#sinners character

I think the story is clear that Stack is meant to be seen as the dreamer between the twins. I think that Stack talks about vision and how this new path provided by Remmick is the answer to all of their problems, which speaks to his ability to take on new opportunities. Is it part of Remmick's hivemind? Sure. But it sounds similar to Smoke because Stack really does think in this larger way, which is implied when Annie questions whether the Juke Joint is another one of Stack's ideas. Stack seems to think beyond what life has told them is for them and what they are capable of achieving.

And there is a part of me that thinks that Smoke admires this in his brother and wants to protect this part of Stack that seems to have escaped their childhood. The part of his brother that laughs, talks slick, is charming and capable of understanding people and seemingly (link) so different from him. Does Stack probably cause them a little trouble at times, sure, but Smoke loves his little brother and his sly ways. They openly tell each other that they love each other.

But I don't think that this means that Smoke doesn't have his own dreams, they're simply muted. When the twins father dies, it is implied that Smoke wanted to go to the next plantation over to get away from town and suspicion. It is Stack who encourages him to go beyond which eventually leads to them going to Mound Bayou. They are eventually met with some kind of hostility as the leader of the town believes that the boys are similar in character to their father, grows suspicious of them and later the twins have to leave to evade further suspicion. But if you listen to how Smoke talks about it, you get the sense that if they could have stayed there - they would have. That Mound Bayou would have been a relief, a wonderful place to build a life. And they were essentially told that they weren't 'good enough' for it and I believe that Smoke internalized this so very deeply.

I don't believe Smoke ever forgave himself for killing their father because it impacted their lives in various ways. He likely has complex feelings about it and felt like he wasn't allowed to really dream aloud. That was no longer afforded to him. But he wouldn't allow the world to tell Stack the same thing. Stack has an idea, Smoke helps him execute it. Smoke eventually states, while holding Stack's body, that the best thing about him is Stack.

There is anguish when Stack dies naturally but what remains is the feeling of failure. It's familiar as he would have experienced this sense of helplessness when he and Annie's daughter died. So, he looks to Annie to see if maybe this time, things can be different...but for a time, it isn't. Smoke pulls Stack's pants up to preserve his dignity as there are other people in the small room and is clearly lost in his grief/thoughts.

Thus, when Stack returns there is a bit of relief that his brother isn't actually dead. He's still here, he's still in there. So imagine how Smoke's heart must have shattered to hear his brother say,

"We was never gonna be free...You know damn well we was never gonna find it...This is the way! Together. Forever. An' I ain't doin' this shit without you. There is no me without you. What's it gonna be?"

And Smoke looks so defeated, desperate even to think this can be restored; they can be restored. Michael B. Jordan does a masterful job of playing emotions through Smoke's expressions, and body language. We see Smoke hold his body very tight and intentionally throughout most of the movie. No grand gestures, always ready to grab his gun and extremely observant. And when he sees Stack again Smoke's eyes are bright with unshed tears, he shoulders aren't square, his body seems loose almost too heavy to carry. Smoke sways a bit and inches towards Stack until Annie tells them to finally close the door.

I think that there is complexity in Smoke's response to this because he genuinely looks broken because...what do you mean Stack that we were never going to be free? When did you stop believing that or thinking there was more that we could do? Or worse...when did you stop thinking there was more that I can do? But he sees that Stack still wants to do this other life with him, and considers should I give in to this?

I think that sense of failure stays with Smoke until he apologizes to Stack for not protecting him and Stack tells him, so clearly, that Smoke always protected him. This wasn't Smoke's fault, it wasn't on him. Smoke doesn't need to carry Stack's loss and he was still there...in some way.