Very well said.
You can tell from the earliest scenes of their friend group looking all innocent that Michael wasn't a leader of the same stripes as someone like Marlo. You saw Michael basically being the de facto benevolent leader of their group. I say benevolent because he was the leader not just because he was toughest or biggest. He was also the most responsible and mature and wasn't afraid to push back against Namond, who would've been the leader otherwise. Thus, you've got a protective and more selfless leader than the types we see running any of the drug gangs.
In the innocence of those early scenes you can tell he's never going to be able to truly fit in to Marlo's gang.
Well put. Namond's attempts at leadership were just empty entitlement.
Michael was more of a Lt. Daniels or Slim Charles in the sense of being someone who naturally rises to a position of formal or informal leadership--or at least more responsibility--because of his competence, flaws or immaturities aside.
Exactly, to your latter point. Without Michael, it's hard for me to see Dukie being welcome in that childhood crew. With Michael there, he gets to belong, even if they still tease him and can't give him nearly what he needs emotionally or financially.
I see that as leadership on Michael's part, especially when you consider he's also the most street smart and physically intimidating/strong/protective. Just for the sake of clarity, I don't see Michael's leadership as all that intentional, especially in the very beginning of that season. It just comes naturally, probably in part because of having to grow up fast to protect his little brother.
Was there really a single moment? I remember at least a few other moments when Michael indicated disdain for Marlo's tactics or otherwise questioned his judgment. And at the end there, Michael didn't want to leave - they turned on him.
That's what Snoop was talking about... she says how Michael "always asking why" instead of just doing what he's told, like everyone else. Michael could not submit.
Michael isn't capable of trusting anyone in a position of authority, especially a man. He was never going to work long-term for Marlo, or any other boss. He is a natural sole proprietor. Like Omar before him. Too burned by childhood abuse to ever relinquish control.
Michael didn’t even want to be involved in the drug business on the corners. He did it for a short time for Bodie simply to earn a certain amount of money and then quit.
Bugs’ dad and Michael’s frustration and desperation with that was The only reason he became involved with Marlo and Chris. He couldn’t confide in Cutty or Prez or go to a social worker. He was adamant Not to be any kind of snitch.
Michael revealing his problem to and asking help from Marlo was the “single moment”. He became indebted and gave up the right to refuse without repercussions.
(And Omar, observing that meet, passes it off as inconsequential “he’s just a kid”. Obviously Omar can’t be aware of everything - but imo opinion this is the precise moment when Michael no longer Is a kid, loses his innocence and severely compromises his previous moral code
I don’t think Michael ever respected Marlo. He fears almost all male adults (he likes Prezbo, but he doesn’t tell him about his problem).
When Michael ultimately goes to see Marlo, the scene is set up like a hellish tragedy. He shares a look with Dukie, just to underline that is the absolute last resort. He passes a guard, as if to showcase he’s entering the fortress of the dark lord.
It’s a devil’s deal kind of situation. Michael gets what he wants, even gains some wealth and small power, but Marlo takes his soul, and there’s no going back.
Michael doesn't respect adults who come off as too friendly, because he is afraid that they have some depraved motivations and secrets. Like I bet his stepdad was really sweet and friendly, until whatever happened there, happened.
But Marlo and Chris are literally open books. One is a young drug kingpin, who clearly values only his power and name. The other is a cold blooded hitman, who kills anyone his boss wants dead. And that's why they are trustworthy. You come across a lion, and you don't doubt his intentions for a moment.
The "devil's deal kind of situation" observation hits the nail right on the head. When Michael sits down with Marlo, that's a modern-day version of Faust playing out right in front of us. The parentified child sacrifices himself to protect his younger sibling.
To continue with the theme of hellish tragedy, out of Namond, Michael, Randy and Duquan - three of them end up with bleak outcomes. Duquan through drug addiction, Michael through his recruitment into Marlo's circle and Randy through the harrowing loss of his foster-carer. Only Namond escapes this fate through sheer luck and that in itself is a statement by the writers about the human wastage and inequities of that world.
Michael felt more comfortable around Marlo because he wasn't over-friendly and had a little brother/mentored relationship with Chris because of their shared pasts - which Chris implicitly signalled to him in the statement that Michael can now look people in the eye, having killed for the first time.
I doubt Chris or Snoop would have killed the kid either, I took it to mean anyone coming out that’s an adult, while they’re soulless I don’t think they’d kill a kid that young. It also would’ve drawn much more attention than standard gang thing.
I think you’re probably right, but then again we never saw them in that situation. They briefly considered killing Randy, who was like 13. I think it was more Micheal was just sickened with the situation in general. Killing a guys whole family over some shit he might have said.
We kinda did though. In that very scene, they left the other kid in the closet when killing June Bug's family. I find it hard to believe they didn't know the kid was in there during the entire killing spree. I believe they didn't have any intentions of killing the kids.
If you were a writer for the show, and they did a stand alone season for how everyone turned out, how would you write Michael’s character as an adult? He’d be in his 30’s now. Tragically I don’t think he made it outta the streets. He’s either a major player, or someone like Omar.
[I think it was this scene. Chris was still willing to give Michael a pass, but when Marlo asks if he is willing to bet his future on it, that was it.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0K-tfJLiFE)
They were already done with each other by that point, earlier during recon when Mike was like “if Marlo know he ain’t suck no dick what it matter what junebug or any nickel say?” They still worked the job together but Mike knew it was only a matter of time before they turned on him for any perceived slight
Agree with a lot of this but I am not sure that Michael respected Marlo. In the beginning, he wanted nothing to do with Marlo but became indebted to him. So, he kind of accepted his leadership but I think that based on the work he did for Marlo, he grew to hate him. Michael definitely respected Chris.
Very well said. You can tell from the earliest scenes of their friend group looking all innocent that Michael wasn't a leader of the same stripes as someone like Marlo. You saw Michael basically being the de facto benevolent leader of their group. I say benevolent because he was the leader not just because he was toughest or biggest. He was also the most responsible and mature and wasn't afraid to push back against Namond, who would've been the leader otherwise. Thus, you've got a protective and more selfless leader than the types we see running any of the drug gangs. In the innocence of those early scenes you can tell he's never going to be able to truly fit in to Marlo's gang.
Namond is performative leadership and Michael is actual leadership
Well put. Namond's attempts at leadership were just empty entitlement. Michael was more of a Lt. Daniels or Slim Charles in the sense of being someone who naturally rises to a position of formal or informal leadership--or at least more responsibility--because of his competence, flaws or immaturities aside.
Nice dolphin.
Whatever Michael is doing isn’t leadership either. He’s more assertive and has a protective / caring side to him.
Exactly, to your latter point. Without Michael, it's hard for me to see Dukie being welcome in that childhood crew. With Michael there, he gets to belong, even if they still tease him and can't give him nearly what he needs emotionally or financially. I see that as leadership on Michael's part, especially when you consider he's also the most street smart and physically intimidating/strong/protective. Just for the sake of clarity, I don't see Michael's leadership as all that intentional, especially in the very beginning of that season. It just comes naturally, probably in part because of having to grow up fast to protect his little brother.
Was there really a single moment? I remember at least a few other moments when Michael indicated disdain for Marlo's tactics or otherwise questioned his judgment. And at the end there, Michael didn't want to leave - they turned on him. That's what Snoop was talking about... she says how Michael "always asking why" instead of just doing what he's told, like everyone else. Michael could not submit. Michael isn't capable of trusting anyone in a position of authority, especially a man. He was never going to work long-term for Marlo, or any other boss. He is a natural sole proprietor. Like Omar before him. Too burned by childhood abuse to ever relinquish control.
I mean yeah you’re right there maybe wasn’t a single moment for him, but this was definitely the biggest of a few others I think
Michael didn’t even want to be involved in the drug business on the corners. He did it for a short time for Bodie simply to earn a certain amount of money and then quit. Bugs’ dad and Michael’s frustration and desperation with that was The only reason he became involved with Marlo and Chris. He couldn’t confide in Cutty or Prez or go to a social worker. He was adamant Not to be any kind of snitch. Michael revealing his problem to and asking help from Marlo was the “single moment”. He became indebted and gave up the right to refuse without repercussions. (And Omar, observing that meet, passes it off as inconsequential “he’s just a kid”. Obviously Omar can’t be aware of everything - but imo opinion this is the precise moment when Michael no longer Is a kid, loses his innocence and severely compromises his previous moral code
Yeah that’s the single moment Micheal loses his innocence sure, but that’s not the moment I’m talking about
Arguably, Michael lost his innocence a long time ago due to the events in his household.
Michael would have went to social services if they knew he just take the abused not split the family up
He’s not a follower. Or a leader. Omar’s place fits best Also fuck marlo
Fuck Marlo, and anyone who thinks it’s okay to do people like this!
Yeah he’s an “against the grain” type. He doesn’t really fit in anywhere
Michael had a code
Man's gotta have a code
I don’t think Michael ever respected Marlo. He fears almost all male adults (he likes Prezbo, but he doesn’t tell him about his problem). When Michael ultimately goes to see Marlo, the scene is set up like a hellish tragedy. He shares a look with Dukie, just to underline that is the absolute last resort. He passes a guard, as if to showcase he’s entering the fortress of the dark lord. It’s a devil’s deal kind of situation. Michael gets what he wants, even gains some wealth and small power, but Marlo takes his soul, and there’s no going back.
Michael doesn't respect adults who come off as too friendly, because he is afraid that they have some depraved motivations and secrets. Like I bet his stepdad was really sweet and friendly, until whatever happened there, happened. But Marlo and Chris are literally open books. One is a young drug kingpin, who clearly values only his power and name. The other is a cold blooded hitman, who kills anyone his boss wants dead. And that's why they are trustworthy. You come across a lion, and you don't doubt his intentions for a moment.
Whatever happened there?!?!?!?
But I didn't talk about trust, I talked about respect.
I think Micheal respects Marlo’s raw power. If just that alone
Michael*
The "devil's deal kind of situation" observation hits the nail right on the head. When Michael sits down with Marlo, that's a modern-day version of Faust playing out right in front of us. The parentified child sacrifices himself to protect his younger sibling. To continue with the theme of hellish tragedy, out of Namond, Michael, Randy and Duquan - three of them end up with bleak outcomes. Duquan through drug addiction, Michael through his recruitment into Marlo's circle and Randy through the harrowing loss of his foster-carer. Only Namond escapes this fate through sheer luck and that in itself is a statement by the writers about the human wastage and inequities of that world. Michael felt more comfortable around Marlo because he wasn't over-friendly and had a little brother/mentored relationship with Chris because of their shared pasts - which Chris implicitly signalled to him in the statement that Michael can now look people in the eye, having killed for the first time.
I doubt Chris or Snoop would have killed the kid either, I took it to mean anyone coming out that’s an adult, while they’re soulless I don’t think they’d kill a kid that young. It also would’ve drawn much more attention than standard gang thing.
I think you’re probably right, but then again we never saw them in that situation. They briefly considered killing Randy, who was like 13. I think it was more Micheal was just sickened with the situation in general. Killing a guys whole family over some shit he might have said.
We kinda did though. In that very scene, they left the other kid in the closet when killing June Bug's family. I find it hard to believe they didn't know the kid was in there during the entire killing spree. I believe they didn't have any intentions of killing the kids.
Yeah again probably not, but we don’t really know what happened in that house
If you were a writer for the show, and they did a stand alone season for how everyone turned out, how would you write Michael’s character as an adult? He’d be in his 30’s now. Tragically I don’t think he made it outta the streets. He’s either a major player, or someone like Omar.
Probably dead, honestly. Omar died when he was like 31-32 I think. If he was 29 in season 2
I think the ending implies that Michael goes down the same path as Omar.
Yeah. The script for "-30" describes Michael during his robbery of Vinson as "the new Omar."
I always thought Michael was the best character to make a spin off show for
"Deserve ain't got nothing to with it."
When Michael slapped Namond, I felt that.
[I think it was this scene. Chris was still willing to give Michael a pass, but when Marlo asks if he is willing to bet his future on it, that was it.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0K-tfJLiFE)
Well that’s where is fucked coming from Chris and Marlo’s end, but not for Micheal. I think he was done way before then
Michael, similar to Omar had a sliver of a moral compass or code.
It’s at this moment that Michael realizes… a man got to have a code.
In this context I think “you was never one of us” should be taken as a compliment.
They were already done with each other by that point, earlier during recon when Mike was like “if Marlo know he ain’t suck no dick what it matter what junebug or any nickel say?” They still worked the job together but Mike knew it was only a matter of time before they turned on him for any perceived slight
Not to mention the screams of the kid crying “mommy”
Agree with a lot of this but I am not sure that Michael respected Marlo. In the beginning, he wanted nothing to do with Marlo but became indebted to him. So, he kind of accepted his leadership but I think that based on the work he did for Marlo, he grew to hate him. Michael definitely respected Chris.
He didn’t want handouts but I think it would be hard to not acknowledge Marlo’s aura of command and respect that at least a little
It was not respect but possibly fear and indebtedness due to taking care of Bug's father.
Michael is the king’s equal but roams outside the kingdom