How Machiavellian was Stringer Bell? Machiavellian Monday

In this episode, we will evaluate Stringer Bell, from the Wire, in terms of how Machiavellian he may have been. He will be evaluated primarily, though not exclusively, through his dealings, most notably, Avon, Prop Joe, Omar, Brother Mouzone, Marlo and Clay Davis.

[@victordomingoakabigfuentes9646]

I always felt Stringer wasnt that smart just the smartest in the room and sometimes thats all that matters… good video…

[@jdmckelvey5567]

He was smart but he was trying to apply street smarts to the business and political world where he was still just a tadpole on the food chain.

[@tekkertruth1256]

@@jdmckelvey5567 Didn’t he get an A- in a basic Economics exam. That’s not very smart.

[@jdmckelvey5567]

@@tekkertruth1256 😂

[@coolpeople4287]

In what room was he the smartest in? Even the young bucks had more street smarts than him.

[@mogreen1232]

@@coolpeople4287 🤦🏿‍♂️🤦🏿‍♂️🤦🏿‍♂️even poot

[@sasukeuchihaepicmealtime7749]

Historically, Avon always said that the Stanfields were nothing more than a glorified crew

[@renatoh.santosdasilva3080]

Marlo is a very old-fashioned guy, very allegorical.

[@mogreen1232]

@@renatoh.santosdasilva3080 That animal Chris partlow

[@renatoh.santosdasilva3080]

@@mogreen1232 Can't even say his name

[@williamrogers9004]

You had Ybi in Det., frank matthews in NY/DC, then this 'pigmy' Marlo Crew in Baltimore City

[@jeremybrown9611]

The only difference between the Stanfield and Barksdale Organizations was the perception, one side garnered more respect and the other garnered more fear. Through out the show they pretty much do the same thing. Both crews are glorified

[@juniorfortune5873]

Marlo had everything Stringer wanted in the end but didn't even want it

[@frankmurphy7234]

He also wasn't Makavelian

[@mogreen1232]

@@frankmurphy7234 Marlo instinctually knew the art of war

[@williamd2989]

In summary, String demonstrated: + a willingness and ability to learn and adapt + ambition and a clear vision for improvement - inconsistent effectiveness in handling potential threats - arrogance regarding his own capabilities - indecisiveness about committing to either the street or legit life - blindness to the negative consequences of his actions - a crippling inability to read others

[@YungSlade31]

I screenshot it cause you explained it perfectly

[@rejmasi5665]

Stringer was a Queen the board. The Queen usually falls in sacrifice for the King.

[@coolpeople4287]

Watching Stringer is painful. I find it hard to believe that he came up in the streets and didn't know some of these basic rules. Like when his guys made that hit on a Sunday.

[@christopherayettey4390]

That wasn't his fault though

[@coolpeople4287]

@@christopherayettey4390 When you're in charge. Everything is your fault. This is another example of Stringer's shortcomings.

[@thesnailiscoming..5736]

@@coolpeople4287 you have to think about attrition. They were at war . There's a unique view we have by being outside observers . But when your in wartime scenarios, attrition plays a huge part. Stress , meeting deadlines , trying to not get caught by the cops , trying to not get murdered . That can easily lead to practical decisions or decisions that might not make sense to us as we look from the outside in. So when they saw Omar on a Sunday and had a clear shot.... Shittttt

[@coolpeople4287]

@@thesnailiscoming..5736 Ah. . . "The Heat of Battle". I am sorry man. But, life is a war in many, many cases. If you're a Drug Boss decision making can make or break you. I can't give Stringer a pass for this stupid mistake. Although you've given the best excuse for Stringer thus far.

[@erroneouse1929]

@@christopherayettey4390 it was though, he gave the ok

[@Stephen-gk3ds]

THE Clay Davis? Downtown Clay Davis?

[@earlpipe9713]

SHEEEET

[@smartyhardy8924]

"Murder ain't no thang, but this is some assassination shit."

[@guiness1100]

I know this is a Machiavellian channel, but whenever I think about Stringer Bell, the Sun Tzu saying always comes to mind first... "If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle". Stringer didn't know what he didn't know (thereby didn't know himself) and certainly had no clue what his enemies were thinking (didn't know his enemy), so his demise was inevitable. Keep up the great content.

[@xelldincht4251]

the current Ukraine conflict comes to mind...

[@rasheemthebestfirstone3274]

What did stringer didn’t know? I think he thought everyone was all about the money which is what he’s about. Marlo was about his name and Omar was about the Game and respect

[@guiness1100]

@@rasheemthebestfirstone3274 Stringer studied Macroeconomics (which is the study of how the economy works as a whole) whereas to make good decisions in the Baltimore drug game, he needed to understand Microeconomics (study of decisions made by individuals in a single market). So while he was educated, he was not armed with the right information. That is why I said, he doesn't know what he doesn't know. Then, Stringer "thought" he understood what motivated Marlo and Omar and what drove their decisions, but as you pointed out, he did not. So he did not know his enemy. That is why I felt the Sun Tzu quote was appropriate.

[@CREOLEHEAT]

​@@rasheemthebestfirstone3274He couldn't understand that not everyone is driven by money & money alone. He made the fatal mistake of not understanding his opponents. He didn't understand that not every street figure just wants money. He also couldn't understand that politicians & building developers were more motivated by money than forming some partnership.

[@markb5403]

Stringer became a classic example of a self-hating social-climber. He wanted to be the academic, the property developer and still be at least a part-time gangster. Everything about him in the later episodes was about grand-standing & showing off - even the crew briefings in the Chapel, and the theatrical way he'd pull his glasses off (often when he wasn't even reading anything), it all reaks of hubris and ego. I can see how he and Avon would make a killing in the streets for real in their earlier days, but he's the classic example of throwing your brains out the window as soon as he make some money.

[@christopherayettey4390]

Was it a bad thing he wanted to be an academic

[@CREOLEHEAT]

​@@christopherayettey4390No but he went about it the wrong way. He was taking community college economic classes. Anytime he learned something he immediately tried using it to demean his subordinates. He himself didn't even know what absolved meant. Didn't think to have a separate office to conduct his real estate business & thought he could bribe his way into downtown real estate as a first year developer. He didn't even believe Clay conned him even after 9 other developers were granted permits & funds. Only when Levy mentioned the golden goose & the faucet did he finally accept that he was conned. He didn't see the red flag on only getting back 30k & after giving up 250k. A 220k loss wasn't a red flag to him. He even said the 250k like it was something to be proud of. Imagine being proud to say you spent 250k bribing a state's senator for a damn building permit.

[@darrenjohnson7857]

I agree ,but the chain of command was flawed ,a two -man tier led to jealousy &treachery .Shamrock should have been partner #3 (consilgliere_not just a secretary general ) A lot would have been diffrent he would have been privy to inside info and not just relaying orders from Stringer when Avon was locked up . Avon needed someone to trust and Stringer had this own agenda at that point.

[@VividManify]

Very well done. Do Tony Soprano and Prop Joe next🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@bullywhispers9544]

Prop Joe will definitely be done and Tony is in the works now. Thanks for watching!

[@marquesjohnson6359]

I don't know if I would call stringer machiavellian I always thought he was a visionary he had a vision of how the drug game could be it just wasn't realistic he tried to civilize the game as clay davis would say sheeeeeeeeeet

[@christopherayettey4390]

But this is how the drug business is handled today... He just needed more time!!!

[@LuisAyala-rz5on]

Stringer's problem was playing too many away games. A man without a country.

[@EddyTheMartian]

LETS GOOOOO THE WIRE VIDEOS TOO!!!

[@blackbatman3152]

How Machiavellian was James St Patrick (GHOST)

[@keyhimself3542]

How did D'Angelo pose a threat when D'Angelo had already taken the years? There was nothing D'Angelo could have done at that point to get a sentence reduction

[@renatoh.santosdasilva3080]

He could have flipped at any moment. I would. F#ck being in the can for twenty years (I compromised!), I would have sold Avon and Stringer out. But D would'n have gotten into the witness protection program, so he would be dead anyway.

[@ddavis8988]

And D'Angelo effect on Avon and his mother was problematic.

[@CREOLEHEAT]

D'Angelo had the offer to reduce his years by snitching readily available. Especially if he told McNulty that Stringer was there when Brandon was picked up & personally delivered money to him & Wallace for the hit. He could've also snitched on their current on going dealings & the fact that it was actually Avon who caused the overdoses. But, he just wanted to be left alone & do his time. I don't think he would've snitched unless his son wasn't being taken care of.

[@manniking233]

​​@@CREOLEHEATtringer could have threatened to harm his son if he dared snitch. Avon wouldn't do it. But Stringer would. Avon would absolutely flip at the extremity of the threat but the message would have gotten through to D.

[@BigA678]

We need a breakdown on the Machiavellian masters Prop Joe and Marlo

[@dcaseng]

Stringer was intelligent, but was also arrogant, which is why he got caught up in the old faucet scheme.

[@darrenjohnson7857]

In the first episode Stringer tells DeAngelo that bad dope sells better than good dope_i disagree & Stringer Bell got played by the dirty greedy politician for six figures when he could have easily went to Levy to explain the hustle of getting permits to build apartments &the whole Real estate hustle,okay i liked the thesis for a 40 degree day but Stringer is a victim of the game,he meets with Marlo when Avon is locked up /Avon would never do that *deals with Prop joe & Marlo,killing DeAngelo&etc .

[@Governing368]

Ya know, it took me a min to realize why string got with D's girl after his death. I thought it was a flex at first, but then at the end when she's crying I realized he probably did it cause he felt bad about taking D from them and did his best to slide into that role out of guilt.

[@HxH2011DRA]

Man called D a checkers player trying to teach chess 🤣 oh what a burn

[@fijiunlimited4503]

Good video! Enjoy the Machiavellian series of multiple characters from different worlds.

[@4everPhire22]

The streets don't really have a code to follow. Its a luck game. My grandpa once told me that it was a Men of no discipline with his sexual nature that made it to 70 in the game. Stringers outburst was honest and inspired FEAR in his Men..."it's better to be feared" I've read the Prince a couple times. There's are some things that can be applied but the streets can be unpredictable.

[@NomosLove]

Bully can you do a video on outrage i & ii? would love an analysis of the dude that came into power at the end of the first one one, or the dude who switched clans

[@DaveSCameron]

Very entertaining and purty clever too, many thanks young man ❤️👍

[@bullywhispers9544]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching!

[@avon_soprano97]

I hope you do a Machiavellian Monday video on Marlo Stanfield

[@LoneWolf_Cub_Ogami_Itto]

Some are best as #2, just ask Silvio Dante

[@renatoh.santosdasilva3080]

Need a Tommy Shelby episode right away.

[@therealharshlycritical]

stringer wouldnt have been able to kill omar at the second meeting butchie was his security butchie crew was his crew

[@Guiltyconscience83]

I feel like the writing for stringer just got to the point where the didn’t know how they were gonna get rid of him. I always felt he was written too smart in the earlier seasons to go out the way he did in the later seasons with dumb decisions that were completely out of character for him. Really? You think you can just sick Omar on brother muzone with that bs story without it coming back to bite you in the ass?

[@Cbart23]

Like a 40 degree day.

[@keithowens2554]

Stringer was always a couple steps behind when he was trying to go legit

[@TheGr8-1]

Great breakdown. Stringer was a fool. He was a snake who thought he was smarter than he was.

[@1sam-ef]

Clay Davis was pretty Machiavellian! He had Stringer come down to the lobby of a Federal building! 😂 Stringer didnt even get suspicious when the guy glared at him and refused a handshake!

[@WyldJezter]

Can you provide an example of a character who resisted because they were courageous just for clarity sake? I can understand the resistance due to being ambitious being applied to Marlo.

[@blackbatman3152]

Slim Charles when he rejected Marlos Offer to be in a high position.

[@dayofthelords8371]

squeak’s picture when talking about the lowest level of intelligence 😂

[@drfresh123]

What book can I read about Machiavillien laws and theory?

[@bullywhispers9544]

The Prince

[@alexruss2002]

This is the best. I really enjoy this segment

[@frankmurphy7234]

I feel like he was the most Machiavellian of all he just wasn't as smart as he needs to be

[@laurenpeterson9510]

Great video!

[@galesito1733]

Great video.

[@jonathansalinas1515]

Season 3 stringer was alot diffrent i think

[@4everfitwill429]

That cut to Big Worm had me dead 😂😂😂

[@augustoferre9707]

How maquiavellian was Marlo?

[@manniking233]

Hint: Very. But not better at it than Avon, ironically.

[@mrocto4839]

Poot made it

[@benmerliss7702]

Are you familiar with the Lions and Legions series The Wire: Lessons in Leadership sir? If you aren’t right now their content might be of interest to you in your own ongoing Machiavellian Monday series.

[@patrickhamos2987]

hey pls do more rules of power those are good. i guess for sopranos i dont really watch wire

[@jones4753]

That D’ Angelo burn was petty asl 🤣🤣🤣

[@Quisee]

I dig these videos.... most def can wait to see your analysis on Avon

[@johnravens9869]

Stringer bled green & was Avon downfall

[@Killmonger23363]

Stringer was around during hamsterdam

[@tarman8568]

Loved this approach, perfect insight👍

[@gregoryjones1426]

Great analysis and commentary!

[@VenomousStare]

I'm gonna move ya along, Strang

[@number3stunner118]

Not as much as Prop Joe was.

[@bullywhispers9544]

Have you seen the Prop Joe MM?

[@number3stunner118]

@@bullywhispers9544 after I saw this I did. l like the breakdowns of these guys. I commented in response to the title, before I watched this video, so I was in agreement when I watched. I stumbled on your channel about a week ago, and watched several character breakdowns since then. I enjoyed the Prop Joe breakdown. I think the thing with Marlo and him was that he didn't just genuinely take him under his wing to look out for him, he did two things that would've warranted death, when he set Marlo up (and let the supply get jacked). I don't think Marlo seemed disloyal to people who were truly loyal to him, from what I recall (maybe with rare exception in Michael, maybe). Marlo probably would've killed Joe himself if he'd known about the card game early on. I think Prop Joe not being enough of a lion was a very fitting description. It got me thinking... while Cheese was lowdown and slimey... if Joe would've been tougher - of course he might've killed, or disciplined Cheese at some point - but even if he wouldn't do that, if he were tougher, he might've supported Cheese in getting revenge against Brother Mouzone... whatever happened there. I believe he was genuinely trying to save his nephew, but maybe Cheese didn't see it that way - and maybe he held a grudge. It might've given him another excuse to betray his uncle, who he may have thought didn't care enough about him to back him up after he was shot. Maybe he felt less respect for Joe seeing he didn't show any sign of being a lion.

[@miguelperezrodriguez3246]

Great like always, dude

[@ronaldlymm7248]

Should do one on Putin

[@laurareese3317]

ƤＲＯ𝓂Ｏ𝕤ᗰ 😉

[@andreassveen8689]

How Machiavellian was Slim Charles?

[@roccokingofthemoais91]

He ain’t even had that much screen time Even tho he became king at the end

[@jdn2687]

I don’t know if he had enough time as an authority figure to have a Machiavellian comparison but throughout his screen time he perfectly displayed like 14 traits from the 48 laws of power, notably Never Outshining his masters and Let Others do the work you take credit for

[@marlonthomas8042]

Even though avon says he shouldn’t have asked mousonne who went after him I’ve never understood how this tipped him off that it was stringer trying o back door him

[@earlpipe9713]

Cuz it's a question that career criminals/murderers are usually only asked by police & snitches. Asking someone like Mouzone that makes oneself sus af at best, and in Stringer's case - Mouzone's next target 4sure n 4worst

[@marlonthomas8042]

@@earlpipe9713 makes sense now Just never came across properly to me Thanks

[@CREOLEHEAT]

Why would you ever ask a known hitter like Muzone who hit him? There is no need to ask him that. Either he'll volunteer or not. Either way, he will get that person or persons back. It also makes you look really suspect to offer your support to someone who was hired to protect you.

[@manniking233]

Avon didn't want Mouzone dead. If Stringer had effectively outed himself as wanting to rid of Mouzone, that meant Stringer had effectively outed himself as being insubordinate to Avon. Avon wasn't stupid. He would obviously take notice of that. Make no mistake. If Stringer weren't close friends with Avon, Avon would have had him dealt with without warning him about the mistake he made outing himself as the schemer to Mouzone. Avon was actually being nice by telling him he had effectively snitched on himself to Mouzone.