Proposition Joe
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| Joe Stewart | |
|---|---|
 |
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| First appearance | Game Day (episode 1.08) |
| Statistics | |
| Nickname(s) | Proposition Joe |
| Gender | Male |
| Age | 40s |
| Occupation | Drug kingpin/Appliance Store Operator |
| Relatives | Melvin "Cheese" Wagstaff (nephew), Drack (nephew) |
| Portrayed by | Robert F. Chew |
| Created by | David Simon |
Proposition Joe Stewart is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire played by actor Robert F. Chew. Proposition Joe is an Eastside drug kingpin who forms the lucrative New Day Co-Op with Stringer Bell. He seems portly and amiable, but is easily a match for rival drug lords Avon and Stringer. Like Stringer, he prefers a peaceful solution to business disputes when possible.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Season 1
In season one he first appeared at an annual basketball game, the Eastside druglord's team versus the Westside druglord's. Prop Joe's team had won for three years straight, and Avon Barksdale wanted vengeance. Joe played on Avon's pride, goading him into doubling their wager on the outcome, then bringing in a ringer at the last minute to win the game. That same day he was visited by stick-up-man Omar Little, who gave Joe some of the Barksdale gang's stolen stash in exchange for Avon's pager number, and used it to make an attempt on Avon's life. Prop Joe's role in Omar's attack remained unknown to Avon. Joe later served as a neutral go between organising a meeting between Stringer Bell and Omar to discuss a truce.
[edit] Season 2
In season two he began playing a larger role in the show. He relied on the Greek's smuggling ring to bring his drug shipments into the Baltimore ports. His supply was much more potent than Avon's, though he lacked the territory to market it. His solution was to make an offer to Stringer Bell: his product in exchange for the right to deal in some of the Barksdale towers. Avon vehemently rejected the idea, but Stringer secretly agreed to the deal. When Avon hired Brother Mouzone to chase Prop Joe's dealers out of the towers, Joe's nephew and lieutenant Melvin "Cheese" Wagstaff was shot and wounded. Joe came up with the idea of pitting Omar against Mouzone. He set up a meeting between Stringer and Omar, where the stickup man was tricked into shooting Mouzone. This elaborate deception became unnecessary when Avon grudgingly agreed to the alliance between Stringer and Joe. At the end of season two, Stringer and Prop Joe were photographed meeting by detectives McNulty and Greggs.[1]
[edit] Season 3
In season three Joe extended the sharing of his supply connections to many other drug dealers in Baltimore by forming the "New Day co-op" group. Joe was now working with Stringer Bell, Fatface Rick and Kintell Williamson among others. He provided all of these dealers with his package and received a discount for the bulk buying. He insulated himself against investigation by maintaining a strict policy of only meeting face to face and avoiding bringing unnecessary police attention by limiting violence.
Joe's family once more brought him problems in his business life. Unbeknownst to him his nephew Drack had been targeted as a potential inroad for an investigation by Lieutenant Cedric Daniels' major case unit. Drack was chosen for his propensity to give away details of the business over the phone. Daniels' unit arrested Joe's lieutenant Lavelle Mann in an undercover buy bust operation in the hope that Drack would be promoted to replace him. However Joe chose someone more reliable thwarting the units efforts.
Cheese became embroiled in a war with a rival drug crew over a dog fight that resulted in several deaths. Daniels' wiretaps were instrumental in solving the homicides but Daniels tipped his hand when he arrested Cheese believing that he had him on tape discussing a murder. Cheese realized that the police had a tape of him talking about shooting his pet dog and they were forced to release him. He reported the incident to Proposition Joe who was forewarned about the investigation and able to pass the information on to Stringer. The major case unit were forced to move their investigation away from Joe and onto the more violent Kintell Williamson when they failed to make any progress.
Joe objected to Avon's turf war with Marlo Stanfield because of the police attention it brought to their business. He met with Marlo's advisor Vinson to try to negotiate a settlement but Marlo was unwilling to back out of the war, believing that Avon was weak. Joe gave Stringer an ultimatum - end the war or leave the co-op. The ultimatum was diffused when Stringer was murdered leaving Joe with complete control of the co-op.[2]
[edit] Season 4
Joe continues to control the co-op. He recruits Barksdale soldier Slim Charles to supply the independent dealers that arise from the Barksdale organization in Western Baltimore. However, Stanfield takes control of much of the Barksdales prime real estate. Joe faces a larger problem in the form of New York drug organizations moving into Eastern Baltimore and taking over territory there. The co-op decides to negotiate with Marlo and strike back against the New York drug dealers. Joe puts himself forward to talk to Marlo.
Joe contacted Marlo and arranged a meeting at his pigeon coop. Marlo turned down his first offer. Joe manipulated Omar once more, this time into robbing a card game where he knew Marlo played. He met with Omar at Butchie's bar to offer him the job pretending that he wanted to make amends for his involvement in what he described as Stringer pitting Omar against Brother Mouzone. Once Omar robbed the card game Joe offered Marlo another meeting and claimed he could protect him against such surprises in the future. Joe also revealed that had contacts within Baltimore City police department and shares information about police activity with other Co-Op members. Marlo agreed to work with the co-op. Joe helps him with a recent problem he has had with camera surveillance by suggesting that he steal the camera and see if anyone tries to reclaim it - Joe reasons that FBI investigators will not balk at the loss of a camera while police will be forced to try to reclaim it. Joe tells Marlo that if he draws out his observers he will be able to identify them. Prop Joe gives advice to Marlo as related to keeping a low-profile. [3]
[edit] References
- ^ Dan Kois (2004). Everything you were afraid to ask about "The Wire". Salon.com. Retrieved on 2006-07-12.
- ^ Org Chart - The Street. HBO (2004). Retrieved on 2006-07-25.
- ^ Character profile - Proposition Joe Stewart. HBO (2004). Retrieved on 2006-08-05.
