I think he's got Ant-man coming up but he should be in at least close to as much shit as Idris Elba gets now a days. Actually everyone from this show deserves everything!!
OTKP Harris was prefect in the role of Avon or other very similar roles, but sadly he has very limited acting range. He's much more of a supporting actor. Same goes for Micheal K. Willams (Omar), who's had greater overall success but suffers from the same acting short comings.
@@OnYourSquare "short acting range" he played Jimi Hendrix pretty solid. But I agree he kinda was type cast into being a gangsta but thats the role he excelled at. He talks about in an interview of why he thinks Elba and British actors are better, racism in America blah blah.
@@KtotheG u right marlo didnt have bit of charisma but he had tons of things to respect about what lot of viewers didnt catch like how he was always plannin next moves, his work ethic and determinatation. He was villain everyone hated but he was smart af.. he spoke only when he had some serious things to say, he was constantly gettin info about ppl he had conversations and he wanted to be mystery to everyone. He didnt spoke, he let his streetcred do the talkin
@@hihiihihihi8408 Bad boys move in silence. We never see Marlo raise his voice until the final season when he was in jail and Monk let it slip that Omar called him out. Marlo did have a steely presence about him onscreen. His reputation preceded him, so he didn't have to be animated.
It’s impressive how Avon accomplished 3 things in one stroke by meeting with Marlo: 1. Demonstrate that even behind bars he’s still a major player who Marlo has no choice but to respect and do business with. 2. Set Marlo up with the Greeks, thereby sealing Prop Joe’s fate, and finally getting revenge on Joe for his role in breaking the Barksdale organization. 3. Get paid $100k for essentially doing nothing, like a true businessman.
I like how Avon doesn't even blink at Marlo's $100k sticker shock - no thought of even the slightest opening for a negotiation, he just transitions seamlessly into the obligatory small talk to close it out.
He called him a “Youngin” 🤣 cuz he a OG and Marlo respects it... Avon basically gave his sis some bread and passed the torch to a fellow westsider “the game is the game,... always”
Marlo was on his back foot the whole conversation. He's completely caught off guard when Avon comes out, and he's speechless. When he does start talking, it's only responsive to avon: "yeah?" "i figured that" "hundred grand, huh?". Avon is in complete vocal control through the whole conversation. Before Marlo can figure out his next play, the meet is over and he owes $100k before he can proceed.
His whole point in doing so was he said what his price was and there is no more talking about it as far as he was concerned. There won't be a negotiation, so he just changed the topic.
The subtly of this show is amazing. Marlo walks in and it's literally packed with ppl. Avon walks in and everyone disappears. Avon has the one thing that Marlo will never have, the respect of everyone in every room he steps in. Even Brother Mouzone asked for permission to kill Stringer.
@@TreWimsical I mean Stringer was dead eitherway. But Brother did ask for it, that's why he went to Avon in the first place. In any case even if Avon said no, Brother would still kill him. The permission was more courtesy than actual permission. Had Avon said no, then Brother would kill Stringer and left Baltimore with beef. Which means all the connections that Brother (the people he worked for in NYC), would no longer be available to Avon. Which is why Brother told Avon that the only reason he went there was because of Avon's word and reputation. He gave him the courtesy to approve of Stringer's hit, so that there would be no bridges burnt.
Old comment I realize, but I love this show. Avon was all about the Barksdale name, everybody knew it. Marlo was like that in a way, but different. A lot of people didn't know Marlo, they knew Chris, and they knew Snoop, and a lot of them fools didn't know who they even worked for. Not sure if it makes sense but I feel like Marlo was a little more protective of himself, which is likely why he managed to escape the way he did, whereas Avon was just slightly more reckless. Of course by the end of it everyone knew Marlo and didn't want to end up in an abandoned, but I feel like Avon was known for something different and respect is what came from it.
"100 large huh?" "So wassup man? What's up wit you otherwise, y'know?" He just turned Marlo's question into a statement. They both know he's gonna pay it and Avon's not gonna let Marlo even pretend it's a negotiation.
@@ucfanatic1 it wasn’t about the amount because Avon got money. It was just to show him that you ain’t shit unless you go through me first. Plus the money was for his sister.
" Number 2 ." Marlo's place in the room is instantly told to him literally and figuratively, hes in the number 2 seat in the room and in the situation. The wire is a masterpiece in story telling.
@@ajmairdhanoa3627 and to think this guy prob made it all the way through grade school without learning any basic comprehension skills. That's RU-vid comments for you tho
@@batchagaloopytv5816 a nervous smile and look around after you see the face of your enemy something going down no such thing is that big a coincidence
I will always remember being a senior in college when season 5 started, my roommates and I had been prepping for weeks watching seasons 1-4. I had a date with new chick earlier in the evening and she had said "let's do dinner early bc season 5 of the wire starts tonight and I don't wanna miss it......." She had good taste so....I married that girl.
@@Ramble79 As one RU-vid podcaster said, “A true king inspires in his subjects not fear but loyalty.” Also the times Marlo talked about wearing the crown can be tied into the words of Tywin Lannister: “Any man who must say ‘I am the king’ is no true king.”
but then when Marlo didn't really bite or switch gears he transitioned immediately back to all business. smooth. not much different from what you would expect from a CEO of a big company, which he essentially was really.
Wood Harris made Avon Barksdale a legendary icon. The suspense of having seen very little of him in the first season made your eyes glued to him whenever you did see him. His mannerisms, the way he talked, all of that was like magic.
what's interesting, and funny, about this whole scene is.. Marlo, at this point in the story, TRULY thought HE was the man. but seeing Avon, and hearing the conversation. you see, he's still learning.
Ashley Moore he left the game like he entered it, unknown. The closing scene where here tussles with the young cats, he's left the game and yet his name did not carry any weight for all tne bodies he had stuffed in abandoned row houses, avg corner boys didn't know who he was. Remember the jail scene when he told chris he wanted his name to ring out… Avon, hell Omar never had to make such declarations. Recall when Omar went to get cereal and on His way back to the hideout, leans against a stash house and with not a word uttered they drop the package down to him. For all the carnage Marlo and crew wreaked, that lvl of reputation never was bestowed on them.
@@80sOutrunFan Marlo certainly wasn't no fool tho. I mean Chris and snoop respected him for a reason. Avon definitely had a bigger name but Marlo wasn't no play thing neither...
@@jr5925 yea slim charles had the drop on Marlo, snoop and Chris. The old Avon swuad with webey, bird, stinkum and them definitely would have taken Marlo out but I was just saying folks acting like Marlo got where he's at because of pure dumb luck. Marlo was as cold blooded as Chris an them if not colder. And he was no fool is all im saying.
"Let me help you find your tongue..." - I've been using that line ever since I heard it when this episode aired. It works perfect when people try to play dumb like they don't know what I'm talking about.....Like my kids.
i've been using a marlo line for a couple years now and it stops people dead in their tracks. when someone doesn't see this big picture and thinks something is unfair i hit em with "you want it to be one way... but it's the other way"
my grandma used to only watch the news and mexican soap operas until one day see sat with me and watched an episode of The Wire with me, she really liked it so i decided to watch it from the beginning with her. ill never forget the first time she watched this scene and was so happy, she really liked avon. i miss her so much
Oliver B Yes!! And I think it’s one of most important scenes from this series. Although D’angelo taught his boys about “the king stay the king”, in Season 1, Avon showed exactly what that looks like in Season 5.
I say when that one kid, forgot his name, haven't watched the show in 5 years, get left behind after losing everything in season 4 and goes "what about me huh" then ends up in foster care
This conversation compared to the one Marlo had with Stringer says a lot about the characters and why Marlo had more respect for Avon than he did for String. Stringer tried to come in schooling Marlo like a youngin' and offering him deals to avoid beef. Avon approached him from a position of power easily reading Marlo's intentions while presenting unwavering terms.
Stringer. Stringer. Stringer. Stringer failed to realized that you have to meet people where they are at. You cannot divulge plans and make moves on the basis of others. Everyone is not meant to be a participant because they don't share the same mentality or vision as you. The irony is that what he envisioned, the East and West sides wound up doing ANYWAYS. Stringer should have been the head of the pack. The lesson learned here is that everyone is not meant to grow with you, move with you and make money with you. Any threat to your plans must be eliminated by any means necessary. That is how a true King operates. When the two groups were warring with one another, Stringer's methodology of taking over the product using the CO-OP probably would have worked because he would have had the power of both the East and West sides. He just should not have told Marlo about it. He should not have snitched on Avon. He could have just let Avon and those who participated in dropping Marlo and his crew, go to prison for life while he runs the CO-OP. Stringer talked too damn much!
@@doveyhandwand Stringer just got too big headed thinking he can actually run things with his way of thinking even Avon saw that however Stringer should have known that the game he was in is how Avon put it best “Streets is the streets” that’s why Stringer got played by them politicians too. Avon was far different breed than Stringer was..🤷🏿♂️
This is one of my favorite scenes in all of The Wire. His whole time in the series, Marlo succeeds through completely obliterating his competition and ignoring the rules of the game. Then, when he’s so close to being at the top, Avon makes a boss move and FORCES Marlo to play the game.
Nah. Marlo never obliterated shit. He was the beneficiary of a whole lot of good luck going his way, like Avon getting taken down by the cops right before Avon and company were heading out to slaughter his entire crew, and then again when Omar got killed shopping for cereal by that little piece of shit Kenard. Marlo never defeated anyone, and that’s why at the end nobody on the street remembers him.
"Forces Marlo to play the game"....this is peanuts for Marlo. Remember that Avon laughed at 10K for Cutty? Marlo would've been ready to pay this money to Sergei himself had he asked for it
@@alexgruzglin4239 Did you watch the show? Marlo was already sending Sergei money in jail and he wasn't interested just off of that. He sent Avon to speak to him. Avon forced Marlo to play the game on his terms and pay him money to vouch for him to Sergei and get access to the Greek. Marlo had bypassed everyone including Prop Joe and the Co-Op to get to that point, but he had no choice but to pay Avon. Also being put into that position by someone you had life or death beef with is deeper lol.
😄😄😂😂🤣🤣. I just love that line "I got nothing but love...". LHH. 😄😂🤣 Avon was just about to hit Marlo and his people before he got arrested --- Oh boy!!! LHH
That laugh after Avon says “surprise” always gets me😂 Avon knows Marlo thought he’d never see him again. Marlo realizes even with Avon in prison he still can’t get the plug unless Avon allows it. Avon gave it to Marlo knowing he wouldn’t be able to handle all the pressure that comes with the Crown.
I hate that we didn't get one more season with Avon back out and marlo having caught several head shots and ironically left to rot in an abandoned building
Stringer had higher opinion of himself than he actually deserved. Marlo was probing for weakness the whole time he was being lectured by Stringer. After the meeting, he told Michael to tool up for war. Here, he was trying to get to Greek to cut out Co-Ops, but Avon was standing in his way. He literally have nothing to hold over Avon except to pay the toll to get what he wanted.
I feel like this is the only time he really lets his guard down when talking to someone outside his circle, especially when compared to how he treated joe and the co op
I just peeped what Avon was doin! In season 1 prop Joe took 100 large off Avon from the basketball game. Then put Omar on his ass. So now Avon is getting his revenge on prop Joe by gettin his 100 grand back and puttin Marlon on him! Genius!
I just love how Marlo instantly checks his surroundings after Avon enters the room to be sure he isn't being set up. NEVER will there be a police/crime drama like The Wire. Five seasons and the only time we see the police shoot their weapons is when that cop was killed by friendly fire. A true masterpiece!
Nah, those three numbskulls fired at ghosts when they harassed the people in the projects. I wanna say it was just Prez who fired his gun. I can't remember if Carver or Herc fired, though Herc did get injured.
@@leroystokes8501pretty sure they were all firing up into the projects blindly. Lmao I laughed so hard at that We also hear Prez shoot the wall in the first season but I don't know if that counts
The way he stands straight, purses his lips, raises his shoulder, takes a stylized cough, raises his pants, takes a seat and says surprise casually. These 10 seconds have more character than the whole of some TV shows. Simply brilliant!
I liked how Marlo took Avon calling him a "natural businessman" almost as a compliment. When you think back about his problems with Stringer and Stringer trying to be a "businessman", Avon probably expected Marlo not to last that long in the game.
Even locked up, Avon had control of the streets. He could have easily reached out to Slim Charles, and had him give word back to Prop Joe, about Marlo's motives. Avon knew Joe's connect, and had a direct link to them in prison! Another thing about Avon which is constantly referenced in the Wire, is his love of family. By forcing Marlo to pay his sister money, shows that even while in prison, he's still concerned with providing for his loved ones. Avon was a street dude with a good heart, highlighted best, when he donated extra money for that boxing gym-and didn't even want his named associated with it. Wood Harris should have gotten an award for this role.
+denmark555 What makes you think that money was actually going to his sister? Everything in prison is done this way- drug deals, bribes, etc. Everything is taken care of outside of the prison itself between trusted people from different parties, including family members.
+denmark555 Like i've said in another comment here though, Avon was being blinded by his Westside/Eastside petty BS. Even though he warned Stringer about Marlo being unreasonable, he himself doesn't realize Marlo respects nothing and no one. Avon was getting too old for the game by this point, and it shows.
They ain't no old or young when you about of the game it becomes your life especially when about how avon how family ties that is also in the game that came way before him
"What separates men from lesser men? Predators from prey? Fear. Predators smell it, and walk away when they don't." I've never seen a scene that encompasses this idea more than this one. Marlo is definitely a predator, but a young one: he compensates for his lack of experience with aggression and ruthlessness. So when Marlo runs into Avon, the old predator who's survived every battle and every war up until this point while still maintaining control even behind bars, he's smart enough to know that Avon has no reason to fear him.
I love reading the RU-vid Comment section for this show. You guys are so n'sync with this show that it gives it new life. Much Respect to the true "The Wire" fans!
The comments to some of these type videos are part of the strengths of youtube. You watch these shows for years alone and then finally get a community to talk with about the Wire. There have been a lot of little details the Wire community on RU-vid has brought up, that I didn't initially grasp. The Wire fans as a group are cool, witty, and intelligent. :)
One of the greatest by-products of The Wire is reading fellow RU-vidrs analyses in the comments section. Why don't I know anyone in real life who I could talk this shit to? I love it. High five!
+Rickie See That's the mark of a really good show/movie/book, whatever. There are so many layers to analyze the conversation could go on forever. Even better, it's comparable to not just life in the ghetto but America and the rest of the world. That's why it outdoes Sopranos and any other great TV show - and only the astute ones pick up on it. =)
Avon was shrewd, plain and simple. Somewhere between the natural business mind of Stringer Bell and the sheer ruthlessness of Marlo Stanfield, you get Avon Barksdale - who was the best of both worlds.
True, but for the gangster at heart they don't even care about money once they've gotten to that point. The culture of it was the most important thing to them.
Marlo had no shelf life his career was over before it started and without Stringer Avon would not have had the success he did. The game is the game and once the politicians and the soldiers/policemen got into their game these guys were done. Anonymity was their only protection ultimately.
Vincent said it "prison and graveyards full of boys who wore the crown" and Marlo's response "but at least they wore it". He walked away while very other would be kingpin was dead or locked up.
When Marlo says "the game is the game" as a throwaway line, Avon takes it to heart and says "Always". Marlo cared more about his name than the game, but the game was all he had. Avon cared more about the game than his name, and in the end while he didn't run the game any longer like he used to, he had the power of his name and the respect that came with it.
How did you come to this conclusion? Both of them cared equally about their name, and they both cared about the game. They just moved differently. Avon and Marlo was very similar.
In a sense when he said “fuck all them eastside bitches” he got it stuck in Marlo’s head and turned him loose on Prop Joe and the Co-Op. he was using Marlo to get back at Joe. Even after Marlo fell people still knew Avon.
This show had some ABSOLUTE gem scenes. If you don't refresh your memory, you might have seen shows come after it and think they can compare. Then you see scenes like this and remember it was untouchable
The brilliance of The Wire was that everything was relevant and how this one scene with Avon and Marlo plays out can be traced all the way back to season 1 where D'Angelo was schooling Bodie and Wallace on chess. The king stays the king regardless if you catch him and Avon proved that.
Marlo was always saying the Barksdales where weak but he seemed pretty impressed and had a certain level of awe when finally facing Avon. He still sensed Avon was dangerous even in prison. Marlo was looking around for his safety when Avon when he saw him coming out the door.
@@SlimBandit211 Just as the scene when Avon brazenly walk across a baseball field and the game stopped for him. He's what they call shot caller inside jail.
The way Marlo dealt with Omar was weak compared to the Barksdales. Avon was willing to let his troops handle it themselves, meanwhile Marlo set Omar up with a false body and was gon have guys on the inside do the deed (and that plan woulda worked had it not been for Bunk)
At 1:52 , Probably only time you hear Marlo laughing . Marlo laughing because Avon figured him out and is explaining his play that he has in motion . Marlo was probably flattered. Avon carried this scene like a boss .
Contrast this conversation between Avon and Marlo compared to the conversation between String and Marlo. String didn't read him right at all. Avon read Marlo like a book and knew EXACTLY what buttons to push and what words to use. It was like watching a master at work. This is a clear example of why a 'String' needed an 'Avon'. If Avon had met Marlo in one of those vacants rather then String, It would have been a completely different storyline and Avon would have quickly come up with some plan to deal with him. String was blind to Marlo's motives and MO. Avon saw Marlo a 'mile away..' Great scene. Interesting this was the first time they spoke in person. It's like they already had an ongoing conversation.
mikem987 Stringer saw what he wanted to see, Avon saw what was actually there. With Stringer, he wanted things to be different than they were. With Avon, he had no illusions. Unlike Prop Joe or Stringer.
Clarence Clayborne Good analysis. String was more of a 'realist' in Season 1-2, but started to think he could 'change the game' and bring a legitimate side of business to the drug trade. He started to have more missteps as a result, being blinded by his own desires that he could reform 'the game'. Avon continued to 'see what was there' and had an accurate analysis of Marlo, and the need to take action.
mikem987 I love to read these convos about this stuff...truth of the matter....Avon saw a lot of him in Marlo....he was just the new generations version...just as loyal to the game...just as gritty and grimy, but not as thoughtful, and "coded"
mikem987 Yeah! Because at the end of season 3 when Avon was sentenced that was the first time he had seen Marlo when he came to the sentencing. You kind of feel like they really knew each other.
+mikem987 I agree with you except on 1 small point:Avon wouldn't have bothered with meeting Marlo in the vacants.That's a 100% Stringer/co-op type move there.
People don't realize how Avon manipulated Marlo here. He basically sold a connect for 100k and got rid of his greatest adversary, Proposition Joe. Avon knowing Marlo was far too wild, as he himself was at a younger age, knew he would fuck something up without a Stringer. Lo and behold, Slim his 2nd in command becomes the group de facto leader which means when Avon get's out in 4 years he will single handily run both the East and West side.
Andrew Li He runs the prison , where Sergei is incarcerated. Marlo could not get to Sergei without Avon, thus he sold the plug by letting the meet happen between Marlo and Serg. The Greeks didn't want to do business with Marlo but they understood he would keep coming back until he got what he wanted. So they had to let Prop Joe get whacked. Anyway what people don't realize is that Avon is the boss still, running mental games on people. When he gets out he will have more money and power than before.
prop joe wasnt his biggest adversary ...marlo was...prop was on the eastside its always been like that....marlo was the one he went to war with...not joe... slim isnt giving up the crown to avon cause its not a crown anymore..its still co op
Mike valenzula Prop Joe was the East side leader. Stringer and Avon spent years battling the East side for turf until they split territory. The East side had the ports and thus better connects, but the west had the real estate. Which means the projects which provided hundreds of local buyers who were dependent on state welfare. Meaning easy sales. Avon set up the domino's, making himself the king as he is still the leader of the West-side and prison gangs. Slim being Avon's 2nd in command would control the situation until he got out.
This scene just goes to show that Avon understood something Marlo never ever really did throughout the duration of the show, except for maybe at the very end. Avon recognized that to rule the streets he had to balance out the FEAR that people had for him with RESPECT. Avon operated in a way where he had both; people wouldn’t cross him not only because they knew they would suffer, but also because if they were loyal to him, he would look out for them. That’s why even when he was locked up and had most of his muscle swept off the streets by Marlo, he was still in a position of power over him here. He had the respect of the Greeks and the Russians because they knew he lived by a code, and could be counted on to be a reliable partner. Marlo didn’t understand that. He figured he could demand people’s respect through absolute ruthlessness, but all he really did was make people fear him. Sure, they wouldn’t step to him since they couldn’t beat his muscle, but if they ever got a chance to do so, they would, because they hated him. All of Marlo’s ruthlessness was what brought the law down upon him, and it also backfired because people were wary of doing business with him because they knew he was a snake and would off them the second it could benefit him or help him consolidate his power.
In the end Marlo lost Chris and Snoop too. Avon wins the long game. Slim and Fat Rick have the connect. He also put the bug in Marlo's ear to get rid of Prop Joe who fucked him over earlier and gets the 100K back.
Yep and I'd argue that String showing a repeated lack of any kind of code of principles (murdering people on his own side, screwing their girls, repeatedly double crossing and snitching, etc) served to highlight how even with a lot of power and money, living without a code and constantly screwing people over will come back to bite you. Another good foil to Avon
Avon - OG. Period. People are clearly NOT GETTING the point of this scene. It's very clear, YOU WON'T MAKE IT IF I DON'T LET YOU. Simple. Avon proved once and for all that regardless of his being shot, being locked up twice, losing soldiers, String everything else, what he worked hard to protect remained solid and that is his reputation and NAME. Your name means everything in a game like this. It is make or break. Avon knew his good name was all he needed to stay the king. The King stays the King. Period. Avon showed Marlo what it looks like to really be a Kingpin and it's obvious Marlo knew that. He was somewhat bemused but he knew what it was. Ultimately Avon set his perimeters, made his demand, and SWITCHED the topic of the conversation. It was quick. I want this money. Not because I need it. Because you need me. Now, moving on. How have you been doing? HAHAHA! Avon is the King. Period. Anyone that does not see that does not get the game.
Yeah but unfortunately most ppl missed out on that "observation". Few ppl actually completely understand this show, and it's greatness. It don't make those of us that do "smart". It just makes those that don't, that much stupider.
franciso7 Correct, and that is a product of the superb level of writing exercised on the show. I mean it has been over 10 years since this show aired, and you still find videos, and topics all over about this show littered with petty quabbles about the plot and the characters. A true testament to great writing. Something that is absent today from pretty much the mass majority of products out on television, and the cinema. The casting, direction, and character development seen on The Wire, is what makes it one of the best TV dramas ever made.
franciso7 Well that is fine, you are entitled to your opinion, but why then look up clips on YT? I hate the Sopranos, think it is one of the most overrated TV shows ever. I don't go looking for it's clips on YT either...
franciso7 Because it is a valid point/argument, and because of the large number of trolls who pollute this service. Regardless how you came upon the video. You VIEWED it, and then went out of your way to reply to someone's comments about it. Comments based on an episode which comprised the final (5th) season of the show nonetheless. YT is well known for spamming you with useless recommendations, so if a video's topic is of non interest to you, well then just skip it and keep it moving. If you go out of your way to view it, and then, even reply to a fan's comment, and then pose no argument other than "I don't like the show", well excuse my stereotyping, but I'm inclined to lean on the side of a trolling comment.
I honestly believe Wood Harris was one of the best actors in this show, and that's saying something, considering frinking everyone in this show was insanely brilliant.
Thank you! Wood Harris, Lawrence Fishburne and Idris elba are in a league of their own, but Wood Harris was definitely the best actor in this show, it was too obvious.
@@petecodes This isn't about foreign actors being able to play a convincing accent, it is about who is the better actor and who played their role more convincingly. Yes, Idris deserves credit for his accent and acting. But Wood Harris played his role so naturally and well it was on another level.
@@user-ot1ue5qc5e I don't think it's fair to downplay Idris like that. They had different roles, and nobody could have played Stringer better than he did, just like Harris was perfect for Avon, Idris was perfect for Stringer. Maybe you just like Avon's character more.
I remember when they showed that part as a cut scene preview for the Next Episode we couldnt wait to see how it played out I thought Avon was getting out
I never get tired of watching this scene (or the scene where Wee-Bey cops to all the murders while eating his pit sandwiches). Unbelievable how much is conveyed in 2 1/2 minutes via a brief conversation, verbal intonation, body language, etc. And kudos to many of the commenters for helping me better understand some of the nuance, which broadens my appreciation for the scene with each additional viewing.
Entertain Me yeah but you cant expect two corner boys to know what marlo or avon even look like. I mean Avon didnt even want his pic up in cuttys gym. Kingpins are known by name, they aint gonna go themselves to each corner to check how the package is. They got soldiers to do that like chris and wee bey who corner kids would recognise. Marlo and Avon dont get themselves involved in that shit they stay away keep a distance. Omar was always gonna be known as a gangster though more than anyone he was a hero to people cus he played with dealers like that he went to corners and robbed people. If you ask who was more loved than thats easily avon cus marlo was droppin people like anything and avon had principles. The name Marlo is always gonna be big in Baltimore even if people dont have a face to attach to it
never thought about that whole Marlo, Stringer, Avon wants.. so guess Avon won, cause he end up with what he wanted.. power in the name. he didnt care about being legit from what i remember..
That “always” is incredibly powerful because it signifies the continuous nature of this game. No matter who the players no matter the wins and losses, the game will always be the game. The point of this show I believe is that life/game keeps going no matter what.
Just want to add two little bits to that. The continuous nature is how the creators Dave Simons felt when he covering the Baltimore war on crime. Most of the cops aren' t heroes, and most of the criminals were stucked in their lives since they are born. The game also refered that these gangsters are merely chess pieces. Here we had two kings, they may have a crown, but they never escaped from the board while Clay Davies robbed the city in open daylight in the court of law.
I feel like Avon respects that Marlo understands that. Avon fought Stringer because he wanted to depart from that lifestyle. Avon sees Marlo understands it the way he does.
Avon played the long game so well. He knew Marlo would kill Prop Joe who was loved by the entire co-op, would then make enemies on the east-side while still having Omar on his back. Then Marlo would be dead or forced out and everybody would turn to Avon again. Even Chris was in Avon's crew at the end of the series. Damn.
Facts!! even at the end of the series when Marlo beat the charges and tried to reassert himself, them two dudes who he fought off barely knew who he was....he went from a short-term king to a dude fighting off some random dudes on an empty-ass corner, and he didn't even walk away from that without getting touched.
Chris wasn't in Avon's crew. He and Weebay just happened to be in the same predicament, both the right hand/shooter for their mans and both needed up getting life, killers respect killers and it's more likely they were just having conversation
You dont understand that scene at all, it isnt about Marlo not being recognized. Its about how Marlo is 100% ghetto and nothing will change it...apposed to stringer who was the opposite.
somebody didbt understand the show did they? Chris was never in Avon crew. infact there was no Barksdale left by the time Chris got sentenced . that scene was simply showing that Weekend Bay, axons top shooter. and Chris, Stanfield top shooter both ended up the same . doing life in Jessup. They knew if eachother and respected eachother and that was that. Likely Bay was showing Partlow the ropes inside and welcoming him to that world .
*The difference between Avon and Marlo is that Avon was respected. Marlo was feared. Respect gets you a long way in life. Feared can only take you so far. Notice by the end of the series that the 2 corner kids who confronted Marlo didn’t even know, recognize or acknowledge Marlo. It’s like he never even existed in the game. That’s how you know that fear will never get you as far as respect does.*
Reminds me of the scene in Season 3 where Avon walks across the baseball field to talk to Cutty before Cutty's release and the game stops until he is off the field. He never even looks at the game, it's just assumed that he has the respect that he can cross a field and a bunch of convicted violent felons won't do a thing to stop him.
"Sergey stepped to me the other day to say this nigga Marlo... who he didn't know...". Even that was a cold punch to Marlo's egomaniacal gut. He might be earning a lot of money, but already the world seems unaware of him, and it only gets worse for the rest of the season, as you realise he'd pay his final cent to be recognised.
Now that I think about it. Marlo had many problems with his name not carrying the weight he wanted it too. When Omar was running around robbing and burning his stash and money and calling him out, No one told Marlo. Chris told him he didn't need to worry about that kind of stuff. Marlo was pissed, he said his name is his name. Then when he approached those random corner boys, they didn't even know who he was either. All that killing and drug dealing for seemingly nothing.
I think it’s about respect VS fear, would you rather be respected or feared?? Chris and Snoop, on Marlos behalf, envoked fear.. when they showed up together you knew it was the ending for someone. But no one really respected Marlo he muscled his way to the top but he didn’t earn the respect Chris and Snoops name rang out more than Marlos TBH
One of the greatest scenes between two kingpins ever. The dialogue is so authentic but the tension & uncertainty between them is ever-present even through the glass. brilliant
truthiz I'd say Marlo is the king of the streets but being Avon being in control of the prison made him the king of kings, just as in real life whoever control the prison controls the streets to some degree
Malo actually made it to be Queen piece. Very powerful piece, most powerful piece but still not the most important piece and can still be replaced. A King piece stays King and cannot be replaced, there is just another King but a King doesn't replace the other piece its just his time to rule.
Marlo got played so hard in this scene lmao. Avon knew that Marlo would fuck up the connect because he's not smart enough to handle business like that, at the same time Avon also knew that he could use Marlo to take out Prop Joe from the picture. At the end who had the Greek connect? Slim Charles aka Avon's crew!
LIBERALGUNSMOKER Marlo didn't buy anything for 100 grand, Avon didn't have the connect to sell it. He got that 100k from Marlo just so he could talk to Sergei and MAYBE convince the greeks to even talk to him... He took out Prop Joe and Marlo from the picture at the same time. I'm not even sure if Marlo ever got his 10 million but that's a fraction of what money they make on selling dope and Avon's crew were only supposed to pay like 500k out of that since everyone from the coop chipped in...
"let me help you find your tongue" Avon was diplomatic n a gangster at the same time he put his emotions to the side for business. very well written for each character
I'm so glad he was shook, looking around wondering if he would leave or this was a hit, lol. He had the nerve to be scared when he was a cold blooded mass murderer who left people to rot in abandoned houses for the fuck of it or because he was so paranoid about snitches.
