Avon is a warrior-king in every other scene, but in this one he's a little brother. Wood Harris is a beast, totally underrated and a master of his craft. All 3 of them.
Yep normally he’s the king who stands tall even in court they made him feel like a king with no sweat but In this scene he can’t even make eye contact with his sister.
i think he was a leader so he deal with shit. look at his scene when he met mouzone. the same emotions. also when he arrested,( twice )the same stoicism, meaning , well i gotta deal with it. a great gang leader. like denzel in American gangsta. he was arrested and had no emotion. just the way it goes.
The actor who played Brianna is one of the best performers in the entire show. She has some of the best-acted scenes like this one and the preceding one when McNulty convinces her that D'Angelo was murdered. Heartbreaking stuff.
Brian McNeil And the best thing about what you said is the fact that D's mom is wearing red AND black, since she's responsible for his being in prison.
JimmySteller That's right! Red and Black! She was partly to blame as she convinced D to take the time for the sake of the family. She was the only one who could convince him otherwise, as D wanted out of the game and was ready to flip. She chose the family business over her son, rationalizing that D would be out 'soon enough' and had to make a 'sacrifice' to keep the family business going. However, String broke the unspoken agreement that was essentially between Briana and Avon. Briana and Avon where 'Barksdales' through and through - tough and shrewd, yet believing the Barksdale concept of 'family' and 'blood'.
The way she popped her head up when he said "I ain't have nothing to do with it!" . . . SHE KNEW WHAT WAS UP! Heck, even String was looking like. . . bruh, wtf?
The acting of brianna is perfect. We can feel all her suspicions and doubts altogether. Her brother told her he had nothing to do with it, and she has to trust him, but she just feels he doesnt tell her eveything she knows. She's the most brillant in this scene. Great actress.
it depends on where you sit in the hierarchy. to small people he was a boss. smarter people just owned him. just look at prop joe owning nick sobodka and being owned by marlo.
This is the underworld. Avon wouldn't order what had to be done. Brianna wouldn't either. They'd watch Dee bring down the gang. Brianna sounds like she'd fold to hurt Avon too.
Uhuru Sasa Black Panther I don’t know..... Brianna was part of the game too. She ran some legit businesses for the organization. But she was brought up in the Barksdale organization, just like Avon. She didn’t seem to be the type of mother who asks her child what they want to do when they grew up. I’m sure she groomed D for the family business herself. You’ve got to be DEEP in the business, to tell your son that HE needs to do TWENTY years in prison.... for the family! She’s as hardcore as they come. She couldn’t tell on Avon, because she’d be telling on herself too. Cuz if Lester Freamon followed their money, she could be up on laundering charges. If Levy was a piss-poor lawyer, the Barksdale organization could’ve been up on RICO charges.
oO0E Avon did know. This scene takes place after Stringer confesses to Avon that he put out the hit on D'Angelo. That's why when Avon says "I ain't had shit do to with it" at 2:03, Brianna picks up on it and replies, "To do with what?" Avon wasn't involved in "it," but his phrasing reveals that he does know about it.
They should have said they would look into it, rather then resist her overtures. The timing of Brianna's visit was good. If she came earlier Avon wouldn't have known about it and he would have given a convincing response, because he actually wouldn't have known. You could feel the Barksdales power structure starting to crumble in this scene.
I like the look of realization she gets when she askes "to do with what?" Avon won't look here in the eye, and Stringer is answering for him. At that point she KNEW without a doubt that they had Dee killed and I love how it was portrayed.
This is apart of the reason Avon never gave stringer the heads up that Omar and brother mouzone was coming for him for one stringer got dee killed and he was going to give Avon up to the cops
When it's your sibling like this, someone you've grown up with....you know. Even if you don't get along or have problems. He couldn't convince her and he knew it.
Avon can’t hide for her that he knows the truth. Look how he won’t look at her and hides his face. He can’t lie to his family because he wears his heart on his sleeve unlike the cold blooded String
This scene is genius, Avon was stripped in this scene to the same vulnerability as one of his young “weak” corner kids or murder hires in scene but instead of it being detectives, it was his sister, the color symbolism as well as his notion to literally close his own mouth when she repeatedly asks him “with what” ... the Wire’s writers, Directors and actors are world class
Im curious to know what avon would’ve done if he got word di angelo was gonna indeed flip on them which he was flirting with. Would he eat it or done similar to stringer ? Im postive if Di Angelo was stringers kin he still wouldnt hesitates to knock him off.
Avon lost more than he could afford...more than he will ever be able to regain. When Briana appealed to his sense of family and committment, he was unable to rise to that vital passion level ,other than to over play his defensive hand , that look of disgust was riveting...worse... it was Stringer "s recognition of Avon's weakness that forced him to speak up, toa feeble attempt to help Avon who was clearly defeated. Epic
ladymakini It wasn’t Avon’s weakness that made Stringer step in. It was Stringer saving his own ass! Avon was probably about to tell Brianna the truth, because Avon has probably never had to lie to his sister before, and he was finding it hard to lie to her now! I don’t believe Avon made a mistake when he told Brianna that he didn’t have anything to do with it. He was trying to tell her, in his own way, that D was murdered, but not actually telling her the truth about what he knew....at least not yet.
its funny how angry Avon becomes when questioned. also stringer looks at Avon when Avon says he had nothing to do with it, like he stringer fears Avon is going to tell Brianna the truth, interesting.
@@scorpio7904 I know that. But at this point, Stringer had already told Avon. She had to have figured out he didn't give the order. But at this point she could see that Avon knew an order was given.
@@homeboy7753 he still would have,d D's death didn't have a Damm thing to do with why Avon gave string up, the new York connect was,and brother mouzon told Avon if he didn't give up string he was done and finish, he left him no choice
Really if he hadn’t told Avon he probably wouldn’t have been killed. Avon never suspected anything but String’s pride got in the way. I know Mouzonne and Omar still would’ve come after him, but i don’t know if Avon gives up String if he doesn’t know String had D killed.
@@CheerfullyCynical829 From her bio: Hyatt was born in Birmingham, West Midlands, to Jamaican-born parents, Vera Hyatt, an art historian, museologist, and former deputy director of the National Gallery of Jamaica, and Charles Hyatt, an actor, broadcaster, and comedian. As a child, Hyatt was exposed to art and theater from the work of both of her parents during the 1970s in Jamaica. Hyatt migrated to the United States with her mother and two siblings when she was 10 years old. The family lived in Maryland and then Washington, D.C.
Avon was complicit by lying and covering for stringer for 'some good reasons' so Brianna was torn, was Avon family or not, as you know it was Avon who got d'angelo arrested with a package. that annoyed Brianna in season 1
samuel muiruri C’mon!! Avon wasn’t complicit in anything that happened to D! It was the bug that was planted in his office by shardene that got D arrested! And Avon is no fool. But when it comes to his sister. who’s shown to be older, he finds it hard to lie to her.
Yeah because no matter what he thought about D'Angelo that was his nephew. He was sad about his death and to find out that Stringer was behind it......
Brianna wasn't much better than Delonda. She didn't object to D being in the game even though as his mother, she intuitively knew he wasn't fit. Like Delonda did with Weebay and Naymond, she hoped that what Avon had would rub off on D. I feel she cut Delondas money partly because she was greedy, but also because Naymond was alive and D wasn't.
i never thought of that connection, but its funny coz Brianna told delonda something remarkable, i don't give a damn about Avon, i don't know whether many people gave much thought to that quote. this scene shows so much suspicion and doubt. also during d'angelos funeral prop joe gave stringer a funny look, i don't know if he suspected. meanwhile stringer always put a hand on Brianna's shoulder during the mourning period and the funeral. Brianna must have been dying inside, looking for answers.
samuel muiruri Instinctively she knew Avon and Stringer didn't care about her or anyone else. There are too many instances from the series to count. Avon always had doubts about D's "fitness" and he wasn't shy about making it known. He demoted him, he questioned his heart and his head. He kept him in pocket because he was family. Avon refused to put his brother in a better facility because it would show too much $. However, Briana had a nice house and a car. That's the game, and that's life. You can choose your friends but not your "family."
Wee-Bey also had nothing left to lose. Dude was doing a double-life sentence. And the Barksdale organization was already defunct by the time Bunny came through with that offer.
Martin Villa difference between Brianna and Delonda is that Brianna didn't want him to be in the game but she stood by his decision "living his own life". Delonda on the other hand didn't care as long as Wee Bey and Namond were bringing her money. D told his mom he ain't want to be in the game and she supported him. Delonda sensed that Namond wanted out the game, treated him like shit slapped him and if I remember even kicked him out. It took Wee Bey having to flex on her stupid ass for her to chill out
Martin Villa I don’t think it was so much greed as much as the Barksdale Crew was finished. Avon in jail on a long bid, stringer dead. Body even spoke about it with slim Charles, Charles said it all when he said “that’s the thing about the old days, they the old days.”
String had an incredible ability to detach emotionally...'it's just business'...and put up a poker face. However, you could subtly sense the guilt on his face at times. Avon was more 'heart' and passion and had a harder time hiding the truth, especially with his sister. Avon should have just put Brianna in charge, after Strings death and his second incarceration. The Bakersdale would have survived as a unit and she might have even found a way to take care of Marlo.
marlo was cold blooded, and had better muscle (after bey was gone and cutty quit) it was done for them...atleast CORNER wise it was I mean I liked the barksdale organization cause they came first, and so much of the story was focused on them but all the inner-fighting was basically what destroyed them I wrote about this before in length...Stringer bleed green we all knew that, business minded always doing sometimes (the right thing) oftentimes the wrong thing (after mouzone who came at him, or his dealings with Roberta in New York, his dealings with Omar) I mean I guess he was stuck between a rock and a hard place...but he wanted Avon gone towards the end, gone AWAY from the business side of the $$ and the package, them co-op boys were going to cut them out if that war didn't end we all know the twisted angles to this story...but the truth is these guys played themselves into a corner...I know what everyone says if Avon hadn't got hit / raided that night (because of Stringers info to Colvin) about the stash house...then maybe the hit would of been done (they were on Marlo+Chris at the rim shop with Vincent) but we DONT know how that would of turned out...maybe Marlo gets knicked/clipped...maybe he survives and Chris (who is armed just like Marlo is + his driver) they all got guns man...you dont think someone military-trained and smart like Chris wouldn't be ready in a flash in 2 seconds to throw down and start firing back at Slim Charles and all those people in that car w/ the heat waiting for Avon to give them the go ahead, so we really don't know the outcome...either way the Barksdale organization (those at the very top) were their OWN worse enemy...two men, grew up together, came up (bey, stringer, avon) and took out those twins and Dennis Woodsman or w/e the previous kingpin was...Avon became kingpin of the westside, but after awhile couldn't / was starting to have trouble holding onto those towers, 2 arrests, a weak package, stringer's business dealings (getting further and further away from the drug trade/street code...stringer as David Simons puts in the "excerpts of the wire DVD says "stringer was trying to reform the drug trade, and the drug trade wont stand reform" ...his twisted dealings backfired...the whole omar/brother mouzone, the package and prop joe and the east-side boys being brought in (etc, etc) it all came crumbling down...Marlo basically won if you ask me...NOT the war (we know that) but in the end he won, I KNOW some say he lost because...well he lost his crown...he had to give it up and stay off the corners...I think its safe to assume if Marlo was smart, invested his money (cause he was left on the street, let go, the case against him came crumbling down Levy negotiated a deal not only to save his own ass but Marlos) Marlo gave up his people, take care of Chris's family (etc, etc) and meanwhile they stay loyal up in prison, Marlo comes home...he gets to keep a % of his earned income...I mean shit thats a "Free pass" ...meanwhile Avon still in prison we can assume at the end of the series and prop joe dead, stringer deal, Omar dead, Mouzone either retired or back in NYC Bey in prison (bird and all the rest of the muscle in prison forever and a day) basically as for the street crowd goes...the dealers/stickup boys Marlo was one of the few that remained free in the end and ALIVE with money....oh ok he looses his rep...he isn't remembered the way Omar is...I know Marlo all he cares about is his rep, his name...and he lost that ....so in a way he lost...but if you ask ME personally I'd care MORE about the $$$$$ and being free from prison....shit nigga you can do whatever you WANT lol you free, and alive young and healthy and wealthy go travel, buy a home...get some nice cars, shittttttt (in the words of clay davis) I'd be just fine ending up like Marlo's character...but I think we all know Marlo is tempted by the streets its where he feels most natural...being on a corner TAKING a corner...hes a soldier...like Avon, whereas Stringer thats all he ever wanted to get away from the dope corners, the ghetto ass mind-set (where you can't turn the other cheek, you gotta be ruthless, can't show flex) Stringer wanted to be a legit businessman, tailored suits...nice car, turn that dirty drug money into legit money clean as a virgins honey pie...retire and live comfortably (basically Marlo gets = what Stringer always wanted) sad so sad lol....but in the end he truely does win, Omar may have the reputation/legendary name on the streets but he's a slab of meat in the morgue...so how do you win if you are dead ? thats my TAKE on it....my favorite season is 4 because the " look at education system...or the LACK of the education system " kids are going to learn...the question is: where ? - that whole season + Stanfields crew were newer/younger the new generation even more ruthless then the last (some say no honor, no code) but I say smarter, more vicious Avon seemed to be a talker...you know all about that swag, and nice car...and you know a pimp type soldier...he had the chrome parts, the "flash"....Marlo was a down-home, straight gangster...baggy pants, a small shirt...no tattoos, no smoking or drinking no screaming or yelling, he remained calmed, heart-rate never changed...he never sweat or got nervous...he'd just remain calm no matter what he do, he'd nod his head and BOOM done, plus I loved his terminology (slang) he was quick to put a word out there so fast you'd barely understand it...Avon was more like "man...I am tired of getting PUNKED what am I gonna look like if I don't go after this cock sucker and people see him in the sunshine ...like it aint no thang to take my SHIT" that was Avon your basic soldier...not much more to him (as Prop joe said once to Stringer..."Avon a soldier...the type of guy you want when shit goes south and your back is up against the wall I know the feeling I've been there...but you don't gotta live by the gun.....thats Avon...but when it comes to business string.....(head shake)" hes basically saying Avon ain't shit for business, and sometimes Stringer wasn't shit when it came to the streets (he did some things that upset Avon) so in my opinion they had the opposite / worse qualities....Marlo was just a young-in that had street smarts, knew his way around a gun, was fast-lipped, ready to take anyone out that stepped to him, and wasn't afraid...and said very little...Chris was his best muscle (and if you ask me) the best muscle in the game...in that area, and you never saw in-fighting between Chris and Snoop and Marlo...they never went at each other, or snitched on each other or ratted or took each other down...sure they didn't last long (but that was the police, wire-tap technology, back-door lawyer deals, prop joe's mind-games w/ Omar, etc, etc) if it hadn't been for all the "mess" Marlo could of lasted alot longer, he ran his game alot tighter then Avon..never talking indoors (something only TOWARDS the end of Season 3 did Avon finally start doing around the time they got that Funeral Home/Tomkins as a place to lay their head) ....it just seemed to me Marlo was smarter, and more vicious and his crew was tighter early on....just my take, seems like alot of Wire fans want to bash Stanfields crew but love Barksdale I feel the opposite I like Stanfields crew better...they were more detached, cold blooded, they questioned nothing and there was little to no in-fighting (besides Michael questioning everything) ...I just thought they were better gangsters honestly....anyway good day sorry for long run on paragraph I guess we all have different opinions.
Many of these deep rooted organizations are and were family ran businesses where everyone from the granny on down has a part to play. Brianna is no dummy and by all accounts Im sure had a hand in the business. Every time you see her she was dressed to the nines in a professional attire.
See this is the problem with out country. There is no “black acting” as you say. These are just actors that are acting. Why even say that come on? One love
This was so fucked up!! Especially since at this time Avon knows that it was Stringer that made this happen. Truthfully, Avon should've come clean to Brianna on the side, but with how crazy everything was at the time I'm sure Avon couldn't afford more problems at the time. The fact that Stringer just sits there knowing full well what he did is enough to let you know it was all just business for him, not personal. But still, very ruthless of him.
G-GOD-C I disagree with what you say in regards to Avon telling Brianna. She was a horrible mother. Her guidance was the sole reason why her son was in the game. when we all knew he was never strong enough to be in it from the beginning. She didn’t deserve the truth. But in spite of it, everything that played out in this scenario, she figured it out. For the most part.
Damn....that scene was tense, cause Avon knew Stringer was behind D'Angelo's death and he felt like he couldn't tell Brianna about it. I think Stringer's role in D'Angelo's death had alot to do with Avon giving up Stringer to Brother Mouzone and Omar.
Exactly, it's all about perspective. Just like how Marlo had Bodie and Lil Kevin killed. Kevin snitched and Bodie was going to. From their perspective, those guys had to go. Avon had Lilttle Man killed, his own soldier at the end of season 1 because he had to tie up loose ends. That's how it is in their position.
For all of Stringer's smarts and Idris Elba's charisma, he is the man most directly responsible for bringing down the Organization. Always thinking he knew better, even in matters outside his purview, he kept going behind Avon's back to get things done his way, until he crippled their unity and compromised himself so badly, no other outcome was possible.
Such a great scene - the actors are all amazing. I love how Avon seizes any opportunity to turn from feelings of guilt to indignation. He knows she's right.
Briana KNEW!! She knew Avon didn’t have anything to do with it. But she also knew that Avon knew what happened. If this conversation had happened earlier Avon honestly wouldn’t have known. He probably would have just believed String and said he’d look into it. Briana probably still would have been eyeing String at some point. String would have been able to coolie parlay the question and said he was ‘on it’ all the while preparing to sabotage the internal family investigation. Briana was probably going to find out eventually though. She was upset at Avon, but they were able to mend their relationship, because Avon keep his word to do everything to help out D and tried to protect him while in prison. Avon’s sentiments of blood and family were as strong as Briana’s, which she understood. They could go on together in the face of the tragedy of D, because in both of Avon and Brianas mind they were still family. Even though it was really Brother Mouzone and Omar who executed String, Avon reluctantly gave the go ahead, and in Briana’s mind, Avon avenged D’s death...so their sense of being ‘Barksdales’ was left in tact.
Anyone saying that Avon gave up stringer over this couldn't have watched the entire show. When they fought about it stringer went off on Avon and told him that it had to be him to kill D because Avon couldnt do it to his own family. Avon realizes this and calms down because deep down he knew it was the right call. Stringer was a dead man walking for setting up the brother and Avon tried his best to save stringer but it was nothing that he could do.
I think Brianna knew it was Stringer right when Avon said he had nothing to do it notice she only looked at Avon when leaving the room she didn't even glance in stringers direction at all
If Stringer was a little more savvy he’d have know he was a dead man after telling Avon about what he did to D. He just got too prideful. Just like Avon said in their argument, not hard enough for the street life, not smart enough for the suit and tie life.
@tayluc 777 I thought this way before. They were in his war house and rolling there. Then he snitches on him like an episode later or two. Been a long time since I seen more then hours filled with days of RU-vid clips.
