"Warning, Spoilers galore...
For sure Avon was worse.
They were both violent, drug dealing criminals, obviously. Each of them ordered murder, and most likely had to commit murder to earn their stripes. They both used children to peddle drugs and shield themselves from law enforcement. They are both terrible people.
So what makes them different from each other?
Motivation for starters. The immediate impression with Stringer and Avon was that they were greedy and prideful respectively. And while this is true, that these vices ultimately lead to their downfall often overshadows their characters. Stringer demonstrated massive ego and pride when he emotionally ordered Slim Charles to hit Clay Davis, for example.
Originally they are motivated by the same thing. Rising up in the world, and beating the game (so to speak). It is part of what makes them such a powerful tandem when the show starts. The only issues come about when they begin to disagree about what success is.
For String, success is leaving behind the petty street bullshit. The violence, the drugs, everything. Success to Stringer is about rising above the terrible things that he "had to do to get where he is". He consistently proved himself to be a force of change on the show. Whether it was organizing the co-op (which btw most likely saved lives of young men throughout the entire city), or voicing his respect for Hamsterdam (to Bunny), or adjusting the Barksdale security protocol multiple times.
On the other hand, success to Avon is overcoming street opposition and wearing the crown. Avon is like a wolf. He doesn't want to be handed meat, he wants to run it down and kill it. He doesn't hunt to eat as much as he hunts to hunt. Which would be much more respectable if his method of hunting was not so consistently vile and cruel.
It was Avon who ordered that Brandon be horrendously tortured. Avon personally insisted on being a gunman during the war with Marlo. Avon was willing to murder his nephew for insubordination in prison. Avon ordered the murder of Wallace (passed on by Stringer, but the decision was made in the holding cell of the prison) on the off chance that he would snitch. Avon has Devonne, a woman he cares deeply for (notice his reaction after discovering her death) to seduce and potentially kill a complete psychopath.
And perhaps most importantly, Avon's ultimate betrayal is a thousand times worse than Stringer's. String got Avon for a parole violation. Which means Avon would get to see the outside after a few short years. Avon had Stringer killed. Under some duress, notedly. But Avon shared a drink with the man the night before he knew that he was about to be killed. He listened to String half-complain half-brag about his future for hours, on a balcony paid for and given to him by the man he was complicit in killing. That scene to me is less about silent betrayal of two brothers than it is some fucked up Of Mice and Men shit. With Avon putting Stringer out to pasture." -muddynips
Wow, you're wrong on so many levels and so blatant about it that it's hilarious lol.
Avon did NOT order them to torture Bradon to death. He specifically said he wanted them to kill him and display him on a car to send a message to Omar's and other stick up crews. Stringer ordered them to torture him to find out where Omar was.
So what if he insisted on being a gunman during the war? It was because of the lack of quality muscle he had at the time and it shows he's not afraid to get his hands dirty when need be.
This is the most outright incorrect one. Avon was doing everything in his power to reach out to D and avoid killing him. Once again, this is Stringer's doing. Did you even watch the show?
Another brazenly incorrect point. Avon didn't order Wallace's murder either, that was ALL Stringer. Not only because that's what we clearly see, but also because Wallace couldn't implicate Avon in Brandon's death only Stringer.
Uhm...I don't think Avon cared deeply if at all about Devonne. Where did you get this from? His reaction wasn't telling of anything other than indifference. His goal was to use her to kill Marlo, I think their relationship ends at that.
Stringer was the cause of his own death. Besides, this is the man who had his nephew killed and he STILL tried to save him. What could he have done other than compromise his entire business for the man who has betrayed him in more ways than one?
Honestly, your whole argument is based off of false information and weak reasoning, and you don't know what you're talking about. Clearly you just have a bias against Avon and I don't know why.
Check the post man, you responded to the wrong thing.
And even if you made good points in your post, your condescension was pretty unbearable. Comparison is the death of joy, you don't have to do me to do you.
This guy did the same thing to me. He commented on a totally unrelated post in a different sub by quoting my post about Avon & Stringer and calling me an unsophisticated asshole who missed the point of the Wire. Bizarre, really.
"Warning, Spoilers galore... For sure Avon was worse. They were both violent, drug dealing criminals, obviously. Each of them ordered murder, and most likely had to commit murder to earn their stripes. They both used children to peddle drugs and shield themselves from law enforcement. They are both terrible people. So what makes them different from each other? Motivation for starters. The immediate impression with Stringer and Avon was that they were greedy and prideful respectively. And while this is true, that these vices ultimately lead to their downfall often overshadows their characters. Stringer demonstrated massive ego and pride when he emotionally ordered Slim Charles to hit Clay Davis, for example. Originally they are motivated by the same thing. Rising up in the world, and beating the game (so to speak). It is part of what makes them such a powerful tandem when the show starts. The only issues come about when they begin to disagree about what success is. For String, success is leaving behind the petty street bullshit. The violence, the drugs, everything. Success to Stringer is about rising above the terrible things that he "had to do to get where he is". He consistently proved himself to be a force of change on the show. Whether it was organizing the co-op (which btw most likely saved lives of young men throughout the entire city), or voicing his respect for Hamsterdam (to Bunny), or adjusting the Barksdale security protocol multiple times. On the other hand, success to Avon is overcoming street opposition and wearing the crown. Avon is like a wolf. He doesn't want to be handed meat, he wants to run it down and kill it. He doesn't hunt to eat as much as he hunts to hunt. Which would be much more respectable if his method of hunting was not so consistently vile and cruel. It was Avon who ordered that Brandon be horrendously tortured. Avon personally insisted on being a gunman during the war with Marlo. Avon was willing to murder his nephew for insubordination in prison. Avon ordered the murder of Wallace (passed on by Stringer, but the decision was made in the holding cell of the prison) on the off chance that he would snitch. Avon has Devonne, a woman he cares deeply for (notice his reaction after discovering her death) to seduce and potentially kill a complete psychopath. And perhaps most importantly, Avon's ultimate betrayal is a thousand times worse than Stringer's. String got Avon for a parole violation. Which means Avon would get to see the outside after a few short years. Avon had Stringer killed. Under some duress, notedly. But Avon shared a drink with the man the night before he knew that he was about to be killed. He listened to String half-complain half-brag about his future for hours, on a balcony paid for and given to him by the man he was complicit in killing. That scene to me is less about silent betrayal of two brothers than it is some fucked up Of Mice and Men shit. With Avon putting Stringer out to pasture." -muddynips
Wow, you're wrong on so many levels and so blatant about it that it's hilarious lol.
Avon did NOT order them to torture Bradon to death. He specifically said he wanted them to kill him and display him on a car to send a message to Omar's and other stick up crews. Stringer ordered them to torture him to find out where Omar was.
So what if he insisted on being a gunman during the war? It was because of the lack of quality muscle he had at the time and it shows he's not afraid to get his hands dirty when need be.
This is the most outright incorrect one. Avon was doing everything in his power to reach out to D and avoid killing him. Once again, this is Stringer's doing. Did you even watch the show?
Another brazenly incorrect point. Avon didn't order Wallace's murder either, that was ALL Stringer. Not only because that's what we clearly see, but also because Wallace couldn't implicate Avon in Brandon's death only Stringer.
Uhm...I don't think Avon cared deeply if at all about Devonne. Where did you get this from? His reaction wasn't telling of anything other than indifference. His goal was to use her to kill Marlo, I think their relationship ends at that.
Stringer was the cause of his own death. Besides, this is the man who had his nephew killed and he STILL tried to save him. What could he have done other than compromise his entire business for the man who has betrayed him in more ways than one?
Honestly, your whole argument is based off of false information and weak reasoning, and you don't know what you're talking about. Clearly you just have a bias against Avon and I don't know why.
Check the post man, you responded to the wrong thing.
And even if you made good points in your post, your condescension was pretty unbearable. Comparison is the death of joy, you don't have to do me to do you.
This guy did the same thing to me. He commented on a totally unrelated post in a different sub by quoting my post about Avon & Stringer and calling me an unsophisticated asshole who missed the point of the Wire. Bizarre, really.
insert Jackie Chan wtf face
What are you talking about? Your whole post and other comments about that topic is unbearably and blatantly ignorant, condescending, and incorrect.
I stated nothing but facts and did make good points, there's no "if". Don't get mad because I corrected you.
You seem like you need a hug. Want a hug?
Keep trying to deflect, haha.