely out of his gourd on drugs. Plus T-Dog’s later characterization makes his engaging with Merle verbally—despite the others trying to get him to back down—unusual for him. It’s a fun way to incorporate the goofs and glitches that often happen early in a show before the writers really know the characters. 😁

Anticholinergic toxidrome mnemonic: Red as a beet: Flushing of the skin. Dry as a bone: Dry skin and mucous membranes. Blind as a bat: Dilated pupils and blurred vision. Mad as a hatter: Altered mental status, delirium, or hallucinations. Hot as a hare: Fever.

Causes: Medications: Anticholinergic drugs, including some antihistamines, antipsychotics, antidepressants (tricyclics), and anti-Parkinson’s medications. Plants: Certain plants like Jimsonweed (Datura). Toxins: Industrial chemicals like BZ (3-quinuclidinyl benzilate).