The Wire: Stringer Bell - It's Business

[@soldierboy2350]

Stringer was actually always my favorite character while he was around. I never hated him.

[@alleyoop4465]

I came here to say that very thing. I liked Wallace more though.

[@nickm8874]

Watch it again. The more you watch it, the more you realise what a weasel he is ... I liked him at the beginning too

[@Jayzone702]

He’s still my favorite character for the entire series

[@alleyoop4465]

He wasn't a weasel. He was a man without a country. He rose above the street but had nowhere to land among the "civilized" gangsters in so-called polite society.

[@Stealyogirl8989]

He wasn't a weasel but he definitely wasn't a good person. But thats kind of the point of the wire, no one is. He was a fascinating character though and edris Elba was fn amazing in that role

[@amdhd6990]

i finished the wire last month and i hate that i'll never be able to watch it for the first time again

[@lubbucs546]

Samuel Fabiny I understand, but it gets better with every rewatch. I’ve watched it every year for the last 7 years and have seen it all 16 times I believe. It’s better with every viewing.

[@isabelpiano9938]

I've been saving season 5 for two years... But i do need closure

[@trinityproj3ct]

The Caught on the Wire podcast adds a ton of detailed nuance and insight into the show, good for rewatching the series.

[@buruxaaribes9008]

Samuel Fabiny I’ve never watched it. I really want to though

[@kabooby0]

You may never get that first watch again, but the second watch is almost better because of the amount of detail you missed the first time.

[@sota2729]

I always thought about Stringer as a deeply tragic character. The smart guy who was born and stuck in the vicious circle of poverty and violence and didn't see the way out except for drug dealing and killing. He didn't belong to street life and didn't belong to so-called civilized life because he just doesn't know how to live and navigate there.

[@jkeutsch]

He might have learned and changed eventually, but he was in "a line of work" where mistakes were suicide, vs "career suicide".

[@shawbrothers18]

Well said

[@Leeterthanthou]

the thing is where we see it as a "vicious circle" everything he would have done would have been applauded (EVERYTHING) in a position of higher renown

[@doveyhandwand]

The thing is nobody does.

[@KtotheG]

Stringer was not that smart. He just knew how to read.

[@JMasonManning]

I think it's because of Denny 'Cutty' Wise that you can see Avon is the better man to Stringer. When Cutty wanted out, Avon respected his loyalty enough to let him go; even happily investing some money to help him set up a boxing studio. Do you think Stringer would've let Cutty so easily walk away?

[@OnYourSquare]

That's a good point. Morally Stringer and Avon were the same. Murder is murder. But their business values differed. Avon valued reputation. Stringer valued money. And defending what they valued, is what lead each to their downfall. Avon was outwardly violent and inwardly loyal to those who were reputable. Sting was passive in public but scheming and violent in private, with no loyalties. They were the bizzaro, reverse mirror image of each other.

[@twokingz04]

Good point.

stringer woulda agreed to give him the money and then whacked him

[@GeraldHarris-cf2zh]

Actually I can see Stringer letting Cutty walk away.

[@bryanplayz605]

@@GeraldHarris-cf2zh and I think there's a little red tip at the end of your cane.. string did nothing 4 anyone unless it helped him in some way. he only pretended 2 b avon's 2nd 2 get a closer shot at surpassing him, and moved 2 do so ever damn chance he got!

[@Photomeike]

I probably only caught half of what the lovely lady was saying because I got caught up in the nostalgia of The Wire.. Probably time for a re-watch of all 5 seasons

[@charlesgordon5156]

PhotoMeIke, thought the same thing while watching

[@lubbucs546]

Do it! I’ve seen it 16 times through. It still gets better every time. The Wire is perfect television show.

[@bigwrnrg]

I've watched it beginning to end 6 times already. It's simply the greatest show ever put on television.

[@VerGiLL1]

Cosmonauteable yes you should. I re-watch The Wire at least once a year and it´s not so "magical" as the first time but everytime you notice something more more details. Honestly for me The Wire is the best show i ever seen, and seeing as how things are progressing i doubt we will se something as good or real as this again.

[@ouareaugirl]

'lovely lady' lmao yikes

[@HistoryTime]

The greatest tv show ever made. An epic saga of monumental proportions.

[@HistoryTime]

Ps loved the video

[@thetake]

Thank you so much!

[@ishakali3421]

Breaking bad

[@mwoods4608]

Snowfall is trying to catch up. Not all the way there, but its really good!!

[@nickpagano7134]

sopranos is best

[@hgbugalou]

Stringer's downfall was thinking he was smarter than anyone who came from the street and not knowing when to fall back. His constant obsession with getting Omar and then lying to Brother Mouzon. He was trying to outsmart Brother and Omar over street stuff, but they easily outsmarted him because street stuff wasn't his forte, despite his business acumen. What made Marlo dangerous is he was a combination of Stringer's business smarts and ruthlessness, and Avon's street smarts. None of Avon's codes though.

[@TheGiftof7PRESENTS]

Michael O FACTS Imagine if Michael was the next evolutional step.

[@rouskeycarpel8652]

Michael O Also he betrayed Avon with a fugazi(my word for fake/subpar) street stupid decision which was killing D.Killing D was stupid since Brianna already talked him out of itm

[@houseofmatrix6174]

Michael O I don't think marlo was as smart as stringer he was more tactical and ruthless he was smart tho

[@TheGiftof7PRESENTS]

Malek Clay Marlo was smarter Stringer in the sense of cutting out Prop Joe after using him as much possible and dismantling the co-op and understanding how valuable the lawyer was. He was smarter than Avon in regards to keeping a lower profile once established, the key 🔑 moment came when he stated that not every corner “off-brand ass” was necessary/worth grabbing.

[@houseofmatrix6174]

ldg_ 7th I think he was ruthless how way played prop joe but Avon connects and actually plan to kill Omar.Stringer was so stadegic he knew Bodie every move when he went philly and out maneuver everybody until he was kill

[@Hard31337]

This video is like a 40 degree day.

[@stupidrules1000]

Well said.

[@tiaramoore3729]

Well Said...So much Bla Bla Bla...Its Erks me when The Dominant Society Creates a Socio-Economic Paradigm to entrap and destroy African American Males and their Community and then make "Long Nose high minded so called Intelligent analysis Videos" to explain the intricate details of the destruction they have fostered and help create "smh"

[@johnyoung7959]

@@tiaramoore3729 Damn, I got halfway through the video and felt like something was off. You explained exactly how I felt.

[@Lisekplhehe]

@@tiaramoore3729 Not the same people ( hard to grasp i know) but i feel you my afrcan american male.

[@positivecontacts]

@@tiaramoore3729 Wasn't the video criticising Stringer as an instrument of Capitalism, and of the machinations of capital to be cold-blooded, the loss of one man's way to another, against his own people.

[@KayleeCee]

The Wire has some of the finest casting work that I've ever seen in a TV show, or a movie for that matter. And it's just such a good show!

[@lucacosta3366]

Kaylee F Have you seen The Sopranos?

[@deb7457]

Kaylee F True! There were so many great young actors on this series.

[@WildWestSamurai]

While I agree Stringer Bell was a cold-blood, calculating individual, I can't say I quite hate him. As a viewer, I wanted him dead, sure, but I also sympathized with him. He was an ambitious man who wanted to escape the world he grew up in, by whatever means necessary. There's a part of me that admires that. Marlo Stanfield, on the other hand, is an incredible lesson in irony because he's not only more cold-blooded than Stringer - it really doesn't get any more ruthless and fucking petty than having a working man murdered just for talking back because you stole a goddamn 50-cent lollipop - but he gets the deal of a lifetime where he gets to walk free AND gets to associate with legitimate businessmen through his lawyer. Essentially, Marlo gets the kind of deal Stringer would've LEAPED AT. And Marlo, motherfucker that he is, STILL can't accept this and goes back onto the street to fight a couple random punks just because they don't respect him or even know his name. While Stringer can be an evil son of a bitch, he at least tries to be pragmatic about it and (arguably) has ambitious end goals. Every evil act by Marlo is committed solely for the sake of his name being respected and feared. It's telling that the ONE time on the show Marlo gets genuinely emotional and angry is when he hears Omar openly disrespected him in the street and he didn't know about it. Omar is dead and in the ground, and Marlo STILL can't let that blatant disrespect go. Marlo's the kind of guy who in ancient times could win a war, with his enemies' lands sewn with salt, and still be obsessed with some cook who spat in his food. Marlo is ruthless and efficient like Stringer, but his evil is (in my opinion) worse because of how unbelievably spiteful and petty it is.

[@xorpe7172]

Ive heard this a lot, but I really can't help but despise Stringer Bell

[@GeraldHarris-cf2zh]

WildWestSamurai I think i share your opinion on this, you and this video have helped me undestand stringer a little more. I never despised him despite the Wallace and 'DAngelo killings. Marlo on the other hand while ruthless was like you say petty, a reason I never cared for his character. His hit on Bodie was the only one of his killings that was on point, Bodie had enough of seeing how Marlo was ( so does Micheal to some degree) and was definitely going to try and bring Marlo down.

[@modomL]

That's actually the point in markos case He doesn't want business but he can't go back and all wants in the street essentially It's a living hell

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

The 'Game' went from being a business held up by abstract means - to the 'Game' for the sake of itself. Marlo is the most efficient aspects of both Avon and Stringer, he will grow old and eventually someone new and perhaps even more awful will take HIS place. It's a bittersweet way to go out but at least it's hinted he'll fuck the arrangement up for himself at some point, unable to reconcile the Stringer with the Avon internally.

[@akaveli2g]

WildWestSamurai Well said!

[@TheRaquan4]

Do Slim Charles .. the pawn that made it to the other side

[@deb7457]

Ray Quan We don’t know if Slim ever was a pawn. He could’ve been hired to be a bodyguard or hitter for drug kings. That’s how we meet him.

[@hiddengame11]

Nah that’s Poot

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

@@hiddengame11 Poot isn't the pawn that makes it to the other side, he's the embodiment of the reoccurring motif of "not losing if you don't play" which is different. Michael is a "Pawn that makes it to the other side" due to his intelligence leading him to 'go into business for himself' and take over the vacuum just recently left by Omar. It's assumed that Slim kinda takes over - and in a way it's hinted due to his age and his position when we meet him that he began as a foot soldier and worked his way up to bodyguard and 'sergeant'. Though he kinda only makes it to the other side of the board because all of the other pieces are 'removed' - allowing him to slide into place. I guess that's more or less how it goes down in the real world. lol

[@Vercingetorix.Rising]

Excellent

[@MiguelAlejandroVF]

@@fuzzydunlop7928 He also picked the perfect move to remove the last obstacle which was Cheese.

[@Justice098]

I didn’t even know Idris was British until after the wire was finished. He played the heck out of that role . All of them played the heck out of their roles . Greatest series of all time IMO.

[@AyKayTV1]

Stringer wasn’t soft and he had some intelligence. He was just slimy and not as smart as he thought he was. Avon knew the game well, his instincts were sharp. Also, as implied, Avon’s off screen network and relationships are vast in New York & Baltimore. Stringer wanted to invest his money legitimately but still make dirty money wholesaling and not getting involved with retail. The direction he was trying to take would have sunk the organization. He wanted to move like he was the connect but he wasn’t. Prop Joe had the connect and the Greeks were the plug. Stringer couldn’t see their foothold was their structure & network, territory, muscle and respect in the streets at that point after they lost their connect in season 1. He thought he could talk Marlo into working with him and the co-op. What he wanted would have made him lose power and put more of it into Prop Joe’s hands. Prop helped create the wedge between Avon & Stringer if you watch closely that was his endgame.

[@flubsurfer4191]

Never been more emotional watching a character die onscreen than when Stringer was killed. Yeah he took some actions that were messed up and stupid, but as a teen I respected the aspect of his character that was trying to evolve and self actualize despite his background.

[@amys6987]

flubsurfer agreed! My mom cried when he died :(

[@Grayto]

Fuck him. Deangelo and Wallace were also trying to evolve and self-actualize (and get away from a life that fucks people over), and Stringers own cowardly "just-in-case" worries got them killed.

[@Stacks_Gaming1]

@@Grayto thats not true Wallace snitched got out the game just to try to get back in and thats what got him killed like bodie said you should of stayed down south ... D snitched on Weebay told the cops he was in philly just because he didnt take the stand he still snitched ..The game is the game

[@HoodPresident4]

Stringers character to me is the perfect definition of Hypocrisy and Irony. I don’t think Stringer ever held the capacity in either facet to truly succeed. He was a gangster, but a very flawed one, he didn’t see something as ‘little’ as the Sunday truce important, but wanted to take out a politician. Keep in mind this is the same guy that preferred to avoid warfare with Marlo... He wanted to jump into the legit business world, but couldn’t recognize when he was being absolutely finessed out of his money. Keep in mind he actively and knowingly sold bad dope... I could give other examples, but I think he took the wrong approach in both phases of his work.

[@marshallkelly5769]

Stringer wasn't tough enough for the streets not smart enough for the legitimate business world

[@Timbone07]

@@marshallkelly5769 It is all about legacy. You need a mentor to succeed in business. He was a revolutionary or trailblazer that's why he failed

[@Maxthafirst]

String was an absolute genius. Every line was a quotable.

[@loopseeker]

glad to see a youtube channel of this variety finally start analyzing the wire. all the other ones analyze trendy bullshit and ignore the greatest and most important show ever aired.

[@kjpierson1152]

I admired Stringer, one of the few clear heads in the series. One of the few characters on modern TV that had a vision to take a system that doesn't work and turn it into something that has far less victims and far more organization.

[@phangkuanhoong7967]

Still Idris Elba's best role and performance to date.

[@naveenjones7689]

@Sharif cap

[@mariahyohannes]

@Sharif what characters are you talking about specifically?

[@LittleWittleKitty]

I think he’s great in Luther

[@katherinemorelle7115]

I actually kind of like the cold blooded psychopath. They’re one of my favourite types of characters. Also, Idris did an amazing job.

[@POTSOJ]

You actually like cold blooded psychopaths,what could a person find redeeming about a psychopath I'm not judging I just don't understand.

[@katherinemorelle7115]

GAT GAT I like *watching* them, in *fiction*. Because they’re interesting characters.

[@POTSOJ]

Thanx for the reply.

[@PolishGod1234]

​@@POTSOJpsychopaths do well in some Jobs, they fit well into medical Jobs.

[@DarkKing009]

The game is rigged, but you cannot lose if you do not play.

[@daTruChosen]

That's why you play by your own rules, with wanton disregard for the rules of the rigged game, or laws of the system.

[@danielbenitez4120]

@@daTruChosen LMAO those whove been playing a long time are going to see you a mile away

[@aj618019]

B. N. Willis pop

[@mumblerapper1105]

@@daTruChosen That's how Stringer played the game, look how it ended up for him

[@growlinghands4696]

I have to admit some poignancy in the idea that had he been born somewhere else or taken a slightly different track he would have ended up a highly successful, if somewhat sociopathic, CEO of a major company on the scale of a Steve Jobs. That always made me a bit sympathetic to his character.

[@julius-stark]

As a writer, I always find these breakdowns incredibly enlightening.

[@thetake]

Thank you! Very glad you like them

[@leonnoirsr]

I'm unsubscribing. Don't be an ass man

[@WillNelson73]

After a rewatch of The Wire, I would love to see you guys do a breakdown of Avon Barksdale. He was the "best" of the kingpins. Bad as he was, he actually gave back to the community (giving to Cutty's gym and throwing communal dinners) in ways that Marlo or even Stringer would not. Barksdale was also better at hiring street muscle and had better connections.

[@airshow406]

“Stringer Bell is the Queen” This is very true considering what a powerful piece the Queen is but also that line made me do a very deep voiced giggle.

[@wdynpn]

In my language, Queen in cheese called Prime Minister or Regent

[@Argos-xb8ek]

I respect Stringer's Pragmatism he's practical he's truly a businessman you can work with. I'd rather work with a businessman than a Avon.

[@MrPerQuisite]

PLEASE PLEASE Do one on Marlo Stanfield and Chris and Snoop, because I think Chris Partlow is one of the creepiest and evil, machine-like villains ever

[@SamPeeblesawesomedallastours]

"When drugs are good we make money. When drugs are bad we make twice as much."

[@SandraCDavis]

Look at the Slacker Family!!!

[@chrisdawson1776]

Lol season 2 completely contradicts his logic

[@joey4track]

YES!! So glad you guys are doing more videos about The Wire, you guys freaking rock

[@thetake]

Thanks so much!! Glad you liked it

[@Poloman1026]

String was so evil yet such a good character I was somewhat sad when he died. He obviously deserved it, and it was awesome seeing brother and Omar get vengeance, but I was sad he wouldn’t be in the show anymore

[@2T_Number1]

I actually kinda felt bad for Stringer. He did many horrible things, and needed to be held accountable, but I feel like in a different situation he would've had no problems being a "civilian." Great video of a great character, though. Kudos!

[@thetake]

Thanks! Glad you liked it

[@RushAndPush]

So true, he is a product of his environment, just at Marlo is a natural progression of the drug war escalating. Bell could be something if his world gave him any chances

[@tiotito31]

It's the tragedy of this culture. The lost potential, if they just had a different situation/environment/whatever when growing up. Season 4 showed this with the kids and school system

[@stephengrigg5988]

the 4th season got too real for me. I went to a school just like that with stabbings and shootings. I saw some genuinely good hearted kids have their lives ruined or turn into someone else.

[@larrymcjones]

I totally agree

[@shill1444]

HOLY SHITE... Great breakdown for String. One of the most complex and interesting characters I've ever seen in a show.

[@Spiegelgeist]

Awesome vid, hope you can do more wire vids, would love to see ones on Avon, Slim Charles, Prop Joe, Marlo, etc. :) (I keep editing this to add characters to the list, but lol there's too many good ones, I guess just do vids on em all! :) )

[@thetake]

Thanks! Glad you liked it! And more videos on The Wire characters are coming

[@mikelomez9313]

Hieronymus di Colonna Yeah this is like the next best thing to new wire episodes lol

[@larrymcjones]

yeah man you could literally do a video on every single wire character thats how great the show is

[@albertmoreno6408]

ScreenPrism definitely do Marlo, dude was fucking insane and I never could get a read on him

[@KayleeCee]

I would love to see profiles on all of the "protagonists" of the show too. McNulty, Bunk, Kima, Prez, etc. They're all deeply flawed humans, but they also have a lot of good in them. It's such a compelling show. Omar would also make for one hell of an interesting character deep dive. Oh, and Bubbles too.

[@aletorriggino]

Man. I'm rewatching this masterpiece and it only gets better, deeper and more tragic. Best serialized work of art in recent years

[@CrKFreekicks]

Please do more videos like on the wire. C;early one of the best shows in TV history but not many people know about it :(

[@danielgardecki1046]

I knew about it, but was too busy going out, watching my 5000+ DVD's or playing on my Playstation's and Xbox's. I was also bored with the 100's of crime procedurals on TV at the time, and still to this day, which is why I've avoided most of them for the last 10-15 years. Now I've got the internet though I've realised how many good shows I've missed out on so I'm slowly working my way through my 15+ current British shows a year (5 of which are on 150-260 days a year) and my 20+ current American shows. I'll probably get around to watching older shows like The Wire, Oz and The Sopranos, in a year or two, once I've caught up with my current shows and around 10 other recent TV series I haven't seen yet ahead of them in my watch-list as it's not much fun talking about stuff years after everyone else has already seen them.

[@manaulhoque6507]

@@danielgardecki1046 Have you yet?

[@danielgardecki1046]

@@manaulhoque6507 Nope. I'm too busy adding and correcting 130+ years of productions and people related to my city on *IMDB* (which I've barely got started on after a year), and other missing or incorrect stuff I come across along the way. I've got into the top 300 *IMDB* editors in just 1 year. I'm sacrificing my own TV watching time to do this, however it'll be worth it in the end.

[@iliftthingsupandputthemdow4364]

Stringers mistake was he was logical and always looked at the risks but he neglected to acknowledge that while he is logical, the people he was dealing with weren't and he shouldn't have assumed that he could predict their actions. Because while logic has it's benefits, being spontaneous or unpredictable isn't one. Regardless, he was one of the best part of the show, in fact I felt that the wire went down hill with Marlo as he was a marry sue of sorts.

[@Bonitaymorena]

yeaaas preach... I can't believe you called Marlo a Mary Sue!! But in all honestly... he might as well have been Sookie from TrueBlood or Elena from Vampire Diaries. Characters who were obnoxious but yet everyone went out of their way to obey/please them. He made Avon look look agreeable. I still enjoyed the Show during Marlo's reign but it was obvious that it was the beginning of the end of the show. I just don't get how Marlo could command any respect when he had the not beside manner at all. He literally had terrible social skill and was completely detached from emotions except for when he got angry... even worse than Stringer!!

[@Ratchet2431]

Well, I consider season 4 to be the best, and I think it was obvious that making Marlo a total psychopath was not going to be such a charismatic character, but it was the natural step if they wanted to show that The Game was becoming more violent.

[@Bonitaymorena]

I agree season 4 was great, I didn't say it was bad at all. I loved the journalism and introduction of politics and the education system too. The writing was strong that season too. I just knew that the show would eventually end though. I'm glad that they used season 5 to wrap it up, it was bittersweet. But at least the show did not drag on for 8 seasons and lose quality.

[@Ratchet2431]

Oh, okay. I misunderstood you. I agree. The seasons 4-5 have a very strong feeling of completion.

[@Bonitaymorena]

it's lol I should have worded it better but yeas seaosn 4 and 5 were amazing I miss those kids especially and felt so bad for them uggh it was heart wrenching. And especially how McNulty ended up it was sad :(. Even Omar dying although he kinda deserved/it was to be expected in his line of work but still it was hard. So many themes in that show. I can't want to see which character Screen Prism will cover next.

[@Pan1033]

Holy shiet, more! That was some god damn good quality character analysis and a damn good use of montage!

[@SandbagVideos]

I confess I emphasized with Stringer when it seemed he was remaking the business in the third season, as you point out shades of Michael Corleone. Plus he always seemed a misfit, who if born on the other side of the tracks, would have been extremely successful, so there always seemed something tragic about him.

[@shoaibashraf628]

It's been 5 months, we need another one of these please!

[@v8Buster87]

The sopranos gave us the suburbs, and the wire gives us the urban game. Two of the most epic series ever made.

[@modernhippierecords4621]

CHI TOWN SYSBM sopranos is campy asf the wire is real 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@timelessstudios931]

And breaking bad the cartels

[@turbosydney]

Loved the Sopranos. James Gandoflini was such an amazing actor I just couldn’t imagine him being anything other than a temperamental mob boss. Probably in my top 3 tv shows of all time along with Breaking Bad, but I just cant put them in the same bracket as The Wire. Its just in a league of its own in terms of realism and writing. For me its Wire #1 and 9 blank spots and then the rest.

[@CarryTheThree]

@@modernhippierecords4621 they're both real..i liked boardwalk empire

[@TenThumbsProductions]

I wasn't made to play the son.

[@s1002546]

I used to like Stringer alot, he was one of my favourite characters of the show! But after re-watching the whole show i started to hate him. Especially from season 2 and onwards. Every decision he made was bad for the Barksdale organization. - Killing Wallace - Killing D'Angelo - Banging his wife - Giving some of the towers to prop Joe - Trying to talk to Marlo instead of killing him - Getting into business with Clay Davis and Any Kraychzick - Sending Omar to kill Brother Mouzone So many decisions where wrong by him. He was the reason of the downfall of the Barksdale organization

[@deb7457]

Dysentery Gary Oh indeed! And snitching on Avon!

[@franzliechtmann6447]

How was killing Wallace bad? He was snitching and only temporarily out of the cops' pocket. They were looking for him intensively and really close to finding him which would get String himself busted. Wallace absolutely had to go. People are just mad about it because they liked him as a human...

[@duanepierson6064]

How was any 3these things bad . The business was thriving till Avin came home

[@bo71588]

So true thank you

[@brown123487]

@@duanepierson6064 no it wasn't,Marlo had taken over the streets,so how was they striving

[@Species1571]

Great analysis on one of my favourite characters from one of my favourite shows of all-time. I didn't come to hate String as you suggest in the video, and I was sad when he went out. String and Avon were likeable bad guys (same with some of the others, D'Angelo, Cutty, Slim Charles, Prop Joe etc.) which was not the case with their successors, Marlo, Snoop, Chris Partlow etc. who had absolutely no redeeming qualities.

[@toomuchdrivetothrive]

When I watched the show, I kept thinking that a guy like Stringer out of the hood would like be a hedge-fund manager or own a construction company or something. Business was in his blood. He was hedged in.

[@peterwantspie]

I love how this video goes to such lengths to suggest that Stringer's brutal, coldblooded Capitalist mindset is only an issue in the violent business of drug dealing, as though the same Capitalist 'it's just business' mindset doesn't lead to incidental deaths and suffering in a kalaidescope of contexts across the world. Acceptable losses. What Stringer gets is what Bezos is owed.

[@vancepayne4430]

Wonderful job editing and Narrating. You guys pointed out things about the character I didn’t notice.

[@derrickwatson4597]

"Da world going one way, day people going the other yo" how deep is that line ?

[@ricodarefcallingallfouls6624]

I watched this in my late teens 2 decades ago, I love EVERY character in the show, on both sides of the law!

[@En_Gho]

I know this is very late but I like these Wire analyses. You all should bring them back. Marlo would be a good character to break down as well.

[@alexsaur22]

Wire is my favorite show of all time and hope there is many more videos to come.

[@thetake]

There are! We love The Wire too

[@Fidel_Cashflow]

i'm askin, who young leek be?

[@bryanplayz605]

the big phat morning show

[@danielbenitez4120]

Shake it and jiggle it 💃who sings that?

[@randsg9372]

Ain’t that 2fat’s cousin?

[@diegopapias8743]

@@randsg9372 Nah.

[@vontai4553]

@@diegopapias8743 then how tf should I know

[@sarkastikleader4708]

Oh man. This video alone has me ready to watch the Wire again (for like the 7th time)!! God I love that show and can't wait to watch the other videos about it.

[@thetake]

More coming

[@zabaoth]

Stringer was a real textbook psychopath, while the rest were mainly a product of their environment, that goes for criminals, police, and politicians in the show. It's like if they deliberately checked all the boxes in his personality traits. If he had been born in a different place, he probably would have been a General, a Lawyer, or a CEO. Sadly Avon was correct, he had too much street in him to make it in the big leagues, and too little to see the reality of the game.

[@peaceindarkness.darknessis3494]

Adrian Jutronich just a gangster, I suppose-Avon

[@Prop]

I’m curious on your take on Marlo. There is one scene in season 5 I believe where with all his cold blooded-ness and savvy, Marlo becomes aware he’s still no where near the King

[@gt-gu7rb]

Stringer and Bunny Colvin tried to change the game but you don't change the game the game changes you.

[@ArchangelSteve]

Putting the line "murder is still murder" over footage of Wee Bay copping to bodies in exchange for more tater tots is a genius editing decision.

[@CoinOpTV]

luv the wire eps!

[@prukogiindahouse]

I feel like I'm now feeling what the people that has watched the wire since it aired for the first time felt. Nostalgia or something like that. This show is the best show ever made period.

[@TheBreezus]

I'm surprised that you guys did anything on The Wire considering it was one of the most underrated shows from the HBO catalog. Plus you make it look really good, I thought they didnt record the show in HD. Great video. I can't wait for that Omar video though!

[@thetake]

We love The Wire! And Omar is coming up

[@TTFMjock]

Omar comin'?

[@ari1234a]

Modern Mafia was made in 20s in prohibition era, gangsters like Al Capone in Chicago and in New York Giuseppe "Joe The Boss" Masseria. Masseria was killed by Charles Luciano who was childhood friends with Bugsy Siegel of Las Vegas fame and was notorious also of being a hot head and Mayer Lansky who was the numbers guy. Now, Charles "Lucky" Luciano went to jail and was exiled to Italy where he died. Bugsy was killed by Mafia but Mayer Lansky died of old age. You can clearly see the aspiration of Stringer Bell to be new Mayer Lansky who managed to distance himself of daily killings and shenanigans of being a mob Boss. Avon Barksdale in The Wire is Luciano and Siegel wrote together.

[@shortcutDJ]

3d season theme was 'reform' and we learn that the drug trade won't take reform, all in the game. i love the wire, and it's still relevant in 2018, check out the Deuce it's of similar kaliber imo.

[@toddgoode2275]

That show comes no where near the wire. ...

[@luisgonzalez1637]

who ever narrates these videos is an angel.

[@prolifik5]

Avon was only half right. Stringer may not have been directly killing anyone, but he didn't have any problem whatsoever with violence. Apart from everything else, he was there when they tortured and murdered Brandon and he didn't seem to be losing any sleep over it. In a lot of ways he was even colder than Avon. Ironically enough, Stringer's cold, precise logic went out the window when he found out that he wasn't "smart enough" (or at least self-aware enough) for the legit world. The fact that he was still planning to go through with the hit on Clay Davis after Avon explained what a dumb idea it was still blows my mind. Hard to criticise Avon for going to war with a rival crew when you're plotting to hit a state senator because he hurt your feelings...

[@deb7457]

prolifik5 RIGHT!! And that war that Avon and Slim were about to execute on Marlo and them at the rims shop was frankly going to be a damn massacre...with grenades and shit! A must cleaner way than on the street!

[@alexthelizardking]

prolifik5 Clay robbed string. He didn't just "hurt his feelings".

[@ex0duzz]

prolifik5 he actually stole like 250,000 from stringer. Political Contribution for some permits and getting played due to the allure of some non existent "golden goose" or "golden faucet". Lol. Stringer got played hard by real hyena, politicians are too smart for stringer when it comes to pure mind games.

[@Vladlll]

@mcharleau Well said

[@Teeroye215]

alex thelizardking I’m glad someone else caught that lol

[@delamerca]

I'll always remember the scene String and Avon walking slow mo in the Pitt

[@XeRocks81]

that was great. The show is still so powerfull that I got choked up just by that short clip of D'Angelo screaming about Wallace

[@JOHNSTIER23]

Sébastien Proulx in the end it’s a television show

[@JOHNSTIER23]

I lived the life for real it’s no fun no why just a fourty degree day

[@whiteboyphilly4016]

I’m just finding your channel and I’m digging your videos. Thank you.

[@Gapeaches77able]

I cried when they killed Wallace. That broke my heart.

[@ejc6394]

Micheal b jordan

[@ryanward3822]

Wallace had to go He was a snitch

[@Stacks_Gaming1]

@@ryanward3822 i dont see why people dont see this not only that he went back to selling drugs ..so what would of happened if he sees another body snitch time ??

[@PrimeTime021825]

Just finished the series and all the character reviews y’all have done for the series. Loved it all keep up the great work

[@legendary51313]

please do more wire analogy videos. these are great and a great insight to characters and the show itself

[@thetake]

Thank you and we will

[@LivestreamSurfer]

Stringer is my favorite character tho. That child blooded logic. He operated in ways that would make a Romulan or a Ferengi envious.

[@DarkKing009]

PLS do more Wire vids. Great channel. Great vid

[@thetake]

We are. And thank you!

[@each1teach1academy43]

Marlo mastered what Stringer wanted. Marlo listens and is a sponge of everyone he comes in contact with he just keeps a poker face

[@houseofmatrix6174]

Stringer listens to others

[@eamon4800]

“What I tell you about playing those away games?”

[@levithomas8093]

I have watch all 5 seasons 10 times!! Just can't get enough of this powerful and best TV series of all time.

[@crozraven]

Man, I totally forgot that there are so many popular & familiar faces from The Wire.

[@bartolomeestebanmurillo4459]

The problem with Stringer is that like so many intellectually gifted people, he assumed he knew everything until he met the craftiest of them all; the politician then he reverted back to the street wanting Slim to take out Davis that would have brought heat down on their operation from the alphabet soup agencies. Stringer was a gangster in the board room and a businessman on the street.

[@doublestrokeroll]

What makes The Wire (and game of thrones) great shows is precisely that you don't really hate any single character. Or if you do, you still understand them. Everyone gets what Stringer is trying to accomplish and "in a perfect world" he would be correct. It's writing characters that are complex and not just black and white representations of good and bad that makes shows like this amazing and what makes other shows and movies so weak.

[@chrilmill2964]

the poot quote “the world going one way, people another” will always be the deepest quote throughout the entire show

[@litjay7073]

Great video! I like The Wire because it put a human face on the "War on Drugs" and showed how for little good and manly bad the effects it had on both sides of it. For how much I didn't like Stringer Bell, I HATED Marlow Standfield. String had people killed because of the coldness he applied to the game. Marlow killed because he was a Psychopath who, I truly think, just because he could. Marlow enjoyed the fact he could. Do ones on: Omar, Bodee, Chris and Michael.

[@thetake]

Thanks! A video on Omar is coming soon

[@litjay7073]

ScreenPrism Can't wait to click that like button!

[@WildWestSamurai]

Agreed. As much as I hated Stringer, Marlo had a security guard at a convenience store whacked for, of all things, talking back because Marlo stole a goddamn 50-cent lollipop. Like... that is ruthlessness to a ridiculously petty level.

[@litjay7073]

WildWestSamurai and why did he have a habit of killing women he slept with? Marlow was a goddamn serial killer!

[@monroecorp9680]

and marlo baited the damn guard to begin w/ !!! that wuznt in the game yo

[@tezlacy3344]

One of my favorite character of all time

[@011earlthusi]

Stringers downfall was that he was too rational in a game that's also driven by other, mother powerful forces such as fear greed and loyalty. Forces that almost always overpower logic. He forgot that he was in the streets.

[@nickm8874]

He messes up time and time again. Watch the show again. He’s nowhere near as capable or smart as he thinks he is. It wasn’t just about misjudging the game, he makes fundamental mistakes. Like trying to keep the cash in the Orlando bust. Like sending D’Angelo to NY with the package. Being rinsed by Clay Davies ...

[@TheStatisfiedOne]

@@nickm8874 simply when he had to be a businessman he was too street and vice versa. His last moment when Omar and mouzone where about to kill him he still didn’t understand that the street is not business and it is mostly personal, and no money can buy himself out. Still liked the way he went out like a man: “well get on with it you motherf”

[@yedoru4448]

@@TheStatisfiedOne His problem was that he wasn't business/rationally minded enough. If he was rationally minded he would've prepared for the potential of his long time friend to betray him but he ignored all the signs. People present Stringer's conflict as an external one(two worlds streets vs business), when I think it is an internal conflict(brain vs brawn). He failed to make a decision and thats what got him killed, everything else I hear about his character is for the birds.

[@babyirene3188]

Wow. Really enjoying the vocal fry here. Really gives the narrator credibility. Good stuff.

[@AlexisMitchell87]

Stringer’s character parallels Gus Fring from Breaking Bad.

[@nickm8874]

Gibberish

[@hugonongbri8100]

@ludlow 889 was about to say that

[@NitaTheDiva510]

Nice! It made me want to watch the series again

[@chimpinaneckbrace]

You definitely need to a video on Marlow. That character is terrifying.

[@gijoey5912]

That guy was a real jerk.

[@slickwill9000]

A fusion of Stringer and Avon cranked to 11

[@MickyTubbs1985]

@@slickwill9000 Nay; the character Marlo was nothing more than a stupid psycho-path whose sole persona was wrapped up in the FEAR produced by the somewhat mindless, ruthless violent nature of his murderous duo enforcers. The aspects of the nature of the "hold" Marlo Standfield had on Chris Partlow, and Snoop is a issue worthy of exploration.

[@JidScan]

Perfect timing for this post. Glad I subscribed.

[@mr.denzelsausageton9719]

The fact that he did Kill D'Angelo and didn't take Marlo seriously is inconsistent with his character is been shown throughout the series that anyone who is a remote threat has been treated as such by him

[@Ratchet2431]

I have always thought that one of the biggest reasons why he killed D'Angelo was because he was sleeping with his girlfriend, although later he got bored with her. And in the case of Marlo (like Prop Joe) Stringer saw him more as a potential than as a possible risk.

[@deb7457]

Ratchet Achenbach How Stringer saw Marlo was a huge mistake. Prop Joe didn’t see it either. But Avon did. He didn’t have patience for such foolishness. And we see the devastating result of Prop Joe and Stringer’s mistake in under-estimating Marlo, and his motives.

[@kennedyclarkjrpg]

I think stringer knew exactly where a beef with marlo would lead and wanted to avoid it. It would’ve been a war that even if they won? They’d lose. Avon found out the hard way.

[@brown123487]

@@kennedyclarkjrpg Avon lost because stringer snitch him out, stringer abandoned the streets which caused Marlo to gain power, stringer messed up in a lot ways which brought down the barksdales organization,

[@lelandbutler2965]

Stinger Bell was just the passage way to Marlo, Chris and Snoop. Best line in all of television... it doesn't matter what we call heroin if the shit is strong we gonna sell it... if the shit is weak we are going to sell twice as much...

[@exelmans8855]

"It's a cold word bodie. World is goin one way, people anotha yo!"

[@aq1q]

Stringer is one of the most loved and admired characters in the show

[@MohamedChehaibi]

6:06 Actually that was Avon's call not Stringer.

[@tariqcampbell5106]

Without a doubt Stringer Bell with my favorite character on the show always enjoyed how professional calm cool and collected he was. If Avon had followed his lead the Empire would have grown enormous

[@DmanDrums]

Great analysis. Please do some more ;)

[@thisaccountsucks5556]

I agree. Also, at 2:57 - titty double kill.

[@maradorgold5596]

Stringer was always my fav. character.

[@dakritic]

Absolutely brilliant video. Please continue with the series. Can’t wait for Bunk.

[@MachineGunMouth]

I Love the wire. I love it so much I even love listening to people talk about it. Great video, I also see the mcnulty video, hopefully you make more. Maybe a Marlo, Avon, or even herc and carver, whatever you do, just keep em coming :)

[@Melissa-tw2gp]

Love it! This series is great.

[@A5mis]

we need more channels like ScreenPrism! Thank you for your great content

[@alvaroflores192]

Do a video on Colvin

[@alannahatfield6081]

At 6:05 I think it is important to point out that Brandon Wright was displayed like he was on Avon Barksdale's orders. He said that he wanted the kill displayed like hunters do with a deer.