The Wire - Just a Gangsta, I Suppose

[@ThunkieMan2]

He listened to everything stringer said and still said “ I want my corners “ 😂😂

[@keithrobinson6108]

😂

[@murrayvnolovelost212]

He Showed em some respect then cut that shit short

[@T11LMG]

They couldn't be what they weren't was Avon's point. The game they played to get to where they were at was not the game the businessmen got to play

[@misternashional4737]

Fax tho they both had valid points in the end a saw it but strung struck out dem fucking away games

[@mikerossable]

​Every fortune was buikt off the back of vice....I know this was a show, but the reason for the illegal money is to build something legit. He fell in love with the game when it was supposed to be a means to an end.​@@T11LMG

[@gxenoraf22]

I love how it was all calm and avon actually LISTENED even though he didnt agree. Then he gave his response. Wise

[@aa-.-477]

saying same

[@paddigan]

Say what you like about Avon, he had natural leadership skills

[@CheerfullyCynical829]

And in the end, Avon realized String was pretty much right. All that bloodshed and war for a few broken down ghetto street corners. Avon realized just how stupid it was.

[@OnkelAdiSuperstar]

@@CheerfullyCynical829 the punk bitch marlo must be got, otherwise the game is lost.

[@CheerfullyCynical829]

@@OnkelAdiSuperstar Avon realized at the end that the "corner game" really didn't matter all that much anymore. He was in his late 30s, early 40s, had more money than he knew what do with, he should have settled down rather than beef over a couple ghetto corners that the real world didn't give a shit about.

[@funkyboodah]

i love how he actually listened to stringer, thought about it, then decided his course of action. Avon is one of my favorite character on the show and the best leader hands down

[@osbtm1258]

he listened but he never considered it for a sec. when someone reacts to your advice like this"Like businessmen". You about to get shut down cus in one ear out the other.

[@osbtm1258]

@WorldFlex Avon described stringer bell predicament well. He was stuck because he was to dependent on the drug money. he needed avon for muscle. Stringer bell does not know how to progress with out these things.

[@edlocks5112]

Cant cash out in that type of business. What hes gonna do ask Avon for half of everything lmao.its either you straight up quit or take your hustle somewhere out of the state or you turn on your partner. He chose the latter

[@jstorm416]

Avon was the 🐐

[@9813CHAPPELL]

The best leader? You dont kno about leadership then

[@rdskn4eva]

“I’m just a gangster I suppose”. That’s easily one of the greatest lines in tv history

[@tjofwakanda8027]

I threw my hands up

[@robbie192]

F yea...brilliant...like business men

[@MosMoney187]

"And I want my corners"

[@robbie192]

@@MosMoney187 the best! Marlo couldn't keep up

[@MosMoney187]

@@robbie192 Facts I'm watching The Wire right now as we speak. I'm on the episode where they just shot Wallace.

[@samtodd2327]

I once cut the corners off a sandwich I made for Avon. He wasn't happy.

[@gfunkmadness]

Now he’s sharing a cell with phil leotardo talking about compromises being made and eating grilled cheese off the radiator

[@finessekidd7820]

😭🤣 just a gangster I suppose

[@shamshirhussain8198]

🤣🤣🤣

[@tomd1434]

@@gfunkmadness And using napkins

[@Taporeee]

Since when do we cut corners? We EAT corners!

[@eltronrangamma]

No, Avon saw the whole forest. When you are dealing with dudes like Marlo, whose principle is not to make money but pure power in the streets, you cannot use money or other "clever" negotiation tactics to tame him. The only option is to take him out. Avon saw that--Prop Joe and Stringer didn't. Look what happens in the end.

[@CustomFitted]

The problem with that logic is that Avon didn't wanna take out Marlo for that reason (because he thought it was a tactical necessity)...he only wanted to do it because he wanted "his corners" back. It was out of desire for strong rep and power, that's all Avon was about, he's no deeper than that

[@pietrosavastano4641]

Marlo had to go regardless but Avon didn't see the big picture. Look at what the Italians have become and how strong and influential the mafia was in our country. They did what Stringer is suggesting to do and became a powerhouse. Whack Marlo AND begin infiltrate legit businesses would of been the best play in my opinion

[@MrPimptastic1]

@@CustomFitted Avon wanted you to be a man. Marlo wanted you to be a subservient dog. Advantage: Avon.

[@giyutomioka689]

@@CustomFitted yeah I agree.. you saw that when Avon walked thru the yard in the joint, guys parted like the red sea. And Avon loved every minute of it.

[@giyutomioka689]

@@pietrosavastano4641 and mafia was just subservient dogs for J edgar, & most ended up behind bars, & those that didn't just blended in because of the color of their skin.

[@stefanbistrancin5862]

Wood Harris and Idris Elba.. brilliant actors, love them to death ❤

[@mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm3153]

U like dat huh nigguh?

[@Townesvanwaits]

​​@@mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm3153I love how your comment has a "translate to English" option, and it does lol. Only on a wire video

[@silviod4nte]

No diddy

[@Roger-vc4lj]

The writing on this show was phenomenal but the casting was just as much. Every actor was perfect for their role. Probably the best show ever.

[@Townesvanwaits]

Even the bad actors were prefect lol

[@benclark3457]

really was good tv

[@NK-wf1gs]

Just imagine while stringer is talking, hank Schrader come in and say to him "you're the smartest guy I've ever met , and you're too stupid to see he made up his mind ten minutes ago"

[@CarLitozWayzz]

Lmaoooo

[@vizziiiiob]

Breaking bad is the best TV show ever made, except maybe the wire.

[@ciaranfox2925]

Sopranos and boardwalk empire better than breaking bad too

[@johnnyjacuzzi7498]

@@vizziiiiob Sopranos and Wire before BB.

[@Gaba_Ghoul]

@@ciaranfox2925 Also Deadwood

[@TheFalloutShot96]

I wAnt a show with the rise of barksdale

[@habilitate83]

TheFalloutShot96 Good call!

[@ezgeezer]

Yes definitely how they started and what shaped them

[@christopherayettey4390]

Who's left except for Avon and his sisters?

[@christopherayettey4390]

@Htown hold it down mex casarez how?... i don't get it... Avon and stringer ran the streets poor and hungry growing up.... I don't get why people think avon from a long line of hustlas and money

[@deb7457]

Christopher Ayettey Maybe Stringer was poor, not Avon. He wasn’t necessarily rich either. But he had to get out there and grind on those corners too. But his family name was already one to be reckoned with. Avon’s family didn’t just HAND shyt over to him though. It’s quite possible that he became the most successful Barksdale out of all of them. He certainly helped to build that empire into what we saw in Season 1. Him, Stringer, and Wee Bey. And D’s mother threw him in the family business too. But I believe he finished high school. Stringer and Avon did too, because there was talk that he was a good basketball player and Golden Globe boxer. Avon was so under the radar that the police didn’t even know how he looked, because he didn’t have a criminal record.

[@djfrank68]

What I think makes the acting in this show so great, in this scene and some of my other favorite scenes, are the subtle facial expressions and eye glances between characters. Like in this scene, as Stringer is convincingly laying out his vision of how things can be, you can tell that Avon the entire time is not buying it. And Stringer's subtle expressions display that he knows Avon is skeptical even before he makes his "I want my corners.." comment. Great stuff.

[@alexb302]

"Im just a gangsta i suppose"... epiciness at its finest, this scene and the scene where Omar robs Marlo is one of my top favorites.

[@pietrosavastano4641]

Growing up in an Italian neighborhood that was is a breeding ground for organized crime, that line hit me hard. I knew people with great potential that could of accomplished so much if they just went straight but in the end they were just "gangsters I suppose"... Simple as that

[@andreinybakken9252]

@@pietrosavastano4641 How exactly is a straight up gangsta going to find the patience. discipline, focus and dedication to keep it on the narrow? Playing the long game like that isn't even conceivable for most.

[@jonnyquest7099]

"Money ain't got no owners... Only spenders"

[@danielbryant9429]

"You still don't get it do ya bruh"

[@YouDontWantItWithMe]

@@danielbryant9429 oh you got me confused with a man repeats himself

[@CourtneyBrandon]

Death of a friendship.

[@mrprimeconsigliere]

The death of their common direction more like. They were still friends. they just didn't see eye to eye about business anymore

[@Indicamaster]

There is no getting out once your in

[@Hadesthief]

@@Indicamaster Cutty got out, but he had to give up everything but his reputation

[@cwilliams7908]

"Since wen do we pay for corners, we take corners" " I ain't no suit wearin business man like u, i'm jus a gangsta i suppose. I want my corners". Real "G" shit

[@JS-tk7wo]

They in the late 30s fighting over corners. ain’t no G shit

[@yazmut]

since when did we put subtitles in the comment section ??! hahaha

[@Dabridge703]

That scene was the turning point between the two.

[@artarreola7524]

What's up Mike J!!!!!

[@Dabridge703]

***** Nah that was the last straw

[@laphonz]

This scene wasn't the turning point. The turning point was the first time they had a legitimate arguement over their prime disagreement with how they carry business. Previously, Avon always seemed to either make fun of Stringer's business man ways or ignore it like he did in this scene. When String attempted to arrange a hit on Clay Davis, Avon let Stringer have it of what he really think about Stringer's motive to go legal, which validated Stringer's thought of getting rid of Avon.

[@AlphaHatsuseno]

2:33 specifically

[@andreinybakken9252]

@@laphonz *legit*

[@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.

[@aizaguirre91]

Stringer: “We can run more than corners B, Period” Avon: “Like Businessmen” People keep saying that Avon was listening to Stringer, but Avon had his mind made up since he was born. The same way that Stringer described Marlo as knowing only what he knows. He didn’t realize that he was talking to a similar person with Avon. Great Show, 2 different characters that shared the same path till they didn’t.

[@martinvilla7764]

Yup

[@PatoNani18]

Like businessmen huh...

[@solomonjewelz4846]

Naw Stringer and Marlo are the Same NOT AVON and Avon let you know that they were similar when he FIRST MET MARLO he told Marlo, "YOUR A REAL BUSINESSMAN" then showed Marlo he peep his game.

[@twixtwix2915]

Idk I think he was listening but in the end it really didn’t matter what stringer was saying even when it all makes sense it just isn’t who Avon is

[@IndependentGeorge76]

One of the greatest scenes in the entire series. Almost Shakespearean frankly

[@starwarsmcu-og6109]

The Wire had so many good lines. Lots of memorable quotes

[@nialljamesbuckley]

"no such thing as a free corner" ~Stringer Friedman

[@rouskeycarpel8652]

b His last name is Bell.

[@Damianoutlaw]

@@@rouskeycarpel8652 someone didn't get the joke.....

[@rouskeycarpel8652]

Damian Outlaw I wasn't trying to make a joke.The OP said that stringer's last name was friedman when it was actually Bell.

[@Damianoutlaw]

@@@rouskeycarpel8652: the original posters very clever joke went over your head. Take an economics class and you might get it.

[@OXY187]

@@rouskeycarpel8652 actually It was Ahmad, Russell Ahmad.

[@javififteen91]

the series was good but my favorite seasons were 1 and 3 when it was more about Avon Barksdale. Once his character was done i wasnt as into it anymore. I hated when Avon went to jail and Marlo was at the court. But it was cool to see Avon still running things in jail like a boss

[@ucantknockthehustle]

I def agree. I put the seasons in this order: 1) Season 1 2) Season 3 3) Season 5 4) Season 4 5) Season 2

[@IndependentGeorge76]

+ucantknockthehustle The Greeks were the biggest gangsters in the whole show. Season 2 has it's slow moments, but also the biggest pay off in my view...

[@Raphie009]

People really sleep on Season 2. It's a slow-burner but there's a lot of subplot that expands The Wire's "universe" so to say. It introduces us to the Greeks as well as to North Baltimore where all the white sons and daughters of European immigrants live. It basically shows (or rather, reminds us) that all of this shit is bigger than just police and street hustlers.

[@MaxMotivation247]

Trilmonté Yes. 2 was definitely underrated. Great great subplots.

[@811chelseafc]

Honestly I think that’s symptomatic of a bigger problem I feel like a lot of Wire fans have: the glorification of Avon Barksdale. For some reason he isn’t held accountable for his crimes in the eyes of many fans like Marlo and Stringer. He’s a wicked evil man who in my opinion got off easy. And he wasn’t as ruthless as Marlo to us but I’ll be he seemed just as bad when he was coming up. Marlo was trying to establish himself while Avon was already established by the time the show rolls around. But I’ll bet Avon was just as cold and evil as Marlo while he was trying to gather his Rep. The game is the game and you shouldn’t respect anyone who plays it.

[@junlee6663]

Phenomenal writing and acting. Complexity on multiple levels. Very nice.

[@Punjabisongs123]

I have seen the whole wire series atleast 5 times , but every time I watch it I love it more and more. I am understanding the Dept of the characters and what every scene means. It’s 21st century Shakespeare. AMAZING SHOW !!!

[@mark-A-antonius]

when i first started the show i thought stringer was the real gangster. by the time stringer has brought the entire Barksdale empire to its knees and avon was back in jail still running shop, i realized avon was always the real gangster.

[@tyslims2805]

It’s easy to dismiss String knowing where he took it after this and how it caused his demise but right here at point he is absolutely right.

[@bigkahuna3534]

agree

[@groc4234]

Right in the business sense, wrong in the street sense. Stringer was trying to talk white collar business in a game that didn't play by those rules

[@Francooney]

Stringer would have never got through to Marlo though look at prop joe. They were both right but both wrong equally

[@myninjanews5115]

YOU CAN'T mix street and legal

[@bluefilmsltd]

One of the most important lines in the show.

[@psarc9451]

Guess Avon never had the makings of a varsity Downtown businessman.

[@deb7457]

Alteran/Алтеран He had the makings of one, he just wasn’t interested.

[@Officia1PTG]

Alteran/Алтеран he was too “hood” to be tagged as a white collar businessman, shit would’ve made him look dumb imo

[@bennyhath1789]

You can tell what his problem is in this scene by the way he holds his drink *small hands*

[@_meangreenjersey973]

PS CharacterArc lmaoooooo

[@sb848]

Shiiiiieeeeet

[@JoseLopez-wo7so]

Avon knew they would never be accepted in the business world. A lesson that Pablo needed to learn

[@CheerfullyCynical829]

But if he kept up his bloody war with Marlo, the co-op would have voted to cut him off from the supply of the good dope. Avon only gets one vote, so the rest of the co-op members could vote to cut him off from the drugs. No more drugs, no more re-ups, no more product. Then what's Avon gonna do on them corners?

[@damson8832]

Avon would've been accepted if he had wished to be a businessman. Pablo was a totally different case, his influence and name was way bigger than any mob boss or regular criminal.

[@hghost08]

Stringer had an ambition to make more of himself. He knew the CO OP meant everyone could EAT and the cops would not come around as much for "bodies". He tried to sway Avon into his doctrine, but Avon was not so much in the game for the money. He legit loved his profession just like some workers love the work they do. It is a matter of pride and some sort of tradition. Just like the military is proud of its traditions, Avon was proud of his gangster roots, hence "just a gangsta I suppose". He knew Stringer had a flustered view, but Avon was Avon. Stringer made mistakes in a world where "surprises" are life and death.

[@jdh5gd]

Yeah, but Avon's still the king in prison. He gets whatever the hell he wants and nobody takes a shot at him. For a man like him, that's a pretty good retirement (from a character perspective).

[@sunnymoney187]

Especially since he only had to finish out the rest of his 7 years

[@bthaman1855]

@@sunnymoney187 he got 28 years

[@christiankalonda7990]

@@bthaman1855 didn’t levy worked it out and brought it down to 10?

[@marcmaddock9980]

@@bthaman1855 his minimum was 7-10

[@corderothomas1189]

Yea Avon actually wins in the end because prison is just like home to him and the streets is his home, so that makes prison still part of his street empire. That's dope, no pun intended

[@sonnymp1337]

For me a big part of the show was play between avon & stringer and to their soldiers. Both of them played so well and i liked it so much that i felt kinda sad that stringer got taken out and avon only appears sometimes in s5... without them and just marlo something got missed in this show (at least for me i guess)

[@wiltbloococo]

Agreed, the Avon & Stringer dynamic was great. Marlo didn't have any real relationships or conflict - he just kept on winning, coldly and ruthlessly, against Proposition Joe, against the police, etc. until he finally gets caught.

[@rehoby]

One of the best scenes in the show's history. I use that analogy all the time to this day in my business world

[@coolyungdru]

Wise words from Stringer, he was actually right. All criminal organizations eventually aim for the legitmate business world. However, the problem wasn't the goal. Stringer just wasn't astute enough to achieve those ends.

[@ChiccaEnterprises]

I swear to god, Avon Barksdale and Tony Soprano are the two best characters ever made by HBO!!!

[@MrAngusyoungistheman]

Alex Chicca Yeah, and Avon was better.

[@GRYNGE7]

name lol why you lying?????

[@byrongammonbyrongammon9937]

But Tony Soprano had the attributes of both Avon and Stringer. Tony as a businessman......who could act as a gangster in order to facilitate business.

[@robbie192]

soon after this conversation the life long friendship started slipping away

[@TillsRojas7]

Both played each other out bad

[@alec1115]

0:43 Buy corners? Avon pays the "iron price" for his corners!

[@CheerfullyCynical829]

Oh lord........hahahaha

[@vern8206]

I see people saying that this is where they saw the beginning of the end for the Barksdale crew, but I think this goes back further than that, remember when avon was locked up and stringer made the deal with proposition Joe for the towers, You could see the wrinkle in the armor when Avon knew that something just wasn’t right with the situation the way stringer was running it. And to have him make the move with Joe despite the help Avon was sending from in jail You could definitely tell that there was something going on at least in Avon’s mind and the very minute that they got released from jail you could see and feel the tension between the two of them. Avon wanted to resume his gangster Ways by taking corners and dropping bodies if necessary but stringer was on a whole Different avenue by aligning himself with Joe and trying to make a business out of everything so naturally when Avon came home the two ideas clashed which let us up to this moment right here and there’s events that preceded it

[@Stockboy929]

they showed a glimpse of what it would be like for Avon through Marlo. Remember when Marlo tried the "business man" thing? He walked right out of the building..went to a corner...beat them dudes ass and ran them off the corner...in his suit....Marlo gave it a try he wasn't sure about it...in the end there were a lot of similarities between the two....accept Avon knew what he was from the beginning...

[@0Shane13]

Avon knows he is gansta with gansta tendencies. Stringer ignores the fact that he thinks like a gangsta under pressure and that's why couldn't make it in the business world.

[@CustomFitted]

I don't think anything in this show demonstrated that Stringer couldn't make it in the business world...he more than likely would've gotten far eventually (already had several legit businesses set up)...what got him killed was trying to sic Omar on Mouzone, more specifically...his lack of loyalty, not anything related to his business goals

[@corneliousworsham1426]

S3 my favorite season cuz of these two

[@mrdarkshoe]

I love that Avon stuck to his character, and yeah even though what Stringer is saying makes a lot of sense, some people just dont change, thats what he couldnt see with Avon and definitely had no shot of convincing Marlo to change either. But I think the difference is Marlo is aware of himself and doesn't WANT to change, with Avon it feels more like he CAN'T change, it's a little bit more tragic because it feels like he knows he's just as trapped in the game as anyone else, regardless of his position; They somewhat allude to that when him and Dee visit their relative in that hospital. "How are you gonna never be slow? never be late? You can't prepapre for shit like this man, it's life."

[@acitobydesign]

See, Stringer had the right idea, but he was presenting it to Barksdale all wrong. Instead of businessmen, he shoulda said mobsters. You know... like the commission and the 5 families did it. Might have striked Barksdale fancy a little bit more.

[@postmastersgt1670]

Avon wasnt trying to hear none of that downtown businesman talk. Stringer thought he could change him. The street is the street always.

[@DanielMorgan404]

Avon had the heart, but Stringer was thinking like the Greeks. Avon: "I want my corners": Translation: "My name is my name." Stringer: "Who gives a *** who's standing on what corner". Translation: "My name is not my name."

[@Tkieron]

I just noticed how this scene is. Stringer is talking about them making money. Legit money. Him and Avon. Avon is talking about his people. His corner boys making money. Stringer wants to be legit getting wealthy with Avon. Avon is looking out for his people. He wants everyone to make money. Everything is connected in this amazing show.

[@mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm3153]

fr

[@Polostar79]

Avon cared about his reputation more than about the corner boys making money.

[@V12509]

Wrong interpretation, Avon cares about reputation and power

[@manlyscents]

This scene is great. Followed by the one with Avon telling Stringer that he's "not hard enough for this right here and maybe, just maybe, not smart enough for them out there" BEFORE Clay Davis proves him right.

[@laphonz]

Avon had the hardest ego I've ever seen from anyone. Even after Stringer's convincing proposal and defined glare, Avon's strong commitment to the game is the reason why he still won't accept abandoning it for the greater good.

[@0Shane13]

Avon cares about his reputation. Stringer ares about money. However, Avon's being real he knows himself. Avon's a gansta. Stringer tries to be a businessman but he has too many gansta tendencies under pressure like trying to put a hit on clay davis, revealing he killed D'aneglo, and meeting Marlo in a traphouse.

[@dyingearth]

+0Shane13 The things as the 5th season shows, Avon, even in jail, his name still means something. He still managed to conned 10g from Marlo Stansfield.

[@wjk2109]

+Taylor Giavasis It's not just about EGO. As we see Marlo did not respect the game, he would have eventually made a move on Avon like he did everyone else in the coop.

[@AWard2184]

Avon is the man, and this scene does a great job of showing the fundamental difference between the two. Stringer was in it for the money. Avon was in it (yeah for the money too) mostly for the rep and control of the West Side. He wasn't peace time boss.

[@oceandark3044]

Avon admitted it later, and Lester saw it later. Stringer was right here. Avon was a warrior, living a warrior's code in a world that had stopped mattering. Stringer knew that, if they simply rose to the next level, into the macroeconomical level, became involved in the movement and insulated themselves, they could have run the town. People forget that Stringer lost a battle against Clay Davis, but Stringer was playing a longer game. He was smart, he was learning even more. He knew that, as high as he and Avon had risen, there was a level above them where the REAL money was made, where people didn't get sent to prison, where the weight of their opinion could be notable to mayors and governors. But, in the end, Avon wasn't built for that world. He was always, in his own words, just a gangster. He wasn't ready to play in the major leagues. He just wanted to be king of the minors again and run his corners. The conversations they have are excellent, and it shows how different the two are. Stringer Bell talks about running the city. Avon can't think about anything more than the street corners. In the end, Stringer was undone by his inability to leave the organization's work behind and fully commit to the next level of competition. It's ironic that Avon and Stringer turn on each other in each others' arena. Avon betrays Stringer to Mouzone due to protect his supply and Stringer betrays Avon to the police to protect the criminal organization. You'd think the soldier would be the one dying in an empty condo and the businessman would end up in jail for life on a parole violation. And Marlo Stanfield suddenly didn't have any competition left in his side of town.

[@iquiverwithfear7354]

Yeah they fucked each other using the way they know best. Stringer decides to use the law, Avon opts for an old fashioned shoot up. Brilliant

[@HoodPresident4]

Veian Demontrond you oversell Stringer, indeed he saw he bigger picture, but in that world, he would never be accepted, it just wasn't realistic, remember Avon telling him 'what I tell you about playing them fucking away games" to me that was the best interaction between them. Stringer to me was one of the most tragic characters, not exactly ruthless enough to truly be king on the streets, but not say enough to break into the 'legitimate business' world either

[@IndependentGeorge76]

You say that, but Stringer got taken by Clay Davis. He wasn't as smart as he thought he was, and didn't understand that the hustle of the game doesn't always tramsit to the legit world. As Levy says 'there are no bribes, you fill in the applications and you pray'....

[@oceandark3044]

IndependentGeorge76 To be totally fair to him l, though, he would have gotten it. Everyone loses some of their battles, especially when theyre learning a new game. He knew better than Avon, though. He looked at people like Davis and knew that the higher you climb, the less likely you are to fall. He knew that the position he and Avon occupied was temporary. Somebody would come along one day and beat them. He knew that becoming the money man wasn't the cool thing to do, but it was the only way to really win. He was willing to change his game to become something better. Avon didn't have that in him. He was the gangster he was and always would be, and he was destined to be replaced one day.

[@thebadguychinli4011]

Veian Demontrond doesn't excuse him for telling on his best friend. Smh. That was cold and after he admitted to killing D'Angelo, his days were numbered. I mean, I'm sure Avon would've just taken the slight and found a way to work shit out in NY if he wanted to. Avon tried to negotiate because the love was still there but not as hard as he could have.

[@eltronrangamma]

Stringer didn't want turf wars but he also wanted to keep one leg in crime and one leg in legal stuff. It doesn't work like that and that's what Avon was trying to tell him. Maybe Avon was grieving his loss, but it also shows some heart on his part that maybe the game isn't worth it. But Avon was right all the time. If you are in crime, you cannot deal with guys like Marlo like a business man. You need to do it old school and take him out.

[@Cocker007]

This was true. Stringer was half in and half out. The smart thing for him would have been to step away and become the bank for Avon, while letting Avon run the war. Means Stringer only launders the cash period. Beyond that he will not deal with the workings of the organization. He'd have to connect with Levy to watch his back against guys like Clay Davis, and Stringer would have made it. Problem with Stringer, he still wanted to be a gangster.

[@kandinskyforfootball]

Its not just about the "loot", which is the position that Avon held. One could have all the money in the world but lack that genuine sense of 'respect'. Avon's idea of respect was his name. Some young lad like Marlo forcing Avon's recruits off his OWN territory is a mockery of his name. Re-gaining that respect in the game is more important to him.

[@mattspencer6154]

The show is life on screen. Friends at a cross road.

[@williamdupree8220]

This was the beginning of the end for the Barksdale crew

[@bobcostas5094]

Barksdale & Marlo were the exact same. No matter how much money they made, they couldn't get out of "the game", they were addicted to the lifestyle. What were they gonna do, work at the Home Depot.

[@YungGalaxy]

You have to think about how older String and Avon and how much more experience they've had in the game than Marlo. Stringer was speaking a retirement plan and sitting pretty on top of money, but Avon is too loyal to where he came from. Marlo is a "Young Buck" and he's power hungry. He's a prime example of what these new drug dealers are to day; ruthless, not loyal, and unmoral. Avon and Marlo are different in so many ways. Avon has a more moral conscience, more loyal, and less ruthless. Marlo doesn't care who get hurt; as long as he is wearing the crown he has so much greed for.

[@laphonz]

....That's just one similarity. The two characters were very different from each other. One with a code and the other whose a cold wildcard.

[@yungrick3715]

But except Marlo was more evil.

[@thirty9556]

Avon is honorable Marlo is dishonorable Avon live by a code Marlo breaks every code Avon is loyal to a fault Marlo would sacrifice you for a lollipop Avon wouldn’t harm a women, elder or children Marlo would shoot a women, get a blind senior citizen tortured and killed and put a kid in a vacant

[@davidmalik9821]

One of the most layered conversations OF MANY layered conversations in this series. Really deep!

[@samconnelly6289]

Avon understands the game inside and out, that's why he was so successful. Stringer rode his coat tails and convinced himself that it was something else.

[@CheerfullyCynical829]

But if Avon kept up his bloody war with Marlo, the co-op would have voted to cut him off from the supply of the good dope. Avon only gets one vote, so the rest of the co-op members could vote to cut him off from the drugs. No more drugs, no more re-ups, no more product. Then what's Avon gonna do on them corners?

[@ezgeezer]

This was such a pivotal scene as it showed what got them there had now driven them apart and foreshadowed that moving forward there was no way they could both succeed together

[@dosplatosfoo]

Man if only these two knew the fusion dance..

[@xKiLLa_Carter]

When Avon said businessman the second time, it was more of a “you really don’t know or understand who and what I am”. Prop Joe gave Stringer a similar look after he told Stringer about Charlie Sollers. Stringer told Joe he could sell that deal to Avon about the towers and Joe gave him a look like “you really don’t know who Avon is man”.

[@coreyw2124]

Stringer and Avon just valued things differently. Stringer had money as the #1 on his list and his mistake was assuming everyone else did too. Avon had money as #2, but keeping the crown as #1. Prop Joe and everyone in the co-op had the same values as String, but Marlo had the same as Avon. Only Avon was able to see that immediately. Everyone else was trying to change Marlo and Avon with reason, but they were starting from a losing position because they didn’t accept that their ultimate goal wasn’t the same as theirs. For them money was secondary to the power and respect of being king.

[@yeageri4168]

“More than a nigga can spend”🤣

[@BiscuitBoi936]

How good did those drinks sound in this scene...

[@DJVijilante]

After Avon chuckles that ice and rolls his eyes at String, and tells him what’s up, makes me wanna go fid me a drinkie drink 🍹!

[@capachinoxm]

I grew up with dudes that started off like Avon and Stringer who now own a construction firm that's pulls in 8 figures a year approaching 9. Politically connected and completely legit. Behind every fortune there's a crime. Stringer was moving in the right direction .

[@kofeeable]

Till he wasn't. Remember he wasn't willing to leave the drug game completely, that co-op was doomed for failure from the onset because there's no honor amongst thieves. There will always be someone with ambitions greater than the collective.

[@yampipampi]

Marlo’s last scene is the perfect example why Stringer’s vision wouldn’t work. At the end, Marlo got everything Stringer promised him in the meeting - money, legitimate connections, potential influence. However, he walked away and didn’t feel “fulfilled” until he scuffled with those two boys to take their corner. Avon understood that this was the ‘game.’ Marlo wouldn’t go for the vision Stringer had since he himself didn’t buy it. . It was summarized aptly by Omar when he said “You still don’t get it. Nobody wants your money.” . The game was more than making money - Stringer could only see one side of it.

[@rideout963]

"He only knows what he knows." Stringer was saying that also about Avon

[@kevinmelia1880]

Avon was devastated when Beckham left United. He wanted his corners back.

[@DinsRune]

The thing that makes The Wire a great work of media, worth putting alongside great works of literature, is that I could easily see myself agreeing with either viewpoint.

[@cashrules520]

"We can run more than corners B, period" hardest line imho on the show. imagine if Gangs really united... for actual good. This why gangs formed originally... but the influence of money, women, power and respect just greed. Even the Nation of Islam, the early early days was street, robbers, gang leaders, pimps, murders, and crooks. They've done well for themselves... we need to unite as ONE 👊🏿

[@bedirhandemir4918]

He saw the future right here, Avon knew Marlo was not going to stop until he gets the crown because Avon did the same. String and Joe made the same mistake. Avon, a true Gangsta.

[@factsonly6903]

The more I rewatch the more I realize Avon was really on a different type of time and way smarter than Stringer. He was so street that he didn’t have to go to school to understand the real world... String went to school and his view of the world got smaller..

[@JS-tk7wo]

Lol

[@MB2.0]

Avon wanted his "corners" so he could die like every other kingpin, while Stringer wanted to make sure their kids kids kids could eat. I gotta disagree here

[@JFCotman]

I respect Avon But have more respect for Stringer because he was smart enough to see that the streets is a game you win by NOT PLAYING! “We don’t have to see nothing but bank. Nothing but cash. No corners, no territory, none of that! We’ll make so much straight money the government can come after us and ain’t sh*t they can say. We can be like little Willie (a hustler turned venture capitalist) and run this city. We can run more than corners” He was the only gangsta with a viable exit strategy We’d hustle forever with Avon

[@cmjohnson61]

stk32018, I could not agree more. Say what you want about Stringer, but the man was right. Stringer saw the whole forest. Avon could not see the forest for the trees. And The Wire is the best written television show I have ever seen. It has spoiled me. I can hardly look at other shows without comparing them to The Wire.

[@chrisscott8837]

This is when if I’m stringer, i move on and go my separate ways. Its obvious he don’t want the same things in life so let avon do what he do and i’ll meet you on the other side. I would of prep and found my replacement and got the hell on!

[@bluefilmsltd]

Sick scene. This is where we REALLY get to know who Avon is. That one little sentence encapsulates what type of person Barksdale is. And it's interesting because even though he has ruthless intent, the writers do a great job of making Avon's dedication to his ruthless ways seem honourable...and it kinda is in a weird way. Stringer on the other hand was a rat..how people can love the character I don't know

[@sht4666]

Fax

[@javififteen91]

probably my favorite scene of the whole series

[@dantewright5004]

It's interesting watching this because it seems like it somewhat resembles how the relationship between Tommy and Ghost began to diverge in Power. Avon and Tommy resemble each other in that they didn't get involved in the life in order to find an exit, while Stringer and Ghost are satisfied with what they've done in the life and are looking to move on. SN: Not a comparison of the shows, just a small similarity I noticed. Power was great, but it can't compare to The Wire, in my opinion.

[@darienwashington482]

I think power ripped off material from the wire. For example Avon’s identity was kept secret similar to ghost

[@stuffsomedumb5665]

It would be awesome if at the end Ziggy came walking in

[@_JM-]

these guys’ relationship is so different when you look back on it. the first time you watch your with stringer. the second time you watch your with avon. the third time you realize that both were wrong and right about certain things.

[@capitalg1415]

Crazy thing is stringers ways was the only way of actually getting some real change in the city

[@thesonofdaniel8065]

Their individual ideologies are similar to Ghost and Tommy. String thought like Ghost and Avon thought like Tommy, just not as reckless

[@Itskhalidb1tch]

Coz power copied the wire

[@SuperHiddenaccount]

One of the big things that lead to Avon's downfall was his loss of manpower, when you lose those corners, you lose the ability to recruit and find new talent to replace those that he lost

[@osbtm1258]

you can apply this convo to everything, meetoo, politics, lifestyle changes.

[@snobworthy6927]

Stringer straight spitting facts and Avon like nah

[@antwanazhar2258]

THIS REMINDS ME OF I remember in 2015 when they had first open the Amazon location in my area and I started working there making decent money and I tried to convince my homeboy that I had grew up with to get a job there with me and he declined because he wanted to keep selling weed

[@yung007jr]

2:28 is funny to me cause stringer really thought he was kicking knowledge to Avon lol. That pause right there looked like he thought he just convinced him

[@bsp5689]

They could publish these scripts in 500 years and it would be Shakespearean level for the future show writes and authors

[@humblebeginnings5826]

They got a couple online bro

[@jayteegamble]

At this point of the series you actually think that Stringer is smarter than Avon.

[@perfect6091]

Just a Gangster, i suppose - Avon was 100% Gangster, no doubt!!!!!!!!!

[@whythismom]

love this scene. i think this is the first time that string realized that one of them had to go, one way or another.

[@gregorysmith8278]

This scene is I guess we're stringer made the most sense Avon just didn't understand it at first to little to late

[@PeterParker-yg6fc]

did you watch the show? avon was fucking right

[@deandreduckett4881]

People say the gangster I suppose is the best line in this scene but it’s really stringer saying “you gonna buy them one way or another. Whether it’s the bodies we lost or we’re gonna lose. Time in the joint is behind or ahead of us.” Like man the writing in this show was too good.

[@cwilliams7908]

Avon spoke some real sh!t.......'I'm just a gangster I suppose. i want my corners'

[@MichaelScarn23]

we TAKE corners

[@JJJ111JJJ]

You know, Quasimodo predicted all this.

[@n000bsaib0t]

Agreed. Throughout the whole first 3 seasons you heard String inputting little bits and pieces of knowledge he was getting from his Econ class. Avon never wanted to hear that shit. But to be honest, the drug game so purely represents some of the most fundamental concepts of economics. When options are present, customers seek the best quality for the cheapest price. More apparent in the drug trading enterprise than any legitimate business in existence

[@dsmithds]

Ying and yang…Avon and Stringer.

[@letmehitu]

even though stringer had a good point, and really wanted to change his ways, you have to understand why avon didn't want to change. his blood before and after him was in the game,he devoted a lot of time into being at the top. the streets is all this guy and his family knows.

[@heemthatsmrc8307]

He was afraid of the unknown or afraid of change

[@jonathanjelks5743]

I love Avon’s character so much. He has so much heart. He was a natural leader, wise & had a brilliant Street IQ. But, the romanticism of ‘the life’ would be his downfall. Stringer was always right about the vision & the tactical path to legitimacy. String was trying to articulate to Avon that they had reached there ceiling. There wasn’t another zenith of street credibility & or fortune to attain. They reached their peak. String was educating Avon to the future. Being ‘king of the corners’ is dead. To continue to do business that way was mutually assured destruction. On this post some people are downplaying Stringer like Avon’s mentality was was going to lead to a more successful business model. That’s a negative. In a lot of ways String was even more ruthlessly sophisticated than Avon. Deangelo was a true liability & Avon didn’t have the heart to address the problem. String did. String was also smart enough to ease up on Marlo. They should have faded to the back & then rocked him to sleep if that’s what was necessary. But soldering for territory at their level was beneath them & a liability. Coming home from jail & publicly going to war at Avon’s behest while he was on probation was stupid. Avon being being caught with guns dumb. String’s main downfall was playing it to ‘fast & loose’. The brother Mouzonne situation, Omar & of course asking Slim Charles to hurt Clay Davis left him exposed & ended up being his demise. But his plan to engineer a way out of the game was the only path forward. Avon was to egotistical to embrace the inevitable. This conversation effectively ended the regime & caused their demise. After the Barksdale crew the wire was never the same. One if the greatest shows ever 🐐

[@OnkelAdiSuperstar]

You talk like their is no nuisance going "legit". Most of their capital is still dirty corner money, same for all their main assets. And you have niggaz like Marlo who doesnt give a shit and want to subjugate everyone else. Armchair Strategic Planing is cool and all, but let the OGs work it out, kid.

[@killjoyclown]

The jacka gangstarz sampled this