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Prop joe was a businessman who was forced to become a gangster. Marlo was a gangster who was forced to become a businessman. And stringer was forced to be neither but tried to be both. The beauty of the wire never ceases to amaze me.
Slim was a true old school soldier and that’s why Slim survived. He adapted to the changing of the guard, embraced the new way but always stayed true to the old school principles. By doing soon he garnered respect of all the players in the game. That is why Slim survived a game in which players don’t last long.
Slim killed Cheese the moment he flat out admitted Marlo shut down the co-op. He worked for both Avon and Joe. He saw what happened to both money and territory the moment the quality of the product stained the suppliers lost credibility. Its what Stringer didn't understand.
I honestly can't think of one person who has been unscathed in the dope game, even amongst my partners who are still in it. The only way to beat the game is to quick while you're ahead.
Honestly, that scene at the end when Slim just blasts Cheese was one of my favorite moments. It's a testament to how good this show was, a dude getting shot mid sentence is a horrifying thing, but I enjoyed the hell out of it.
@@AaaaaaaA-pl3zystill a good ass video, and I do believe he popped him because of his snake-like nature like the video said. Slim never liked him for that reason. The way he carried himself and his lack of loyalty.
I always thought that when Cheese offered the $900k, Slim realized that Cheese was responsible for Joe's death and stole the money from Joe after he died.
Agreed. I feel like Cheese having the money confirmed Slim's suspicions that he had betrayed Joe, and so he made his move. I think the other factors may have played into it (Cheese being awful and unpredictable to be in charge and waiting until he wasn't pointing a gun at Fat Faced Rick anymore) but I always had the read that that was the moment it was confirmed, and he wasted little time taking action.
Doesn't make sense while cheese was the Eastside re supply so the 900000 would've come easily, it's not like cheese was some corner Lt . Cheese had a huge part in Joe's organization slim was more like an advisor/enforcer for Joe
He definitely heard something before. May not have known for sure but was confirmed when Cheese offered the $900k. Or, he didn't like that Cheese was flaunting it or using Joe's money to take a lead position in the coop. More than anything, Slim had to figure that if Cheese could do it to Joe, someone in his family, he would not hesitate to sell out any of the other coop members.
Slim was what Bodie called in the first season “a smart ass pawn”… yea Slim was a smart ass pawn, played the game masterfully by knowing when to make certain moves, when to oppose certain opportunities such as declining to b the top man on the West side. He knew not to get too close to Marlo. Slim Charles the smart pawn who made it to the end. Walked away wit the connect
Slim was never a pawn. He never stood on the corners, didn't hold any packages and was always close to the top guys. He was more like a bishop or knight. He was able to make lateral moves from Avon, to Marlo and then Prop Joe because he was way above the street level. You never saw Slim hanging out with guys like Bodie, Poot or anyone at their level. He gave those guys orders, advice and kept it moving in his jeep.
@@zoo05zoo He actually did try to reach out to Bodie and be a mentor. But Bodie was too damn prideful, hard headed and had a "You can't tell me sh1t" attitude. Bodie had the potential to be more than a pawn. But sadly he had the mentality of a pawn, thus where he stayed and died.
@@bronxishomenomatterwhereig3149, to be honest, I really wasn't that upset when Bodie got killed. As noted, Slim reached out to him, Carver reached out and Poot tried to save him. Bodie started out as a kind of noble thug who we hoped would evolve into something bigger but he never did. However, Bodie was accurate to form because like so many other guys on the streets, he simply never changed and died on some random street corner in the middle of the night.
@@zoo05zoo And that's exactly what makes him a pawn. He doesn't adapt. He sticks to what little he knows and doesn't bother with anything else. So he's very limited in how he can move. Just like a pawn
Slim was smart. He knew that Cheese was a traitorous dude. He wanted to clip him early on but Prop Joe didn’t want to do that to a relative. After Cheese betrayed Joe, it was clear that he would sell anyone out if the price was right.
I can tell y'all didn't watch the show or pay attention. Joe got exactly what he asked for. Set Marlo up to get robbed at poker game and then had Omar rob the co-op re-up. He signed his own death certificate. Can't do that with a guy like Marlo
I loved it when Omar got the drop on Slim but didn't kill him, one great character showing respect to another great character similar to the Omar & Brother stand off scene.
Nah Chris literally took a life sentence for Marlo, that loyalty can't be matched. Spending the rest of your life in a cage for loyalty. Slim can't even be compared to Chris and weebay in regards to loyalty.
I’d love to see an hour long analysis of Slim, but I think you covered everything perfectly here, and you showed him the respect he deserves. There’s a reason why he’s a fan favorite. Great job!
You know an actor/actress did a great job if you hated their character. I have to concur with CineRanter though, I never hated Cheese. In fact I liked his scenes because he was funny as fuck.
Slim killed Cheese cuz he didn't want Cheese to tell that "the old days is the old days... ain't no back in the day..." theory came from Slim. when Slim was with Joe he was with Joe , when Slim was with Avon Slim was with him...same advive he was about to give Bodie.
Slim is the pawn who became King. He didn't move recklessly, but played his role perfectly. He was respected by all factions of the drug kingpins within Baltimore, but held no allegiances to any one specific territory. He stacked his money, but was never flashy. He observed the mistakes of those above him, and learned from them when he made his next moves.
@@npc2k That's the key. Under normal circumstances, you'd be correct. However, Slim Charles changed the rules of the game. He's the pawn who became king(pin). He moved smartly, played his assigned role while making moves in the background. Acquired enough equity and respect amongst all the other dealers, and in a move of pure power at the most opportune time, he took the crown for himself by killing a man nobody respected that had a person they ALL respected killed. It goes back to the episode when D'Angelo is teaching Bodie and Wallace how to play chess in season 1. "You can't play Checkers on no chess board... Chess is a much better game" "If I get to the other side of the board, I become King?" "No... The King stay the king". Slim Charles moved like a chess piece, but used the rules of Checkers at the end. Because in checkers in order to become a king, you need to make a series of powerful moves once you're in enemy territory. He made it to the other side of the board, and was crowned "King".
Cheese made it clear when he put a gun into Ricks face that HE was the leader of the Co-op. Pitching in more than his share too. Slim knew that just couldn’t be and had to take action. When Slim smoked Cheese, HE became the leader.
Slim had a code of honor and Cheese had none. Dude was a snake who’d sell anyone out. I’m positive when he’s getting his little monologue at the end, he was gonna say “Now it’s my time” or something to that effect. Slim put him down like the animal he is. All the other dealers were only mad cause they Slim cost them more money and left his ass there.
When Prop Joe warned Slim that Cheese might pony up the lions share of the buy-in, it reminded me of that scene in The Godfather when Vito warns Michael that whoever is the first to propose a meeting with Barzini, that person is also the traitor. Beautiful callback!
slim is what DeAngelo,I hope I spelled right, was supposed to be. The show has sooo many characters that have twins but they just handle and have things go way opposite, if Dee didn't have his mindset, and caused all the problems, he could have been slim, but he didn't have his smarts, lack of ego and code. Also cheeses last scene is great! He's feeling like he's on top and the new king and slim just bang!!! Keeping it REAL!!
@@okyggtty it's fine you didn't get it, he was a weak fool and arrogant, if he wasn't those things, he wouldn't have lost the tower and got the heat up, but once he was in the pit, he got humbled and started doing way better, and was even giving Bodie poot and Wallace advice, chess game and MC nuggets, but his weakness and ego got in the way, that plus the game. But slim was a top dude for Avon, stringer and Joe. Dee was one of the only people Avon could trust, plus he didn't snitch. The wire is good, we dont need to have some boo hoo argument on TH-cam you see what you see and I see what I do. That's called good television
@@timbnsfs.9275 I liked DeAngelo and all, but he wasn’t even close to being like Slim Charles. I mean, you listed almost all of his qualities and then said if he wasn’t all of that, he would’ve been like Slim. It doesn’t work that way. You can’t take away half of a person’s character in a comparison. I could’ve been like Albert Einstein if my IQ was 50 points higher. Other than the whole genius thing, I’m basically just like Einstein. Also, other than the fact that I’m a coward, I could’ve been just like Audie Murphy. Seriously, we’re practically the same person, except he was incredibly brave and I’m not. I’m not trying to come off as argumentative. I’m just saying that comparison is quite a stretch.
@@danieljohnson2005 he had the ties to be there, he didn't have the brains or the it factor but I simply was stating that all opportunities were available to him. But you are the second person to bring this up. I think everyone just hates the guy but that's why he was a compelling painful character. I just love that he didn't snitch and decided to deal with the time. RARE!!!
@@lesterburkes5962 Can go further. In the lines of ascension we all go back too. What would it take for Avon and Stringer, had he lived, to be where Vondas and Spiros are? To operate how they operate? To be able to let things go as easily as they do. Spiros and Vondas are major criminals but do the least amount of killing. Their workers seek them out.
@@Whatisright I think Vondas and The Greek are interesting in that reality now that you bring it up. Like you know they are capable of violence but they don't because its bad for business so when things get even a little warm they are gone. But not too far just far enough.
@@lesterburkes5962 The entire show goes deep into various levels of the game. The Greeks who aren’t even Greek are high players and it’s that close working relationship with the law that makes that happen. But on the street how would it look the bosses working with the FBI or such? How do they make that transition?
The thing the Mr CineRanter says about Slim Charles' walk "he walked like he was always walking uphill".......... THAT is such a wonderful line. Really brilliant. In a novel, that quick detail would put so much meaningful flesh onto a character's bones, so much but so succinctly. It describes not just a physical trait (described in an artful way) , something that helps the reader to envision a character, it also contains so much psychology. It is such a damnably damn good line that, god damnit, why couldn't I have come up with it? (hint: I'm not such a good writer. ). I can still PRETEND i wrote it. ....say it in front of family members. Actually, on reflection, that won't really work. They'd spot that it is too good to be something that came from my brain. Damn damn damn. Well, at least I can think of it over and over and enjoy it immensely each time I do so.
I think it was 2 things. 1. Slim seemed like a dude that was in the life cause it was all he ever had, but he was an otherwise decent cat. He did stuff as a soldier that maybe didn't show it, but there was a human being underneath it all. And he learned from Prop Joe that the way he learned under Avon and who knows who before wasn't all there was and it could just be business. Sometimes business was messy, but it didn't have to be and like McNulty said and D picked up - they could just sell the stuff and let the rest be. It also made law enforcement back off when it wasn't constant violence so it was smart business when ya weren't always on that gangster run and gun stuff, which Avon couldn't let go of and it was his downfall. 2. He knew Cheese wasn't trustworthy, not the kinda partner anybody would want cause he was a snake that would cut everybody's throat at the first opportunity. Even if it meant losing the connect it was better than letting Cheese keep increasing his position and causing who knows how much damage along the way. And maybe it was actually for Joe cause he seemed to actually carry a lotta respect for the man. Cheese was a scumbag, but Method Man did what he always does and really made the character something to love even if he was a POS. Did the same in The Deuce, Oz, and everything else I've seen em in really.
I knew why slim killed cheese years ago by reading wikipedia, whoever edited the page on Slim Charles worded it beautifully. It was something to the effect of "Slim shot cheese for honor and loyalty to Proposition Joe, in a world where Cheese thought such values didn't exist."
You forgot that Omar pulled up on fat face rick and rick asked him if he was involved in joe’s death. When Omar snickers, rick was like, “yeah I didn’t think so”
Slim is one of the most underrated characters on the show. Always enjoyed his scenes, especially with his distinct voice. Like most of the gangsters on the show he's done terrible things but he had a loyalty and integrity many didn't. He was a good soldier but clearly had his own code and wasn't always self serving and good on his word. It's why Avon trusted him, why Prop Joe hired him after Barksdale was taken down, why Omar believed him when he said he wasn't behind Buchie's killing, and even why Marlo respected him.
Slim is a type of dude that you want on your team and a type of dude that if you was on the lower level of the game you'd want him to be your boss because he's going to do right by you and he's going to tell you the truth but he knew that cheese was up to some nonsense but it should of spanked Marlow as well
The writers may or may not have intended this, but it always occurred to me that he'd already seen Barksdale and Marlo in the position Cheese was aiming for, and he just said no to that
Method Man nailed that part so well. It seriously took reflecting to remember that Cheese as a character was so masterfully crafted, that Method Man could transform out of what he is so successfully.
I always thought it was funny that Marlo sold the Connect for 10 million. As if the supply all the sudden dried up the Greeks wouldn’t reach out to Slim in like a week. All they had to do was wait
The thing about Slim Charles, he is principled, he knows his role, stays within himself, does his job well, and because of his history and reputation he can "break" the rules by killing Cheese. No one really challenged Slim Charles because he was fierce but had also built up a lot of goodwill with everyone and respect like that goes a long way so when you decide to break the rules some people will let it go because they know you're doing it for a good reason and it's not just all about you. Cheese had no understanding of this, he had a gun, unearned confidence, ambition, but forgot you need to be more than just fierce, you need to actually earn a good reputation to get people to follow you so he had no friends, no cover, and got taken down by a guy he thought he was better than.
That's the brilliance of the Wire, that these types of analysis come up from various characters and events within the show. Anyone seeking to learn how to world build and establish characters, could watch the Wire. The machinations are Machiavellian, Avon discussing with Brother Mouzone about Stringer, Stringer thinking he could elevate the street to a corporate boardroom (both arenas are the same in that respect, backstabbings, ambitions and money, but they remain in their distinct lines), Marlo with his barely concealed lust for street cred (which falters in the end as the two people Marlo approaches on the street are talking about Omar, and don't know who he is). Slim was that charcater, you know was a badass when he lumbered up across the street and shot Fruit's people, and like you said, covered for Cutty (the boxing gym donation scene proves that both Slim and Avon still highly respected Cutty). The only crime committed, we all know, is that this series did not get one Emmy.
Good video. I assumed that Cheese selling out Prop Joe was an open secret at that point. When Slim said he killed Cheese for Joe. Rick knew exactly what he meant and called him sentimental. I could see Slim wanting more confirmation though
Slim is played by Anwan Glover…we call him “Big G” here in DC…he’s the frontman for one of the biggest Go-Go bands ever…he’s also a legit street dude..pretty much the guy you see on TV…not a hard guy to find in the streets to this day..
Charles knew it was Cutty who hesitated, but still stuck his neck out for him out of his reputation as an elder. Respect is earned and earned respect means something, and Slim knows that more than anyone when he sees how much respect Avon has for Cutty.
I don't put it past him to do that, step up and take the blame. But I don't think that was the case. When Slim meets Cutty in the alley, Slim is genuinely frustrated that he may have messed things up.
Slim was one of those "good enough" people. Everything suits him. He was good enough as a soldier, good enough as a manager, as a right hand man and probably so as a leader. He was a good listener, never much of a talker. Mostly nodded his head yes or no and kept it moving, rather nonchalantly. He never spoke out of turn, no fussing , just short answers/comments but yet always informative. He wasn't particularly violent or particularly nice to people. Just did enough to get by. No-one seemed to hate him, or even really paid attention to him. But he got by, and got to the top spot without making any noise. I saw him as a big tall goofy at 1st, but he really was a genius in his own way.
What was so great about the Wire is after some time, you realize it didnt matter who the character was, how much he was loved, anybody could die at anytime. The setting wouldnt even make you think anything would happen sometimes then all of a sudden it just happens.
I played Cheese's "Muscle" in Season 5 when he got caught w the re-up.. My buddy was the driver. He was out there with no muscle because my character was still locked up. They shot a scene where me and Chris Partlow's muscle were running the yard... but it got cut.
I think another factor for Slim was that by having Cheese in the co-op, Marlo would still have a hand in things. Whether directly or indirectly, by having Cheese pass information to Marlo. With so many factors to consider, killing Cheese was the only option.
Proposition Joe had already told slim that cheese was not to be trusted, one of the last things he said to slim was cheese is going to watch the shop, and you watch cheese. So slim knew what type of file individual cheese was
I noticed something the big dude that is sitting next to Slim Charles at the end talking to the Greek is maybe co head of the Co Op because he was the only one other than Slim that stood up to Cheese in regards to Prop Joe. That’s why Cheese put a gun to his head before he was killed. I love that we can still find little details in a great show years after it ended. Great analysis!
That's Fat Face Rick. After Stringer, Joe, Marlo and Cheese, he was the biggest guy in the co op. The problem for Rick is that he inexplicably lacked any muscle at all which is where Slim would've seen an opportunity for himself. It's almost like Avon and Stringer with the positions reversed.
Slim was one of the most important characters ... He was like the, "if you are going to do this, do it like this.... this is how you do it!" He was a good man in a messed up game and his loyalty was to the game .. no man ... only the game... that's why he won
I think a character named "Cheese" is predisposed to a negative outcome..lol...The Wire is in my top 5 best series of all time, watched it many times. What makes a show timeless is that the characters play their rolls so well; you don't see an actor u see the character. Seems logical, but it's not always the case. Every actor in The Wire, in my opinion, played their characters perfectly. The theme/ topic almost doesn't seem to matter. In All In The Family, I still see Archie and Michael Stivic....brilliant. Accolades to the casting crew! (And Snoop? brilliant, yamean??)
Im glad we got to see Slim stay the course and survive the streets of the Wire. Glad you brought up how Slim moved around, because I noticed it, but didn't fully understand how he was able to do that. And it's great to recognize WHY Charles bumped Cheese off...and it was a legit move in that world, IMO
Slim having the safety off his gun before the meeting started is a clear sign that he was planning to kill Cheese, or at least was considering it. Think it was a mixture of payback for Joe and (as this video spells out) not wanting to have someone like Cheese as a partner. Also, though the show never spells it out, Marlo probably accepted less than $10M for the connect, because he really didn't have any other options. And Slim might've suspected he would.
Cheese already having enough money to buy the connect but saying that they are short was the perfect way to bait cheese. In Baltimore we call that “foxing”.
Say what you will, but if the Barksdale/Stanfield war happened during Avon's prime, the war would've ended quickly. Imagine Wee-Bey, Stinkum and Bird going after Marlo and his crew.
I have to disagree. Omar tried his best but couldn’t get to marlo , snoop, or Chris. Wee bey was a soldier no doubt, but marlos crew was much more calculated. But then again, if stringer didn’t snitch, marlo and crew would have been dead at the end of season 3
One of the consistent themes in the wire was time. Levy was a master and always checked his watch. Mario won the game and when he met with Levy he said take me off your clock. He also told Michael early bird gets that work. And when meeting Yvette he told her be on time. L Avon says you can be a little late or little early. The big dogs and winners focus on time and get it right. Slim knew Cheese was dirty and had to go. He shot him in that scene because it was the right timing. He also knew when to switch teams, play cool, move forward etc. He mastered the timing and became the queen from pawn. Good analysis on the video.
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ahahahahahahahahahah!!!!
brilliant!
Excellent 😂😂
Tremendous
Very good! 🤣
Perfection🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Prop joe was a businessman who was forced to become a gangster. Marlo was a gangster who was forced to become a businessman. And stringer was forced to be neither but tried to be both. The beauty of the wire never ceases to amaze me.
Wow.
Great observation
Prop Joe was my favorite character the dude wanted the streets to he organized so the police can stay away, I gotta respect that.
@@miguelzurita3216 He wanted to be Lucky Luciano or Meyer Lansky.
That is such an on-point assessment! Almost poetic!
Slim was a true old school soldier and that’s why Slim survived. He adapted to the changing of the guard, embraced the new way but always stayed true to the old school principles. By doing soon he garnered respect of all the players in the game. That is why Slim survived a game in which players don’t last long.
Survived to the end of this saga at least. The game was still the game at the end of the day.
Well put
Slim killed Cheese the moment he flat out admitted Marlo shut down the co-op. He worked for both Avon and Joe. He saw what happened to both money and territory the moment the quality of the product stained the suppliers lost credibility. Its what Stringer didn't understand.
Some luck, too. Like not being in safe house at end of season 3
I honestly can't think of one person who has been unscathed in the dope game, even amongst my partners who are still in it. The only way to beat the game is to quick while you're ahead.
Honestly, that scene at the end when Slim just blasts Cheese was one of my favorite moments. It's a testament to how good this show was, a dude getting shot mid sentence is a horrifying thing, but I enjoyed the hell out of it.
Barbaric.
THERE AINT NO BACK IN THE DAY NI**A
To quote the same actor playing Frank Sobotka in The Deuce, "He talked too much."
Seeing Slim in 'We Own The City" was pretty cool.. not gonna lie.
I gotta respect Slim for avenging Prop Joe.
I was genuinely suprised when Prop Joe died.
*”That was for Joe” said it all*
Right, this whole videos kinda pointless lol
@@AaaaaaaA-pl3zystill a good ass video, and I do believe he popped him because of his snake-like nature like the video said. Slim never liked him for that reason. The way he carried himself and his lack of loyalty.
😂😂 Right.. He literally told us why he killed Cheese
I clicked literally just for your comment. I'm not even skipping past the ad promo. Slim TOLD US why 😂
I was hoping someone would say it
"What the Fuk you do that four. Now we short the nine. That was for Joe".
"this sentimental mf just cost us money" 😂😂😂😂
For *
I always thought that when Cheese offered the $900k, Slim realized that Cheese was responsible for Joe's death and stole the money from Joe after he died.
Agreed. I feel like Cheese having the money confirmed Slim's suspicions that he had betrayed Joe, and so he made his move. I think the other factors may have played into it (Cheese being awful and unpredictable to be in charge and waiting until he wasn't pointing a gun at Fat Faced Rick anymore) but I always had the read that that was the moment it was confirmed, and he wasted little time taking action.
Naa he probably knew Already the speech cheese gave made it worse.
Doesn't make sense while cheese was the Eastside re supply so the 900000 would've come easily, it's not like cheese was some corner Lt . Cheese had a huge part in Joe's organization slim was more like an advisor/enforcer for Joe
He knew before.
He definitely heard something before. May not have known for sure but was confirmed when Cheese offered the $900k. Or, he didn't like that Cheese was flaunting it or using Joe's money to take a lead position in the coop.
More than anything, Slim had to figure that if Cheese could do it to Joe, someone in his family, he would not hesitate to sell out any of the other coop members.
Slim was what Bodie called in the first season “a smart ass pawn”… yea Slim was a smart ass pawn, played the game masterfully by knowing when to make certain moves, when to oppose certain opportunities such as declining to b the top man on the West side. He knew not to get too close to Marlo. Slim Charles the smart pawn who made it to the end. Walked away wit the connect
He made it to the end. But there was one piece he couldn't become. The King. That position belongs to the Greeks.
Slim was never a pawn. He never stood on the corners, didn't hold any packages and was always close to the top guys. He was more like a bishop or knight. He was able to make lateral moves from Avon, to Marlo and then Prop Joe because he was way above the street level. You never saw Slim hanging out with guys like Bodie, Poot or anyone at their level. He gave those guys orders, advice and kept it moving in his jeep.
@@zoo05zoo He actually did try to reach out to Bodie and be a mentor. But Bodie was too damn prideful, hard headed and had a "You can't tell me sh1t" attitude. Bodie had the potential to be more than a pawn. But sadly he had the mentality of a pawn, thus where he stayed and died.
@@bronxishomenomatterwhereig3149, to be honest, I really wasn't that upset when Bodie got killed. As noted, Slim reached out to him, Carver reached out and Poot tried to save him. Bodie started out as a kind of noble thug who we hoped would evolve into something bigger but he never did. However, Bodie was accurate to form because like so many other guys on the streets, he simply never changed and died on some random street corner in the middle of the night.
@@zoo05zoo And that's exactly what makes him a pawn. He doesn't adapt. He sticks to what little he knows and doesn't bother with anything else. So he's very limited in how he can move. Just like a pawn
Slim was smart. He knew that Cheese was a traitorous dude. He wanted to clip him early on but Prop Joe didn’t want to do that to a relative. After Cheese betrayed Joe, it was clear that he would sell anyone out if the price was right.
@Mr K uncle nephew relationship really not a strong bond im sure most people could live without their uncles
@@ysl6549 Idk bout that, I love all my uncles. Some of em crazy as hell but still great ppl.
@@ysl6549 that’s true but then it’s not … for a lot of dude their mothers brother is the closest thing they have to a father figure so it’s tricky
This is it. When he said "That was for Joe," he's saying Cheese is the type who would sell out his own family.
I can tell y'all didn't watch the show or pay attention. Joe got exactly what he asked for. Set Marlo up to get robbed at poker game and then had Omar rob the co-op re-up. He signed his own death certificate. Can't do that with a guy like Marlo
"Boy was always a disappointment" - Prop Joe
No Doubt
But he Treated marlo like a son
@garyward5515 Marlo wasn't looking for a "father figure"...
Didn't he almost drown 3 inches from omar's shotgun
@@pred8r273penguin exhibit
I loved it when Omar got the drop on Slim but didn't kill him, one great character showing respect to another great character similar to the Omar & Brother stand off scene.
Slim is a cool character. His loyalty to Avon and Prop Joe was of the highest level even more so than Chris and Snoop being loyal to Marlo.
He also murdered a child but all in the game
@@DC-rm8ww Almost every character in the show is a murderer. But I make the same statement you just made when talking about abortion queens.
How if he went from avon to joe? Thats betrayal right there... Smh
Nah Chris literally took a life sentence for Marlo, that loyalty can't be matched. Spending the rest of your life in a cage for loyalty. Slim can't even be compared to Chris and weebay in regards to loyalty.
@@LetThereBeLightxx bro Slim wouldn’t even kill down town Clay Davis
Lol Joe literally said to Charles: "Cheese watches the shop, you watch Cheese".
I’d love to see an hour long analysis of Slim, but I think you covered everything perfectly here, and you showed him the respect he deserves. There’s a reason why he’s a fan favorite. Great job!
I loved seeing him on We Own This City.
Y’all need to check out a man’s world podcast here on TH-cam he breaks down the best by far
If the co op kept Cheese around, he would have betrayed or undermined them eventually.
Much respect to Method Man. The way I actually felt real feelings of dislike for him as he Cheesed his way through the Wire.
Indeed; one could say he's a great Method Actor.
For real lol especially since I'm a fan of his music and his real life persona
You know an actor/actress did a great job if you hated their character.
I have to concur with CineRanter though, I never hated Cheese. In fact I liked his scenes because he was funny as fuck.
Slim has honor, character and a code.
A man's gotta have a code.
Hence the reason Omar let him live. Slim was respected by everyone including marlo
Slim killed Cheese cuz he didn't want Cheese to tell that "the old days is the old days... ain't no back in the day..." theory came from Slim.
when Slim was with Joe he was with Joe , when Slim was with Avon Slim was with him...same advive he was about to give Bodie.
Slim is the pawn who became King. He didn't move recklessly, but played his role perfectly. He was respected by all factions of the drug kingpins within Baltimore, but held no allegiances to any one specific territory. He stacked his money, but was never flashy. He observed the mistakes of those above him, and learned from them when he made his next moves.
Pawns can't become kings. They become queens. Avon was the king, Slim was the queen.
@@npc2k That's the key. Under normal circumstances, you'd be correct. However, Slim Charles changed the rules of the game. He's the pawn who became king(pin). He moved smartly, played his assigned role while making moves in the background. Acquired enough equity and respect amongst all the other dealers, and in a move of pure power at the most opportune time, he took the crown for himself by killing a man nobody respected that had a person they ALL respected killed.
It goes back to the episode when D'Angelo is teaching Bodie and Wallace how to play chess in season 1. "You can't play Checkers on no chess board... Chess is a much better game" "If I get to the other side of the board, I become King?" "No... The King stay the king". Slim Charles moved like a chess piece, but used the rules of Checkers at the end. Because in checkers in order to become a king, you need to make a series of powerful moves once you're in enemy territory. He made it to the other side of the board, and was crowned "King".
@@FreePlayModethe game stay the game. the rules don’t change
Great analysis! I never put Joe’s warning about money showing up together with confirming his betrayal. Well done!
Cheese made it clear when he put a gun into Ricks face that HE was the leader of the Co-op. Pitching in more than his share too. Slim knew that just couldn’t be and had to take action. When Slim smoked Cheese, HE became the leader.
“A true tower of integrity in a world full of moral midgets,” may just be the best quote I’ve ever heard and now I’m gonna live my life with it!
Slim had a code of honor and Cheese had none. Dude was a snake who’d sell anyone out. I’m positive when he’s getting his little monologue at the end, he was gonna say “Now it’s my time” or something to that effect. Slim put him down like the animal he is. All the other dealers were only mad cause they Slim cost them more money and left his ass there.
"if its a lie then we fight on that lie" -slim
Slim really literally was a ride or die for Avon.
"Removes him from the chat." I love this expression for murder.
He was a true Soldier and he just couldn't take cheese being so smug about how he sold out his real family love Slim "that was for Joe"
When Prop Joe warned Slim that Cheese might pony up the lions share of the buy-in, it reminded me of that scene in The Godfather when Vito warns Michael that whoever is the first to propose a meeting with Barzini, that person is also the traitor. Beautiful callback!
When did Prop Joe warn Slim about the buy in? I thought the buy in didn't happen until after Prop Joe's death?
Cheese's death was one of the most brutal kills on the show, i remember the sudden nature of it and the twitching after the fact really freaked me out
How he just got shot in the head lol
It’s kinda like Bodie, one second he’s defending his corner and then he gets dropped like it was nothing
Real life violence is shocking like that
Hated cheese but loved the way he was played by method man 😂 and he had some of the funniest scenes / lines in the show ........
Idk how these h0es be acting sometimes. I’m like either you suck d*ck or you don’t.
I mean, he had this one hoe pulling guns out of her p#ssy, unc. The shit was unseemly, man
😂😂😂
String murder ain't no thing, but this is some assassination shit
"This is the shit that is WAY above my paygrade!"
Killing Cheese was a no brainer,he would have been dead if not for Prop Joe
Exactly lol there is no real reason,it's pretty obvious what the reason was
Everybody needs a slim charles on Sunday mornings...
While they taking they wrinkled ass grandma’s to pray. Cause she’s bonafide colored lady.
slim is what DeAngelo,I hope I spelled right, was supposed to be. The show has sooo many characters that have twins but they just handle and have things go way opposite, if Dee didn't have his mindset, and caused all the problems, he could have been slim, but he didn't have his smarts, lack of ego and code. Also cheeses last scene is great! He's feeling like he's on top and the new king and slim just bang!!! Keeping it REAL!!
The fact that u compare that weakling to slim makes everything u say invalid
@@okyggtty it's fine you didn't get it, he was a weak fool and arrogant, if he wasn't those things, he wouldn't have lost the tower and got the heat up, but once he was in the pit, he got humbled and started doing way better, and was even giving Bodie poot and Wallace advice, chess game and MC nuggets, but his weakness and ego got in the way, that plus the game. But slim was a top dude for Avon, stringer and Joe. Dee was one of the only people Avon could trust, plus he didn't snitch. The wire is good, we dont need to have some boo hoo argument on TH-cam you see what you see and I see what I do. That's called good television
@@okyggtty yo, at the end of season 5 , I'm glad Slim was talking to the Greeks!!! have a good day big dogg
@@timbnsfs.9275 I liked DeAngelo and all, but he wasn’t even close to being like Slim Charles. I mean, you listed almost all of his qualities and then said if he wasn’t all of that, he would’ve been like Slim. It doesn’t work that way. You can’t take away half of a person’s character in a comparison.
I could’ve been like Albert Einstein if my IQ was 50 points higher. Other than the whole genius thing, I’m basically just like Einstein. Also, other than the fact that I’m a coward, I could’ve been just like Audie Murphy. Seriously, we’re practically the same person, except he was incredibly brave and I’m not. I’m not trying to come off as argumentative. I’m just saying that comparison is quite a stretch.
@@danieljohnson2005 he had the ties to be there, he didn't have the brains or the it factor but I simply was stating that all opportunities were available to him. But you are the second person to bring this up. I think everyone just hates the guy but that's why he was a compelling painful character. I just love that he didn't snitch and decided to deal with the time. RARE!!!
Awesome analysis of Slim always had respect for him the way he treated Cutty..but you’re spot on with the line “That’s for Joe” meaning Joe’s order
From Joe seems more of an order to me he killed cheese betrayed the game marlo wanted cheese and Joe didn't give him up after the robbery
For Joe doesn't mean an order.
I still stand by that Slim is not in charge of the connect. He’s the face representing Avon because “the King stay the King.”
Never thought about that.
@@lesterburkes5962 Can go further. In the lines of ascension we all go back too. What would it take for Avon and Stringer, had he lived, to be where Vondas and Spiros are? To operate how they operate? To be able to let things go as easily as they do. Spiros and Vondas are major criminals but do the least amount of killing. Their workers seek them out.
@@Whatisright I think Vondas and The Greek are interesting in that reality now that you bring it up. Like you know they are capable of violence but they don't because its bad for business so when things get even a little warm they are gone. But not too far just far enough.
@@lesterburkes5962 The entire show goes deep into various levels of the game. The Greeks who aren’t even Greek are high players and it’s that close working relationship with the law that makes that happen. But on the street how would it look the bosses working with the FBI or such? How do they make that transition?
@@Whatisright Greeks where jews
The thing the Mr CineRanter says about Slim Charles' walk "he walked like he was always walking uphill"..........
THAT is such a wonderful line. Really brilliant. In a novel, that quick detail would put so much meaningful flesh onto a character's bones, so much but so succinctly. It describes not just a physical trait (described in an artful way) , something that helps the reader to envision a character, it also contains so much psychology.
It is such a damnably damn good line that, god damnit, why couldn't I have come up with it? (hint: I'm not such a good writer. ). I can still PRETEND i wrote it. ....say it in front of family members. Actually, on reflection, that won't really work. They'd spot that it is too good to be something that came from my brain. Damn damn damn.
Well, at least I can think of it over and over and enjoy it immensely each time I do so.
That Line shocked me too I never even realized till I heard it. What a Great observation.
The Wire is Poetry in the shape of a Show
I think it was 2 things.
1. Slim seemed like a dude that was in the life cause it was all he ever had, but he was an otherwise decent cat. He did stuff as a soldier that maybe didn't show it, but there was a human being underneath it all. And he learned from Prop Joe that the way he learned under Avon and who knows who before wasn't all there was and it could just be business. Sometimes business was messy, but it didn't have to be and like McNulty said and D picked up - they could just sell the stuff and let the rest be. It also made law enforcement back off when it wasn't constant violence so it was smart business when ya weren't always on that gangster run and gun stuff, which Avon couldn't let go of and it was his downfall.
2. He knew Cheese wasn't trustworthy, not the kinda partner anybody would want cause he was a snake that would cut everybody's throat at the first opportunity. Even if it meant losing the connect it was better than letting Cheese keep increasing his position and causing who knows how much damage along the way.
And maybe it was actually for Joe cause he seemed to actually carry a lotta respect for the man.
Cheese was a scumbag, but Method Man did what he always does and really made the character something to love even if he was a POS. Did the same in The Deuce, Oz, and everything else I've seen em in really.
I knew why slim killed cheese years ago by reading wikipedia, whoever edited the page on Slim Charles worded it beautifully. It was something to the effect of "Slim shot cheese for honor and loyalty to Proposition Joe, in a world where Cheese thought such values didn't exist."
Slim killed cheese on principle point blank
This be the principle here
Slim bought that DC flavor to the show. Actual street cred. Front man of Washington DC go-go band Backyard. Highly respected in real life.
You forgot that Omar pulled up on fat face rick and rick asked him if he was involved in joe’s death. When Omar snickers, rick was like, “yeah I didn’t think so”
Slim is one of the most underrated characters on the show. Always enjoyed his scenes, especially with his distinct voice.
Like most of the gangsters on the show he's done terrible things but he had a loyalty and integrity many didn't. He was a good soldier but clearly had his own code and wasn't always self serving and good on his word.
It's why Avon trusted him, why Prop Joe hired him after Barksdale was taken down, why Omar believed him when he said he wasn't behind Buchie's killing, and even why Marlo respected him.
Great comment 👍 👌
that unique voice is the lead singer for the DC Gogo band "Backyard" and his stage name in DC is Big G. He is DC gogo royalty!
I wouldn't say he is underrated when everyone loves him and fully respects him lol
Slim does have loyalty to those he works with like when he took the blame for cutty not killing fruit at the time
Slim is a type of dude that you want on your team and a type of dude that if you was on the lower level of the game you'd want him to be your boss because he's going to do right by you and he's going to tell you the truth but he knew that cheese was up to some nonsense but it should of spanked Marlow as well
The writers may or may not have intended this, but it always occurred to me that he'd already seen Barksdale and Marlo in the position Cheese was aiming for, and he just said no to that
Yup! Which is why Slim turned down Marlo's offer for new territory. Slim knows that top dawgs get put down eventually.
I love seeing a man from Scotland show love to a DC (I know the Wire is a Baltimore show) brother. And Slim is definitely my favorite Wire character.
Slim Charles = Jay Landsman
Fucking brilliant!! ✊
A true samurai. A loyal retainer.
Did you know that Slim is in a jazz band in real life?!?! Crazy to see him playing an instrument
He is not in no jazz band. He is one of the pioneers of dc go-go music and goes by the stage name ‘Big G’
@@oryx_takerofwill5940 thanks!
He was also shot 11 times.
@@spencerwyche2552 what?!?!?! I never heard that before
Back yard band..
The Cheese stood alone and the Cheese fell alone
Read this in Omar's voice lol
Method Man nailed that part so well. It seriously took reflecting to remember that Cheese as a character was so masterfully crafted, that Method Man could transform out of what he is so successfully.
I always thought it was funny that Marlo sold the Connect for 10 million. As if the supply all the sudden dried up the Greeks wouldn’t reach out to Slim in like a week. All they had to do was wait
The Greeks didn't know slim.. They had only dealt with Joe and then marlo
My favorite scene is when Slim laments at the shooting of Omar and his grandma on Sunday. Talking about her Church/Sunday Crown
The thing about Slim Charles, he is principled, he knows his role, stays within himself, does his job well, and because of his history and reputation he can "break" the rules by killing Cheese. No one really challenged Slim Charles because he was fierce but had also built up a lot of goodwill with everyone and respect like that goes a long way so when you decide to break the rules some people will let it go because they know you're doing it for a good reason and it's not just all about you. Cheese had no understanding of this, he had a gun, unearned confidence, ambition, but forgot you need to be more than just fierce, you need to actually earn a good reputation to get people to follow you so he had no friends, no cover, and got taken down by a guy he thought he was better than.
And Cheese had "the 9" (900,000 dollars)....ALMOST CERTAINLY from his Uncle Prop Joe's stash/savings.
Considering how little screen time Slim Charles got, he became my favourite character in the show. Omar 2nd.
Slim and bodie are my favorites
That's the brilliance of the Wire, that these types of analysis come up from various characters and events within the show. Anyone seeking to learn how to world build and establish characters, could watch the Wire. The machinations are Machiavellian, Avon discussing with Brother Mouzone about Stringer, Stringer thinking he could elevate the street to a corporate boardroom (both arenas are the same in that respect, backstabbings, ambitions and money, but they remain in their distinct lines), Marlo with his barely concealed lust for street cred (which falters in the end as the two people Marlo approaches on the street are talking about Omar, and don't know who he is). Slim was that charcater, you know was a badass when he lumbered up across the street and shot Fruit's people, and like you said, covered for Cutty (the boxing gym donation scene proves that both Slim and Avon still highly respected Cutty). The only crime committed, we all know, is that this series did not get one Emmy.
Good video. I assumed that Cheese selling out Prop Joe was an open secret at that point. When Slim said he killed Cheese for Joe. Rick knew exactly what he meant and called him sentimental. I could see Slim wanting more confirmation though
o
He literally said "THAT WAS FOR JOE"
Definitely did
Big G was a DC LEGEND Before the Wire!!! This role solidified him everywhere else! 💯💯💯
Slim is played by Anwan Glover…we call him “Big G” here in DC…he’s the frontman for one of the biggest Go-Go bands ever…he’s also a legit street dude..pretty much the guy you see on TV…not a hard guy to find in the streets to this day..
Slim already had the connect through Joe and Marlo only got it through Avon so Marlo never got paid
Charles knew it was Cutty who hesitated, but still stuck his neck out for him out of his reputation as an elder. Respect is earned and earned respect means something, and Slim knows that more than anyone when he sees how much respect Avon has for Cutty.
I don't put it past him to do that, step up and take the blame. But I don't think that was the case.
When Slim meets Cutty in the alley, Slim is genuinely frustrated that he may have messed things up.
Slim was one of those "good enough" people. Everything suits him. He was good enough as a soldier, good enough as a manager, as a right hand man and probably so as a leader.
He was a good listener, never much of a talker. Mostly nodded his head yes or no and kept it moving, rather nonchalantly.
He never spoke out of turn, no fussing , just short answers/comments but yet always informative. He wasn't particularly violent or particularly nice to people. Just did enough to get by.
No-one seemed to hate him, or even really paid attention to him. But he got by, and got to the top spot without making any noise.
I saw him as a big tall goofy at 1st, but he really was a genius in his own way.
Slim Charles was one of my favorite characters in the Wire. I was very happy that he survived the entire series.
Slim means smart in Dutch. And Charles definitely was. Great character, one of my favorites.
I must say. I love. when you explained these show. you do such a beautiful job. you are a master at this. the best so far
Cheese really turned on his blood uncle.
“Keep your business and family COMPLETELY separated”
Cheese gave up his uncle prop Joe that’s the only way he could’ve had $900k. Slim put two and two together
For Prop Joe...the end. 🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️🤣🤣🤣
Makes a 13 minute video to answer what slim literally tells us immediately after killing cheese.
What was so great about the Wire is after some time, you realize it didnt matter who the character was, how much he was loved, anybody could die at anytime. The setting wouldnt even make you think anything would happen sometimes then all of a sudden it just happens.
Cheese sold out Butchie the whole reason for Joe leaving in the first damn place
I played Cheese's "Muscle" in Season 5 when he got caught w the re-up.. My buddy was the driver. He was out there with no muscle because my character was still locked up. They shot a scene where me and Chris Partlow's muscle were running the yard... but it got cut.
I think another factor for Slim was that by having Cheese in the co-op, Marlo would still have a hand in things. Whether directly or indirectly, by having Cheese pass information to Marlo. With so many factors to consider, killing Cheese was the only option.
Proposition Joe had already told slim that cheese was not to be trusted, one of the last things he said to slim was cheese is going to watch the shop, and you watch cheese. So slim knew what type of file individual cheese was
SLIM DEFINITELY MADE ALL THE RIGHT MOVES 💯🤞🏿
I always like slim Charles but this video makes me like him even more, nice work!
"That was for Joe..."
It’s simple Cheese went against his own blood for points in a package under Marlo. Slim has a code.
Cheese clipped his own uncle who showed Cheese nothing but love and loyalty. Slim Charles knew Cheese could not be trusted...
I noticed something the big dude that is sitting next to Slim Charles at the end talking to the Greek is maybe co head of the Co Op because he was the only one other than Slim that stood up to Cheese in regards to Prop Joe. That’s why Cheese put a gun to his head before he was killed. I love that we can still find little details in a great show years after it ended. Great analysis!
That's Fat Face Rick. After Stringer, Joe, Marlo and Cheese, he was the biggest guy in the co op. The problem for Rick is that he inexplicably lacked any muscle at all which is where Slim would've seen an opportunity for himself. It's almost like Avon and Stringer with the positions reversed.
"Charles killing Cheese" is a very soothing sentence
Slim was one of the most important characters ... He was like the, "if you are going to do this, do it like this.... this is how you do it!" He was a good man in a messed up game and his loyalty was to the game .. no man ... only the game... that's why he won
4:37 He manuged to get the drip on him.
Slim respected prop Joe's ambition, cheese was just after a bag plain and simple.
Slim , the smart pawn 💯💪🏾
Slim Charles who is Big G a local musician on the gogo scene in Washington DC walks like that and talks like that in real life.
I think a character named "Cheese" is predisposed to a negative outcome..lol...The Wire is in my top 5 best series of all time, watched it many times. What makes a show timeless is that the characters play their rolls so well; you don't see an actor u see the character. Seems logical, but it's not always the case. Every actor in The Wire, in my opinion, played their characters perfectly. The theme/ topic almost doesn't seem to matter. In All In The Family, I still see Archie and Michael Stivic....brilliant. Accolades to the casting crew! (And Snoop? brilliant, yamean??)
Slim the “Smart Ass Pawn” Bodie Voice
The fact this video isn’t sponsored by Slim Jims is outrageous.
They should make a slim Jim with the cheese on the side like other beef sticks do.
He literally said why…”That’s for Joe”.
Slim is NOT a relatively minor character. He's a glue character. He's ambitious. He's noble. He's verbose without words.
Im glad we got to see Slim stay the course and survive the streets of the Wire. Glad you brought up how Slim moved around, because I noticed it, but didn't fully understand how he was able to do that. And it's great to recognize WHY Charles bumped Cheese off...and it was a legit move in that world, IMO
Slim having the safety off his gun before the meeting started is a clear sign that he was planning to kill Cheese, or at least was considering it. Think it was a mixture of payback for Joe and (as this video spells out) not wanting to have someone like Cheese as a partner.
Also, though the show never spells it out, Marlo probably accepted less than $10M for the connect, because he really didn't have any other options. And Slim might've suspected he would.
You'd be surprised how many street dudes don't use the safety like ever.
Cheese already having enough money to buy the connect but saying that they are short was the perfect way to bait cheese. In Baltimore we call that “foxing”.
Because Cheese gave up Prop Joe. Simple as that. He even said that was for Joe.
Slim knew cheese alive would create more problems later on, slim is very smart killing cheese was a business move but was also payback for joe.
Say what you will, but if the Barksdale/Stanfield war happened during Avon's prime, the war would've ended quickly. Imagine Wee-Bey, Stinkum and Bird going after Marlo and his crew.
I have to disagree. Omar tried his best but couldn’t get to marlo , snoop, or Chris. Wee bey was a soldier no doubt, but marlos crew was much more calculated. But then again, if stringer didn’t snitch, marlo and crew would have been dead at the end of season 3
Had Stringer not ratted on Avon, Avon would've BEATEN Marlo.
Like Slim Charles said, "we missed our shot!"
One of the consistent themes in the wire was time. Levy was a master and always checked his watch. Mario won the game and when he met with Levy he said take me off your clock. He also told Michael early bird gets that work. And when meeting Yvette he told her be on time. L
Avon says you can be a little late or little early. The big dogs and winners focus on time and get it right.
Slim knew Cheese was dirty and had to go. He shot him in that scene because it was the right timing.
He also knew when to switch teams, play cool, move forward etc. He mastered the timing and became the queen from pawn.
Good analysis on the video.
"Pandemic! WMD!"
Foreshadowing
Ever loved or hated any character on the Wire? That means they did their job as actors. Superb performances left and right.