If you enjoyed this video, you'll like the companion video I made about Omar's Code, exclusively on Nebula. I go through every example of Omar talking about his code to breakdown what it is and how it evolves over the course of the show. Watch it now when you sign up for the CuriosityStream + Nebula Bundle: CuriosityStream.com/ThomasFlight
You haven't given the link to this video of yours on Nebula in any of your mentions of it. I've already got Nebula. What's the URL for that companion video?
To me, the most interesting thing about Omar, is how he won his war against Marlo, without ever taking direct revenge against him. In a typical hollywood movie, Omar would have taken out Snoop, Chris, Monk and Cheese, in badass ways, and then he would have confronted Marlo, and killed him. But in the Wire, he doesn't get any of his targets, and is gunned down by a little kid. Marlo is so interested in his own name, and the power it carries. He doesn't care about the money, or the life outside of the game, he cares about his own power high, while in the game. Ironically, he gets the exit Stringer was looking for. He leaves the game with a lot of money. But he is an empty man without the game. And there is where Omar won. By the time Marlo walks out of that party, he has already been forgotten. His name no longer has any power to it. Meanwhile Omar's legend has grown to a mythical proportion. Decades later, the city of Baltimore will still be fondly remembering Omar. Nobody will remember Marlo in a matter of months. That's such an interesting and metaphysical way, that Omar won his war against Marlo.
One thing I can add. In death, Omar beat Marlo. When Omar loudly, called him out Marlo to settle things in the streets, everyone will believe Marlo punked out. No one will believe the truth that Marlo's captains just never brought him the news, which means Marlo was completely out of touch with what was actually happening in the streets.
man fking hell 2nd watchthru now I'm in tears cuz I KNOW there will not be anything like this ever again. Rip TD and BCS, noteven comparable imho! Feel like I know Bmore more than my own country!
The Wire is the greatest most layered show I've seen. Like watching a novel, social study, Greek tragedy and Shakespearean play each episode. Great accomplishment
It was written by, unlike most shows, not maily tv writers. They were authors, playwrights, newspaper writers in charge of this show. And former policemen and people from the street life like Snoop. That’s why the writing is unmatched
@@GeronFletcher heck there are literally actors that were in the game.Example being Donnie Andrews(the guy Omar is based on) as Butchies henchman and Little Melvin(the Church Deacon)...
Omar being Black, homosexual, and a thug who brought it to the macho of the macho on the show, added complexity to his character. That mix was brilliant. That's a whole different video.
It’s something I loved about MKW was that he lacked toxic masculinity and often played complex gay characters-both Omar and Leonard were so much more than just their sexuality.
@@JakeKoenig it was definitely relevant. Every other guy who was part of the game showed extra contempt and disapproval of his sexuality pretty much each time he was brought up. Omar being gay in a community that is notoriously against it adds to the layers of him going against the grain, just like him hustling the hustlers and robbing the dealers, it deepens the dichotomy
MKW is truly one of the great actors of this or any era. So deep & to use your word - so complex. It saddens me to see that some criticize his decision to take that final shot of poisoned drugs. Who knows what deep reservoirs of pain he suffered to seek relief in opiates? "Judge not lest ye be judged". May Michel Kenneth Williams be in peace now.
@@mdd04000 No he wasn't Michael K. Williams is from Brooklyn N.Y.C. He died tragically where he grew up from which is presently where I'm at down the block and around the corner. He a local legend from some projects for making it out of the projects to becoming an actor.. That acting role was a show based about the drug trade in Baltimore. Nice try buy I know where he's from and it ain't Baltimore or Kansas City
Thank you for this. Omar was by far my favorite character because of how mythical he was in the world that was so real. They ran, called out his name, and tried to hide, all with him whistling over the top. It some of the best world building/character building.
Tbh, I didn't hate Bodie & Poot for Wallace's murder. They'd done all they could. If they hadn't killed him, they & Wallace would have been dead anyway. As D'Angelo said......"Where's Wallace String?" That's who I hated for Wallace's death.
I can hardly believe that Michael K. Williams is gone, and that his unforgettable, brilliant portrayal of Omar Little is over 20 years old. I mourn his untimely death, and can't shake the thought that the world is much, much poorer because we never got to see this incredible actor play Shakespeare's Richard III. I can almost hear him: "Now is the winter of our discontent. . ." RIP to a great artist.
This was an excellent character study that perfectly framed the subject within the larger narrative. I spent a semester in graduate school studying The Wire, and you did in 20 minutes what my professor did across 4 months. Of course, we enjoyed a good deal of the other tangential themes the show explores (and good God there are plenty of them), but this video certainly does get at the heart of the series. Well done! Film and television is objectively lesser without Michael K Williams, and his passing should be cause for everyone who cared and had the privilege of enjoying his work to take some measure of action to help promote the reform of drug policies in this country.
Very well done analysis! Omar little is definitely one of the greatest characters of all time, and it's a tragedy that Michael K. Williams has passed on. No one will ever forget this legend.
Michael K. Williams portrayal of Omar Little was the soul reason I watched the show. I grew up a rough life & this show was one of the most accurate portrayal of that life. Michael K. Williams Was amazing. The show was pact full of heavy hitters when it comes to acting talent. When if the greatest series I’ve ever watched.
I keep thinking about the amount of years that have passed since the end of The Wire... and Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, Mad Men, and Deadwood. Are we going to get another extraordinary show like these again?
I don't leave many comments online in general, and you're one of only a handful of creators I subscribe to.. your breakdowns are amazing, and this one is just immaculate - thank you for this..I was half upset in your opening when you say it's "one of" the best shows, but then in the end you did say it's your favorite so I'll allow it lol.. finished my 6th rewatch of the series about 2 weeks before his passing, I'm scared to watch it again and see him on screen, not ready for that pain...RIP Michael K
@@ThomasFlight yes of course, completely understandable.. didn't mean anything by it, I have the utmost respect and appreciation for the way you present your work
Seeing this in my infobox made me sad. It is a great video and it summarized well what a legacy Michael K. Williams left behind when he portrayed that character as well as he did. May he rest in peace.
I just finished watching The Wire for the first time and I feel what can be described as grief watching this video. Like I lost a window to that world and I grieve for losing the connection to those characters. I don't think there were any pieces of art that have moved me as much as this show, and I'm deeply grateful for the great work you put into exploring and analyzing this masterpiece.
One of my favorite tv characters of all time. I love that he was unapologetically himself. Openly gay in an extremely homophobic area. Robbing the most violent drug gangs. But he helped people and looked out for those he loved. Always found myself wishing for more time with Omar. I wanted him to get his happy ending. Can’t believe Michael C. Williams is gone. 😭 You mentioned something I have always loved about The Wire- you come to care for almost every character in some way. A character you hate one season can become a character you love in another. These are some of the most humanized television characters in history.
I used to watch it, but generally was looking at the clock maybe 25 minutes in..very boring, couldn't understand what the natives were saying, and too much boring POlice crap..good show, not great
Excellent analysis of one of the greatest characters ever! The show was so brilliant that, even though I was sad at Omar's murder, it was perfect: killed by some kid who wasn't impressed when meeting him. Stripped of the mythological infamy, the kid just saw a regular person, as vulnerable as anyone else. Even more perfect was the mix up at the morgue. Though he was legendary on the streets, and for the audience, he was no one in other circles, almost buried as a middle-aged white man. I remember my first reaction to that scene being of shock, "how do you not know Omar?" But, of course, it made perfect sense.
I noticed how they did him in the obituary at the paper. For us, such an important character....and was nothing but a quick little blurb in the newspaper to the people that worked there and the rest of the community.
Omar was partly based on a real life person. The man that’s with Omar that gets killed in Monks apartment is the guy it’s based on. He wasn’t gay, that was just a HBO add in to make the character more dramatic. But he was a hit man and stick up man in Baltimore that robbed drug dealers back in the late 70s early 80s. But he did have the code of no woman, children or ppl not in the game. Can’t remember his true name right now but you can Google about him
The guy that helped Cutty open the boxing gym was a real!life former Baltimore drug dealer named Melvin Williams , he’s who Avons character was based on . Google him.
What was also true was the person Omar was based on did once jump out of a balcony to escape once. Only he didn’t do it from the 4th floor like the show has Omar doing, in reality the guy jumped out the 6th floor and survived. But they show runners thought people wouldn’t believe it if they had Omar do it.
Everything has been said about Omar by this point, so I'll bring up another character mentioned in the video, D'Angelo. D'Angelo's death on The Wire is probably the death that affected me the most on The Wire second only to Omar. It happened so early on, but it also stung so hard. I just felt like that character had so much more to give. Of course he has some extremely glaring flaws as a human, but he was too good for the viewers. Also the fact that he had nothing left in prison except drugs...it's almost as crushing as Dukie's end result. Random note, what a GREAT little video this is. I love how you kept it short, and sweet with relevant clips, and didn't try to make it about yourself like so many TH-camrs just HAVE to do these days. You played the game by your own moral code.
Omar is easily the most iconic character. And who doesn’t love Bubbles? But imo the most underrated characters I always found myself pulling for were Bunk Moreland, Frank Sobotka, Bunny Colvin and Dennis Wise.
You laid out in this video what makes The Wire so great and without equal. Even some of the best shows like Breaking Bad, Jessi and Walt have clear arcs. The Wire has winding arcs that make you sympathize with them as you said. Walt and Tony were not sympathetic characters. Great characters, but not really complex as a wide variety of characters in The Wire.
It should also be mentioned with respect to Omar that he does eventually break his own code (or rather, his promise he made to the police to no drop any more bodies). This is after Butchie is murdered, and he comes across Sevino. Even though Sevino was not involved in what happened, Omar justifies shooting him by saying that he would have hurt Butchie just the same had he been there. In other words, Sevino's innocence of Butchie's murder was arbitrary. Once Omar crosses that line and breaks his promise, little Kenard drops him out of nowhere. So yes, while Omar did have his own code, he broke it, too, and paid the ultimate price.
Omar is still one of my favorite characters ever written and acted. Every second that he's on the screen I am sitting up and taking it all in. Then I rewind it and watch it again. He's perfectly written, and at the time, making him gay blew away any expectation or box we might put a "stuck up man" in. It told us that this character was different. He was layered, he was complex, he was real. The moment he hit the screen I was hooked. RIP MKW. You can rest knowing you played one of the best roles ever put to screen perfectly in a way that people will always remember. You are a legend, just like Omar. ✌
Worrying about you be like worrying if the sun gonna come up, ain't about to wild eye about it... That scene had so much amazing dialogue like from this range in this calibre, even if I miss I can't miss or I don't see no sweat on your brow either bro.. Omar listening. The wire and the sopranos are the undisputed 🐐 TV series
Goddamn, time to watch The Wire again. Stands tall beside Sopranos for truly creating the modern television storytelling experience. Everyone who worked on this show should be fiercely proud.
Everything about this video - the depth of analysis about the show, the character of Omar, and MKW and what he brought to the show as the perfect actor/vessel for this character - is absolutely brilliant. Well done!! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
I’m as stereotypically lefty as they come, but while rewatching season 3 with a friend who was watching the series for the first time last night, I realized something after we saw the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it reveal about a high ranking police in a certain gay bar scene (fans will know what and who I mean). I said, “A more Hollywoodized show would’ve made him ‘find himself’ through the LGBT movement, but in the wire it’s just a moment of a reveal and he stays closeted but now more layered and nuanced.” Just like this masterpiece of a series. Great analysis and tribute. If I weren’t already subscribed I’d subscribe just for this video essay alone :)
I’m gonna be straight up. I turned the show off immediately once Omar was killed. Pissed me off too much. I was ADDICTED like a Baltimore crack addict to this show but once that happened I became as sober as bubbles did at the end (I had to search up the ending haha). Maybe one day though I will rewatch the whole series and finish correctly and not be emotion when I see Mr. Little capped. I understood why though they did it to Omar and it rings out his legend even better than ever.
I think his death was peak irony. It was tragic no doubt, but in a sense he foreshadowed his own demise once bunk gives him shit about how kids are out here playing stick up like they omar or sumn, only to end up getting killed by a kid who at one point idolized him.
I have always felt that Wire is the best show just because of the sheer number of outstanding performances from the actors, i have never seen more realistic series and the way it was put together was just perfect. You could just tell from the first scene that Omar was the realest of them all he knew what he was and didn´t change it for no one. RIP Michael K. Williams
damn. this video made me feel emotional. the story is something that echoes the feel of real life. the wire, is one of my favorite shows. & Omar, one of my favorite characters of all time. rest in peace Michael K. Williams.❤️
Love your videos on The Wire ❤️ Omar Little is probably my favorite television character of all time, he has no shortage of amazing quotes & scenes. Michael K Williams was amazing. The scene between Omar & Bunk is my favorite
@@nasirjones-bey7923 I'm in QLD and we've mostly avoided extended lockdowns, because we've instituted hard border controls and short sharp lockdown when we get a few cases. Occasional small protests. Melbourne and Sydney different story.
@@andrelove3478 I've heard the policies are vastly different state by state. The footage I've seen of the implementation and enforcing of quaritine in Melborne is frightening. I'm all for health and fighting the virus, but 100% against these draconian mandates and violation bodily autonomy. Thanks for the update, be well.
Great video about The Wire and the position of Omar in the series! Amazing analysis of the conflicts between individuals and institutions depicted in the show.
I dont say these words easy but the wire was a masterpiece and Omar one of the best characters in the whole television history,thanks to the writers but mainly thanks to the actor, very sad the actor died. Your video is also very well made.
at the very start of the video, because I can't wait to say this: The scene at the beginning of this video with the kids running away shouting "Omar comin'!" made me skip ahead in my mind to the last season, when Omar's retired to Florida and walking around without a care in the world, and when the neighborhood kids shout "Omar comin'!" they're running _toward_ him 'cause they're happy to see him and that made me feel so good for him - and that's what broke my heart so much when he got called back to Baltimore
Thomas! This video was excellent! When I think of The Wire, I often don't think about the show itself and what made it great. It's been such a long time since I've seen it that I often revel in the feeling I had while watching it. The details get a bit murky and macro and some of the shades become full strokes. While this video focused on Omar, you were able to really cultivate what made the show so excellent in your time spent with each character and the awesome choices of scenes that you peppered throughout. It really brought back such a remarkable feeling about what I loved about it. Bravo, man. Killed it.
Watching The Wire for the first time and am midway thru the last season. I have to agree, if there’s one character you want to see come out on top, it’s Omar. Michael K Williams is a big reason why. Check him out in Boardwalk Empire. Such a loss…
No one and I mean not one single person on this earth could have played that part better and if it wasn’t for Omar this show wouldn’t be what it is today! No one talked about this show until his passing really then all a sudden everybody was a wire fan! I’m 32 years old I was 12 when this came out and lived by this shit!
I absolutely loved Omar and it makes Michael K Williams death hurt so much more. I was so ready to start watching more of Michael's work and be more of a fan. RIP ❤
i think the reality hit bodie when kev got smoked, it put into his mind about how things played out with wallace and it opened his eyes to realize he made dire mistakes. It was too late for him, the reason he stayed on that corner when poot told him to run was his guilty conscience trying to make up for killing wallace and kev dying. Guilt mixed with revenge is a terrible concoction
"There are few stories made about the existing forces of power simply defending and maintaining their power." The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire, Boss, Power, Empire, The Shield, Mad Men, Billions, Ray Donovan, Brotherhood, Animal Kingdom, Magic City, The West Wing, Suits, Reign, Dynasty, Succession, and even (to an extent) Game of Thrones. Did you just... not watch ANY television in the 2000s and 2010s? 'Existing Institutions of Power Fight to Maintain their Power' was literally the DEFINING GENRE of the last twenty years.
I’ll spare you the details, but this is profound. It has a resonance in any religious or ideological strain that embraces the Tragic View of the World. Excellent
If you enjoyed this video, you'll like the companion video I made about Omar's Code, exclusively on Nebula. I go through every example of Omar talking about his code to breakdown what it is and how it evolves over the course of the show.
Watch it now when you sign up for the CuriosityStream + Nebula Bundle: CuriosityStream.com/ThomasFlight
5:10 Who did DeAngelo kill?
You haven't given the link to this video of yours on Nebula in any of your mentions of it. I've already got Nebula. What's the URL for that companion video?
@@R-Lee- Pooh, before the series.
Jada pinkett Smith, I former drug slinger from the mean streets of Baltimore
Should star jada pinkett Smith from the he mean streets of Baltimore
Rest In Peace Michael K. Williams.
God bless him and his family.
Oh indeed.
Never another 💯
@Sherman Park cringe. Wtf is rest in power
🙏🏾 🕊
To me, the most interesting thing about Omar, is how he won his war against Marlo, without ever taking direct revenge against him. In a typical hollywood movie, Omar would have taken out Snoop, Chris, Monk and Cheese, in badass ways, and then he would have confronted Marlo, and killed him. But in the Wire, he doesn't get any of his targets, and is gunned down by a little kid. Marlo is so interested in his own name, and the power it carries. He doesn't care about the money, or the life outside of the game, he cares about his own power high, while in the game. Ironically, he gets the exit Stringer was looking for. He leaves the game with a lot of money. But he is an empty man without the game. And there is where Omar won. By the time Marlo walks out of that party, he has already been forgotten. His name no longer has any power to it. Meanwhile Omar's legend has grown to a mythical proportion. Decades later, the city of Baltimore will still be fondly remembering Omar. Nobody will remember Marlo in a matter of months. That's such an interesting and metaphysical way, that Omar won his war against Marlo.
absolutely correct
One thing I can add. In death, Omar beat Marlo. When Omar loudly, called him out Marlo to settle things in the streets, everyone will believe Marlo punked out. No one will believe the truth that Marlo's captains just never brought him the news, which means Marlo was completely out of touch with what was actually happening in the streets.
What an excellent analysis. I hadn't seen things this way, but it's so obvious now you said it. Thank you for sharing your insight.
*Oh, Indeed*
🙌🏾❤💯
You know a show is good when the characters are still analysed even after 20 years the show started.
yes wtf right hahaha
man fking hell 2nd watchthru now I'm in tears cuz I KNOW there will not be anything like this ever again.
Rip TD and BCS, noteven comparable imho!
Feel like I know Bmore more than my own country!
@@Ariaaae which country u from?
I never watched the show until last week. Binged watched. Omg it's good. Omar was the truth.
* Michael entering heaven *
Angels: It's Omar! Omar comin yo!
Thats funny asf haha
Lmaoooo
Jesus:yo omar we up in here wit tha Mac 10
Omar creepin..
😂😂😂😂 I can picture that
The Wire is the greatest most layered show I've seen. Like watching a novel, social study, Greek tragedy and Shakespearean play each episode. Great accomplishment
It was written by, unlike most shows, not maily tv writers. They were authors, playwrights, newspaper writers in charge of this show. And former policemen and people from the street life like Snoop. That’s why the writing is unmatched
@@GeronFletcher heck there are literally actors that were in the game.Example being Donnie Andrews(the guy Omar is based on) as Butchies henchman and Little Melvin(the Church Deacon)...
@@jiyanmehta7250 very true !
@@jiyanmehta7250 snoop too.
@@GeronFletcher snoop as well
Omar being Black, homosexual, and a thug who brought it to the macho of the macho on the show, added complexity to his character. That mix was brilliant. That's a whole different video.
making him homosexual was def an interesting and unexpected touch
I would say him having a code made his character
It’s something I loved about MKW was that he lacked toxic masculinity and often played complex gay characters-both Omar and Leonard were so much more than just their sexuality.
Anybody who's interesting at all is a lot more than just their sexuality. Other people's sexuality really isn't interesting.
@@JakeKoenig it was definitely relevant. Every other guy who was part of the game showed extra contempt and disapproval of his sexuality pretty much each time he was brought up. Omar being gay in a community that is notoriously against it adds to the layers of him going against the grain, just like him hustling the hustlers and robbing the dealers, it deepens the dichotomy
This man showed me what complexity in acting is, and we've truly suffered a huge loss with his passing.
Rest In Peace.
MKW is truly one of the great actors of this or any era. So deep & to use your word - so complex. It saddens me to see that some criticize his decision to take that final shot of poisoned drugs. Who knows what deep reservoirs of pain he suffered to seek relief in opiates? "Judge not lest ye be judged". May Michel Kenneth Williams be in peace now.
Young thug loves the wire!?? Soo cool🤯
Hearing the Omar whistle at the Ravens/Chiefs game was fuckin spine-chilling. Such a perfect tribute to a perfect character/actor. RIP Michael
Don't know why they would do that as Mike K. Williams wasn't from either Baltimore or Kansas City
@@donovanwilliams29 but Omar was
@@mdd04000
No he wasn't Michael K. Williams is from Brooklyn N.Y.C.
He died tragically where he grew up from which is presently where I'm at down the block and around the corner. He a local legend from some projects for making it out of the projects to becoming an actor..
That acting role was a show based about the drug trade in Baltimore.
Nice try buy I know where he's from and it ain't Baltimore or Kansas City
@@donovanwilliams29 …that’s a why monte said “omar” not Michael k. Williams.
@@princegobi5992
Foh with false repping neighborhoods. That sh1t is lsme
Thank you for this. Omar was by far my favorite character because of how mythical he was in the world that was so real. They ran, called out his name, and tried to hide, all with him whistling over the top. It some of the best world building/character building.
Tbh, I didn't hate Bodie & Poot for Wallace's murder. They'd done all they could. If they hadn't killed him, they & Wallace would have been dead anyway. As D'Angelo said......"Where's Wallace String?"
That's who I hated for Wallace's death.
That might be why I never like Stringer Bell.
@@katherynemero4118 yea same. I never found myself pulling for him. That and having D'Angelo killed
Michael Williams was the real MVP of the show, the character's fate was so shocking for me.
D'Angelo was my favorite character as well.
I can hardly believe that Michael K. Williams is gone, and that his unforgettable, brilliant portrayal of Omar Little is over 20 years old. I mourn his untimely death, and can't shake the thought that the world is much, much poorer because we never got to see this incredible actor play Shakespeare's Richard III.
I can almost hear him: "Now is the winter of our discontent. . ."
RIP to a great artist.
This was an excellent character study that perfectly framed the subject within the larger narrative. I spent a semester in graduate school studying The Wire, and you did in 20 minutes what my professor did across 4 months. Of course, we enjoyed a good deal of the other tangential themes the show explores (and good God there are plenty of them), but this video certainly does get at the heart of the series. Well done! Film and television is objectively lesser without Michael K Williams, and his passing should be cause for everyone who cared and had the privilege of enjoying his work to take some measure of action to help promote the reform of drug policies in this country.
If you liked this one definitely check out y other videos on The Wire- I go into a lot more depth in those!
Beautiful tribute, Rest In Peace to the legendary Mr Williams
Very well done analysis! Omar little is definitely one of the greatest characters of all time, and it's a tragedy that Michael K. Williams has passed on. No one will ever forget this legend.
Michael K. Williams portrayal of Omar Little was the soul reason I watched the show.
I grew up a rough life & this show was one of the most accurate portrayal of that life.
Michael K. Williams Was amazing.
The show was pact full of heavy hitters when it comes to acting talent.
When if the greatest series I’ve ever watched.
I keep thinking about the amount of years that have passed since the end of The Wire... and Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, Mad Men, and Deadwood. Are we going to get another extraordinary show like these again?
@pureU4EA You are absolutely on point, that miniseries was great.
Better Call Saul is great, rewatching it again at the moment. Amazing, far more than a spin-off. One season to go...
Succession is def worth watching
Watchmen
Snowfall
I don't leave many comments online in general, and you're one of only a handful of creators I subscribe to.. your breakdowns are amazing, and this one is just immaculate - thank you for this..I was half upset in your opening when you say it's "one of" the best shows, but then in the end you did say it's your favorite so I'll allow it lol.. finished my 6th rewatch of the series about 2 weeks before his passing, I'm scared to watch it again and see him on screen, not ready for that pain...RIP Michael K
It is my favorite, I just try to stay away from saying things are "the best" to be more inclusive of people's taste.
@@ThomasFlight yes of course, completely understandable.. didn't mean anything by it, I have the utmost respect and appreciation for the way you present your work
Seeing this in my infobox made me sad. It is a great video and it summarized well what a legacy Michael K. Williams left behind when he portrayed that character as well as he did. May he rest in peace.
Filmed in my childhood neighborhood. I lived through this stuff. My street sign was always rotated 90 degrees.
The Wire is superior to Breaking Bad and The Sopranos.
Equal to BB.. it's the same verse... BB actually happened.
The Wire happens everyday in America brother
The wire is based on actual people in Baltimore the man who helped Omar in jail is actually the real Omar do your research.@Miafunfactory
At one point I would have said Sopranos, but after my second rewatch the wire is king. It’s too real to ignore.
indubitably
The iconic character in the best show ever made
Omar stood out in a strong line up and made the show
I'm a simple man, I see The Wire I click
I second that
Hahaha, indeed. Oh indeed.
Great minds think alike
I just finished watching The Wire for the first time and I feel what can be described as grief watching this video. Like I lost a window to that world and I grieve for losing the connection to those characters. I don't think there were any pieces of art that have moved me as much as this show, and I'm deeply grateful for the great work you put into exploring and analyzing this masterpiece.
Omar Little is the best television character of all time.
One of my favorite tv characters of all time. I love that he was unapologetically himself. Openly gay in an extremely homophobic area. Robbing the most violent drug gangs. But he helped people and looked out for those he loved. Always found myself wishing for more time with Omar. I wanted him to get his happy ending. Can’t believe Michael C. Williams is gone. 😭
You mentioned something I have always loved about The Wire- you come to care for almost every character in some way. A character you hate one season can become a character you love in another. These are some of the most humanized television characters in history.
Great that you returned to make one video again of the Wire in honor of Michael K. Williams. Rest in peace
Greatest TV series of all time. Still not been bettered.
I used to watch it, but generally was looking at the clock maybe 25 minutes in..very boring, couldn't understand what the natives were saying, and too much boring POlice crap..good show, not great
@@mitchelll3879 You bugging it was great but the series with the kids where more my favorite
Your a liar season 4,5 straight trash
@@mitchelll3879the analysis about police it's so insane💀
Some Series leave a mark on the brain 🧠, and this one will stick with me forever.
Same..kept on watching. First downloaded it, then bought the dvd and then watched it straight away when I got HBO Max
and trust me bro 2nd watchthru is hella different!
I just happened to finish this series for the first time last week when he passed. What a show. What a character. What an actor.
Excellent analysis of one of the greatest characters ever! The show was so brilliant that, even though I was sad at Omar's murder, it was perfect: killed by some kid who wasn't impressed when meeting him. Stripped of the mythological infamy, the kid just saw a regular person, as vulnerable as anyone else. Even more perfect was the mix up at the morgue. Though he was legendary on the streets, and for the audience, he was no one in other circles, almost buried as a middle-aged white man. I remember my first reaction to that scene being of shock, "how do you not know Omar?" But, of course, it made perfect sense.
I noticed how they did him in the obituary at the paper. For us, such an important character....and was nothing but a quick little blurb in the newspaper to the people that worked there and the rest of the community.
Omar was partly based on a real life person. The man that’s with Omar that gets killed in Monks apartment is the guy it’s based on. He wasn’t gay, that was just a HBO add in to make the character more dramatic. But he was a hit man and stick up man in Baltimore that robbed drug dealers back in the late 70s early 80s. But he did have the code of no woman, children or ppl not in the game. Can’t remember his true name right now but you can Google about him
The guy that helped Cutty open the boxing gym was a real!life former Baltimore drug dealer named Melvin Williams , he’s who Avons character was based on . Google him.
What was also true was the person Omar was based on did once jump out of a balcony to escape once. Only he didn’t do it from the 4th floor like the show has Omar doing, in reality the guy jumped out the 6th floor and survived. But they show runners thought people wouldn’t believe it if they had Omar do it.
Everything has been said about Omar by this point, so I'll bring up another character mentioned in the video, D'Angelo. D'Angelo's death on The Wire is probably the death that affected me the most on The Wire second only to Omar. It happened so early on, but it also stung so hard. I just felt like that character had so much more to give. Of course he has some extremely glaring flaws as a human, but he was too good for the viewers. Also the fact that he had nothing left in prison except drugs...it's almost as crushing as Dukie's end result.
Random note, what a GREAT little video this is. I love how you kept it short, and sweet with relevant clips, and didn't try to make it about yourself like so many TH-camrs just HAVE to do these days. You played the game by your own moral code.
There’s something especially unsettling about Omar whistling “A-Hunting We Will Go”
The drug and mental health problem that we are currently facing is equal to any other problems we have right now.
RIP to one of the greatest.
And locking them all up doesn't solve anything
I wish we could have gotten more Michael K Williams. RIP KING.
Omar is easily the most iconic character. And who doesn’t love Bubbles? But imo the most underrated characters I always found myself pulling for were Bunk Moreland, Frank Sobotka, Bunny Colvin and Dennis Wise.
I love how we are still talking about this show
You laid out in this video what makes The Wire so great and without equal. Even some of the best shows like Breaking Bad, Jessi and Walt have clear arcs. The Wire has winding arcs that make you sympathize with them as you said. Walt and Tony were not sympathetic characters. Great characters, but not really complex as a wide variety of characters in The Wire.
It should also be mentioned with respect to Omar that he does eventually break his own code (or rather, his promise he made to the police to no drop any more bodies). This is after Butchie is murdered, and he comes across Sevino. Even though Sevino was not involved in what happened, Omar justifies shooting him by saying that he would have hurt Butchie just the same had he been there. In other words, Sevino's innocence of Butchie's murder was arbitrary. Once Omar crosses that line and breaks his promise, little Kenard drops him out of nowhere. So yes, while Omar did have his own code, he broke it, too, and paid the ultimate price.
Omar was definitely one of the leads in The Wire. He was always upto something. He had a code however that some characters didn't display.
I KNEW IT! I had a hunch you'd make a video on Omar since Michael K. Williams' passing. You never disappoint, mate, thank you!
Rip,brotha. Hes 6 on my favorite characters in tv all time.
Omar is still one of my favorite characters ever written and acted. Every second that he's on the screen I am sitting up and taking it all in. Then I rewind it and watch it again. He's perfectly written, and at the time, making him gay blew away any expectation or box we might put a "stuck up man" in. It told us that this character was different. He was layered, he was complex, he was real. The moment he hit the screen I was hooked. RIP MKW. You can rest knowing you played one of the best roles ever put to screen perfectly in a way that people will always remember. You are a legend, just like Omar. ✌
Omar is the most compelling character I’ve ever seen. I hope Michael K Williams knows the impact of his performance
Man, seriously, you're one of the best content creators existing on this platform...
Just finished the Wire for the first time about an hour ago and I absolutely loved Omar. Really great character
Worrying about you be like worrying if the sun gonna come up, ain't about to wild eye about it... That scene had so much amazing dialogue like from this range in this calibre, even if I miss I can't miss or I don't see no sweat on your brow either bro.. Omar listening. The wire and the sopranos are the undisputed 🐐 TV series
Just finished season 4 rewatch and onto the end.
I think this season will have a whole new perspective now
Goddamn, time to watch The Wire again. Stands tall beside Sopranos for truly creating the modern television storytelling experience. Everyone who worked on this show should be fiercely proud.
I should rewatch this show again
Everything about this video - the depth of analysis about the show, the character of Omar, and MKW and what he brought to the show as the perfect actor/vessel for this character - is absolutely brilliant. Well done!! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Very interesting. Very interesting indeed, ....describing Omar as a "Classic western stick up man, recast in Baltimore". Excellent observation.
What a wonderful review of one of my favorite characters, from one of my favorite shows of all time.
Excellent work.
Amazing analysis! And Michael K. Williams will be sorely missed. I'd hoped to see him in many more shows.
he was fantastic on Boardwalk Empire as well and had a much bigger role. Ive been meaning to go back and watch the wire again
I’m as stereotypically lefty as they come, but while rewatching season 3 with a friend who was watching the series for the first time last night, I realized something after we saw the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it reveal about a high ranking police in a certain gay bar scene (fans will know what and who I mean). I said, “A more Hollywoodized show would’ve made him ‘find himself’ through the LGBT movement, but in the wire it’s just a moment of a reveal and he stays closeted but now more layered and nuanced.” Just like this masterpiece of a series.
Great analysis and tribute. If I weren’t already subscribed I’d subscribe just for this video essay alone :)
Season 2 was outstanding to me.
I totally agree that season 2 is underrated, and am so glad to rewatch all seasons with friend
I’m gonna be straight up. I turned the show off immediately once Omar was killed. Pissed me off too much. I was ADDICTED like a Baltimore crack addict to this show but once that happened I became as sober as bubbles did at the end (I had to search up the ending haha). Maybe one day though I will rewatch the whole series and finish correctly and not be emotion when I see Mr. Little capped. I understood why though they did it to Omar and it rings out his legend even better than ever.
I think his death was peak irony. It was tragic no doubt, but in a sense he foreshadowed his own demise once bunk gives him shit about how kids are out here playing stick up like they omar or sumn, only to end up getting killed by a kid who at one point idolized him.
Wasn't he killed in the final montage?
@@johnqpublic770 nah I’m pretty sure it’s either 2 or 3 episodes before the typical season ending montage
Watch the rest of the season and listen to the street boys background chatter. Pretty much every episode there's a different story about Omar.
@@chumpzilla30 Yeah. He dies, but really, he lives on.
A beauty in the show that captivated me was how much it believes in the goodness of people
I have always felt that Wire is the best show just because of the sheer number of outstanding performances from the actors, i have never seen more realistic series and the way it was put together was just perfect. You could just tell from the first scene that Omar was the realest of them all he knew what he was and didn´t change it for no one. RIP Michael K. Williams
"Hey, yo! Y'all need to open this door, man, before I huff and puff."
Such a great line delivered so iconically.
damn. this video made me feel emotional. the story is something that echoes the feel of real life.
the wire, is one of my favorite shows. & Omar, one of my favorite characters of all time. rest in peace Michael K. Williams.❤️
Love your videos on The Wire ❤️ Omar Little is probably my favorite television character of all time, he has no shortage of amazing quotes & scenes. Michael K Williams was amazing. The scene between Omar & Bunk is my favorite
Such a powerful scene. Maybe the best in the show.
It's 12:30am in Australia, but I'm awake, so I'm definitely watching.
How are things coming along with the lockdowns? Any progress with the protests??
@@nasirjones-bey7923 I'm in QLD and we've mostly avoided extended lockdowns, because we've instituted hard border controls and short sharp lockdown when we get a few cases. Occasional small protests. Melbourne and Sydney different story.
@@andrelove3478 I've heard the policies are vastly different state by state. The footage I've seen of the implementation and enforcing of quaritine in Melborne is frightening. I'm all for health and fighting the virus, but 100% against these draconian mandates and violation bodily autonomy. Thanks for the update, be well.
Great video about The Wire and the position of Omar in the series! Amazing analysis of the conflicts between individuals and institutions depicted in the show.
I dont say these words easy but the wire was a masterpiece and Omar one of the best characters in the whole television history,thanks to the writers but mainly thanks to the actor, very sad the actor died.
Your video is also very well made.
Well done, MKW's portrayal of Omar Little was nothing short of genius. This synopsis just made me appreciate his work more.
at the very start of the video, because I can't wait to say this:
The scene at the beginning of this video with the kids running away shouting "Omar comin'!" made me skip ahead in my mind to the last season, when Omar's retired to Florida and walking around without a care in the world, and when the neighborhood kids shout "Omar comin'!" they're running _toward_ him 'cause they're happy to see him and that made me feel so good for him - and that's what broke my heart so much when he got called back to Baltimore
Considering my first watch of the Wire was just a 3 hour compilation of his character, I foolishly thought it centered him at the time.
Close but not at all
@@YSuniverse856 Yeah, I was pleasantly surprised when watching analysis videos.
Thomas! This video was excellent! When I think of The Wire, I often don't think about the show itself and what made it great. It's been such a long time since I've seen it that I often revel in the feeling I had while watching it. The details get a bit murky and macro and some of the shades become full strokes. While this video focused on Omar, you were able to really cultivate what made the show so excellent in your time spent with each character and the awesome choices of scenes that you peppered throughout. It really brought back such a remarkable feeling about what I loved about it. Bravo, man. Killed it.
Watching The Wire for the first time and am midway thru the last season. I have to agree, if there’s one character you want to see come out on top, it’s Omar. Michael K Williams is a big reason why. Check him out in Boardwalk Empire. Such a loss…
my favorite character of all time
This is a character I really fell in love with, amazing video thank you!
No one and I mean not one single person on this earth could have played that part better and if it wasn’t for Omar this show wouldn’t be what it is today! No one talked about this show until his passing really then all a sudden everybody was a wire fan! I’m 32 years old I was 12 when this came out and lived by this shit!
I absolutely loved Omar and it makes Michael K Williams death hurt so much more. I was so ready to start watching more of Michael's work and be more of a fan. RIP ❤
i think the reality hit bodie when kev got smoked, it put into his mind about how things played out with wallace and it opened his eyes to realize he made dire mistakes. It was too late for him, the reason he stayed on that corner when poot told him to run was his guilty conscience trying to make up for killing wallace and kev dying. Guilt mixed with revenge is a terrible concoction
Right you are. Brilliant video.
Yoo my G I really appreciate how you did this!! Much love for Omar!!!
Omar is a very close second, but for me it was Bubbles.
Bubbles was still apart of a system; an institution. And he was very systematic
I loved me some, Bubbles too!
Exactly
There’s a dude I work with named Omar I love once in awhile saying “Watch out Omar be coming yo” every now and then.
Honestly playing the outro on low while listening to this video puts it on another level.
I forgot about that scene when he goes to buy some honey nut and someone dumps the stash out the window. 😂
"There are few stories made about the existing forces of power simply defending and maintaining their power."
The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire, Boss, Power, Empire, The Shield, Mad Men, Billions, Ray Donovan, Brotherhood, Animal Kingdom, Magic City, The West Wing, Suits, Reign, Dynasty, Succession, and even (to an extent) Game of Thrones.
Did you just... not watch ANY television in the 2000s and 2010s? 'Existing Institutions of Power Fight to Maintain their Power' was literally the DEFINING GENRE of the last twenty years.
The best show ever and there will never be another show like it. One of a kind!!!! 💯💯💯
Perfect timing for this video
I just finished watching the whole serie yesterday.
What a journey !!!!
RIP Mr. Williams and respect for one of the most realistic performances we've ever seen. (Whistling "The Farmer in the Dell".)
Prez is one of my fav changes. I love how he changes over time.
Your commentary only served to make the Wire even more incredible. Thanks for this!
I’ll spare you the details, but this is profound. It has a resonance in any religious or ideological strain that embraces the Tragic View of the World.
Excellent
the most interesting and fun character the show had with out doubt. still hurting after hearing the actor passed and especially in the way.
the scene where he testifies and throws shade at the lawyer for living off drug dealers just as he is being accused of is amazing
Gr8 video and tribute to the character of Omar.
Never seen an episode, only some clips from youtube but can already tell that Omar was one of the best characters, if not THE.
Perfectly said.
Rest in Peace Michael K. Williams.
I’ve been watching Hap and Leonard on Netflix. What a great show. Williams is fantastic as Leonard.
Shame its over #HNL
Dang man good analysis. I usually think these kind of videos are making stuff up but this was pretty spot on.
Yessss you made a new the wire video idk why I just saw this in my recommendations, also R.I.P. MKW
Thank you Tom. Glad you spent enough time and energy to understand what you were watching down to a science to its core.🙏🏾