Avon saw the whole forest. When you are dealing with dudes like Marlo, whose principle is not to make money but pure power in the streets, you cannot use money or other "clever" negotiation tactics to tame him. The only option is to take him out. Avon saw that... Prop Joe and Stringer didn't. Look what happens in the end. He listened to everything stringer said and still said " I want my corners "😂 Just imagine while stringer is talking, hank Schrader come in and say to him "you're the smartest guy l've ever met, and you're too stupid to see he made up his mind ten minutes ago. Avon wasnt trying to hear none of that downtown businesman talk. Stringer thought he could change him. The street is the street always. Stringer wasn't soft and he had some intelligence. He was just slimy and not as smart as he thought he was. Avon knew the game well, his instincts were sharp. Also, as implied, Avon's off screen network and relationships are vast in New York & Baltimore. Stringer wanted to invest his money legitimately but still make dirty money wholesaling and not getting involved with retail. The direction he was trying to take would have sunk the organization. He wanted to move like he was the connect but he wasn't. Prop Joe had the connect and the Greeks were the plug. Stringer couldn't see their foothold was their structure & network, territory, muscle and respect in the streets at that point after they lost their connect in season 1. He thought he could talk Marlo into working with him and the co-op. What he wanted would have made him lose power and put more of it into Prop Joe's hands. Prop helped create the wedge between Avon & Stringer if you watch closely that was his endgame.🎬🍿show more

This analysis of Avon versus Stringer is exactly right. Avon understood Marlo only respected force and corners, not co-ops or downtown talk. Stringer’s plan to go legit while still playing the game created the opening Prop Joe used. The streets stay the streets.

Avon knew how to deal with Marlo because he was Marlo once. He saw what Carlito couldn’t see about Benny Blanco, that he was just a younger version of him Avon knew that the only way to handle Marlo was killing him because once upon a time that was the only way to handle Avon

Love this analysis… right on the money Avon is the only one who knew Marlo can’t be negotiated or reasoned with. u HAVE to body a nigga like that, it’s the only way. String couldn’t see it

One of them was playing the board that existed. The other was designing a new one while the old one was still on fire. That’s why Marlo walked through both of them.

Everyone criticizes Stringer for treating the drug game for what it could’ve been instead of what it was, but no one ever criticizes Avon for ignoring the money and being blinded by war…being obsessed w/ Marlo instead of getting paid is what destroyed Avon. Fuck the streets.

This isn’t street vs boardroom. It’s two different definitions of respect. Stringer wants to be seen as smart. Avon wants to be feared on the block he built.

Avon wanted to reform the drug trade, but it won’t stand any reforms.

“We could be businessmen “ “😕…I want my corners…😐” 😂😂😂hilarious

Stringer was right in the sense of trying to get out the game of corners but just never had the real power because Joe had that. Avon was right in Marlo because his mindset wasn’t going to be any other way.

Avon never left the streets. Stringer kept trying to turn a war into a board meeting. That’s the whole difference.

Stringer genuinely thought his speech could change Marlo’s mind when Marlo had clearly decided already

Avon wrapped up the game and gave the biggest catch-all when he gave that speech to his nephew over his unc in the hospital bed. He told him everything he needed to know right there! 🤞🏿 But facts he listened end to end and said NO NIGGA 😂

Bullshit Marlo was about money power and respect string & Joe was snakes got what was coming to them. Avon was out of step fighting for Coners when he should have been try to take the plug stringer ha Avon out of touch