I didn’t understand that. Avon is trying to pay him to forget about it and says this is business. And brother says “business is where you’re at now.” What does that mean? What is he trying to say? Hes trying to say Avon has always had a strong word that’s why he’s not going to kill him as long as he gives up stringer? How does “business is where you are now” convey that?
@@morganzimmerglass9925 hes basically saying the business at hand is about avon giving up stringer he doesn't care about the money and if he doesn't he'll lose respect and possibly the new york connects
@@morganzimmerglass9925 He was straight-up insulted that Avon would offer him money to "forget" that Stringer purposely tried to have him killed. He was basically telling him that he could give up Stringer and hope to salvage the NYC-Baltimore relationship, or protect Stringer (essentially condoning Stringer's actions) and completely lose NYC's backing. Brother was smart enough to understand that Stringer manipulated everyone (including Avon) so he was willing to give him a chance to "pick a side".
@@morganzimmerglass9925 Drug dealers need drugs to sell. If Avon shows he's unable to maintain the hierarchy underneath him, then they'll support someone else. The support exists because of his reputation.
@@mewebb I think it was the 'even at the point of dying' part that convinced Avon because he knew how capable Mouzone was. There was no point arguing it any further. Helps that Mouzone is also a man of his word, which Avon would respect.
I tell store clerks that when they try to explain why they gave me fucked up service or sold me a defective product. All that bullshit is not my problem. I want my money back. Period.
Avon hired him based on his own reputation and BM himself is a man of some reputation. Had Stringer not set Omar on him he would still be doing his job.
Except that thus carefully crafts a situation that Avon is keeping his open line to New York by selling out Stringer. But when Marlo and Co. Takeover the west and Avon is low on muscle there is no mention of New York. Still a great show.
@1thug aka Hollywood Coke!! You do know the people ( characters) are PAID ACTORS. Avon was also "ALPO" in "PAID IN FULL". It was a "WELL CRAFTED SERIES". Myself... Born Brooklyn 1969 raised Bronx for LIFE. So I know.
You guys are giving the bow tie too much credit. It was too easy for omar to get to him and omar couldn't really reach avon or stringer. It's a great show but sometimes they were generous with plot armor.
nah nigga, it's from the first season when d teaches bodie and wallace how to play chess. during that scene they acknowledge and discuss how the nature of chess (which itself can be viewed as a metaphorical representation of similar tactics and logic often utilized in war but on a smaller scale) can be seen as symbolizing "the game." in the scene, they even acknowledge how some pieces can be viewed to symbolize certain members of their crew -- e.g. avon = king (vital, yet vulnerable), stringer = queen (highly versatile and influential), pawns = bodie and other pit niggas (because they're expendable, low level pushers -- unless you a smart ass pawn that is) hence the "avon sacrifices his queen" reference
Avon is willing to own up for Stringer's mistake, but Mouzone's like "Bro, stop trying to protect that piece of shit." I don't see why people think Avon betrayed Stringer. Stringer set up Brother Mouzone without Avon's permission. Avon has to bring out punishment. It's similar to when Tony B. killed Billy Leotardo, and Tony Soprano had to punish Tony B. (if you watched the Sopranos).
+feech la mana Whoever you are, I want you to know that you are corny as hell calling yourself a character from TV That's straight WACK son...Get your head right.
+The Super Star ohhh nice analogy with Tony and Tony B. as an avid watcher of both these amazing shows (wire edges out Sopranos imo) i never thought of that. good post!
When Avon said if my man made a mistake i'm willing to pay the costs, Brother Mouzone looked at him like nahhh i'm not going to let you do that. I want Stringer.
@@righteousmasculine Stringer was too busy playing "Away Games". "Away Games" is interesting way to put it, because obviously it means that you are playing somewhere unfamiliar, but in relation to baseball, the Away team hits first. Stringer attempted to strike first, but ended up getting killed.
the look on AVon's face at the end, knowing he has to give up String and "his word" is part of who he is, his philosophy of life, man that was deep, amazing. Wood Harris killed it with that character. Hell, all did.
@@mauriceschaeffer5070 Omar didn't witness the Gant murder like he testified. He wasn't there. The only reason he worked to put Bird in prison instead of just shooting him is he thought that would hurt him more.
@@trubblman Stringer didn't try to get out the game, he just thought he was smarter than everyone else. Stringer wanted pure gain and zero conflict on his end, but the game don't work like that!
@@trubblman This is correct. Stringer was in fact the man, the highest in the heirarchy minus Avon of course. I would reword the original comment in saying that Stringer forgot that discussions need to be made with his superior before executing.
Always thought how it was interesting that Brother doesn’t seem to threaten Avon with death. He threatens Avon by taking The Game away from him, contacts and whatnot. The thing that matters most to him.
Brother don't want it what Avon. He was dead set on Stringer. Now what nigga's ain't talkin about is how brother got String to tell on himself. He said I will handle "them" myself. String said "them"? Brother just stared at him.... Thank you for your concern. Ill shit
I like the fact that Brother Mouzone, is always calm & articulate when he speaks... He has an old-school mentality too, you can't bribe him with money & get him to change his mind... Most things that the average man would be interested in, does not interest him... He's easily one of the most ruthless guys on the show... But since he's a small guy dressed-up with a bowtie, you wouldn't be able to tell...
THE P3NALTY Well he has got more bodies on him than a Chinese cemetery, so I guess he would be considered one of the most ruthless. But it's because of his business that he has to maintain that image, to draw off attention.
@@AnastasiaBeaverhousn He's an enforcer/hitman from NYC. He's hired by Avon, while he's in jail, to run off the East Baltimore drug dealers moving in on his turf, not knowing that Stringer had made a deal behind his back with Prop Joe that allowed them on certain areas of their turf in exchange for the much purer heroin that Prop Joe was getting was from the Greeks.
This show had so many great characters. Brother Mouzone was cold calculating but above all else he was dignified and disciplined. The look on Avon's face was priceless when he said you're done.
The interesting thing here is, Avon had old connections going way back. Avon's muscle connects were from New York and so was Brother Mouzone. They probably were the class of original drug game players that came up during politically charged Black Power struggle times of the 60s and 70s and had connections with Black Panthers and Nation of Islam. This was especially true for the North East in big cities with large urban black Populations like Philly, New York, Baltimore, DC, Jersey and Boston. Meanwhile Marlo's crew was all new Blood with none of these old connections that came up during the Drug and crack era so they were probably more Ruthless and Heartless. This show keeps it 100.
No. His family had those connections, he just inherited them. Avon's primary muscle was mostly locally sourced. Did you not listen to "D's" story, when he was about to go against his family?
Actually, it says in the early episodes that Avon was born in Baltimore General (the episode where Lester gets the boxing poster) but I did wonder if his father migrated from NY for whatever reason to Baltimore.
''If he made a mistake here,then I'm willing to pay the cost''.Avon's reaction after he looks at Brother Mouzone is epic.Avon already knew he was grasping for straws in trying to save Strings life.
Denz music i would love to know the back story of how string got involved in the first place. did avon invite him in? he's clearly not quite a soldier, but soldier enough to play a role.
David Steven right. i grew up with soldiers too. i'm not in the game though. never was. i meant more, was he interested? was it proposed to him? did someone say, "you're smart and trustworthy. wanna make some cash?" did he say, "i want to make this money?"
@Jason Voorheese Brother Mouzone is based on a number of real individuals who ran out of NY and Baltimore. They were members of the Nation of Islam and really worked as hired guns. The man who police believe killed Tupac Shakur was supposedly one of these people
Great scene. So much nuance. I have to watch the wire again.. Basically Brother said, you are still in the business zone (i.e weighing things according to loss and gain). But this is going to the RULES OF THE GAME zone (which is also about WORD not just loss and gain). And this is the only thing your business was actually built on. If it goes to the WAR ZONE, which it absolutely will depending on how you respond, even if you win (i.e kill Brother Mouzone) your principles and your reputation will be fucked up regardless. You are protecting a snake who violated your own word. That kind of sentimentality will be seen as a weakness, NY will cut you off, the game will spit you out, and it will be the start of your down fall.. No matter what you do to me. That being said, if you want to fight, I am ready to die. Either way, this isnt going away. Checkmate. Few words. No guns.
You almost have it but not quite. Brother Mouzone isn't interested in war. Nowhere in his speech does he say anything along the lines of "I will fuck up your entire organization if you don't give up Stringer." What he does threaten is to unravel Avon's reputation and word, and subsequently his entire organization.
bigstar66 so mouzone would tell people avons man lied about omar and crossed him and that would ruin his reputation? I havent watched the wire in awhile.
@@kiddisley5890 "Avon had his man reach out to contract me. I agreed. Then Avon's right hand man tried to double cross me. When I survived, Avon tried to pay me off instead of making it right." When you realize someone is untrustworthy, that their word means nothing... in a criminal empire... that person has to go, for the good of the organization.
@@NaptownClassic I got to ask, why didn't Avon tip off Stringer "hey you need to get out while you can, word is out you double crossed Mozone. If you stay here, you're a dead man!"
Yeah just noticed this little detail he after he went from a passive hands folded to a threatening dropping his of his arms as Brother usually talks cordially even to people he has shot (cheesee) no more words no way out
He was killing Stringer regardless. Either Avon tried to stop it and lost a huge chunk of the reputation that gave him the New York connection in the first place, or gave the okay on it and maintains his reputation.
was in response to the temporary change in look Avon gave him. Avon was thinking for a while of whether attack would be the right strategy. Mouzone saw that immediately, dropped his hands and Avon rowed back.
@@chriss7430 lol, avon never for a second considered attacking brother mouzone, he probably wasn't even carrying a gun...avon was a smart and experienced baltimore drug lord, but brother mouzone was a widely known and respected killer.
Avon's three expressions upon seeing Brother Mouzone: 0:10 "oh crap" 0:15 "wtf does he want?" 0:21 "no big deal, I'm still a boss" brilliantly subtle acting.
its funny because Avon just goes like, oh my, he has come to collect, am not going to enjoy this. i wonder why he did not try a bull shit line, like what can i do for you? when you are in the game you just know that scenes(where one of your people screwed up) like these will never end
thad g ACCURATE observation LOL! Brother Mouzone was unbelievable in how he broke down the whole set up AND his correct observation into Omar's character
+TheIsh1988 Used to be one those dudes all walking straight now the 80s is over. The game as we all knew it back then doesn't exist and old heads like me I'm 50 and those a little older than me like them have thrown in the towel many years ago decades ago my dude...
Omar wasn't based off the preacher,the preacher was Melvin Williams aka Little Melvin who just passed away a month ago. He was a professional gambler turned heroin dealer and well known in the streets. Donnie Andrews Ronnie Mo(Ronald Bell) were a couple of the stick up dudes that came from that Murphy Homes Lexington Terrace crew. Bodie Marlo Stanfield, his brother Taamir were a couple cats known for bussin their guns as well. I won't go into a long list of names but Melvin was not a goon but he had goons and was nice with his hands could fight and was a very charismatic leader. I only watched the show once but I am familiar with these dudes I saw when I did watch it a list, like a family tree. The police use to ID organizations I saw Melvin's name at the top as you went down it had Glen Hawkins,Marando,Stringer, etc different guys real names. I could tell this was an official police document from they used from around 83-85 every name on it was official. I googled Wire characters so many dudes names popped up Dennis Wise,Fat Face Rick is really Fat Face Charles,Bodie Prop Joe,Hucklebuck White Mike etc. Like I said those who know know, like the dudes that thumbs upped this comment. I saw Savano about 7 years ago I asked him was they getting paid he said nah his lawyer said it was public info they couldn't do nothing about it. What they did to keep the lawsuits away was they was used real first names and rearranged last names,yo I usually don't get into this a whole lot but like I said those who know understand what was done...
Totally Stringer's fault. Stringer made calls and went against Avon's wishes without Avon knowing. If Brother Mouzone was on some straight murderous tip then Avon would have been held accountable and bodied off of Stringer's decisions. Stringer had to go point blank. Even after hearing about what Stringer did to his nephew and how he deceived Him, Avon STILL tried to save Stringer's life. Stringer made his own bed,
@Murada If that's the case, why did he try to buy Mouzone off? He tried to save Stringer's life. If he wanted Stringer dead, he would've killed Stringer himself, got one of his hitters to do it or told Mouzone that he can have him.
"How you gonna ask a soldier like Mouzone a question like that!? Either he gonna say or he gonna go work it out..either way you ain't gotta be asking him shit! "
I thought he was making him choose. You or your man. He's responsible for whatever Stringer did. This show mirrors Cosa Nostra. The Commission was going to rub Castellano out if he didn't kill Gotti because Gotti's crew was under indictment for narcotics trafficking. Gotti ended up killing him first.
@@KtotheG la Cosa Nostra in America is built too insulate the boss from the day to day activities of the street. The Wire in season one showed how many steps they took to do that.
What did that mean? He says business is where you are now after Avon tries to pay him to go away and forget stringer tries to have him killed and says a payoff would be part of doing business. I dunno I didn’t think brother’s line made sense.
@@morganzimmerglass9925 Brother Mouzone could go back to NY and let them know that Avon is shady and it would mess up his reputation and he will lose the connect
Difference between Avon and Stringer, among other things, is Avon's loyalty and tried to find a way out for people he viewed as family and friends. Even though Avon gave up String, he was still trying to save Strings life. Probably why Avon ended up living, even though he ended up in jail. The most natural "king" in the series.
Denver Britto But Stringer had no power over the sentence Avon got. Didn’t Stringer realize that being in the safe house with all those weapons was a federal crime? Stringer wasn’t smart.
@@deb7457 Avon has falls guys too take those charges , remember he said y'all ugly ass n iggas shouldn't b playing with all these guns hint some guys taking it , he was gonna go back for breaking parole
@@M3rchantofD34th The best part about his testimony was that if you take his answers in the most literal sense, he actually wasn't lying. He lied indirectly by agreeing to testify as a witness, which he wasn't of course, but his answers were just so that they were technically true. For instance, when the prosecutor asks if he was in the parking lot he answers "there about" (which is just vague enough to be technically true). When she asks if he sees the gunman he says "Yo, Bird" and winks at him (thereby making it seem like he was directly identifying Bird as the gunman, but he technically only greeted him). When she asks if he would have any trouble recognizing Bird from a moderate distance he says "Ah nah, no problem" (which is true, but his answer is technically unrelated to the shooting in question). She asks him where the murder weapon was on the day of the murder, he answers it was in Bird's hand (which is true, but she didn't ask if he saw it in Bird's hand during the murder, so his answer is yet again technically true).
@@ZBM-jj1xr That's hilarious, I never broke that down. So basically Levy should've pounced on all the ambiguity in the testimony and put Omar in a position so he'd have to choose whether or not to tell direct lies. But instead, in his arrogance, he assumed he was just a thug with no code whose overall character could be assassinated.
@@ZBM-jj1xr Very interesting observations that i hadn't made. Kudos We have to give credit to the prosecutor as well. She tailored those questions in a way that they would have the exact effects you pointed out
Avon is actually shocked to see brother at first then @ 0:19 he gains composure and starts looking at him like the help. Avon plays the game exactly how he is supposed to play it. A general is always above a soldier
Naw my mans Avon thinking fuck at forst then realise if brother wanted him dead his gun woulda been I'm hand already n he wouldnt of even seen it coming
Heartbreaking scene, with the context underneath. All the unspoken reaction shots on Avon, as it's starting to settle in with him for what has to happen: Stringer has to die. Avon's slow realization of this shows pain across his face on what needs to be done, such a sad and brilliantly executed scene.
yea and brother mouzone would ve taken avon out aswell if he d put up a fight about stringer needing to get got. brother mouzone was all about the bidness. aint no fuckin around with this guy.
Death Rager Nah! Bro Mouzone wasn’t gonna have to do anything to Avon. Avon was a businessman who had Mouzone on retainer from NY anyway. He already knew that Stringer had messed up. He simply offered to fix the mess that Stringer started, but he knew he couldn’t. And Avon already knew that Stringer was on borrowed time.
Deb 7 Avon gave authority to Stringer to deal with Mouzone on his behalf...if Stringer then betrays Mouzone, Avon’s accountable...Stringer represented him
Odog 15 That’s true. But I believe that NY and Mouzone trusted Avon. That’s why Mouzone told Avon that he STILL had a connection to NY, based on his word and reputation. So they trusted that Avon would do right by them. Thank God Mouzone didn’t suggest that Avon kill Stringer himself.
As awesome as the dialog was in this scene, the body language was better. After Brother Mouzoune said "your done." Avon was thinking maybe he can take him out since money ain't an option..so he looked at him, sizing him up. Mouzoune IMMEDIATELY went from a passive stance (arms crossed) to an aggressive stance (arms to the side, shooter ready). Then Avon knew he couldn't get the jump so he turned away. Then Mouzoune went back to passive. Very impressive how they added that.
This is one of my favorite scenes in the whole show. Something about a meeting in a barbershop with sam and Dave playing in the background just makes it for me
"It takes 40 years to build a reputation and 15 minutes to lose it." - Warren Buffett Brother was reminding Avon of the rules of The Game. Right now, Avon has a connection to New York for product and muscle because he has built a reputation for being careful, reliable, stand up and for keeping his word. Once it gets out that Avon is a snake, a liar, a backstabber, etc he loses his reputation for honesty and reliability. At that point, he's cut out of a drug supply and muscle. New York might even back his rival.
@@AvonBD Nah I disagree. What about his reputation of loyalty to his most trusted friends? If you give up your 2 I.C. you've displayed frailty, not strength. I reckon he should have told Mouzone to, "Fuck off! He's my best mate. Tool up, punk bitch. It's on!". What? Was he scared of losing his New York connection so much? He just bent over and lubed up in front of that Moozie bitch. Hahaha. Strength is knowing when to make a stand.
@@jonathanhalloran5350 stringer broke the rules too often which either wound up costing avon his best muscle in weebay bird and stinkum who's either serving life without parole or dead or damn near costing him the connect not to mention that stringer had d killed and at the same time that mozune's asking avon to ok the hit on stringer's life stringer's snitching on the crew to colvin avon would've had to deal with stringer sooner or later
@@redhawk44109 Hmm fair enough. I suppose those factors may outweigh the best mate factor. Still sucks though. He gave the ok without debate. I would have tried to barter for my best mate's life.
I'm gon start telling girls right before I penetrate: "Business is where you are now. But what got you here was the Hennessey and weed". With that alone you can come through anytime. Without it, you're done"
“You’re word and reputation, alone” Brother Mouzone is the type of man that you can’t motivate with money and material things. He only did business with the Barksdale because that “Third Party” vouched for Avon and said he had a solid reputation. But Stringer Bell’s buffoonery and greed got Brother Mouzone caught up in a situation that ruined his business and reputation. After being shot, some of his mystique faded and Brother couldn’t have that. Him appearing to be invincible is part of that business model. He had to come back for String!
Avon's reputation is what allowed him to hire Mouzone in the first place. Stringer was fucking it up in so many ways (like permitting gerard and sapper to attack Omar on a Sunday morning and going behind Avon's back and trying to kill Mouzone). Mouzone wasn't going to look some punk and let an attempted hit slide. In the end, Avon had a good reputation while Marlo's name was torn down. Avon may have been in prison for 5 to 25 years (I really prefer 5 and know that it's certainly a possibility since being near weapons is not sufficient to convict someone of conspiracy), but he had the reputation that Marlo never had.
At the end, nobody truly got what they wanted. Stringer wanted out of the game and to become a legit businessman, but he couldn't. Marlo wanted his name to ring out in the streets and in the end, some petty corner boys didn't even recognize him. Avon wanted to be a gangster for life and that was taken away from him. Just shows there's different ways to lose, but nobody really wins.
Anthony Anderson Right, and Stringer tells D'Angelo that shit is weak all over. However, he then says that if its strong, they're going to sell it and if its weak they'll sell twice as much. The fact that they can keep up with any current market quality suggests that Avon's New York connection was a little better than everyone else's. But clearly the Greek connection was far purer than anything from New York. The Greeks probably got it straight from Afghanistan.
Avon had no choice but to give up Stringer. He wanted not to, but Mouzone made it clear that if he didn't give up String that would be the end of the Barksdale reign. Real mob moves being made.............
"Ya boy gave you up, and we didn't even have to torcher his ass neither." Right, you calmly approached him after a haircut, and got firm voiced with him and reminded him how powerless he is without his NY Connections.
the subtle expressions are fuckin incredible in the wire, the look he gave mouzone near the end avon @ 2:03 "aye you know what nigga- brother @ 2:04 "-whattup nigga, do sum." avon @ 2:07 "nah nevermind....." lol lesson of the day Don't step to brother mouzone
THE NINJACAT avon gave up stringer on a platter thats why omar said " ya boy gave you up, and we aint have to torture his ass neither!!!" it all goes back to stringer trying to blame brother mouzone for killing brandon, so mouzone and omar caught up with string and lett'em have it, if avon hadn't have given up string and made it straight with mouzone he would've lost his New york connection and probably started a war with him, and nobody wants that. "Brother mouzone, nigga got more bodies on him then a chinese cemetery."
it’s hilarious how much y’all over analyze everything about the show to seem like deep thinkers lol ain’t no fucking clip on youtube without someone feeling the need to say some overly deep interpretation or pointing out the writing or expressions
Avon was caught between a rock and a hard place between honoring his word or allowing his friend to be killed by Omar and Brother Mouzone. In the end he took the lesser of the two evils to ensure that his empire (If not temporarily) continued to stay in business.
This scene would have played out so differently if Stringer didn't confess to killing D'Angelo. Avon would have went to war with anyone including Mouzone for Stringer before knowing that.
They both betrayed each other, but Avon had some heart behind his. He knew Brother wanted who was responsible for the lie, nothing more, and String went against Avon's orders with a weak lie. Stringer did his as a power move. Yeah, Avon was moving irrationally and dangerously, but he stayed true to the game.
The dialogue thru out this entire series... Brother Mouzone assessing the scenario flawlessly. Avon coming to the realization and decision logically, despite emotional attachment. The writing is incredible! Yeah.. this is one of the greatest television shows.
The subtle of the last 20 secs is amazing. Avon contemplated killing Brother he then looked up at him Brother peeped it and dropped his hands. Then he thought about the repercussions of the fallout. Correct me if I am wrong. But that is what I took away from that moment.
Killing him right there one on one in the barbershop? It's possible he was just going through all the possible options and that one popped up for a second. But there's no way he would have actually thought he had any chance.
I’m thinking he just didn’t have any option but to give up Stringer. Stringer was a piece of shit…Brother reminded Avon that he was about his word, and Stringer wasn’t.
While I do think Avon was going through any other option he could think of in his head, I don't think killing Mouzone would've been one of them. Mouzone is muscle and an assassin. Avon knows he would not stand a chance, nor would any of his men stand a chance if he sent them after Mouzone. That's why Mouzone was needed in the first place. Secondly, Avon knew all too well he needed to maintain a good relationship with New York. Killing one of their men would not have helped that and it's why Mouzone specifically mentions that if Avon doesn't take care of business he would be done with New York and by extention the game.
I see people posting about Brother Mouzone being a bad character and too unreal for the series but in all honesty I feel Omar was too unreal for the series. Brother Mouzone was I guess with the nation and them cats are trained and well disciplined to handle themselves and keep their calm at all times. People have no idea how some people mentalities work. Omar did stuff that any ordinary dude by himself would have died from a long time ago. Limping around the hood on a crutch while being wanted? Come on. Brother Mouzone had a job to do and his reputation allowed him to do the job efficiently and when he got set up. Came back and closed the chapter and bounced.
When Omar jumped from the 3rd floor and survived, that was based on a true event: one of the actors (before he was on the show and was a real gangster) jumped from the 6th floor to escaped and survived.
Viva Valdez well said. backstory black gangstas never want to discuss or admit. 1) Gays are Gangstas too 2) a few of em are known killas that you better be ready if you step to em!
Stringer needed to follow the rules. He wasnt the boss and deserved what he got for going behind Avon's back and being a shady "businessman." Poor Avon.
+KateMich12 Screw that. Stringer set everything up for Avon to ride on a float of money into an airplane made of silver to jump out with a golden parachute that would never touch the ground and Avon decided being a soldier and slingin' dope was better than actually living free and enjoying all that money they had. I mean they both had more money than they could ever spend in their life time. Stringer wasnt going to screw Avon, he was setting them both up to go legit and in the end when Avon heard the music he realized stringer was right, even when he knew Stringer snitched on him which was necessary in many aspects since Avon was just going to cause more violence in West Baltimore.
+nateo200 Your seeing it wrong. Stringer got played by Prop Joe all along. He bought Joe's "buy for 1 buck sell for 2" stuff about the game. Prop Joe knew that if he had Stringer on his package he could control Stringer, and we saw this when he pressured him to lay off Marlo even though Marlo by that time was a serious player who was not going to back down. The game is more than merely making money. A huge part of the game is about reputation and a willingness to defending your territory. Stringer brought a smug know-it all "I am bigger than the game" attitude that cost him. If Stringer was smarter he woulda nipped Marlo in the bud earlier instead of trying to broker with him. Think of the 1930's and the rise of Hitler. France and Britain tried the diplomatic approach (the same as Stringers) but it backfired completely. Stringer shoudla realised that sometimes u gotta take the aggressive approach. He should of also freezed Avon out completely while Avon was in prison and taken complete control of the operation. That would have stopped the whole undermining each other situation which ultimately led to his death by Mouzone and Omar.
Avon definitely looked alot more sad in this scene, after realizing Stringer had to die for what he did with Omar and Mouzone, playing them against each other - than how Stringer looked when betraying Avon to the police via Colvin. THIS, definitely wasn't "just business" to Avon.
Jakobaine Well both of them took it pretty hard, but Avon's the one that had to end Stringer's life. I guess it comes down to which deed is worse, death or prison. Then again maybe it was just how the actors performed their scenes.
Jakobaine Yeah he sulks the whole last ep of season three, ep 13. It's awesome how sad and bummed he is, from an acting stand-point I mean. I noted that, and was really impressed.
Myk McGrane Yea, it's as if he started to realize what's really important and what isn't, but it was too late to do anything about it. It's a valuable lesson most people learn after losing something they took for granted, which is unfortunately way too common these days.
Damn...Avon had no choice...either give up String or give up the New York connect.....Stringer brought that shit on himself, he was messing up bad...they need a Wire movie, at least to show what happened to those kids...
+Kellen east: well a cop turned Muslim they said killed biggie a undercover and a gang member killed tupac if he even dead he was cited recently in the papers
I could see him being an inspiration to brother Mouzone himself, as he was to many muslims and others, but the sketches of the guy who was suspected as BIG's killer looked like Brother Mouzone - who was a gun for hire - while Malcolm X wasn't.
Who is the Muslim dude suspected of killing Notorious B.I.G.? The only people I've heard as suspects with any real evidence are a memeber of the Southside Crips and most eyewitness evidence points to a Blood named Wardell “Poochie” Fouse hired by Suge Knight. Neither of whom are Muslims.
Stringer and crew found Brandon but instead of keeping him alive , tortured him to death and ended up with Bird in prison for life and Omar hunting the rest down- Stinkum, the stash house and even gunning directly for Avon. Dante was not as brazen as Brandon was, but Mouzone knew Omar had a new boy around but also knew not to kill him or torture him.
When Mouzone tells him he won't have a line to New york, I remember that scene when he was asking Slim about what options they had for muscle and he said Mouzone put a hex on everyone and nobody would work with them. Avon probably remembered that.
Correct. That's what was happening. Mouzone was telling Avon that if he gave Stringer up, Mouzone would release the hex. Then Avon would be able to get the soldiers he needed (from New York) to win the Marlo-Barksdale war.
A lesser show would have made Avon give up stringer out of a sense of vindictiveness, but what I like about this scene is Avon is willing to defend String even knowing that by this point that String has betrayed him more than once, but in the end Avon ONLY gives up Stringer because Muozone was able to threaten the one thing Avon cared about more than his friendship and partnership with Stringer; not even his life, but his reputation
Stringer thought he could just up and leave the game for legitimate business.And his ego told him the means justified the ends.But there is only one way out the game when your in deep as he was.
after avon says im willing to pay the cost..the quick look exchanged between him and brother, the silent realization in avons mind that nothing can be done to save string..crazy writing and screen play to this show
It’s also because Avon knows sting and his partnership is was over before this and one has too go, Avon was making more with coop and didn’t need nyc anymore.
99% Wire's followers didn't even understand that Avon's New York connection had nothing to do with drugs. It was mysterous powerful organized crime organization from New York which gave Avon a lot of man power which he needed to fight Marlo's gang. Without that manpower he was nothing since most his own soldiers were out of game (wee-bay, stinkum, little man, bird etc. + plenty of others) at that point when he got out of prison. Marlo's crew had superior numbers first and thats why nobody in baltimore wouldn't join at that point to Avon's organization, but for his lucky he could get quality soldiers from New York organization, which would turn war if he wouldn't got caught by police. That same organization also made Avon king of baltimore state prison. I only wish we would seen more of that mystery organization.
Stringer is one of those cats that is too smart for his own good. When I re-watch The Wire now, I see the cracks in Stringer's facade. He's really a career #2 guy in the sense that the final decision should never be made by him. In the end, he stood tall and accepted his fate - he didn't beg or plea for his life...
These is moment when Avon started to plot on Prop Joe, Stringer did betray Avon with those away games but Prop Joe was always in Stringer ear bad mouthing Avon making Stringer feel like he was the brains while Avon was just a two bit hoodlum. Prop joe threatened Stringer with cutting them out the connect if he can't make Avon stop beefing with Marlo. That whole time Prop Joe wasn't concerned with Avon & Marlo waring Prop Joe was going to war with Avon with Stringer as the reward, I mean in reality Stringer you could call him co-founder of the co-op.
Avon was loyal to Stringer to the end, he had to sacrifice Stringer or lose everything. Easy choice to make, especially with Marlo creeping in, the last thing Avon needed was a Omar teaming up with Brother, the two Could easily take out all the corners then Avon & String.
"'Business' is where you're at now. What got you here is your word and your reputation,"
Incredible line
I didn’t understand that. Avon is trying to pay him to forget about it and says this is business. And brother says “business is where you’re at now.” What does that mean? What is he trying to say? Hes trying to say Avon has always had a strong word that’s why he’s not going to kill him as long as he gives up stringer? How does “business is where you are now” convey that?
There is no business. Not if one of your men tried to kill me without you even knowing... he could tell Avon didn’t know shit
@@morganzimmerglass9925 hes basically saying the business at hand is about avon giving up stringer he doesn't care about the money and if he doesn't he'll lose respect and possibly the new york connects
@@morganzimmerglass9925 He was straight-up insulted that Avon would offer him money to "forget" that Stringer purposely tried to have him killed. He was basically telling him that he could give up Stringer and hope to salvage the NYC-Baltimore relationship, or protect Stringer (essentially condoning Stringer's actions) and completely lose NYC's backing. Brother was smart enough to understand that Stringer manipulated everyone (including Avon) so he was willing to give him a chance to "pick a side".
@@morganzimmerglass9925 Drug dealers need drugs to sell. If Avon shows he's unable to maintain the hierarchy underneath him, then they'll support someone else. The support exists because of his reputation.
"if he made a mistake here..then I'm willing to pay the cost" Avon was as good a friend as he could be
Too good. Stringer went behind his back a dozen times by this point.
Nah. Avon was trying to save his own ass
terrible take. he was emotional and making a last effort to save Stringer's life.@@nonyobussiness3440
solid use of "if... then" phrasing as well
@@nonyobussiness3440he was trying to save Stringer! He later tells Slim that he tried to save String but he couldn’t!
"He doesn't strike me as a man would tell stories...even at the point of dying."
Mouzone gets it.
So did Avon, didn't even try to argue it.
Unless it's at Bird's trial.
@@mewebb I think it was the 'even at the point of dying' part that convinced Avon because he knew how capable Mouzone was. There was no point arguing it any further. Helps that Mouzone is also a man of his word, which Avon would respect.
@@mewebb🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@mewebbnope he knew stringer and prop Joe were foul
"The inner-workings of your organization don't concern me." His tone and expression are perfect. Ain't trying to hear your drama.
I tell store clerks that when they try to explain why they gave me fucked up service or sold me a defective product. All that bullshit is not my problem. I want my money back. Period.
😂😂😂😂
Aww aren’t you a little entitled Karen 🥹🥹
Exactly
😆 🤣
Mouzone is strictly OLD SCHOOL. He goes by a man's word, if his word is no good then he's no good and his time is running out.
Lol but true
Avon hired him based on his own reputation and BM himself is a man of some reputation. Had Stringer not set Omar on him he would still be doing his job.
The decline of Avon and stringer
@@derrick7211 decline yes, but fall no. Even in chains, Avon still remains a king.
not old school, but REAL SCHOOL. idk why so many mf's live other way.
the wire has to be one of the most beautifully crafted series that ever been made
Never had the pleasure but whenever I watch sopranos clips it comes up so what's to lose by trying it.
Except that thus carefully crafts a situation that Avon is keeping his open line to New York by selling out Stringer. But when Marlo and Co. Takeover the west and Avon is low on muscle there is no mention of New York.
Still a great show.
It feels like it's reality and you're in Baltimore as shit goes down
Hands down the best
@1thug aka Hollywood Coke!! You do know the people ( characters) are PAID ACTORS.
Avon was also "ALPO" in "PAID IN FULL".
It was a "WELL CRAFTED SERIES".
Myself... Born Brooklyn 1969 raised Bronx for LIFE. So I know.
Avon looked shook at soon as he seen Mouzone, but then he remembered that if Mouzone wanted to kill him, he wouldn't even have seen him
Tell that to Stringer :P
Exactly ..at least not for long
Avon wasnt shook. Lol!!!
You guys are giving the bow tie too much credit. It was too easy for omar to get to him and omar couldn't really reach avon or stringer. It's a great show but sometimes they were generous with plot armor.
@@sciuresci1403 wasn't bowties neighborhood so he was more vulnerable to being reached and touched out in bmore
It woulda been hilarious if Brother Mouzone said 'I'm breathing different. My body different.'
Mr. Woods 😂
😂😂😂😂
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Right
😂😂
That was funny bruh
Dang... Avon tried to save stringers life while stringer was giving Avon up.
Or...Stringer tried to get Avon a lighter sentence while Avon was basically giving him up to be killed.
@@denverbritto5606 Nigga he wasn't gonna have a bid until Stringer gave him up.
@@davyroger3773 Stringer wouldn't have had to die unless Avon gave him up.
@@denverbritto5606 No shit, i wasn't talking about that. You were tryna make it sound like stringer was doing Avon a favor lol
@@davyroger3773 lol no way, just offering some alternative perspective on the original man's view
Heavy is the head that wears the crown.
Drunk Sloppy and numbered are his days
Amen1!$
It's impossible to read that line without hearing Chris Cornell singing it.
Great Shakespeare line.
@@user-tg1gm6jy9m Shakespeare actually wrote 'uneasy lies the head that wears a crown"
Avon sacrifices his queen
+Bradley Bergeron Freaking perfect analogy....I hope others realize the reference.
After Stringer admitted to killing Avon's nephew it was bound to happen; screwing over Mouzone just expedited the process.
yah I never looked at it that way. he killed his family and I was thinking - he gonna let that slide
yah I never looked at it that way. he killed his family and I was thinking - he gonna let that slide
nah nigga, it's from the first season when d teaches bodie and wallace how to play chess. during that scene they acknowledge and discuss how the nature of chess (which itself can be viewed as a metaphorical representation of similar tactics and logic often utilized in war but on a smaller scale) can be seen as symbolizing "the game." in the scene, they even acknowledge how some pieces can be viewed to symbolize certain members of their crew -- e.g. avon = king (vital, yet vulnerable), stringer = queen (highly versatile and influential), pawns = bodie and other pit niggas (because they're expendable, low level pushers -- unless you a smart ass pawn that is)
hence the "avon sacrifices his queen" reference
Avon is willing to own up for Stringer's mistake, but Mouzone's like "Bro, stop trying to protect that piece of shit." I don't see why people think Avon betrayed Stringer. Stringer set up Brother Mouzone without Avon's permission. Avon has to bring out punishment. It's similar to when Tony B. killed Billy Leotardo, and Tony Soprano had to punish Tony B. (if you watched the Sopranos).
+The Super Star I think Sopranos and The Wire take place in the same universe!
youre right great observation but its a lil different cuz tony b wasnt made and he killed a made mans brother
+The Super Star EXACTLY!!!
+feech la mana Whoever you are, I want you to know that you are corny as hell calling yourself a character from TV
That's straight WACK son...Get your head right.
+The Super Star ohhh nice analogy with Tony and Tony B. as an avid watcher of both these amazing shows (wire edges out Sopranos imo) i never thought of that. good post!
When Avon said if my man made a mistake i'm willing to pay the costs, Brother Mouzone looked at him like nahhh i'm not going to let you do that. I want Stringer.
And Avon deep down knew Mouzone wanted Stringer dead--offering cash was a futile gesture.
Old school shit
This was a man with a code and he recognized and respected Avon because he had. One. Stringer had no code so he had to go
The cost here is blood!
@@righteousmasculine Stringer was too busy playing "Away Games". "Away Games" is interesting way to put it, because obviously it means that you are playing somewhere unfamiliar, but in relation to baseball, the Away team hits first. Stringer attempted to strike first, but ended up getting killed.
the look on AVon's face at the end, knowing he has to give up String and "his word" is part of who he is, his philosophy of life, man that was deep, amazing. Wood Harris killed it with that character. Hell, all did.
"He doesn't strike me as a man who tells stories!"
"Omar listening" 😂
Omar did lie on Bird. Technically he is a liar.
@@Uncle_elroy4 How did he? Weebay took the Gant murder just to take it. I don't think he actually did it.
@@mauriceschaeffer5070 Omar didn't witness the Gant murder like he testified. He wasn't there. The only reason he worked to put Bird in prison instead of just shooting him is he thought that would hurt him more.
@@garcel1251 funny
Stringer was making too many decisions behind Avon's back or without his authority. Stringer wanted to be the man but he wasn't.
Datruthshines he never got the game. He wanted to be corporate.
String got the game. But the game is rigged to be failed. String tried to get out the game. String was like Michael Corleone in the Godfather
@@trubblman Stringer didn't try to get out the game, he just thought he was smarter than everyone else. Stringer wanted pure gain and zero conflict on his end, but the game don't work like that!
Stringer bout the game only understood the theoretical but not the practical!
@@trubblman This is correct. Stringer was in fact the man, the highest in the heirarchy minus Avon of course. I would reword the original comment in saying that Stringer forgot that discussions need to be made with his superior before executing.
Always thought how it was interesting that Brother doesn’t seem to threaten Avon with death. He threatens Avon by taking The Game away from him, contacts and whatnot. The thing that matters most to him.
Brother don't want it what Avon. He was dead set on Stringer. Now what nigga's ain't talkin about is how brother got String to tell on himself. He said I will handle "them" myself. String said "them"? Brother just stared at him.... Thank you for your concern. Ill shit
Brother was smart and calculating. He could see right through Stringer’s Bullllllllshitttttttt 👍🏿
I like the fact that Brother Mouzone, is always calm & articulate when he speaks... He has an old-school mentality too, you can't bribe him with money & get him to change his mind... Most things that the average man would be interested in, does not interest him... He's easily one of the most ruthless guys on the show... But since he's a small guy dressed-up with a bowtie, you wouldn't be able to tell...
THE P3NALTY Well he has got more bodies on him than a Chinese cemetery, so I guess he would be considered one of the most ruthless. But it's because of his business that he has to maintain that image, to draw off attention.
a man must have a code
Death Rager who is he, I haven't seen the entire show..
@@AnastasiaBeaverhousn well watch the entire show
@@AnastasiaBeaverhousn He's an enforcer/hitman from NYC. He's hired by Avon, while he's in jail, to run off the East Baltimore drug dealers moving in on his turf, not knowing that Stringer had made a deal behind his back with Prop Joe that allowed them on certain areas of their turf in exchange for the much purer heroin that Prop Joe was getting was from the Greeks.
This show had so many great characters. Brother Mouzone was cold calculating but above all else he was dignified and disciplined. The look on Avon's face was priceless when he said you're done.
Stringer was a little slow, a little late on this one...
As was Avon when speaking to Slim Charles, realising it was too late to change things.
String was busy playing away games
" And how can you NOT be Slow and NOT be late just once?"
Most not gon get it 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
The the line from when Avon was explaining the game to D when they visited their unc in the hospital
The interesting thing here is, Avon had old connections going way back. Avon's muscle connects were from New York and so was Brother Mouzone. They probably were the class of original drug game players that came up during politically charged Black Power struggle times of the 60s and 70s and had connections with Black Panthers and Nation of Islam. This was especially true for the North East in big cities with large urban black Populations like Philly, New York, Baltimore, DC, Jersey and Boston.
Meanwhile Marlo's crew was all new Blood with none of these old connections that came up during the Drug and crack era so they were probably more Ruthless and Heartless. This show keeps it 100.
Wow!!! Right...you could sense there back history.
No. His family had those connections, he just inherited them. Avon's primary muscle was mostly locally sourced. Did you not listen to "D's" story, when he was about to go against his family?
@Connection Lost no. Avon on the show was in his 30s
Actually, it says in the early episodes that Avon was born in Baltimore General (the episode where Lester gets the boxing poster) but I did wonder if his father migrated from NY for whatever reason to Baltimore.
Avon forever man u c my man trying to own up for string bs
''If he made a mistake here,then I'm willing to pay the cost''.Avon's reaction after he looks at Brother Mouzone is epic.Avon already knew he was grasping for straws in trying to save Strings life.
David Steven To your point....everyone says he gave String up.... HE LITERALLY TRIED TO PAY TO SAVE HIM!!!!
S Ross he did all he could to save string. that's lost on a lot of viewers.
Denz music i would love to know the back story of how string got involved in the first place. did avon invite him in? he's clearly not quite a soldier, but soldier enough to play a role.
Denz music They grew up together.
David Steven right. i grew up with soldiers too. i'm not in the game though. never was. i meant more, was he interested? was it proposed to him? did someone say, "you're smart and trustworthy. wanna make some cash?" did he say, "i want to make this money?"
The wire ruined tv for me, every series i watch just doesn’t come close nothing will ever beat this
Agreed.
Don’t be sad it’s over, be grateful it happened…and watch the shit out of it on repeat.
Sopranos.
@@dabearcub not even close
@@skippymillward nah bro, better
Wood Harris’ acting is incredible. So much non verbal acting
"For a man who was gut shot." Brutal & to the point, classic Mouzone.
Jason Voorheese - mouzone was an outsider, had no place killing anyone in the Baltimore game, just leave town.
@Jason Voorheese Brother Mouzone is based on a number of real individuals who ran out of NY and Baltimore. They were members of the Nation of Islam and really worked as hired guns. The man who police believe killed Tupac Shakur was supposedly one of these people
MrShaneHardy you mean Biggie Smalls?
Getting shot in stomach aint no joke tho
Great scene. So much nuance. I have to watch the wire again..
Basically Brother said, you are still in the business zone (i.e weighing things according to loss and gain). But this is going to the RULES OF THE GAME zone (which is also about WORD not just loss and gain). And this is the only thing your business was actually built on. If it goes to the WAR ZONE, which it absolutely will depending on how you respond, even if you win (i.e kill Brother Mouzone) your principles and your reputation will be fucked up regardless. You are protecting a snake who violated your own word. That kind of sentimentality will be seen as a weakness, NY will cut you off, the game will spit you out, and it will be the start of your down fall.. No matter what you do to me. That being said, if you want to fight, I am ready to die. Either way, this isnt going away.
Checkmate. Few words. No guns.
its dirty
You almost have it but not quite. Brother Mouzone isn't interested in war. Nowhere in his speech does he say anything along the lines of "I will fuck up your entire organization if you don't give up Stringer." What he does threaten is to unravel Avon's reputation and word, and subsequently his entire organization.
bigstar66 so mouzone would tell people avons man lied about omar and crossed him and that would ruin his reputation? I havent watched the wire in awhile.
@@kiddisley5890 "Avon had his man reach out to contract me. I agreed. Then Avon's right hand man tried to double cross me. When I survived, Avon tried to pay me off instead of making it right."
When you realize someone is untrustworthy, that their word means nothing... in a criminal empire... that person has to go, for the good of the organization.
@@NaptownClassic
I got to ask, why didn't Avon tip off Stringer "hey you need to get out while you can, word is out you double crossed Mozone. If you stay here, you're a dead man!"
That last stare at the end… and how Brother drops his hands as if to say “it can go how you want it to go”
😂😂 nah more like I won't ask again!!
Yeah just noticed this little detail he after he went from a passive hands folded to a threatening dropping his of his arms as Brother usually talks cordially even to people he has shot (cheesee) no more words no way out
He was killing Stringer regardless. Either Avon tried to stop it and lost a huge chunk of the reputation that gave him the New York connection in the first place, or gave the okay on it and maintains his reputation.
the inner workings of your organisation don't concern me
The way Brother Mouzone drops his hands. Way to add pressure in a subtle manner.
Yes! It means: I'm done talking you know what's next.
was in response to the temporary change in look Avon gave him. Avon was thinking for a while of whether attack would be the right strategy. Mouzone saw that immediately, dropped his hands and Avon rowed back.
I've seen The Wire, start to finish, ten times. And I've never caught that!
@@chriss7430 lol, avon never for a second considered attacking brother mouzone, he probably wasn't even carrying a gun...avon was a smart and experienced baltimore drug lord, but brother mouzone was a widely known and respected killer.
Avon's three expressions upon seeing Brother Mouzone:
0:10 "oh crap"
0:15 "wtf does he want?"
0:21 "no big deal, I'm still a boss"
brilliantly subtle acting.
its funny because Avon just goes like, oh my, he has come to collect, am not going to enjoy this. i wonder why he did not try a bull shit line, like what can i do for you? when you are in the game you just know that scenes(where one of your people screwed up) like these will never end
thad g ACCURATE observation LOL! Brother Mouzone was unbelievable in how he broke down the whole set up AND his correct observation into Omar's character
show is so fucking perfect
thad g Man I love RUclips comments. It's some very intelligent people on here.
thad g I can't believe, I'm still alive
And at that moment Avon knew, stringer bell fucked up
The barber is Jim Hart he's a real dude he ran with the real Bodie Marlo and the rest of them cats...
So he's a criminal....
+TheIsh1988 Used to be one those dudes all walking straight now the 80s is over. The game as we all knew it back then doesn't exist and old heads like me I'm 50 and those a little older than me like them have thrown in the towel many years ago decades ago my dude...
+mookeychase0907 are u for real ?
Yes my friend...
Omar wasn't based off the preacher,the preacher was Melvin Williams aka Little Melvin who just passed away a month ago. He was a professional gambler turned heroin dealer and well known in the streets. Donnie Andrews Ronnie Mo(Ronald Bell) were a couple of the stick up dudes that came from that Murphy Homes Lexington Terrace crew. Bodie Marlo Stanfield, his brother Taamir were a couple cats known for bussin their guns as well. I won't go into a long list of names but Melvin was not a goon but he had goons and was nice with his hands could fight and was a very charismatic leader. I only watched the show once but I am familiar with these dudes I saw when I did watch it a list, like a family tree. The police use to ID organizations I saw Melvin's name at the top as you went down it had Glen Hawkins,Marando,Stringer, etc different guys real names. I could tell this was an official police document from they used from around 83-85 every name on it was official. I googled Wire characters so many dudes names popped up Dennis Wise,Fat Face Rick is really Fat Face Charles,Bodie Prop Joe,Hucklebuck White Mike etc. Like I said those who know know, like the dudes that thumbs upped this comment. I saw Savano about 7 years ago I asked him was they getting paid he said nah his lawyer said it was public info they couldn't do nothing about it. What they did to keep the lawsuits away was they was used real first names and rearranged last names,yo I usually don't get into this a whole lot but like I said those who know understand what was done...
"we can only give you 2 BBQ packets with the ten piece mcnuggets. That's our policy"
"THE INNER WORKINGS OF YOUR ORGANIZATION DON'T CONCERN ME."
Totally Stringer's fault. Stringer made calls and went against Avon's wishes without Avon knowing. If Brother Mouzone was on some straight murderous tip then Avon would have been held accountable and bodied off of Stringer's decisions. Stringer had to go point blank. Even after hearing about what Stringer did to his nephew and how he deceived Him, Avon STILL tried to save Stringer's life. Stringer made his own bed,
avon barksdale cannot let anarchy reign supreme
Nah. Mouzone went by a code. Which is why he wanted Stringer and not Avon. He knew it was Stringer who set him up.
phrsh293 But here do you see he said he was a representation of you...so yeah he wouldve went after both...by cutting Avon off as he stated...
classicstorm ohhh ok copy, yea. I thought you meant he would’ve killed off avon
@Murada If that's the case, why did he try to buy Mouzone off? He tried to save Stringer's life. If he wanted Stringer dead, he would've killed Stringer himself, got one of his hitters to do it or told Mouzone that he can have him.
"How you gonna ask a soldier like Mouzone a question like that!? Either he gonna say or he gonna go work it out..either way you ain't gotta be asking him shit! "
Yup, string had skills but he was clueless when it came to handling strong personalities beyond paws in the streets . Even slim charles noticed it !
The way Mouzone says " _your_ man" over and over..you just know that whoever "your man" is is frickin dead lol
I thought he was making him choose. You or your man. He's responsible for whatever Stringer did. This show mirrors Cosa Nostra. The Commission was going to rub Castellano out if he didn't kill Gotti because Gotti's crew was under indictment for narcotics trafficking. Gotti ended up killing him first.
Facts
@@BruteStrength99 Avon has even used the phrase, "this thing of ours," which is the literal translation of "La Costra Nostra"
@@KtotheG makes sense
@@KtotheG la Cosa Nostra in America is built too insulate the boss from the day to day activities of the street. The Wire in season one showed how many steps they took to do that.
The way brother looked at Avon when he said he was willing to pay the cost is old school as hell
"Bussiness is where you are now, but what got you here is your word and your reputation"...a man must have a code said once the Bunk...and Omar.
He also said "look at that bow legged Mofo there, I made him walk like that" lmao about Lester
Indeed.
What did that mean? He says business is where you are now after Avon tries to pay him to go away and forget stringer tries to have him killed and says a payoff would be part of doing business. I dunno I didn’t think brother’s line made sense.
@@morganzimmerglass9925 Brother Mouzone could go back to NY and let them know that Avon is shady and it would mess up his reputation and he will lose the connect
@Mr G Mr G true that my friend, i just added it. Thanks!
Difference between Avon and Stringer, among other things, is Avon's loyalty and tried to find a way out for people he viewed as family and friends. Even though Avon gave up String, he was still trying to save Strings life. Probably why Avon ended up living, even though he ended up in jail. The most natural "king" in the series.
Funny, I feel that way too. Somehow felt Stringer and Marlo were faking it, but with Avon, having a kingpin felt organic, like natural order.
The difference is Marlo is trying to force people to respect him Avon earned his respect that's why the king remains the king
String did the same, he never wanted Avon dead and he tried get him as lenient a sentence as possible.
Denver Britto But Stringer had no power over the sentence Avon got. Didn’t Stringer realize that being in the safe house with all those weapons was a federal crime? Stringer wasn’t smart.
@@deb7457 Avon has falls guys too take those charges , remember he said y'all ugly ass n iggas shouldn't b playing with all these guns hint some guys taking it , he was gonna go back for breaking parole
Notice how when Mouzone said that Omar didn't strike him as a liar Avon didn't argue that point.
Ironic given that Omar literally lied under oath to put one of Avon's people away.
@@M3rchantofD34th The best part about his testimony was that if you take his answers in the most literal sense, he actually wasn't lying. He lied indirectly by agreeing to testify as a witness, which he wasn't of course, but his answers were just so that they were technically true.
For instance, when the prosecutor asks if he was in the parking lot he answers "there about" (which is just vague enough to be technically true). When she asks if he sees the gunman he says "Yo, Bird" and winks at him (thereby making it seem like he was directly identifying Bird as the gunman, but he technically only greeted him). When she asks if he would have any trouble recognizing Bird from a moderate distance he says "Ah nah, no problem" (which is true, but his answer is technically unrelated to the shooting in question). She asks him where the murder weapon was on the day of the murder, he answers it was in Bird's hand (which is true, but she didn't ask if he saw it in Bird's hand during the murder, so his answer is yet again technically true).
@@ZBM-jj1xr hahaha i never caught that.
@@ZBM-jj1xr That's hilarious, I never broke that down. So basically Levy should've pounced on all the ambiguity in the testimony and put Omar in a position so he'd have to choose whether or not to tell direct lies. But instead, in his arrogance, he assumed he was just a thug with no code whose overall character could be assassinated.
@@ZBM-jj1xr Very interesting observations that i hadn't made. Kudos
We have to give credit to the prosecutor as well. She tailored those questions in a way that they would have the exact effects you pointed out
Avon is actually shocked to see brother at first then @ 0:19 he gains composure and starts looking at him like the help. Avon plays the game exactly how he is supposed to play it. A general is always above a soldier
Nah bro, generals don't capitulate to soldiers. That was two generals negotiating. Avon traded in his man to keep his connect.
Naw my mans Avon thinking fuck at forst then realise if brother wanted him dead his gun woulda been I'm hand already n he wouldnt of even seen it coming
Wood Harris - says so much without having to say a word
Heartbreaking scene, with the context underneath. All the unspoken reaction shots on Avon, as it's starting to settle in with him for what has to happen: Stringer has to die. Avon's slow realization of this shows pain across his face on what needs to be done, such a sad and brilliantly executed scene.
@2:00 - the moment Avon realizes Stringer has to go in order to make things right.
yea and brother mouzone would ve taken avon out aswell if he d put up a fight about stringer needing to get got. brother mouzone was all about the bidness. aint no fuckin around with this guy.
Death Rager Nah! Bro Mouzone wasn’t gonna have to do anything to Avon. Avon was a businessman who had Mouzone on retainer from NY anyway. He already knew that Stringer had messed up. He simply offered to fix the mess that Stringer started, but he knew he couldn’t. And Avon already knew that Stringer was on borrowed time.
Deb 7 Avon gave authority to Stringer to deal with Mouzone on his behalf...if Stringer then betrays Mouzone, Avon’s accountable...Stringer represented him
Odog 15 That’s true. But I believe that NY and Mouzone trusted Avon. That’s why Mouzone told Avon that he STILL had a connection to NY, based on his word and reputation. So they trusted that Avon would do right by them. Thank God Mouzone didn’t suggest that Avon kill Stringer himself.
As awesome as the dialog was in this scene, the body language was better. After Brother Mouzoune said "your done." Avon was thinking maybe he can take him out since money ain't an option..so he looked at him, sizing him up. Mouzoune IMMEDIATELY went from a passive stance (arms crossed) to an aggressive stance (arms to the side, shooter ready). Then Avon knew he couldn't get the jump so he turned away. Then Mouzoune went back to passive. Very impressive how they added that.
damn good call, I figured Mouzoune was gesturing like “what’s your answer?” but he really did sense Avon’s bloodlust lmao
This is one of my favorite scenes in the whole show. Something about a meeting in a barbershop with sam and Dave playing in the background just makes it for me
Same exact feeling
"It takes 40 years to build a reputation and 15 minutes to lose it." - Warren Buffett
Brother was reminding Avon of the rules of The Game. Right now, Avon has a connection to New York for product and muscle because he has built a reputation for being careful, reliable, stand up and for keeping his word.
Once it gets out that Avon is a snake, a liar, a backstabber, etc he loses his reputation for honesty and reliability. At that point, he's cut out of a drug supply and muscle. New York might even back his rival.
Had no choice but to give up String
@@AvonBD Nah I disagree. What about his reputation of loyalty to his most trusted friends? If you give up your 2 I.C. you've displayed frailty, not strength. I reckon he should have told Mouzone to, "Fuck off! He's my best mate. Tool up, punk bitch. It's on!". What? Was he scared of losing his New York connection so much? He just bent over and lubed up in front of that Moozie bitch. Hahaha. Strength is knowing when to make a stand.
@@jonathanhalloran5350 stringer broke the rules too often which either wound up costing avon his best muscle in weebay bird and stinkum who's either serving life without parole or dead or damn near costing him the connect not to mention that stringer had d killed and at the same time that mozune's asking avon to ok the hit on stringer's life stringer's snitching on the crew to colvin avon would've had to deal with stringer sooner or later
@@redhawk44109 Hmm fair enough. I suppose those factors may outweigh the best mate factor. Still sucks though. He gave the ok without debate. I would have tried to barter for my best mate's life.
@@jonathanhalloran5350 avon did try to barter for stringer's life but the ny connect didn't leave him a choice
I'm gon start telling girls right before I penetrate: "Business is where you are now. But what got you here was the Hennessey and weed". With that alone you can come through anytime. Without it, you're done"
lol good shit wally
LLS! Funny as shit son
dead!!!! loll
Facts. That comment had me crying. I might have to borrow that one from you. Lmao
LOL...yoooo this caught me off guard...dying over here right now!!
Avon = "I just had it with Stringer Bell's bullshit"
1:10 Avon was stunned on how easy brother found Omar lol . He has been trying for years
well Omar found him, to be honest.
TBF, they both went after folks close to Omar. Brother just succeeded in getting the one he went after to talk.
Can't say Avon didn't try.
“You’re word and reputation, alone”
Brother Mouzone is the type of man that you can’t motivate with money and material things. He only did business with the Barksdale because that “Third Party” vouched for Avon and said he had a solid reputation. But Stringer Bell’s buffoonery and greed got Brother Mouzone caught up in a situation that ruined his business and reputation. After being shot, some of his mystique faded and Brother couldn’t have that. Him appearing to be invincible is part of that business model.
He had to come back for String!
Avon's reputation is what allowed him to hire Mouzone in the first place. Stringer was fucking it up in so many ways (like permitting gerard and sapper to attack Omar on a Sunday morning and going behind Avon's back and trying to kill Mouzone). Mouzone wasn't going to look some punk and let an attempted hit slide. In the end, Avon had a good reputation while Marlo's name was torn down. Avon may have been in prison for 5 to 25 years (I really prefer 5 and know that it's certainly a possibility since being near weapons is not sufficient to convict someone of conspiracy), but he had the reputation that Marlo never had.
At the end, nobody truly got what they wanted. Stringer wanted out of the game and to become a legit businessman, but he couldn't. Marlo wanted his name to ring out in the streets and in the end, some petty corner boys didn't even recognize him. Avon wanted to be a gangster for life and that was taken away from him. Just shows there's different ways to lose, but nobody really wins.
Anthony Anderson In the words of Prez... 'No one wins, one side just looses more slowly'
Except for Poot. Poot won, in a way - he got out alive and didn't really lose anything to do it.
Seven Winged Angel
His two friends were murdered, he killed one of them
Peter Clemenza lol
There should be a show about the connects in NYC!
Agreed. Avon had an advantage that no one else did. It's not just Avon's Dominican suppliers, but also all the muscle he had access too.
Ted87 Early on that's true. But Prop Joe's Greek connection trumped that "stepped on New York shit" as Marlo later put it.
Anthony Anderson
Right, and Stringer tells D'Angelo that shit is weak all over. However, he then says that if its strong, they're going to sell it and if its weak they'll sell twice as much. The fact that they can keep up with any current market quality suggests that Avon's New York connection was a little better than everyone else's. But clearly the Greek connection was far purer than anything from New York. The Greeks probably got it straight from Afghanistan.
Ted87
@@tedof87 and they ain't even Greeks lol
Gotta sacrifice the rook to save the game
More like the ‘Queen’ was sacrificed… Avon is King, Stringer made all the moves on the ‘chessboard’.
Basically saying without his New York connects an muscle he's done
Avon had no choice but to give up Stringer. He wanted not to, but Mouzone made it clear that if he didn't give up String that would be the end of the Barksdale reign. Real mob moves being made.............
"Ya boy gave you up, and we didn't even have to torcher his ass neither." Right, you calmly approached him after a haircut, and got firm voiced with him and reminded him how powerless he is without his NY Connections.
Avon knew that he was going to have to put stringer Bell down and he hated to have to do it, but knew there was no other way. The game is the game.
the subtle expressions are fuckin incredible in the wire, the look he gave mouzone near the end
avon @ 2:03 "aye you know what nigga-
brother @ 2:04 "-whattup nigga, do sum."
avon @ 2:07 "nah nevermind....."
lol lesson of the day
Don't step to brother mouzone
So true. When mouzon uncrosses his arms at 2:06 as if to say "checkmate mf"
And the look on his face when he looked up and saw it was him. That subtle, "Oh fuck, am I about to die in a barbershop?"
so what does avon offer to mouzone to fix the mess? mouzone doesn't appear to want money...
THE NINJACAT avon gave up stringer on a platter thats why omar said " ya boy gave you up, and we aint have to torture his ass neither!!!"
it all goes back to stringer trying to blame brother mouzone for killing brandon, so mouzone and omar caught up with string and lett'em have it, if avon hadn't have given up string and made it straight with mouzone he would've lost his New york connection and probably started a war with him, and nobody wants that.
"Brother mouzone, nigga got more bodies on him then a chinese cemetery."
it’s hilarious how much y’all over analyze everything about the show to seem like deep thinkers lol
ain’t no fucking clip on youtube without someone feeling the need to say some overly deep interpretation or pointing out the writing or expressions
Translation... This game is about respect and your boy Stringer don't respect the game. He had to go, Stringer was one of the biggest POS in history.
What if mouzon said I want a corner
Very powerful scene. One of the best in the series, filled with the nuance of the street, business, and the community.
The ultimate payback for killing D'Angelo.
Avon was caught between a rock and a hard place between honoring his word or allowing his friend to be killed by Omar and Brother Mouzone. In the end he took the lesser of the two evils to ensure that his empire (If not temporarily) continued to stay in business.
This scene would have played out so differently if Stringer didn't confess to killing D'Angelo. Avon would have went to war with anyone including Mouzone for Stringer before knowing that.
They both betrayed each other, but Avon had some heart behind his. He knew Brother wanted who was responsible for the lie, nothing more, and String went against Avon's orders with a weak lie. Stringer did his as a power move. Yeah, Avon was moving irrationally and dangerously, but he stayed true to the game.
Bro. M. " he doesnt strike me as a man who would tell stories... Even at the point of dying".. COLD GANGSTA SHIT
The dialogue thru out this entire series... Brother Mouzone assessing the scenario flawlessly. Avon coming to the realization and decision logically, despite emotional attachment. The writing is incredible!
Yeah.. this is one of the greatest television shows.
The subtle of the last 20 secs is amazing. Avon contemplated killing Brother he then looked up at him Brother peeped it and dropped his hands. Then he thought about the repercussions of the fallout. Correct me if I am wrong. But that is what I took away from that moment.
Killing him right there one on one in the barbershop? It's possible he was just going through all the possible options and that one popped up for a second. But there's no way he would have actually thought he had any chance.
I’m thinking he just didn’t have any option but to give up Stringer. Stringer was a piece of shit…Brother reminded Avon that he was about his word, and Stringer wasn’t.
That’s exactly what happened in that scene!
I agree, but I have to admit I'm glad they didn't bring him back the the 4th and 5th series
While I do think Avon was going through any other option he could think of in his head, I don't think killing Mouzone would've been one of them. Mouzone is muscle and an assassin. Avon knows he would not stand a chance, nor would any of his men stand a chance if he sent them after Mouzone. That's why Mouzone was needed in the first place. Secondly, Avon knew all too well he needed to maintain a good relationship with New York. Killing one of their men would not have helped that and it's why Mouzone specifically mentions that if Avon doesn't take care of business he would be done with New York and by extention the game.
I see people posting about Brother Mouzone being a bad character and too unreal for the series but in all honesty I feel Omar was too unreal for the series. Brother Mouzone was I guess with the nation and them cats are trained and well disciplined to handle themselves and keep their calm at all times. People have no idea how some people mentalities work. Omar did stuff that any ordinary dude by himself would have died from a long time ago. Limping around the hood on a crutch while being wanted? Come on. Brother Mouzone had a job to do and his reputation allowed him to do the job efficiently and when he got set up. Came back and closed the chapter and bounced.
both of them seem very realistic.
When Omar jumped from the 3rd floor and survived, that was based on a true event: one of the actors (before he was on the show and was a real gangster) jumped from the 6th floor to escaped and survived.
Brother mouzone was based on a real life NoIslam enforcer in Baltimore apparently
***** I can agree with you on that agenda because look how it went from then to now.
Viva Valdez well said. backstory black gangstas never want to discuss or admit. 1) Gays are Gangstas too 2) a few of em are known killas that you better be ready if you step to em!
String killed himself
Yep--he got too ambitious and power hungry--a deadly combination in the underworld. Step on one wrong toe and you're done!!
Yup
Stringer needed to follow the rules. He wasnt the boss and deserved what he got for going behind Avon's back and being a shady "businessman." Poor Avon.
+KateMich12 Screw that. Stringer set everything up for Avon to ride on a float of money into an airplane made of silver to jump out with a golden parachute that would never touch the ground and Avon decided being a soldier and slingin' dope was better than actually living free and enjoying all that money they had. I mean they both had more money than they could ever spend in their life time. Stringer wasnt going to screw Avon, he was setting them both up to go legit and in the end when Avon heard the music he realized stringer was right, even when he knew Stringer snitched on him which was necessary in many aspects since Avon was just going to cause more violence in West Baltimore.
+nateo200 agree
+nateo200 Your seeing it wrong.
Stringer got played by Prop Joe all along. He bought Joe's "buy for 1 buck sell for 2" stuff about the game. Prop Joe knew that if he had Stringer on his package he could control Stringer, and we saw this when he pressured him to lay off Marlo even though Marlo by that time was a serious player who was not going to back down. The game is more than merely making money. A huge part of the game is about reputation and a willingness to defending your territory. Stringer brought a smug know-it all "I am bigger than the game" attitude that cost him.
If Stringer was smarter he woulda nipped Marlo in the bud earlier instead of trying to broker with him. Think of the 1930's and the rise of Hitler. France and Britain tried the diplomatic approach (the same as Stringers) but it backfired completely. Stringer shoudla realised that sometimes u gotta take the aggressive approach.
He should of also freezed Avon out completely while Avon was in prison and taken complete control of the operation. That would have stopped the whole undermining each other situation which ultimately led to his death by Mouzone and Omar.
Song playing in the background?
A place nobody can find - Sam and David
@@hectorg1752 thank you
Avon definitely looked alot more sad in this scene, after realizing Stringer had to die for what he did with Omar and Mouzone, playing them against each other - than how Stringer looked when betraying Avon to the police via Colvin. THIS, definitely wasn't "just business" to Avon.
Jakobaine Well both of them took it pretty hard, but Avon's the one that had to end Stringer's life. I guess it comes down to which deed is worse, death or prison. Then again maybe it was just how the actors performed their scenes.
Jakobaine Yeah he sulks the whole last ep of season three, ep 13. It's awesome how sad and bummed he is, from an acting stand-point I mean. I noted that, and was really impressed.
Myk McGrane
Yea, it's as if he started to realize what's really important and what isn't, but it was too late to do anything about it. It's a valuable lesson most people learn after losing something they took for granted, which is unfortunately way too common these days.
+Jakobaine but also stringer kill Avon cousin D‘angelo
Steven White D'angelo wasn't Avon's cousin, he was his nephew, as in his sister's son.
Damn...Avon had no choice...either give up String or give up the New York connect.....Stringer brought that shit on himself, he was messing up bad...they need a Wire movie, at least to show what happened to those kids...
Romelus69 True but giving up the NY connect meant 💀 never forget that,Then and There
You see how the bell rang when he walked in.. That was foreshadowing him killin stringer BELL
Hahahahahaha naw I'm just fukn around
Avon has some long fingers. Should have played the piano instead of being a gangster.
Hes an artist
He did look up Tyler the Creator lmaooo
He's a tall person.
@ludlow 889 you can thumbs up now
@ludlow 889 haha you're welcome
Brother Mouzone strikes me as being inspired by the muslim dude who was suspected of killing Notorious B.I.G.
+Kellen east: well a cop turned Muslim they said killed biggie a undercover and a gang member killed tupac if he even dead he was cited recently in the papers
Kellen east That's stupid as fuck.
No it isn't stop trolling
I could see him being an inspiration to brother Mouzone himself, as he was to many muslims and others, but the sketches of the guy who was suspected as BIG's killer looked like Brother Mouzone - who was a gun for hire - while Malcolm X wasn't.
Who is the Muslim dude suspected of killing Notorious B.I.G.? The only people I've heard as suspects with any real evidence are a memeber of the Southside Crips and most eyewitness evidence points to a Blood named Wardell “Poochie” Fouse hired by Suge Knight. Neither of whom are Muslims.
Avon was more loyal to Stringer even when he knew all the things that Stringer did than Stringer that was already talking with the police.
Crazy how brother mouzone found Omar immediately
After 5 seasons of Marlo and Avon couldn’t catch his ass for shit
Stringer and crew found Brandon but instead of keeping him alive , tortured him to death and ended up with Bird in prison for life and Omar hunting the rest down- Stinkum, the stash house and even gunning directly for Avon. Dante was not as brazen as Brandon was, but Mouzone knew Omar had a new boy around but also knew not to kill him or torture him.
“Money ?”
No Avon, he wants to smoke your scandalous partner. He could care less about your money.
When Mouzone tells him he won't have a line to New york, I remember that scene when he was asking Slim about what options they had for muscle and he said Mouzone put a hex on everyone and nobody would work with them. Avon probably remembered that.
Correct. That's what was happening. Mouzone was telling Avon that if he gave Stringer up, Mouzone would release the hex. Then Avon would be able to get the soldiers he needed (from New York) to win the Marlo-Barksdale war.
A lesser show would have made Avon give up stringer out of a sense of vindictiveness, but what I like about this scene is Avon is willing to defend String even knowing that by this point that String has betrayed him more than once, but in the end Avon ONLY gives up Stringer because Muozone was able to threaten the one thing Avon cared about more than his friendship and partnership with Stringer; not even his life, but his reputation
Stringer should hv never killed his nephew.
0:23 Avon looked Brother up and down like ok tell me something good lol
The inner workings of your organization does not concern me Thats my fav line in this scene and Avon handles everything like a G
Stringer thought he could just up and leave the game for legitimate business.And his ego told him the means justified the ends.But there is only one way out the game when your in deep as he was.
Marlo got out the game, the game never got out of Marlo though.
Corey Pack
You mean Avon? Marlo was forced out of the game. He only fell because of shady (brilliant) police work.
He was trying to become the bank, it does happen in the show and real life.
The music in the background is "Sam & Dave - A Place Nobody Can Find"
after avon says im willing to pay the cost..the quick look exchanged between him and brother, the silent realization in avons mind that nothing can be done to save string..crazy writing and screen play to this show
See there I thought he was sizing him up real quick n the brother dropped his hands like yea cmon let's go im ready... that was my take on it
It’s also because Avon knows sting and his partnership is was over before this and one has too go, Avon was making more with coop and didn’t need nyc anymore.
This actor was great in true detective
What a superb scene. Two outstanding actors, and of course the writers with the dialogue. 👏🐐👍👌
The Brother could have easily taken out Marlo,Chris and snoop out
The brother didnt do shit in wire
Yep
Avon had his faults but disloyalty was not one of them
0:11 deserves an Emmy, that’s some subtle and powerful acting
99% Wire's followers didn't even understand that Avon's New York connection had nothing to do with drugs. It was mysterous powerful organized crime organization from New York which gave Avon a lot of man power which he needed to fight Marlo's gang. Without that manpower he was nothing since most his own soldiers were out of game (wee-bay, stinkum, little man, bird etc. + plenty of others) at that point when he got out of prison.
Marlo's crew had superior numbers first and thats why nobody in baltimore wouldn't join at that point to Avon's organization, but for his lucky he could get quality soldiers from New York organization, which would turn war if he wouldn't got caught by police.
That same organization also made Avon king of baltimore state prison.
I only wish we would seen more of that mystery organization.
Yeah man I want to know more about brother moves Oak and all the mysterious ass New York s***but I guess we'll never find out 🤔
Bro wtf u talkin about
Probably a mob or supreme team connection
Johnny Sack and the New York Family.
20 years in the joint.
Stringer is one of those cats that is too smart for his own good. When I re-watch The Wire now, I see the cracks in Stringer's facade. He's really a career #2 guy in the sense that the final decision should never be made by him. In the end, he stood tall and accepted his fate - he didn't beg or plea for his life...
These is moment when Avon started to plot on Prop Joe, Stringer did betray Avon with those away games but Prop Joe was always in Stringer ear bad mouthing Avon making Stringer feel like he was the brains while Avon was just a two bit hoodlum. Prop joe threatened Stringer with cutting them out the connect if he can't make Avon stop beefing with Marlo. That whole time Prop Joe wasn't concerned with Avon & Marlo waring Prop Joe was going to war with Avon with Stringer as the reward, I mean in reality Stringer you could call him co-founder of the co-op.
brother mouzone is a badass.
Avon was loyal to Stringer to the end, he had to sacrifice Stringer or lose everything. Easy choice to make, especially with Marlo creeping in, the last thing Avon needed was a Omar teaming up with Brother, the two Could easily take out all the corners then Avon & String.