Marlo Stanfield

Marlo Stanfield
First appearance "Time after Time" (episode 3.01)
Last appearance "–30–" (episode 5.10)
Created by David Simon
Portrayed by Jamie Hector
Information
Aliases Black
Gender Male
Occupation Drug lord

Marlo Stanfield is a fictional character on the HBO television drama The Wire, played by actor Jamie Hector. Stanfield is a young, ambitious, intelligent and extremely ruthless player and is head of the eponymous Stanfield Organization in the Baltimore drug trade. Marlo's organization starts out small-time, operating in the vacuum left by the Barksdale Organization, and rises to the top of the Baltimore drug trade fairly quickly. A repeated theme in Marlo's characterization is his demand for unconditional respect, which trumps all other concerns. He frequently orders the deaths of those who disrespect him or undermine his name on the streets, however unwittingly. He is arguably the most violent and ruthless of the drug kingpins portrayed in The Wire; In 2016, Rolling Stone ranked him #2 of their "40 Greatest TV Villains of All Time".[1]

Character background and plot relations

Marlo's background prior to his drug empire is largely unexplored. He was a previous suspect in an unsolved case for Vernon Holley; Holley believed it was Marlo who killed his only witness as well as the original victims, yet no evidence could be traced back to him. The Barksdale Organization already had all the prime territory on the westside in the form of the public housing towers and Avon Barksdale had little interest in the street corners. Marlo's established rule and reputation is only noticed by the returning Barksdale dealers and soldiers when the towers are demolished by City Hall and Avon wishes to return to their roots, escalating an all-out war over the best territory of the westside.

Season three

Marlo is introduced in season three as an up-and-coming drug player who controls many corners in West Baltimore. Marlo and his primary enforcer Chris Partlow wage war with the Barksdale crew over this territory. His ambition is to seek full control of the drug trade in West Baltimore.

Following the loss of their project buildings, the Barksdale Organization approach Marlo by way of Bodie Broadus to discuss the sharing of territory in exchange for a supply of their high quality heroin. Marlo refuses to acknowledge Bodie, who has set up his own crew within Stanfield established territory, and insists that he move his people away. Marlo later has one of his dealers, Fruit, and his crew, give Bodie's crew a beating, demonstrating that he is not going to lie down and let the Barksdale organization move into his territory. Stringer Bell visits Marlo personally to try to convince him to join the New Day Co-Op, a group of Baltimore drug players who buy packages of narcotics together to receive a discount and also try to reduce the violence of their business in order to avoid police attention. Marlo listens to Stringer without comment, and shortly after Stringer leaves, he tells Chris to prepare for war.

Unbeknownst to Marlo or Stringer, their meeting has been observed by Kima Greggs and Jimmy McNulty, although they initially assume that Marlo is working for the Barksdale organization like many other crews in the West side. Greggs and McNulty pay a visit to the Homicide division to learn more about Marlo, and find that Vernon Holley had investigated Marlo for a murder. Holley had built a case against Marlo using a key witness who was murdered before the case went to trial. Holley believes Marlo killed the witness and goes on to describe him as "the spawn of the devil." When a failed Barksdale assault on a Stanfield corner results in the deaths of two Barksdale soldiers, the Major Crimes Unit realizes that Marlo's crew is independent of the Barksdale organization, and that the two gangs are at war.

The assault has been triggered by Avon's parole, and Avon's more confrontational approach to the turf war than Stringer. Marlo thinks that the failed assault shows a lack of strength in the Barksdale organization and discusses this with Chris and Vinson. Avon then orders a second attack, carried out by Dennis "Cutty" Wise and Slim Charles, in which a Stanfield dealer named Boo is killed, and Fruit escapes after Cutty hesitates. Marlo feigns retreat, then organizes retaliatory attacks against Barksdale territory. Snoop kills Barksdale soldier Rico in a drive-by on Poot Carr's corner. Avon responds by hiring a woman named Devonne to seduce Marlo and lure him to a meeting. Though Marlo has sex with Devonne, he grows suspicious of her. Before their next arranged meeting, he has Chris and Snoop scout the location. Chris spots an SUV responding to Devonne's presence and correctly deduces that the meeting is a setup. Chris has his driver drive up alongside the Barksdale vehicle and lets off a single shotgun blast through a side window, wounding Avon and killing another Barksdale soldier named Tater. Marlo and Chris later track down Devonne to her house, where Marlo personally kills her by shooting her once in each breast, then once in the mouth. Avon responds by ordering more attacks. An attack led by Slim Charles kills two Stanfield soldiers.

When Stringer Bell is murdered, the police and drug gangs assumed that Marlo is responsible. In reality, Avon had facilitated his death by giving Brother Mouzone (and in turn Omar Little) information about his whereabouts. Marlo and Chris come close to also being murdered when Slim Charles tracks them down. However, the Major Crimes Unit, acting on a tip Stringer had given to Major Colvin, raid the Barksdale armory. Slim Charles calls for backup, but Avon and his soldiers are arrested.

At the end of season three, Avon is convicted of parole violations (and possibly a conspiracy charge). Marlo and Chris attend his sentencing hearing. Avon acknowledges Marlo, thus conceding that the crown has been passed.[2][3]

Season four

Marlo begins season four in control of all the best territory in Western Baltimore. He ruthlessly protects his territory through Chris and Snoop, who kill off targets on his orders and hide the bodies in vacant buildings. When one of Marlo's crew chiefs, Fruit, is killed by a dealer from Bodie's gang, Marlo is quick to order the death of Lex, the dealer responsible.

Marlo furthers his reputation around the neighborhood by giving away money, through Monk Metcalf, to children during the back-to-school period. Although most children are happy to accept the money, Michael Lee notably refuses, in an early show of his strength of character. Marlo keeps his own skills and his soldiers' sharp by organizing shooting practice sessions in the woods.

The Major Crimes Unit targets Marlo and begins to monitor his organization using wiretaps, but fail to link him to any murders because of the hidden bodies. They do manage to get Marlo on tape when he uses Monk's phone to talk to a subordinate known as "Old Face" Andre. When Bill Rawls puts Lt. Charles Marimow in charge of the MCU for political reasons, the investigation stalls, due to Marimow ordering a shutdown of the money-tracing.

"Proposition Joe" Stewart engineers a conflict between Marlo and Omar Little in an attempt to demonstrate the benefits of joining his drug cartel - the New Day Co-Op. Stanfield agrees to join the Co-Op to learn more about Omar and the mounting police interest in his own organization.

Marlo plans to have Omar framed and killed in jail. The plan fails and Omar retaliates by stealing an entire shipment of narcotics meant for the New Day Co-Op. Marlo is suspicious of Prop Joe's claim that the shipment has been stolen, and insists on some kind of satisfaction. Prop Joe agrees to set up a meeting between Marlo and his suppliers The Greeks. Marlo meets with Spiros "Vondas" Vondopoulos and is convinced that Prop Joe was not involved in the robbery. Marlo begins having Vondas followed in order to learn more about his role in importing drugs into Baltimore.

At the same time, Marlo is impressed with the teenager Michael Lee for standing up to him and believes that he will make a good soldier. He orders Chris and Snoop to recruit Michael. Michael's abusive stepfather is released from prison and Michael, believing that no one else can help him, goes to Marlo. Michael agrees to join Marlo's gang in exchange for having his stepfather killed. Marlo sets up Michael and his brother Bug in an apartment, and gives him his own corner, with Duquan "Dukie" Weems, and Kenard working for him. When Lester Freamon finally discovers Marlo's "tombs" in the vacant houses, a massive police investigation begins, and the re-established major crimes unit begins investigating Marlo once again.

Season five

After more than a year of investigation, Marlo and his people are extremely cautious in communicating with each other. They only speak face to face and often drive all over the city in an effort to lose any tails before arriving at their meeting spot. Eventually, the Major Crimes Unit's investigation is shut down by Mayor Tommy Carcetti for economic reasons.[4][5]

Marlo and his crew become more relaxed in their routine, convinced that they have worn the police down. Confident that he is not being watched, Marlo orders Chris and Snoop to undertake several murders. He first dispatches them to execute a drug dealer named Junebug for spreading rumors about Marlo and to attack another drug dealer named Webster Franklin's territory until he agrees to take the Stanfield package. Marlo also orders Chris and Snoop to find and kill Omar, who has left Baltimore and retired from robbing drug dealers.[6][7]

Marlo quietly plans to strongarm the supply and control of the New Day Co-Op from Prop Joe. Marlo aims to establish a direct relationship with Spiros and the drug trafficking organization of The Greeks. Marlo has Chris investigate the port case at the courthouse,[4][5] and then bribes former Greek soldier Sergei Malatov by depositing money into his canteen account in order to be put on his visitor list at MCI Jessup.[6][7] Marlo goes to visit Malatov, in the hopes of getting a direct line to Vondas, but finds himself blocked by Avon.[6][7] Avon reminds Marlo that he is still a man of formidable reputation and is considered an authority figure in the prison. He tells Marlo that all business in Jessup must go through him and demands that Marlo pay his sister $100,000 in order to gain access to Sergei.[6][7] Marlo makes the payment, and Avon grants him access to Sergei.[6][7] Sergei is disrespectful towards Marlo but is convinced by Avon to help Marlo reach Vondas.[6][7]

Marlo is directed to Little Johnny's Diner, the Greek's headquarters. He delivers a case of money to the counterman, Andreas, and tells him to inform Vondas of his desire to meet. Marlo seeks Prop Joe's guidance in money laundering while simultaneously preparing to overthrow him. Prop Joe introduces Stanfield to a pastor who has relationships with overseas charities that he uses to launder money for a ten percent "donation fee". When Marlo meets with Vondas, Vondas is displeased that Marlo has presented him with dirty bills from the street. Marlo returns to Prop Joe to get his money cleaned. Marlo later drops off the clean money at Little Johnny's, telling the counterman to inform Vondas that he meant no misunderstanding. Afterwards, Marlo takes a trip to the off-shore bank in the Antilles in order to make sure his laundered money is safe.[8][9]

Marlo learns about Omar's confidant Butchie from Prop Joe's nephew Cheese. Marlo has Chis and Snoop torture and kill Butchie. They leave a witness to ensure word reaches Omar, but Snoop is concerned that they are provoking Omar without having any idea of how to get to him.[8][9]

Marlo also has Prop Joe introduce him to defense attorney Maurice Levy to assist in his money laundering. Marlo returns to Vondas and convinces The Greek to consider him as an insurance policy should anything happen to Prop Joe. Marlo senses a growing rift between Cheese and Prop Joe and looks to capitalize on it. After Cheese argues with a rival drug kingpin named Hungry Man at a Co-Op meeting, Marlo sees his chance. He has Chris and Snoop kidnap Hungry Man and deliver him to Cheese. Marlo asks Cheese to betray Prop Joe in exchange. Cheese leaves Prop Joe unprotected at his home and Marlo traps him there. Marlo looks on as Chris shoots Joe in the back of the head.[10][11]

Marlo assumes Proposition Joe's position as The Greek's narcotics distributor in Baltimore. Marlo is given a phone and is shown how to communicate with the Greeks without speaking by Vondas.[12][13] The phone is used to send pictures of clock faces that are coded to indicate meeting places.[14][15] Marlo plans a visit to Atlantic City to celebrate his victory but Chris reminds him that they must remain in hiding until Omar has been dealt with. Chris prepares an ambush for Omar in Monk's apartment but Omar escapes by leaping from the balcony.[12][13]

Chris continues to use Levy to launder money and gives Levy his new cell phone number. Levy's defense investigator Thomas "Herc" Hauk copies the number after hours and passes it to Ellis Carver,[12][13] ultimately resulting in an illegal wiretap being set up by Freamon.[16][17]

At the next Co-Op meeting Marlo informs the Co-op he was responsible for the murder of Prop Joe because he made a move against Omar, and Omar retaliated by killing Prop Joe. He then assumes control. He appoints Cheese the head of distribution on the East side and Monk the West side. Marlo increases both the bounty on Omar and the cost of the product and rules that no further group meetings will take place - instead the members will either have to keep their problems to themselves or meet with Stanfield alone.[16][17]

Chris marshals his people to search for Omar but he eludes them and remains a thorn in the Stanfield Organization's side. Omar then robs a money pick-up and wounds a Stanfield soldier.[16][17] Omar also robs a Marlo stash house, where he kills an enforcer named Manny and later kills Savino Bratton.[18][19] Omar calls for Marlo to face him in the streets and attacks his reputation at every opportunity but Chris prevents this information from reaching Marlo. Omar is ultimately killed by Kenard.[14][15] Omar's possessions include a list of Stanfield personnel which is passed to Freamon and allows him to make the connection between Marlo and Cheese.[14][15]

Eventually, Leander Sydnor breaks the clock code[14][15] and the police are able to follow Chris to a major resupply from the Greeks using the evidence from their illegal wiretap. Monk is arrested with large quantities of drugs and Marlo, Partlow and Cheese are arrested for conspiracy to supply narcotics. Chris also has a murder warrant for Devar Manigault. Marlo believes that Michael Lee may be the source of information listed in the arrest warrants as Manigault was his stepfather. Marlo orders Snoop to kill Michael but Michael realizes he is being set up and kills Snoop first. Marlo is enraged when he learns that Omar had been assaulting his street reputation and insists that when released he will re-establish his name.[20][21]

Levy senses that the timing of the arrests was too soon after the initial arrest of Monk and surmises that the police used illegal surveillance. Sensing the state's reluctance to take the compromised evidence to court, Levy negotiates a deal for Marlo - Marlo will go free with his charges suspended on the stet docket but will face prosecution if he returns to drug distribution. Chris will face life without the possibility of parole and will have to plead guilty to all of the vacant house murders. Monk faces a lengthy sentence on a plea bargain with no possibility of bail. Cheese is also facing a long sentence but is granted bail so Marlo charges him to kill Michael.[22][23]

Marlo holds a meeting with two Co-Op members (including Fat-Face Rick and Slim Charles) from the prison and offers to sell them the connection to the Greeks for ten million dollars, claiming that he plans to become a businessman. The Co-Op raise the funds but Slim Charles murders Cheese – in revenge for his betrayal of Proposition Joe – before he can carry out Marlo's order. Fat-Face Rick and Slim Charles assume control of the connection.[22][23]

After Marlo's release, Levy introduces him to property developers and other prominent Baltimore businessmen at an evening event. However, he quietly slips out of the event and approaches two young corner boys – who are talking about Omar and mythologizing his death – and provokes a fight by asking "Do you know who I am?", the answer evidently being that they don't. One of the boys is armed with a gun, the other with a knife, but Marlo manages to drive them off. Marlo's arm is cut in the scuffle, and he is left standing alone on the corner, taking in the streets that he once ruled.[22][23]

Analysis

Jamie Hector has commented that he sees the character as striving to obtain power rather than profit and revelling in using that power over others.[24] The series' creator David Simon has also commented that Stanfield is driven by a desire for totalitarian power.[25] Hector has said that much of his performance stems from trying to capture Stanfield as a man of power and economy using minimalist movement and speech.[24]

When critic Alan Sepinwall interviewed Simon about the fate of the character, Simon said he considers Stanfield's fate to be a kind of justice, as he is cut off from his power and reputation. Sepinwall hailed Stanfield's ending as defying the viewers' expectations to see the character incarcerated or murdered in the streets.[26]

Simon also commented that the ending was intended to be ironic, as Stanfield receives everything that his one-time rival Stringer Bell desired (in terms of becoming a legitimate businessman) but does not value it.[26] Simon has also said the character's ending was deliberately ambiguous.[25]

Real life origins

In the mid-1980s, Timmirror Stanfield was a major Baltimore drug trafficker. In 1986, Stanfield was 25 and ran a gang which included over fifty members; the Stanfield gang controlled South Baltimore's Westport area and West Baltimore's Murphy Homes housing project.[27] The gang committed multiple murders and drew the attention of authorities, who were able to persuade fifteen witnesses to testify; the core of the gang was convicted.[28] This real life criminal forms the basis of the character's origins while emphasizing the rise in brutality from the American heroin trade of the 1970s to the crack cocaine trade of the 1980s.

References

  1. ↑ Collins, Sean T. (February 9, 2016). "40 Greatest TV Villains of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Character profile - Marlo Stanfield". HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-08-14.
  3. ↑ "Org Chart - The Street". HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-08-14.
  4. 1 2 Joe Chappelle (director); David Simon (story and teleplay), Ed Burns (story) (2008-01-06). "More with Less". The Wire. Season 5. Episode 1. HBO.
  5. 1 2 "The Wire episode guide - episode 51 More with Less". HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ernest Dickerson (director); William F. Zorzi (story and teleplay), David Simon (story) (2008-01-13). "Unconfirmed Reports". The Wire. Season 5. Episode 2. HBO.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "The Wire episode guide - episode 52 Uncomfirmed Reports". HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
  8. 1 2 Scott and Joy Kecken (directors); Chris Collins (story and teleplay), David Simon (story) (2008-01-20). "Not for Attribution". The Wire. Season 5. Episode 3. HBO.
  9. 1 2 "The Wire episode guide - episode 53 Not for Attribution". HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
  10. ↑ Dan Attias (director); Ed Burns (story and teleplay), David Simon (story) (2008-01-27). "Transitions". The Wire. Season 5. Episode 4. HBO.
  11. ↑ "The Wire episode guide - episode 54 Transitions". HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  12. 1 2 3 Agnieszka Holland (director); David Mills (story and teleplay), David Simon (story) (2008-02-03). "React Quotes". The Wire. Season 5. Episode 5. HBO.
  13. 1 2 3 "The Wire episode guide - episode 55 React Quotes". HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Anthony Hemingway (director); Dennis Lehane (story and teleplay), David Simon (story) (2008-02-24). "Clarifications". The Wire. Season 5. Episode 8. HBO.
  15. 1 2 3 4 "The Wire episode guide - episode 58 Clarifications". HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  16. 1 2 3 Seith Mann (director); Ed Burns (story and teleplay), David Simon (story) (2008-02-10). "The Dickensian Aspect". The Wire. Season 5. Episode 6. HBO.
  17. 1 2 3 "The Wire episode guide - episode 56 The Dickensian Aspect". HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  18. ↑ Dominic West (director); Richard Price (story and teleplay), David Simon (story) (2008-02-17). "Took". The Wire. Season 5. Episode 7. HBO.
  19. ↑ "The Wire episode guide - episode 57 Took". HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  20. ↑ Joe Chappelle (director); George Pelecanos (story and teleplay), David Simon (story) (2008-03-02). "Late Editions". The Wire. Season 5. Episode 9. HBO.
  21. ↑ "The Wire episode guide - episode 59 Late Editions". HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  22. 1 2 3 Clark Johnson (director); David Simon (story and teleplay), Ed Burns (story) (2008-03-09). "-30-". The Wire. Season 5. Episode 10. HBO.
  23. 1 2 3 "The Wire episode guide - episode 60 –30–". HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  24. 1 2 Bilge Ebiri (2008). "Jamie Hector on Playing Marlo on 'The Wire' — and Keeping Secrets About 'Heroes'". New York Magazine. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  25. 1 2 Heather Havrilesky (2008). "David Simon on cutting "The Wire"". Salon.com. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  26. 1 2 Alan Sepinwall (2008). "Sepinwall on TV: 'The Wire' ends". New Jersey Star Ledger. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  27. ↑ "Stanfield and Boardley Investigations". Bureau of Justice Assistance. Retrieved 2009-05-09.
  28. ↑ "Gang- and Drug-Related Homicide: Baltimore's Successful Enforcement Strategy". Bureau of Justice Assistance. Retrieved 2009-05-09.
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