#while crying

He’s such a compelling character. And he’s just a kid! From my admittedly shitty maths he’s not too much older than Bodie. Probably the same age as Ziggy. About a DECADE younger than Avon and Stringer. Has the absolute undying loyalty of Chris and Snoop. He does some of the hits himself (when they first introduce him they mention a hit with two in the chest, one in the mouth; which we later see as his personal MO). He takes good care of his pigeons and genuinely cares for them. They are very VERY smart birds and they go where they know they’re safe. Chris. Snoop. Mike. His flock.

Apart from the main characters of S4 we never see too much about the hoppers, except for those wearing the white tees working for Marlo. And what we know about them tells us that they are completely loyal to him (And also thanks to @sobotka’s many observations about comparisons between seasons, we have the hoppers questioned by Carver and Herc not knowing anything down to their own addresses (Huh?? Huh?) like Frank asking Johnny Fifty what he knows (“I plead the fifth.” “What if they ask you about your union brothers?” “I don’t remember.” “Don’t remember what?” “Nothing.”))

The fact that we don’t see Marlo’s beginnings, his rise, just that he is who he is and owns what he owns and is owed respect like he is!! Until his last scene in season 5 we never really see him be physically threatening in a bodily way, particularly compared to Avon who we know is a golden glove fighter, and who will point a pistol in the face of his most trusted lieutenants.

We also never really see Avon pressed. Both times he is arrested he is cool as a cucumber. The only times we really see him mad is at Stringer, at the construction guys fucking over Stringer (and by extension, him), and then at Marlo. He gets under his skin. Him shaking the finger at Daniels?? “I was taking the to the barber!” So coooool. Always so cool. Marlo rattles him like no other character.

One of the best (and my favourite) writing aspects Simon does is giving characters power and presence not by necessarily having them directly flex onscreen but by other characters’ reactions (think of Omar! Omar coming!! Even before we really see him do anything we know he’s not to be fucked with). S1 and S2 set Avon up as such a relentless, intelligent character who can’t have his cage rattled by prison, by opponents, by the cops. And now? He’s rattled by this kid?? Amazing characterisation for both Avon and Marlo.

I love the vices they give Marlo too. He doesn’t drink, he doesn’t drug, he doesn’t go out of his way to be personally physically violent. He fucks, and he gambles. As opposed to substances which are about you and your reaction to it, he indulges in vices that have chance. He opens himself up to the possibility of failure/rejection to feel powerful in victory. He earns the crown he wears. He has eyes like a big cat. He holds his pigeons tenderly, and makes sure that their coop is clean and comfortable.