The part that really gets me in this scene is the expression on Stringer's face when he realizes he's about to die, and the way he struggles to find his voice before he says his last words. Idris really nailed this scene.
@Sir TroLLington Da 3rd you don't really know what you talking about. Pissing yourself is not an ultimate reaction to high stress lol. Go watch some deadhouse
If you noticed his facial expression earlier in the episode when Avon asked Stringer where he would be and what time. That moment on the rooftop balcony was a foreshadowing of Stringer’s death, and Avon setting him up.
I might be reaching but I see stringer not knowing his way around HIS own building is kind of symbolic of him trying to get into this business he really knows nothing about.
Not disrespecting at all, but i do think this is a big reach. They only show Stringer gunning straight for the exits. Not to mention he ran to the natural locations for most buildings. Main bottom entrance and roof. Surprised so many likes on this comment lol🤷♂️
This is why The Wire is the greatest show ever. From the very beginning Stringer was always double checking doors, telling people to close doors, to lock doors, to the point where it became habitual; almost a mannerism of his persona, and in his last moments what prevented his escape and led to his death? Every possible doorway/escape route being locked. Another metaphor for how Stringer played himself into a corner with his scheming. He was his own worst enemy and nobody posed more of a threat to Stringer than he did to himself, eventually causing his own death. And it was all foreshadowed perfectly from the very beginning. Masterful writing. "ayo lock that door man!"
To me Stringer's character was stuck between two worlds; his upbringing on the streets left him without the patience and skill set to become a legitimate businessman but on the other hand his cold logical business mindset alienated him from Avon. So he was too much of a gangster to be a true businessman but also too much of a businessman to be a true gangster. And this split is what killed him.
thats basically what has been said (in another way of wording it) I heard a man say once something along the lines of "string had his two worlds mixed up...doing legit business with the sharks and HUD/housing development and all that he was inpatient...thinking like a street-corner hustler, quick flip, etc - granted Clay Davis was playing him/bleeding him but...it was still legit (if not dirty) business...and string had his priorities fucked up...in the business world he was playing gangster, again inpatient/quick to react, expecting overnight payouts, etc etc - and IN the actual streets he was trying to reform (and even David Simon in an interview about Stringers death says "string was trying to reform the drug trade, and the drug trade won't stand reform) and play wall-street - he was gangster when he should of been businessman and he was businessman when he should of been gangster that split, that mix-up of priorities/way of life is what basically (in essence) got him got.
"I look at you these days, String, you know what I see? I see a man without a country. Not hard enough for this right here and maybe, just maybe, not smart enough for them out there." Avon Barksdale
You reckon?... Stringer was always the most vicious. He wasn't taking those classes to start some new business, he wanted to be the absolute boss of every drug channel ala Escobar.
These three really were the most ‘out-there’ characters on the show. Most people are pretty believable, but these three were larger than life. Best scene in the show.
Gus was more mild mannered, but Stringer was still a cool, calm, and collected dude most of the time....and I think the similarity lies in their double lives, running legitimate businesses while leading drug empires, and the intelligence
No one 'deserves' anything. He's a victim of the institutions and power dynamics like all characters in the show, and it reflects reality significantly
What was interesting about this show was almost every character had a doppelganger that was either parallel in comparison or the complete opposite. For Stringer, it was Bunny Covin. Bunny was nearing the end of his police career, tired of the politics, taking steps to transition to civilian life. Then on his way out, he uses a radical solution to his problem (Hamsterdam) but eventually his mistake costs him his job (and retirement) and his career is "killed". Stringer was nearing the end of being a gangster, tired of the bullshit of the street life, repping corners, the drug wars, and was taking steps to transition to become a legitimate businessman. On his way out the game, he tries a radical idea that would solve his problems (real estate) but eventually his mistake costs him his life and he is killed. Another thing I noticed was when they were at their respective ends, they said the same thing: "Get on with it, motherfuckers".
your theories dope but i think stringers radical idea to solve his problems was getting omar on brother mouzone. they’re both known killers and it could go either way faced off. omar wanted to get at stringer for doing brandon the way he did, and meanwhile brother mouzone was gonna run the east baltimore gentlemen off the block, but stringer needed them there as it was part of his agreement to get the good pack from prop joe. No matter which one of them died it worked out for stringer especially if it was brother mouzone, and that was what ultimately lead to his demise.
I also noticed the similarities between Stringer and Colvin, definitely deliberate. Both of them were kinda caught between two worlds (crime/business for Stringer and police/community for Colvin). The scene where the two of them were finally brought together as Stringer gave up Avon's safehouse to Colvin in the graveyard was cathartic.
A small correction: they both said "Get on with this, mothef...." Stringer's sentence was interrupted by bullets, and Colvin's - by Rawls saying "Excuse me Major?"
The irony is that while Stringer was right about Avon wanting too much to play gangster Avon was also right about Stringer wanting too much to play Businessman. They were both completely aware of each others strengths and weaknesses and for a while, at least until Avon went down they complimented each other perfectly.
the dynamic changed because Stringer got too comfortable with everything and everyone under him. it also didn’t help that he was trying to go legit while still being involved in shit
@@playboimomo To be fair, they both lost. They ironically faced each other's likely end. You'd think Avon would get killed by the gangster war he was starting and that Stringer would get caught by the police for his money laundering, etc. But instead, it's the opposite. Stringer get's killed and Avon get's arrested. They both took each other down with their last breath, resenting how they stood in each other's way at their highest moment. Because at the end of the day, they're both cold blooded and set out to accomplish a goal. And for those last few weeks, they weren't brothers, but adversaries.
Crazy thing about the scene is that Stringer's spirit isn't broken by these two notorious killers having him cornered. It's broken by the news that Avon had betrayed him. A powerful moment played perfectly as usual by all involved. What a show.
Wikipedia article on this episode pointed this out, it's crazy: After the deed is done and Omar and Mouzone are standing over String, "The sound of a distant train resembles the bell used in Cutty's boxing ring, symbolizing that the fight between Avon and Stringer was finally over."
Stringer was obsessed with closed doors throughout the show and at the end all the doors that were leading for his escape where in fact closed. Be careful what you wish for....
@@jakep1979 Ok, good montage. I still don't see the relation between him wanting doors closed and his demise... If anything he was the opposite of that.. Opening up new opportunities for Avon and their people by trying to earn an education and building those business relationships, working with those contractors etc outside of the game so they could get out of it.. However they were corrupt and didn't care for him and took advantage of him because of who he was and the fact he didn't know any better.. I could get the theme of closed doors if there were example opportunities there for Stringer but he didn't take em and was warned to do it before it was too late and THEN you have this demise... I mean if you want to go the other way, you would prefer to see what, Stringer leaving those doors open so he could talk about plans and everyone could hear him?? It seemed there the theme was he was never going to be accepted into that world because of his life choice even though he was willing to play by their rules.. But then explain Marlo in season 5 who never cared for the rules? How is he all of the sudden accepted by Levy and circle of people, I mean I know why, but given his personality and the fact he couldn't be, to quote Prop Joe, " Housebroken." While he was chill on the outside he didn't know to carry himself when he went to the overseas bank. Got crazy emotional over his name being used out in the streets by Omar, and thats just the start.. I mean if your Levy why would you let that into your circle???
If you pay attention to the chess analogy, Stringer is the Queen with a very versatile set of moves and Avon is the King that is limited in movement. Notice how Stringer is running all over the place like a Queen on a chessboard. He gets cornered by Brother and Omar just like a Queen can get cornered by a Bishop and a Knight.
+Richard Lannister Sometimes I wonder if this entire series can seriously be boiled down into a single chess game. Maybe there's too many pieces for a normal game though.
+Richard Lannister Totally brilliant analogy, i never noticed that. This makes sense, especially when one goes back to the first season when D'angelo explains the drug game using this analogy.
I literally just noticed that Omar was also going to kill the construction guy (after shooting Stringer’s bodyguard he pointed the shotgun at him for a few seconds) but quickly changed his mind once he realized he’s just a civilian based on his reaction. Small subtle moment but still relevant to Omar’s character. What an amazing show.
I aint never put my gun on no one who wasn't in the game a man gotta have a code Omar exact words to bunk when Chris and snoop tried to frame him for killing the delivery lady in fat Andres store
He was ready to talk his way out until the end until he realized that the only real friend he had in the world was the one that sold him out. At that moment you literally see all the loss of hope on Russell ‘Stringer’ Bell’s face and he comes to terms with his immanent demise.
Ironic that both Avon and Stringer gave each other up, and that both tried to pay Brother Mouzone, Avon to save String, and String for him not to kill him.
Even tho he was a piece of shit I still felt a bit bad for stringer. For a guy who was close escape the street life and go legit and to die in his own new building ratted by his best friend. His biggest mistake was putting up mouzone and Omar against each other wich led to his death
This was easily the most unexpected death in the show. I was hooked and I had goosebumps all over my body as I saw Stringer's look when he realised the inevitable. Amazing writing.
I'd say Omar was more unexpected. We knew a confrontation was going to happen with Avon setting him up to be killed. Omar is just suddenly shot by a kid with no build up. This was an amazing scene but not surprising. I took a second to even realize Omar had been shot.
With omar jumping 3 story buildings like spiderman, im surprised string aint try to jump outta one of those boarded windows lmaooo screw runnin upstairs, im runnin thru brick walls tryna exit that building soon as i see omar ctfuuu 😂
Nice bit of symbolism, that shot with the billboard that's just outside the window where Stringer falls dead. It's so close, but it's still out of reach.
@@JB-xl2jc I think they are assassins because they have strong moral codes. They don't take shit home. Brother Mouzone didn't kill Omar on that alley because Omar's boy took a long while to give him up even under torture. If this man, under torture, is hesitating to giving Omar, Omar is someone of respect. That's why Omar says at the end, ''your boy gave you up, and we didn't even need to torture him'', which means Stringer Bells wasn't respect, never were, his love for money, his idea that ''it's just business'', made him less than a prostitute they dispised him.
@@JB-xl2jc You know I think that kind of makes sense though. I would imagine unless you are a stone cold psychopath which neither of them are then your sanity would demand that you adhere to a very strict moral code in order to justify killing people.
That was among Stringer's biggest faux pas. He should have known better than to think he could pay Omar off after ordering the hit and torture on Brandon. While Brandon's death was part of the game and Omar acknowledged it as an occupational hazard, he was never going to look over the torture and mutilation that Brandon sustained as that was beyond what he believed the game allowed. The stick up in Omar's eyes was just business but for Stringer to approve torture on Brandon to get him to give up Omar made it personal.
Stringer Bell was such a complex character. He was a villain and a calculating and ruthless monster, but somehow, I still liked him. The writers of The Wire somehow made me like and care about such a horrible goddamn person. And I remember when I saw this scene for the first time, I went totally emotionally numb for like an hour. It felt like a sledgehammer had just hit me... It goes to tell about the quality of this show, and it is one of the reasons why The Wire is the best TV show ever, bar none. It was a multi-facetted, deeply layered and complex menagerie, just like real life, and they hit it so well and made it deeply enthralling to boot. Sons of Anarchy, Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, Lost and what have you. You've all made valiant attempts at usurping the crown, but you're still not king. The Wire is and probably always will be.
For me Breaking Bad is masterpiece,more emotional moments and better characters for me,also,a lot of hiddeb,stuff and generally had awesome camera shots and other technical,things
Game of thrones, Sons of Anarchy, Lost, even Sopranos can't begin to compete....BUT you're completely wrong about Breaking Bad. That show is equally as great as the Wire. I think they are both two out of the top 5 best shows ever created.
imahelpfulperson notice how they are positioned diagonally towards old Stringer. I think this was done intentionally to symbolize how bishops move on a chess board.
I think what I find so compelling about this scene is how naturally Stringer goes through every stage of grief. Just excellent work by Idris Elba and the writers.
I love how this ties into D'Angelo's analysis of The Great Gatsby, where talks about being unable to escape things you've done in the past. This is Stringer's past catching up to him. Brilliant. Sad to see one of my favorite TV villains die though.
You know what I noticed during this scene? Stringer’s death is somewhat similar to that of Wallace in season one. Stringer had Wallace and D’Angelo killed because they were snitching, and in his hypocrisy, Stringer did the same thing by giving Major Colvin info on Avon. Unlike Wallace, he got a chance to run and beg for mercy when Bodie and Poot cornered him. He had the same fear for his life the way Wallace did for his.
I think it's a lot different. Wallace was begging for mercy, wet his own pants, and tried to reach out on the basis of friendship. Stringer's death is like Prop Joe's. They tried to make a final offer, but they weren't negotiating with businessmen. Then they took it like a man; Wallace didn't. Of course, Stringer ordered Wallace's death. And Stringer ordered the hit on Brother Mouzone. And Stringer ordered Brandon's death, which is what led Wallace to snitch.
@@lipoff "Wallace begged for his life" whilst Stringer tried to bargain for his.. I honestly don't see the difference, because if the roles were reversed, they both would've done the exact same thing! But you also have to take into account that Wallace was a 16 y/o kid with no guidance and Stringer was a grown ass man who's been in the streets his entire life!
I always thinks it symbolic how one of the doors in Stringers building is blocked off and the other is guarded by a hitman. It shows no matter how high he tried to acsend from the the gangster world, there were always too many limitations.
Never ever have I despised a character so much, but also been so upset that their story was ended. Much respect to David Simon for beyond fantastic screenwriting, and Idris Elba for an exemplary performance.
Avon was backed in a corner. He had to give up Stringer or lose his connect...his business and his rep. Avon didn't have a real choice even though he tried to throw money at mouzzone....Avon understood the game and knew in the end it was curtains for Bell.
Demetrius McKay Also Avon Still Never Forgave Stringer For Hiring A Hitman To Kill D’Angelo And Lie On Top Of It... The Moves He Made...... STRINGER KNEW HE FUCKED UP 💯
@@kamiioo3289 mouzone would never kill Avon for not giving up stringer, the only problem is that stringer would loose a crucial connection, and might also be the downfall of his empire if he didn’t give up stringer
Stringer Bell was a terrible person who killed innocent people, whose bread and butter were corruption and murder. And he betrayed his best friend, so that even among criminals he was scum. But he was also smart, talented, and logical. And he went out like a man.
***** Fuck off, he tried to make a deal, and that wasn't unreasonable especially since he personally was all about the money and only saw that side of things. When he saw that it wasn't about money, instead what Avon kept telling him, "that other thing," he said "Get on with it motherfuckers." I hated Stringer for a lot of reasons, but he was not without admirable qualities.
***** Look, he wasn't Omar or Avon or even Marlo. He was in it for the money; that's who he was. It is totally consisted with his point of view to offer money, even if it was pretty obvious Mouzone and Omar are not the type to take it. But he had a vision of an empire in front of him, even if it was a 1% chance, you're going to begrudge him seeing if they could work something out? I acknowledge that he was a snake and he wasn't a true soldier like Avon, but god damn, he faced the firing squad straight.
You gotta love Omar man "ain't never shot a citizen" and when he points his shottie at the civilian that one rule completely depleted his adrenaline and then he went back to savage mode!
@@alexgruzglin4239due to stringer straying away , he was getting sloppy. Got caught on the wire planning the clay davis hit which Avon was against. Together they were great but while at odds they were vulnerable.
David Simon and Ed Burns can die happy knowing that they, out of the million TV SHOWS that exist in the world, made the BEST series in the world. Nothing will top the wire, this show is art, in a million different ways.
Stringer Bell's characterization is great here. We see that even in the inevitability of his death, Stringer Bell still retains his bearing. Very strong character.
The first time I saw this I thought Omar just walked in and smoked Stringer mid-conversation I didn't realize it was his bodyguard... I was just like damn well that was anti-climactic LOL
that's why I love looking the youtube clips up, I get to see some really insightful comments that help me pick up on all the subtleties tucked and buried in this masterful show.
First time i watched this show, I swear I thought Stringer was THE man and Avon was fucking it up for him. But after re-watching and reading the comments on here, I realised Stringer fucked up big time. As one other commenter aptly said, you can't do a couple of evening business classes and think you know enough to apply to/reform the game. Avon knew what the game was, pure and simple. Feel this is perfectly summed up by the line in this scene from Omar to Stringer: 'You still don't get it, do you?'
The worst of his roles was Heimdal. It was sooo fuckin political correct to make him Heimdal, making one of the nordic gods black guy, lol. So maybe next time make Zulu Chaka asian guy, or Chenghis Khan freckled ginger, lol. Not to mention, that Heimdal was kind of racist - it was god, who gave kids presents, but not those, whose skin was nto bright enough. and they made him black man, how fucked up is that?
The Wire rarely indulged in symbolism, but nothing was better than Stringer getting killed outside of a window with billboards and posters about supposed "opportunity." No series except perhaps The Sopranos gave a better argument about the death of the American Dream than The Wire.
The Wire though gave a far better detailed look into "the death of the american working class" (season 2 of the wire) better then anything I've seen american dream is one thing, the working class, institutional dysfunction is another - for that reason alone the gritty documentary-style of a "good book" with a beginning middle end and a closing that continues into the next story (combining storylines) and showing how all the "pieces connect" like a puzzle that through 5 seasons connect together making the "whole picture" it all comes full circle and it continues just diff players (in each facet of the city) to me that makes it just that much better the other shows are more ...idk streamlined with the symbolism (if any) they are great too but for a different reason obviously
Sopranos and Wire were both about the death of the American Dream, just different pieces of the world. It's why Deadwood is the perfect show to round out the "big three." You see the coming together of a society and then its death throes.
The use of light & shadows in this scene is brilliant. The use of shadows when Omar is "stalking" Stringer ( 0:52 - 1:18 ) makes him look like a death angel or the grim reaper, coming to claim Stringer's soul. Notice how you saw Mouzone's face the entire time, but you didn't see Omar's face...until he steps out of the shadows. The use of the birds ties in as well...like doves used to represent one's soul, but darker, thus evil.
i think the doves are there to add to the metaphor of how Stringer is stuck in between the two worlds. Symbolic of how Stringer tried to escape his street-life, he runs up the stairs where the doves are, as if its a skyscraper (like Terri, with her 10th floor apartment). The doves try to fly away, but the windows lock them in - how did they even get here in the first place? Omar blocks Stringers way down, while Brother Mouzone stops him from going up. Both Stringer & the doves are somewhere they shouldn't be, inbetween two worlds
Honestly this episode is probably top 3 episodes of all time for any show for me. Just such a great episode and when i realized stringer was about to die i was truly sad. Probably my favourite character in the entire show, well done Idris Elba.
The visual symbolism of the last scene is fantastic. Stringer Bell's body in the ground, being touched by the light (legal business, formality world) but still out of his range: the door keep him away, but he was getting really close. And the two shadows (2:57) that represent the criminal world, his past that cant leave him alone. After killing him, the shadows return to the dark. Powerful scene. (Sorry for my broken english)
He was begging for his life by offering his funds. He turned it around only because he saw they don't give one-two-red-or blue fucks, but he was still bitching. Someone like Avon would just tell Omar n Brother to fuck off and take the shot like that. No money offers, excuses, or anything.
@@RipsharkTV he was playing a game of chess, like the rest of the characters. When his cover was blown all he could do was offer everything for a chance at living. When he saw that it was actually game over he took it like a man.
The thing about this scene that I dont think anyone has noticed is how it showed how his life caught up with him. When Omar was coming after him he litteraly looked like death coming for him in that shadow he was walking through. When String got to the top and Brother Mouzone was standing there he saw that there was no way out. See, they both where personifications of death. Omar being death coming from the streets dressed in the street cloths and trench coat and Mouzone in the suit, well dressed coming from the buisness side. It shows that from both ends of his life it had finaly caught up to him and it was over. Not to mention that often when people put death in a human form it is a man in a suit or a grim reaper like person in a cloak. Omar=the reaper like version chasing him up the stairs and Mouzone= the man in a suit version meeting him at the door. I dont know just a deep thought.
Omar and Mouzone were successful because they picked a lane and knew exactly what they were, Stringer's time was cut shorter because he tried playing both sides in a game that simply doesn't let you do that.
This is like a scene straight out of a horror movie. Stringer is running for his life struggling to find an exit while Omar and Brother Mouzone are walking slowly and calmly with their weapons. The Wire somehow managed to fit all genres in one and it was executed perfectly.
"We aint have to torture his ass neither" Omar insenuating that Brandon was Tortured and still didn't roll on Omar, as Avon rolled on stringer immediately. This scene is super powerful.
Also Omar was reminding String that all this happened because they tortured Brandon. Omar said previously that if they had just executed Brandon there wouldn't have been any beef. It was the fact that the Barksdale crew tortured Brandon to death was the reason why Omar wanted revenge.
This is Amazing acting, especially from Idris Elba. "Stringer" comes to the realization, that his life is coming to an end; it's like his mind went through the 5 stages of grief in fast forward: denial (thinking he could run away), anger, bargaining ("what do y'all want? money?"), depression (tearing up after realizing the two men want something he can never give them alive), and acceptance("get on with it muf--" gun shots).
Later, when you see McNulty sitting there, and the lab guy is taking pics, you hear the camera click. I always think of Lester talking about when the handcuffs click at the end of a case, and it's over, Jimmy McNulty will still need to find a life for himself. Fucking great show!
David Steven sorry bruh but he clearly said torture not coax its clear as day, CC doesn't work for the Wire it can't translate ghetto talk but you can lip read it, and he was referring to how Stringer had Brandon tortured and killed
RIP Michael K Williams This is one of the Best scenes in the entire Series (Side note: Just think, Stringer Bell is gonna be Knuckles in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 movie!)
I binge watched this . One dvd out, one in. Pack of 4. One set after the other. Pause. Rehydrate. Press play. Sit back. Look up. It's nighttime. Bed. Sleep. Wake. Press play. Repeat.
I loved The Wire from start to finish, and Stringer was without a doubt one of the best and most compelling characters. The fact that the show killed off arguably its best character and then produced two more incredible seasons is just another in a long list of reasons why The Wire is the best show of all time.
In a way and on a smaller scale, The Wire was the original Game of Thrones, with so many major characters dying unexpectedly: first there was the boy Wallace (he was no main character, i know, but he got his moments and lot of them), then D'Angelo - now he was almost a main character for a couple of seasons, culminating with String, Omar and Prop Joe. You might say that in a show about drug dealing it was to be expected, true that, however not many shows back then would kill important characters with so much consistency, but more than that, with so much meaning and sense. In fact, i can think of none. In The Wire, every time they killed off a character, it felt unexpected but on a deeper level you saw it coming.
Notice the look on Omar's face when that politician is pleading for his life. Playing the streets for so long, he's not used to that type of react. Also shows that Omar has a lot of compassion.
Stringer’s hamartia (fatal flaw) was that he tried to dip his feet into two different ponds. Businessman and gangster. Stringer never fully committed to either which caused his downfall. He attempted to apply macroeconomics to his criminal empire and it worked in the short term. But it didn’t last in the long term because half assed shit from a community college doesn’t work with the rules of the *game* . And when his business dealings fell through he tries to strong arm/kill the people that screwed him over as if it were a street corner dispute. You’re either in the game or you’re not. Can’t be both. Bell just didn’t know what he was doing and that fact became more clear as the series progressed.
I still think his biggest mistake was to try put both Omar and mouzone against each other. If he didn’t then he might’ve still survived and left the street life for good
@@TheStatisfiedOne He would've screwed it up another way down the line. I mean, for all his patronizing talks to the soldiers of his organization about how "bodies bring the police", he was willing to order a state senator whacked because he got played like a chump, and the heat from that would be more than enough to bring down the whole organization. And anyways, he got caught on the wiretap, with a whole case mounting against him for several years. He was on borrowed time before he'd end up in a prison cell.
The Pigeons add to the scene. Something about the fluttering sound, the soul and his inability to escape, just fits perfectly. Phenomenal murder scene and boy did he have it coming. His acting as it dawns on him its over, is very strong.
Stringer's character is something man...I love how he progresses through the series (or rather, how he _regresses_ ); first you know him as the cool and calculated side of the Barksdale crime family, but as the series progresses he starts to unravel slowly but surely (which only accelerates after Avon's imprisonment). You begin to progressively see him yell, snap and lose his temper in various situations, all the way up until his very end
The look Stringer gives around the 2:16 mark after Omar confirms to him that Avon gave him up is amazing. You see how much that revelation stings him. Idris killed (no pun intended) this role.
Kinda awesome how Bell looks at Brother to confirm Omar's statement of Avon giving him up and that too easily; and then Brother's no-expression, still face confirms it. Stringer basically gives up at that point and accepts what's coming to him.
+Jovani Lil Homie. Alvarez Delgado nah man. Avon gave him because he wanted Omar to help him with Marlo, also because he felt threatened by Stringer after he found out he killed D. In the end is like Avon said, Stringer was too soft. Instead of killing Avon, Stringer tried to get Avon arrested ( which he did ) while Avon straight up gave Stringers life.
I digg that yu rite he did need Omar to fuck around with Marlo and his crew and Omar wasn't lettin stringer go for Killin his maricon. I personally just hated stringer Mf one minute being a gangsta got no problems banging dudes girls wile they away ordering the murders, but than when the guns come "I' aint in that gangster shit no more I ain't involved" even tho he did shut up and take it like a man but yeah that's how you end up playing both sides tryna be legit when you in a illegal organization
The more I watch this series, the more I see that Stringer wasn't cut out for this life on some level, he made too many mistakes, he fucked with the wrong people and he paid for it. He knew the business, but he didn't know the game. As soon as Omar found out that Stringer played him, it was over, right then. There was literally no other way out of it. What was he going to do at the end of the day? He crossed Omar multiple times, and then crossed Brother Mouzone, two of the deadliest's dude's on the street, and figured he was gonna be fine. What were they gonna do, furthermore, what was Avon expected to do, it was one or the other, and one of them was going to end up dead, where Stringer ended up is all his fault for trying to play a game he wasn't fit for.
People say he's choking up because he's about to die, and that makes perfect sense. But I always thought it was also possible that he's doing that because Omar had just said Avon gave him up without any struggle. The betrayal hurt him just as much. Although, Stringer had also given Avon up to the police before this I believe.
The part that really gets me in this scene is the expression on Stringer's face when he realizes he's about to die, and the way he struggles to find his voice before he says his last words. Idris really nailed this scene.
Egavans scared like a lil bitch, lol
@Sir TroLLington Da 3rd you don't really know what you talking about. Pissing yourself is not an ultimate reaction to high stress lol. Go watch some deadhouse
If you noticed his facial expression earlier in the episode when Avon asked Stringer where he would be and what time. That moment on the rooftop balcony was a foreshadowing of Stringer’s death, and Avon setting him up.
@S00N2B3 fucking moron
@Sir TroLLington Da 3rd you as well
I guess Stringer's business class teacher didn't cover this subject.
+GJC 0621 funniest comment ever lmao!
It wasnt about that, its that other thing
(•_•) / ( •_•)>⌐■-■ / (⌐■_■)......................... YYEEAAHH!!!
LMAO
Lmaaooo
I might be reaching but I see stringer not knowing his way around HIS own building is kind of symbolic of him trying to get into this business he really knows nothing about.
Lol he just brought it how the hell will he kno if he looking at it right na haha
"What I tell you about playin' them fuckin' away games?"
@Marisa yes.. he said himself - this is Baltimore version of Greek Mythology..
When you rewatch the show 4 times and RUclips comments like this blow your mind at the amount of detail you miss during a rewatch
Not disrespecting at all, but i do think this is a big reach. They only show Stringer gunning straight for the exits. Not to mention he ran to the natural locations for most buildings. Main bottom entrance and roof. Surprised so many likes on this comment lol🤷♂️
This is why The Wire is the greatest show ever.
From the very beginning Stringer was always double checking doors, telling people to close doors, to lock doors, to the point where it became habitual; almost a mannerism of his persona, and in his last moments what prevented his escape and led to his death? Every possible doorway/escape route being locked.
Another metaphor for how Stringer played himself into a corner with his scheming.
He was his own worst enemy and nobody posed more of a threat to Stringer than he did to himself, eventually causing his own death. And it was all foreshadowed perfectly from the very beginning. Masterful writing.
"ayo lock that door man!"
No it wasn't
I swear down too many geniuses on this comment section
This is my first watch through and his own self being his demise is so obvious.
Breaking bad and sopranos are kinda better..
The political side of the wire got kinda dry for me.
@@d2heffz231 got wayyyy too dry
To me Stringer's character was stuck between two worlds; his upbringing on the streets left him without the patience and skill set to become a legitimate businessman but on the other hand his cold logical business mindset alienated him from Avon.
So he was too much of a gangster to be a true businessman but also too much of a businessman to be a true gangster.
And this split is what killed him.
thats basically what has been said (in another way of wording it) I heard a man say once something along the lines of "string had his two worlds mixed up...doing legit business with the sharks and HUD/housing development and all that he was inpatient...thinking like a street-corner hustler, quick flip, etc - granted Clay Davis was playing him/bleeding him but...it was still legit (if not dirty) business...and string had his priorities fucked up...in the business world he was playing gangster, again inpatient/quick to react, expecting overnight payouts, etc etc - and IN the actual streets he was trying to reform (and even David Simon in an interview about Stringers death says "string was trying to reform the drug trade, and the drug trade won't stand reform) and play wall-street - he was gangster when he should of been businessman and he was businessman when he should of been gangster that split, that mix-up of priorities/way of life is what basically (in essence) got him got.
"I look at you these days, String, you know what I see? I see a man without a country. Not hard enough for this right here and maybe, just maybe, not smart enough for them out there."
Avon Barksdale
This might literally be my favorite line in the entire series.
You reckon?... Stringer was always the most vicious. He wasn't taking those classes to start some new business, he wanted to be the absolute boss of every drug channel ala Escobar.
Austin Boylan that's a great analogy 👍🏾
It’s hilarious how Stringer realizes he’s dealing with two of the most incorruptible other characters in the show.
These three really were the most ‘out-there’ characters on the show. Most people are pretty believable, but these three were larger than life. Best scene in the show.
One of the bests characters in the history of television. Idris Elba was amazing in this show.
+javier negron His finest role.
+Eziokilla9595 What did you think about his role in Luther ?
javier negron
Agreed fully.
Gus Fring from Breaking Bad always reminded me of Stringer Bell
Creative - I dunno, Gus was a lot more mild mannered than Stringer! I never really though of them as similar.
Gus was more mild mannered, but Stringer was still a cool, calm, and collected dude most of the time....and I think the similarity lies in their double lives, running legitimate businesses while leading drug empires, and the intelligence
Damn, Stringer gave the orders right to the end lol
I know! Love it!
Chris Smith Always giving orders 😂😂
I know....I loved how he went out....like well get on with it mothe....pow pow pow.
"Yo, lock that door!"
@@iamyourbiggestfan6420 nice
He deserved this, but, at the same time, it was so tragic. Greatest show ever created.
You know, I was devastated, because Stringer would never get the punishment he deserved.
+NavidIsANoob I had mixed thoughts on stringer. I think this death was acceptable.
I almost felt sorry for Stringer when I watched this. But then I remembered he didn't know where the fuck Wallace was.
"Deserve's got nothin' to do with it. It's just his time, that's all." -- Snoop
No one 'deserves' anything. He's a victim of the institutions and power dynamics like all characters in the show, and it reflects reality significantly
What was interesting about this show was almost every character had a doppelganger that was either parallel in comparison or the complete opposite. For Stringer, it was Bunny Covin. Bunny was nearing the end of his police career, tired of the politics, taking steps to transition to civilian life. Then on his way out, he uses a radical solution to his problem (Hamsterdam) but eventually his mistake costs him his job (and retirement) and his career is "killed".
Stringer was nearing the end of being a gangster, tired of the bullshit of the street life, repping corners, the drug wars, and was taking steps to transition to become a legitimate businessman. On his way out the game, he tries a radical idea that would solve his problems (real estate) but eventually his mistake costs him his life and he is killed.
Another thing I noticed was when they were at their respective ends, they said the same thing: "Get on with it, motherfuckers".
your theories dope but i think stringers radical idea to solve his problems was getting omar on brother mouzone. they’re both known killers and it could go either way faced off. omar wanted to get at stringer for doing brandon the way he did, and meanwhile brother mouzone was gonna run the east baltimore gentlemen off the block, but stringer needed them there as it was part of his agreement to get the good pack from prop joe. No matter which one of them died it worked out for stringer especially if it was brother mouzone, and that was what ultimately lead to his demise.
I also noticed the similarities between Stringer and Colvin, definitely deliberate. Both of them were kinda caught between two worlds (crime/business for Stringer and police/community for Colvin). The scene where the two of them were finally brought together as Stringer gave up Avon's safehouse to Colvin in the graveyard was cathartic.
Same as prop Joe, same as cheese,
A small correction: they both said "Get on with this, mothef...."
Stringer's sentence was interrupted by bullets, and Colvin's - by Rawls saying "Excuse me Major?"
The irony is that while Stringer was right about Avon wanting too much to play gangster Avon was also right about Stringer wanting too much to play Businessman. They were both completely aware of each others strengths and weaknesses and for a while, at least until Avon went down they complimented each other perfectly.
the dynamic changed because Stringer got too comfortable with everything and everyone under him. it also didn’t help that he was trying to go legit while still being involved in shit
@@playboimomo To be fair, they both lost. They ironically faced each other's likely end. You'd think Avon would get killed by the gangster war he was starting and that Stringer would get caught by the police for his money laundering, etc. But instead, it's the opposite. Stringer get's killed and Avon get's arrested. They both took each other down with their last breath, resenting how they stood in each other's way at their highest moment. Because at the end of the day, they're both cold blooded and set out to accomplish a goal. And for those last few weeks, they weren't brothers, but adversaries.
Crazy thing about the scene is that Stringer's spirit isn't broken by these two notorious killers having him cornered. It's broken by the news that Avon had betrayed him. A powerful moment played perfectly as usual by all involved. What a show.
Tinned Tuna he got d'angelo killed so its fair game
Yea cuz he thought he was smarter than avon and didnt think avon would be doing him dirty too
@@MultiBoobie2010 it had nothing to so with D tho
He betrayed the King first tho.
He betrayed the King first tho.
Wikipedia article on this episode pointed this out, it's crazy:
After the deed is done and Omar and Mouzone are standing over String, "The sound of a distant train resembles the bell used in Cutty's boxing ring, symbolizing that the fight between Avon and Stringer was finally over."
the sound design is indeed exquisite in this series
holy shit, if this was intentional it fuckingblows my mind even more about the masterpiece this series is.
Canadian Bacon same, it really is incredible.
if you go on The Wire subreddit, the sound designer on the show did an AMA, which is really informative
which specific scene in cutty's gym, i cannot find it. anyone?
Stringer was obsessed with closed doors throughout the show and at the end all the doors that were leading for his escape where in fact closed.
Be careful what you wish for....
Brooooo 🤯
He was??
@@rhey81 ruclips.net/video/HDiveb6Fhy0/видео.html
@@jakep1979 Ok, good montage. I still don't see the relation between him wanting doors closed and his demise... If anything he was the opposite of that.. Opening up new opportunities for Avon and their people by trying to earn an education and building those business relationships, working with those contractors etc outside of the game so they could get out of it.. However they were corrupt and didn't care for him and took advantage of him because of who he was and the fact he didn't know any better.. I could get the theme of closed doors if there were example opportunities there for Stringer but he didn't take em and was warned to do it before it was too late and THEN you have this demise...
I mean if you want to go the other way, you would prefer to see what, Stringer leaving those doors open so he could talk about plans and everyone could hear him??
It seemed there the theme was he was never going to be accepted into that world because of his life choice even though he was willing to play by their rules.. But then explain Marlo in season 5 who never cared for the rules? How is he all of the sudden accepted by Levy and circle of people, I mean I know why, but given his personality and the fact he couldn't be, to quote Prop Joe, " Housebroken." While he was chill on the outside he didn't know to carry himself when he went to the overseas bank. Got crazy emotional over his name being used out in the streets by Omar, and thats just the start.. I mean if your Levy why would you let that into your circle???
"Ayo shut that door!"
If you pay attention to the chess analogy, Stringer is the Queen with a very versatile set of moves and Avon is the King that is limited in movement. Notice how Stringer is running all over the place like a Queen on a chessboard. He gets cornered by Brother and Omar just like a Queen can get cornered by a Bishop and a Knight.
wow
+Richard Lannister Sometimes I wonder if this entire series can seriously be boiled down into a single chess game. Maybe there's too many pieces for a normal game though.
+Corey Pack i would take a guess to say that slim charles was his soldier and the bishop was maurice levy.
+Richard Lannister Totally brilliant analogy, i never noticed that. This makes sense, especially when one goes back to the first season when D'angelo explains the drug game using this analogy.
Nice analogy
I literally just noticed that Omar was also going to kill the construction guy (after shooting Stringer’s bodyguard he pointed the shotgun at him for a few seconds) but quickly changed his mind once he realized he’s just a civilian based on his reaction. Small subtle moment but still relevant to Omar’s character. What an amazing show.
Nope he knew that already, omar does his homework properly that what makes him omar, he was just disgusted seeing what that white man was doing.
Omar was a ruthless hunter but he also operated with integrity and knew there were certain lines he shouldn't cross when handling business.
I aint never put my gun on no one who wasn't in the game a man gotta have a code Omar exact words to bunk when Chris and snoop tried to frame him for killing the delivery lady in fat Andres store
A man must have a code.
the way omar looked at him before he looked away sends me everytime man
Stringer : I ain't involved with that gangsta bullshit no more. A few scenes earlier he's asking Slim to hit Clay Davis 💀💀
Clay to stringer: shiiiid got yo ass
He was trying talk his way out 😭😭 and he kinda was
Love how Omar said your boy gave you up and we didn't have to torture his ass either
Did he mean Avon ?
@@chancecould6969 yes Avon gave him up to Brother Mouzone
@@chancecould6969 what did Omar actually ment with stringer don’t get it?
@@TheStatisfiedOne he ment Avon gave him up and they didn't have to couch him he just did it to betray him
@Cameron Yeah I think he was
Damn could he have ran any louder? They knew where he was going before he did.
right lmao
HAHAHAHAAHA seriously some funny shit bro
Hahaha right. Straight-up running like the hulk with brick shoes on
Haha I was thinking the same thing.
+justincredible214 Lol well it was a wooden floor so it wouldn't be hard to hear him regardless
He was ready to talk his way out until the end until he realized that the only real friend he had in the world was the one that sold him out. At that moment you literally see all the loss of hope on Russell ‘Stringer’ Bell’s face and he comes to terms with his immanent demise.
Ironic that both Avon and Stringer gave each other up, and that both tried to pay Brother Mouzone, Avon to save String, and String for him not to kill him.
Even tho he was a piece of shit I still felt a bit bad for stringer. For a guy who was close escape the street life and go legit and to die in his own new building ratted by his best friend. His biggest mistake was putting up mouzone and Omar against each other wich led to his death
It's "imminent."
"Eminent" means respected or famous.
@Peter T Nah, his birth name was Russell Bell.
@@brunoblivious thanks for that. Knew the meaning but had no idea there were 2 variations of the word. Respect.
That contractor is basically every one of us in that situation.
BNBG
😂
OHGAWDD
Exxxxaaacccctttttlllllyyyyyyyy
man Omar looked disgusted at him haha
'OHHHH SHITTT!" *Proceeds to run through the building with loud ass dress shoes on*
Animez4u OK this made me split my sides so hard
🤣 🤣 🤣
@@michaelotis223 them steppaz 👞😂😂😂😂😂
This was easily the most unexpected death in the show. I was hooked and I had goosebumps all over my body as I saw Stringer's look when he realised the inevitable. Amazing writing.
I was shocked when he was killed as well. He was such a big character on the show, but they kept it moving with Marlo and crew.
I'd say Omar was more unexpected. We knew a confrontation was going to happen with Avon setting him up to be killed.
Omar is just suddenly shot by a kid with no build up. This was an amazing scene but not surprising. I took a second to even realize Omar had been shot.
@@derrickt9211 Its actually crazy I didnt know how they would follow up that season ending but season 4 ended up being my favourite season
With omar jumping 3 story buildings like spiderman, im surprised string aint try to jump outta one of those boarded windows lmaooo screw runnin upstairs, im runnin thru brick walls tryna exit that building soon as i see omar ctfuuu 😂
Mine was D. I truly thought he was the second main character.
Nice bit of symbolism, that shot with the billboard that's just outside the window where Stringer falls dead. It's so close, but it's still out of reach.
Exactly the comment I was looking for
I love how Omar and Mouzone knew Stringer's building better than he did.
Maybe they chose to "Get there early" if you know what I mean. Surprises aren't good in their line of business
I mean, Omar he preps more than batman. They show this time after time.
Two professional assassins he knew his time was up.
How did Mouzone get upstairs before String? String went in first...and Omar & Mouzone said everything was boarded up.
The disdain in Oma’s face when money was brought up ☠️ Brother Mouzone was unmoved. Men of principle
Ironic that the two men with the most ironclad personal code on the show are both essentially assassins
@@JB-xl2jc I think they are assassins because they have strong moral codes. They don't take shit home. Brother Mouzone didn't kill Omar on that alley because Omar's boy took a long while to give him up even under torture. If this man, under torture, is hesitating to giving Omar, Omar is someone of respect. That's why Omar says at the end, ''your boy gave you up, and we didn't even need to torture him'', which means Stringer Bells wasn't respect, never were, his love for money, his idea that ''it's just business'', made him less than a prostitute they dispised him.
Brother was there on a mission. Fuck that other bullshit what String was sellin'.
@@JB-xl2jc You know I think that kind of makes sense though. I would imagine unless you are a stone cold psychopath which neither of them are then your sanity would demand that you adhere to a very strict moral code in order to justify killing people.
That was among Stringer's biggest faux pas. He should have known better than to think he could pay Omar off after ordering the hit and torture on Brandon. While Brandon's death was part of the game and Omar acknowledged it as an occupational hazard, he was never going to look over the torture and mutilation that Brandon sustained as that was beyond what he believed the game allowed. The stick up in Omar's eyes was just business but for Stringer to approve torture on Brandon to get him to give up Omar made it personal.
Stringer Bell was such a complex character. He was a villain and a calculating and ruthless monster, but somehow, I still liked him. The writers of The Wire somehow made me like and care about such a horrible goddamn person. And I remember when I saw this scene for the first time, I went totally emotionally numb for like an hour. It felt like a sledgehammer had just hit me... It goes to tell about the quality of this show, and it is one of the reasons why The Wire is the best TV show ever, bar none. It was a multi-facetted, deeply layered and complex menagerie, just like real life, and they hit it so well and made it deeply enthralling to boot. Sons of Anarchy, Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, Lost and what have you. You've all made valiant attempts at usurping the crown, but you're still not king. The Wire is and probably always will be.
The only other show that is as detailed and loaded with symbols and secret meanings is The Sopranos, I recommend it if you haven't already seen it.
This should have been Wire ending,later they just fucked it up with that Mayor and fake gangster Marlo
Let me tell you why you like him, because he's fucking awesome. Simple as that.
For me Breaking Bad is masterpiece,more emotional moments and better characters for me,also,a lot of hiddeb,stuff and generally had awesome camera shots and other technical,things
Game of thrones, Sons of Anarchy, Lost, even Sopranos can't begin to compete....BUT you're completely wrong about Breaking Bad. That show is equally as great as the Wire. I think they are both two out of the top 5 best shows ever created.
Even the Queen can't take out two bishops at the same time.
imahelpfulperson notice how they are positioned diagonally towards old Stringer. I think this was done intentionally to symbolize how bishops move on a chess board.
fleshcookie bishop and a knight
You can't take out 2 of anything at the same time in chess. 😂
Two bishops can't attack the same spot 😉
@@fleshcookie no it wasn't you dumb fuck. Stop reading into it so much
I think what I find so compelling about this scene is how naturally Stringer goes through every stage of grief. Just excellent work by Idris Elba and the writers.
I love how this ties into D'Angelo's analysis of The Great Gatsby, where talks about being unable to escape things you've done in the past.
This is Stringer's past catching up to him. Brilliant. Sad to see one of my favorite TV villains die though.
Damn didn't even think of that Gatsby reference
Jack Shrout they had the birds too
“It don’t matter that some fool say he different...”
ScreamBloodyMetal wow!
Him and Cersei Lannister. Top notch. Bravo, HBO!
You know what I noticed during this scene? Stringer’s death is somewhat similar to that of Wallace in season one. Stringer had Wallace and D’Angelo killed because they were snitching, and in his hypocrisy, Stringer did the same thing by giving Major Colvin info on Avon. Unlike Wallace, he got a chance to run and beg for mercy when Bodie and Poot cornered him. He had the same fear for his life the way Wallace did for his.
d didn't snitch.
@@thedangerwich5476 He gave up Wee Bey’s space in Philly.
Nice observation
I think it's a lot different. Wallace was begging for mercy, wet his own pants, and tried to reach out on the basis of friendship. Stringer's death is like Prop Joe's. They tried to make a final offer, but they weren't negotiating with businessmen. Then they took it like a man; Wallace didn't. Of course, Stringer ordered Wallace's death. And Stringer ordered the hit on Brother Mouzone. And Stringer ordered Brandon's death, which is what led Wallace to snitch.
@@lipoff "Wallace begged for his life" whilst Stringer tried to bargain for his.. I honestly don't see the difference, because if the roles were reversed, they both would've done the exact same thing!
But you also have to take into account that Wallace was a 16 y/o kid with no guidance and Stringer was a grown ass man who's been in the streets his entire life!
I always thinks it symbolic how one of the doors in Stringers building is blocked off and the other is guarded by a hitman. It shows no matter how high he tried to acsend from the the gangster world, there were always too many limitations.
***** I had never looked at it like that. Very deep and thoughtful observation.
Stringer always says "shut that door" in other episodes. Symbolic how all the doors are shut on him.
Those are some really good interpretations. None of them occurred to me.
the wire is just a better version of peaky blinders
Never ever have I despised a character so much, but also been so upset that their story was ended. Much respect to David Simon for beyond fantastic screenwriting, and Idris Elba for an exemplary performance.
It seems Avon was wrong. Stringer doesn't bleed green, after all.
Avon was backed in a corner. He had to give up Stringer or lose his connect...his business and his rep. Avon didn't have a real choice even though he tried to throw money at mouzzone....Avon understood the game and knew in the end it was curtains for Bell.
😂😂😂. His heart pumps kool aid
Demetrius McKay Also Avon Still Never Forgave Stringer For Hiring A Hitman To Kill D’Angelo And Lie On Top Of It... The Moves He Made...... STRINGER KNEW HE FUCKED UP 💯
@@demetriusmckay617 Honestly, I thought Avon was going to die once Brother dropped his hands in the barbershop scene.
@@kamiioo3289 mouzone would never kill Avon for not giving up stringer, the only problem is that stringer would loose a crucial connection, and might also be the downfall of his empire if he didn’t give up stringer
Stringer Bell was a terrible person who killed innocent people, whose bread and butter were corruption and murder. And he betrayed his best friend, so that even among criminals he was scum. But he was also smart, talented, and logical. And he went out like a man.
Colonel Hart no he didn't, in their view. he begged.
+rss313 I didn't see any begging, would be stupid not to try the money card.
+Mkc N Well assuming he played a part in the murder of all those witnesses....
***** Fuck off, he tried to make a deal, and that wasn't unreasonable especially since he personally was all about the money and only saw that side of things. When he saw that it wasn't about money, instead what Avon kept telling him, "that other thing," he said "Get on with it motherfuckers."
I hated Stringer for a lot of reasons, but he was not without admirable qualities.
***** Look, he wasn't Omar or Avon or even Marlo. He was in it for the money; that's who he was. It is totally consisted with his point of view to offer money, even if it was pretty obvious Mouzone and Omar are not the type to take it. But he had a vision of an empire in front of him, even if it was a 1% chance, you're going to begrudge him seeing if they could work something out? I acknowledge that he was a snake and he wasn't a true soldier like Avon, but god damn, he faced the firing squad straight.
That look at 2:19 when he realises his past caught up with him. Probably the best scene ever in television history.
First time seeing the wire and just got to this scene. I'm gonna miss seeing Idris Elba on the show. He was such a fantastic actor.
You gotta love Omar man "ain't never shot a citizen" and when he points his shottie at the civilian that one rule completely depleted his adrenaline and then he went back to savage mode!
I love how Stringer and Avon were so powerful nothing could take them down except each other
What do you mean? Detectives took down Avon once, and were very close to take down Stringer in Season 3
@@alexgruzglin4239due to stringer straying away , he was getting sloppy. Got caught on the wire planning the clay davis hit which Avon was against. Together they were great but while at odds they were vulnerable.
Two known assassins come to see you he knew his time was up.
David Simon and Ed Burns can die happy knowing that they, out of the million TV SHOWS that exist in the world, made the BEST series in the world. Nothing will top the wire, this show is art, in a million different ways.
Stringer Bell's characterization is great here. We see that even in the inevitability of his death, Stringer Bell still retains his bearing. Very strong character.
"Who the fuck was I chasin'?"
I like how both of them avon and stringer learn that they gave each other up while it was happening
The first time I saw this I thought Omar just walked in and smoked Stringer mid-conversation I didn't realize it was his bodyguard... I was just like damn well that was anti-climactic LOL
idris elba as stringer is one of the best performace in tv history
What ended up leading to Stringer's demise however, was his belief that he could instigate a conflict between two seasoned soldiers.
that's why I love looking the youtube clips up, I get to see some really insightful comments that help me pick up on all the subtleties tucked and buried in this masterful show.
First time i watched this show, I swear I thought Stringer was THE man and Avon was fucking it up for him. But after re-watching and reading the comments on here, I realised Stringer fucked up big time. As one other commenter aptly said, you can't do a couple of evening business classes and think you know enough to apply to/reform the game. Avon knew what the game was, pure and simple.
Feel this is perfectly summed up by the line in this scene from Omar to Stringer: 'You still don't get it, do you?'
Please Idris Elba, get back to good roles like that !
You should watch luther - definetly not like stringer bell but he does an incredible job in that series
Leif Petersen
no doubt :). won a golden globe for luther
The worst of his roles was Heimdal. It was sooo fuckin political correct to make him Heimdal, making one of the nordic gods black guy, lol. So maybe next time make Zulu Chaka asian guy, or Chenghis Khan freckled ginger, lol. Not to mention, that Heimdal was kind of racist - it was god, who gave kids presents, but not those, whose skin was nto bright enough. and they made him black man, how fucked up is that?
Kondzio717 As racist as it is that Hollywood keeps using caucasians to play Egyptians, Native American Indians, etc.
Moron.
@@Kondzio717 while I agree with you, keep in mind that the Asgardians in the MCU are not Nordic. They're basically aliens.
He'll never be Luther, he'll never be The Commandant, He'll always be Stringer Bell to me. Russell Stringer Bell.
But he is Charles Minor from Dunder Mifflin corporate office
@@dcallies527 Yessir
The Wire rarely indulged in symbolism, but nothing was better than Stringer getting killed outside of a window with billboards and posters about supposed "opportunity." No series except perhaps The Sopranos gave a better argument about the death of the American Dream than The Wire.
It rarely indulged in symbolism...? Were you watching the same series as the rest of us?
***** It's not nearly as opaque with its symbolism as a show like Breaking Bad or The Sopranos.
Ah okay, never mind - I misread what you wrote. I totally agree!
The Wire though gave a far better detailed look into "the death of the american working class" (season 2 of the wire) better then anything I've seen american dream is one thing, the working class, institutional dysfunction is another - for that reason alone the gritty documentary-style of a "good book" with a beginning middle end and a closing that continues into the next story (combining storylines) and showing how all the "pieces connect" like a puzzle that through 5 seasons connect together making the "whole picture" it all comes full circle and it continues just diff players (in each facet of the city) to me that makes it just that much better the other shows are more ...idk streamlined with the symbolism (if any) they are great too but for a different reason obviously
Sopranos and Wire were both about the death of the American Dream, just different pieces of the world. It's why Deadwood is the perfect show to round out the "big three." You see the coming together of a society and then its death throes.
The use of light & shadows in this scene is brilliant. The use of shadows when Omar is "stalking" Stringer ( 0:52 - 1:18 ) makes him look like a death angel or the grim reaper, coming to claim Stringer's soul. Notice how you saw Mouzone's face the entire time, but you didn't see Omar's face...until he steps out of the shadows. The use of the birds ties in as well...like doves used to represent one's soul, but darker, thus evil.
ok
i think the doves are there to add to the metaphor of how Stringer is stuck in between the two worlds. Symbolic of how Stringer tried to escape his street-life, he runs up the stairs where the doves are, as if its a skyscraper (like Terri, with her 10th floor apartment). The doves try to fly away, but the windows lock them in - how did they even get here in the first place? Omar blocks Stringers way down, while Brother Mouzone stops him from going up. Both Stringer & the doves are somewhere they shouldn't be, inbetween two worlds
Honestly this episode is probably top 3 episodes of all time for any show for me. Just such a great episode and when i realized stringer was about to die i was truly sad. Probably my favourite character in the entire show, well done Idris Elba.
The visual symbolism of the last scene is fantastic. Stringer Bell's body in the ground, being touched by the light (legal business, formality world) but still out of his range: the door keep him away, but he was getting really close. And the two shadows (2:57) that represent the criminal world, his past that cant leave him alone. After killing him, the shadows return to the dark. Powerful scene. (Sorry for my broken english)
Gotta respect how he didn’t beg for his life. Offered what he had left. Money. But then realized it wasn’t enough so he accepted his fate like a man
He was begging for his life by offering his funds. He turned it around only because he saw they don't give one-two-red-or blue fucks, but he was still bitching. Someone like Avon would just tell Omar n Brother to fuck off and take the shot like that. No money offers, excuses, or anything.
@@RipsharkTV he was playing a game of chess, like the rest of the characters. When his cover was blown all he could do was offer everything for a chance at living. When he saw that it was actually game over he took it like a man.
@@RipsharkTV Same thing happened to Prop Joe.
@@RipsharkTV you are stupid you think string would respect and do what he promised... i feel sorry for you
@@zovdivljine8048 I never said that you troglodyte. Learn to read you fuckin idiot.
THIS is the greatest scene in the history of television.
Very debatable but I hear you
Definetely the best on The Wire
S4 has more
@@guitozetto2327 no, the showdown between Omar and Mouzone in the alley (leading to this scene) is even better
The thing about this scene that I dont think anyone has noticed is how it showed how his life caught up with him. When Omar was coming after him he litteraly looked like death coming for him in that shadow he was walking through. When String got to the top and Brother Mouzone was standing there he saw that there was no way out. See, they both where personifications of death. Omar being death coming from the streets dressed in the street cloths and trench coat and Mouzone in the suit, well dressed coming from the buisness side. It shows that from both ends of his life it had finaly caught up to him and it was over. Not to mention that often when people put death in a human form it is a man in a suit or a grim reaper like person in a cloak. Omar=the reaper like version chasing him up the stairs and Mouzone= the man in a suit version meeting him at the door. I dont know just a deep thought.
also i liked how they had those crows at the top, also representing death
Very creative view on the situation.
No that fits perfectly!!
Omar and Mouzone were successful because they picked a lane and knew exactly what they were, Stringer's time was cut shorter because he tried playing both sides in a game that simply doesn't let you do that.
This is like a scene straight out of a horror movie. Stringer is running for his life struggling to find an exit while Omar and Brother Mouzone are walking slowly and calmly with their weapons. The Wire somehow managed to fit all genres in one and it was executed perfectly.
"We aint have to torture his ass neither" Omar insenuating that Brandon was Tortured and still didn't roll on Omar, as Avon rolled on stringer immediately. This scene is super powerful.
Also Omar was reminding String that all this happened because they tortured Brandon. Omar said previously that if they had just executed Brandon there wouldn't have been any beef. It was the fact that the Barksdale crew tortured Brandon to death was the reason why Omar wanted revenge.
This is Amazing acting, especially from Idris Elba.
"Stringer" comes to the realization, that his life is coming to an end; it's like his mind went through the 5 stages of grief in fast forward: denial (thinking he could run away), anger, bargaining ("what do y'all want? money?"), depression (tearing up after realizing the two men want something he can never give them alive), and acceptance("get on with it muf--" gun shots).
Waited for this man to die so badly the whole series just for his death scene to be done so tragically I felt bad. Amazing writing.
I love how Omar walked calmly while Stringer ran for his life!!
Mouzone must've slept up there all night. Waiting.
The fat guy at the start was top notch acting imo...the fear, confusion...prospect of facing death...impressive. Had Omar in complete disbelief.
Later, when you see McNulty sitting there, and the lab guy is taking pics, you hear the camera click. I always think of Lester talking about when the handcuffs click at the end of a case, and it's over, Jimmy McNulty will still need to find a life for himself. Fucking great show!
"you still don't get it do you, huh, this aint about your money bruh, your boy gave you up, thats right, and we aint have to torture his ass neither!"
David Steven sorry bruh but he clearly said torture not coax its clear as day, CC doesn't work for the Wire it can't translate ghetto talk but you can lip read it, and he was referring to how Stringer had Brandon tortured and killed
Celtic Dave Yeah your right.He said ''toture''in his dialect, instead of torture.
Celtic Dave it was a gay joke lol
What? No it wasn't. He was saying it pointedly because Stringer had Omar's boyfriend tortured and killed.
I love how he just accepts his fate.
RIP Michael K Williams
This is one of the Best scenes in the entire Series
(Side note: Just think, Stringer Bell is gonna be Knuckles in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 movie!)
Sad news, on top of that Michael k Williams died on Idris Elba birthday
I binge watched this . One dvd out, one in. Pack of 4. One set after the other. Pause. Rehydrate. Press play. Sit back. Look up. It's nighttime. Bed. Sleep. Wake. Press play. Repeat.
I just realized that Stringer could made his escape going out the same way Omar & Brother Mouzone walked out after they killed him.
Deep
Stinger is probably my favorite character out of any series I've ever watched, gutted when he died...
Great acting but he was evil you knew he had to die.
@@Phantom096 There were many many evil characters who survived this show, wtf are you talking about?
For me Bodies death was even worse
I loved The Wire from start to finish, and Stringer was without a doubt one of the best and most compelling characters. The fact that the show killed off arguably its best character and then produced two more incredible seasons is just another in a long list of reasons why The Wire is the best show of all time.
In a way and on a smaller scale, The Wire was the original Game of Thrones, with so many major characters dying unexpectedly: first there was the boy Wallace (he was no main character, i know, but he got his moments and lot of them), then D'Angelo - now he was almost a main character for a couple of seasons, culminating with String, Omar and Prop Joe. You might say that in a show about drug dealing it was to be expected, true that, however not many shows back then would kill important characters with so much consistency, but more than that, with so much meaning and sense. In fact, i can think of none. In The Wire, every time they killed off a character, it felt unexpected but on a deeper level you saw it coming.
You wouldn't have to wire or the sopranos without Oz happening first though.
Notice the look on Omar's face when that politician is pleading for his life. Playing the streets for so long, he's not used to that type of react. Also shows that Omar has a lot of compassion.
Stringer’s hamartia (fatal flaw) was that he tried to dip his feet into two different ponds. Businessman and gangster. Stringer never fully committed to either which caused his downfall.
He attempted to apply macroeconomics to his criminal empire and it worked in the short term. But it didn’t last in the long term because half assed shit from a community college doesn’t work with the rules of the *game* . And when his business dealings fell through he tries to strong arm/kill the people that screwed him over as if it were a street corner dispute. You’re either in the game or you’re not. Can’t be both.
Bell just didn’t know what he was doing and that fact became more clear as the series progressed.
I still think his biggest mistake was to try put both Omar and mouzone against each other. If he didn’t then he might’ve still survived and left the street life for good
Don Jon exactly. that was his fatal mistake
@@TheStatisfiedOne He would've screwed it up another way down the line. I mean, for all his patronizing talks to the soldiers of his organization about how "bodies bring the police", he was willing to order a state senator whacked because he got played like a chump, and the heat from that would be more than enough to bring down the whole organization.
And anyways, he got caught on the wiretap, with a whole case mounting against him for several years. He was on borrowed time before he'd end up in a prison cell.
2:11 Brother Mouzone be like *You expect me to nod my head like a goddamn muppet now?' lmao
String had this coming to him, he really thought Avon was gonna let him slide killing his nephew like that
Heimdall, open the bifrost!
0:45 lmao Omar's had enough with his nonsense
Stringer was always bout closing them doors.
The Pigeons add to the scene. Something about the fluttering sound, the soul and his inability to escape, just fits perfectly. Phenomenal murder scene and boy did he have it coming. His acting as it dawns on him its over, is very strong.
I really wanna hear the conversation Omar and Brother Mourzone had while they walked down the stairs at the end of the clip.
Stringer's character is something man...I love how he progresses through the series (or rather, how he _regresses_ ); first you know him as the cool and calculated side of the Barksdale crime family, but as the series progresses he starts to unravel slowly but surely (which only accelerates after Avon's imprisonment). You begin to progressively see him yell, snap and lose his temper in various situations, all the way up until his very end
This wasn’t a gangster looking for a way out. That was a human being running for his life and that’s why his death felt so real
The look Stringer gives around the 2:16 mark after Omar confirms to him that Avon gave him up is amazing. You see how much that revelation stings him. Idris killed (no pun intended) this role.
I love how he keeps it gangsta at the end before he gets shot hahaha
That was for Maurice, Roland, Toreen, William, John, Brandon, Wallace, D’Angelo, etc.
2:39 Oh get on with it, muffin-
*Gotta love closed caption* 😂
Kinda awesome how Bell looks at Brother to confirm Omar's statement of Avon giving him up and that too easily; and then Brother's no-expression, still face confirms it. Stringer basically gives up at that point and accepts what's coming to him.
Impressive that Stringer Bell survived that and went on to work as a branch manager in Dunder Mifflin.
When Omar said you'r boy gave you up , he ment Avon gave him up right?
+Milan Popovic Correct.
Yupp Avon had grew tired of him keep tryna be legit stringer kept tryna play both sides of the fence.
+Jovani Lil Homie. Alvarez Delgado nah man. Avon gave him because he wanted Omar to help him with Marlo, also because he felt threatened by Stringer after he found out he killed D. In the end is like Avon said, Stringer was too soft. Instead of killing Avon, Stringer tried to get Avon arrested ( which he did ) while Avon straight up gave Stringers life.
I digg that yu rite he did need Omar to fuck around with Marlo and his crew and Omar wasn't lettin stringer go for Killin his maricon. I personally just hated stringer Mf one minute being a gangsta got no problems banging dudes girls wile they away ordering the murders, but than when the guns come "I' aint in that gangster shit no more I ain't involved" even tho he did shut up and take it like a man but yeah that's how you end up playing both sides tryna be legit when you in a illegal organization
avon had to give up string or brother mouzone would kill his line to new york
Ngl this was immensely satisfying to watch after all the seasons Bell put everyone through, nicely done Omar.
this is what happens when you think you are smarter than you actually are
He brought a level of sophistication to the drug side of the story that nobody else could. I still can't believe he's dead.
I thought the series would get weak after this. It only grew stronger.
0:47 a shut door kills Stringer Bell
Boarded up** there's no breaking through that
+smooth wit it similar to boarded up houses in Baltimore, stringer was trying to escape the life but he couldn't
string always sayin lock dat door. irony baby
I still can't believe this show never won an Emmy
The birds flying in the building makes this a cold scene. Symbolisms at its finest
The more I watch this series, the more I see that Stringer wasn't cut out for this life on some level, he made too many mistakes, he fucked with the wrong people and he paid for it. He knew the business, but he didn't know the game. As soon as Omar found out that Stringer played him, it was over, right then. There was literally no other way out of it. What was he going to do at the end of the day? He crossed Omar multiple times, and then crossed Brother Mouzone, two of the deadliest's dude's on the street, and figured he was gonna be fine.
What were they gonna do, furthermore, what was Avon expected to do, it was one or the other, and one of them was going to end up dead, where Stringer ended up is all his fault for trying to play a game he wasn't fit for.
*and he crossed Avon Barksdale*
Stringer Bell might have survived if he actually carried a firearm.
even if omar misses with that 12ga he won't miss
I don’t think wearing firearms when dealing with these businessmen would’ve appreciated by them
People say he's choking up because he's about to die, and that makes perfect sense. But I always thought it was also possible that he's doing that because Omar had just said Avon gave him up without any struggle. The betrayal hurt him just as much. Although, Stringer had also given Avon up to the police before this I believe.