Why Wasn't Sergei Killed For His Betrayal? | The Wire Explained

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ส.ค. 2024
  • The Wire is HBO’s highly realistic and unvarnished crime drama series detailing the drug trade of Baltimore, Maryland and the cops out to put a stop to it.
    Sergei Malatov is an enforcer for the Greeks who is a prominent supporting character in season 2.
    Seeing as though he snitched on the Greeks, why didn’t they kill him? How is it possible that he is still on good terms with the Greeks, that he can be a middleman between them and Marlo, when surely by now he should have been given the D’Angelo treatment? And also, with him living out his days in prison, what’s in it for him and just what kind of valuable information could he give to Marlo anyway? It’s not as if he would be in the know with the Greek’s, he’s out of the game - as Vondas tells Joe in season 2, the Greeks would be using new people for their dealings.
    So, let’s discuss. Why didn’t the Greeks kill Sergei for his betrayal?
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ความคิดเห็น • 350

  • @melker-nn4md
    @melker-nn4md ปีที่แล้ว +166

    The Greeks? They're a glorified crew!

    • @WestSideGorilla1980
      @WestSideGorilla1980 ปีที่แล้ว +25

      Pygmy thing

    • @thru_and_thru
      @thru_and_thru ปีที่แล้ว +49

      😂 “bunch of farmers down in Baltimore”

    • @allpraisestothemosthigh9418
      @allpraisestothemosthigh9418 ปีที่แล้ว +27

      They're with the Vipers!!

    • @dukedematteo1995
      @dukedematteo1995 ปีที่แล้ว

      Fuckin Elvis country..

    • @bigkahuna3534
      @bigkahuna3534 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@thru_and_thru those greeks never had respect for our thing. they make anyone and everybody over there.
      no feta on the table no shots of ouzo. disgrace

  • @mariozd971
    @mariozd971 ปีที่แล้ว +130

    Spiros was a little sentimental guy, he hoped he shouldn't have kill Frank Sobotka but it was only possible solution, but he was relieved he didn't have to kill Nicky whom he liked very much.

  • @VanirTraditionalist
    @VanirTraditionalist ปีที่แล้ว +230

    Season 2 is criminally underrated.

    • @Jestin612
      @Jestin612 ปีที่แล้ว +28

      I didn't like it at first but I love it now.

    • @KtotheG
      @KtotheG ปีที่แล้ว +23

      Nick's girlfriend's "twins" scene made it worth the price of admission, lol. Season 2 is great. Ziggy was dynamic. He was like Fredo Corleone from The Godfather.

    • @actuallynotsteve
      @actuallynotsteve ปีที่แล้ว +14

      It really is, people get way too mad about it not being just more of Season 1, because at that time it wasn't known or expected that the focus of the show would shift with each season. I love Season 2.

    • @Paul-vf2wl
      @Paul-vf2wl ปีที่แล้ว

      @@KtotheG Lotta talent in season 2 strippers hookers even Mcnutty's ex.

    • @peaceindarkness.darknessis3494
      @peaceindarkness.darknessis3494 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Agreed.its my favorite

  • @goodyeoman4534
    @goodyeoman4534 ปีที่แล้ว +105

    The Syndicate decided that losing his hair was enough punishment, and losing his life would seem like overkill on top of that.

    • @seewhativescene
      @seewhativescene หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      This comment was gayer than rawls hiding out at the gay club

    • @goodyeoman4534
      @goodyeoman4534 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

      @@seewhativescene You're projecting big time.

    • @toby099
      @toby099 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      @@seewhativescene tell me your bald without telling me your bald lmao

  • @henrybiggs3113
    @henrybiggs3113 ปีที่แล้ว +178

    They didn't kill him because they didn't have to... Their names were not their names... All police had were the names that everybody else had... The Greek & his #2 stayed the king, always...💯💯💯

    • @StinkyCashFlatEarth
      @StinkyCashFlatEarth ปีที่แล้ว +8

      The Greek was not the king. If you pay close attention, you’ll find out Maury Levy is the true king.

    • @henrybiggs3113
      @henrybiggs3113 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      @@StinkyCashFlatEarth / Levi worked for the criminals... When his name came up in incidences, he has to make deals... He couldn't just walk off & assume a new identity & pick up where he left off...💯💯💯

    • @StinkyCashFlatEarth
      @StinkyCashFlatEarth ปีที่แล้ว +10

      @@henrybiggs3113 the criminals actually work for Levy and did every single thing he ever told them to do. He even smacks D’Angelo Barksdale across the head and there are no repercussions. He represents every single major dealer in Baltimore for all 5 seasons. He is the true King pin. The jewish lawyer.

    • @henrybiggs3113
      @henrybiggs3113 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@StinkyCashFlatEarth / Y'all dudes will argue about anything...😫😫😫 I thought this was about the greeks & why they didn't kill Sergei... Levy is a lawyer, he is not apart of a criminal enterprise... He makes extra money on the side from it... It's his job to advise who he deals with... I don't even know what that means, Levy is the true king... King of what...?? He wasn't getting the greeks containers passed through the port nor giving them advice on what to do when it went awry... Levy was local, the Greeks were international...

    • @StinkyCashFlatEarth
      @StinkyCashFlatEarth ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@henrybiggs3113 you obviously weren’t paying close enough attention especially throughout season 5. so what that Levy is a lawyer? Prop joe was an electronics repairman.

  • @devangnivatkar2649
    @devangnivatkar2649 ปีที่แล้ว +86

    This has been my fan theory for years as well. If you get picked up, first stall the cops, allowing your bosses enough time to get out. Sergei does this by asking for vodka (for example) when he clearly knows he's not getting it. He does it by posturing about having done time in Ukraine and the American prison system not scaring him. Then he gives information that's easily covered up or fairly irrelevant to get a lighter sentence

    • @BillJones-fn8pt
      @BillJones-fn8pt 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +21

      Yeah agreed they had a protocol hence why he could still reach out giving false names and a temporary burner address was hardly the nail in the coffin ..

    • @davidhowell1415
      @davidhowell1415 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      he's not Ukrainian

  • @thomasbennett9155
    @thomasbennett9155 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +7

    I love the first meeting they show with Sergei and proposition Joe. Clearly, they connect on several levels and understand that it’s all business, but seem to genuinely like each other as well.

  • @TheDCGuitar13
    @TheDCGuitar13 ปีที่แล้ว +17

    I believe Sergei informing was a contingency plan all sides agreed to. Marlo still had to go through Sergei to get to the Greeks so clearly they weren’t on bad terms

  • @rswindol
    @rswindol ปีที่แล้ว +316

    I thought his name was Boris.

    • @melker-nn4md
      @melker-nn4md ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Boris Badenov...

    • @KOVIDGOON
      @KOVIDGOON ปีที่แล้ว +39

      Always Boris!😳🤷🏾‍♂️

    • @burniebikeshog2803
      @burniebikeshog2803 ปีที่แล้ว +44

      Boris…..why is it alway Boris

    • @ndogg20
      @ndogg20 ปีที่แล้ว +18

      Even his wife Natasha calls him Boris.

    • @slthjawa5062
      @slthjawa5062 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      His name is Robert Paulson

  • @munstrumridcully
    @munstrumridcully ปีที่แล้ว +54

    IMO, the "Greeks" spared him for a combination of reasons.
    A) as you mentioned, they I fo he gave the cops was largely useless to the cops and never led to any arrests or seizures of product of the Greeks
    B) which is akin to reason A, the Greeks seemed overall less bloodthirsty/rep-obsessed than the way Avon was, or Marlo with his whole "My name is my name!" monologue.the Greeks, while appearing ruthless over business and/or risk from the law, they seemed way less eager than any of them use violence as a first resort.
    IMO, characters from even shows like The Sopranos could take lessons in restraint and laying low...

    • @SuperRobertoClemente
      @SuperRobertoClemente ปีที่แล้ว

      It's B) all the way. The Greeks are invisible, nameless, faceless and nationless. They don't attract attention by killing anyone. They're the opposite of street hustlers who rely on rep to consolidate power and capital. The Greeks are wholesalers, make big bucks the easiest way and don't fuss about any little stuff-- including Prop Joe getting clipped.

    • @Yvanehtnioj2000
      @Yvanehtnioj2000 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Bro the first scene we see of the Greeks is of them strangling a man after the Greek tells him everything is okay they’re absolutely bloodthirsty and reputation obsessed (those come with it) just not to the same magnitude as a Marlo.

    • @doublerdub1
      @doublerdub1 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      ​@Yvanehtnioj2000 That was a business decision, though. He was the one that basically killed the prostitutes in the stack. That brought the police to their operation as well as it cost them a lot of money.

  • @BigBoneESB
    @BigBoneESB 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +9

    The Greeks were too connected to miss Sergei snitching. Both parties likely realized Sergei walked the tight rope and only gave up information that was already known, so no harm done. Sergei getting to live (and family probably compensated) guaranteed his loyalty AND an enforcer right in the heart of the East Coast H trade: the Baltimore prison where many deals went down. Sergei was far more valuable alive, but why he wasn't DEPORTED back to his old country is a more interesting question - what is he doing rotting in an American prison for life on American tax dollar?

    • @Hgthjhgffhjkhrr
      @Hgthjhgffhjkhrr 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      In the eyes of the concept of the War on Drugs, we win a “battle” by locking him on our soil, so we have eyes on him. Makes sense? Maybe, but no.

    • @stevenhaas9622
      @stevenhaas9622 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      as a low level muscle guy he would have def been deported.

    • @miseago
      @miseago หลายเดือนก่อน

      You don't get deported until AFTER you serve your time.

  • @davidemelia6296
    @davidemelia6296 ปีที่แล้ว +161

    I think The Greeks had a plan for Sergei getting arrested and being 'turned' against them, and part of that was that Sergei would be allowed to 'snitch' on them to avoid the death penalty.
    That way, The Greeks would know to cut and run if Sergei ever did get arrested (they'd know that Sergei would 'snitch' on them if arrested, and they'd have a contingency plan in place for that), and Sergei would know that he wouldn't have to get executed for his crimes (because of his 'co-operation' with the police), and that The Greeks would still take care of him even though he was doing a life sentence (because he'd gone along with their plan).
    And the police wouldn't know how The Greeks had gotten away from them, even though Sergei had 'ratted' on them. The police would lose everything they had on The Greeks up until that point, and would have to start from scratch.

    • @BruteStrength99
      @BruteStrength99 ปีที่แล้ว +36

      I think you're right. Often times drug cartels will give associates permission to snitch to cut the best deal they can but they usually send a lawyer to sanitize the information they give authorities so it's either old and useless or directed towards their rivals

    • @coolpeople4287
      @coolpeople4287 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      In the military we write down "lessons learned" from previous deployments or missions and pass this info down to our relief. The drug cartel had learned plenty of "lessons" over the years and always knew how to outsmart the police in every situation.

    • @mariozd971
      @mariozd971 ปีที่แล้ว +21

      Sergei said while in prison-for me this isn't prison, i was in a real prison in Ukraine. Makes me think how ukrainian prisons looked in 90s, crowded, with many gangs who controlled various rackets. US prisons to me seen very violent and racially divided

    • @maxclifford937
      @maxclifford937 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      I agree, also it is probably useful for the Greeks to have some contact inside prison. Honestly they always gave the impression of being a few steps ahead of everyone else so I'd imagine it is planned out to some degree.

    • @peaceindarkness.darknessis3494
      @peaceindarkness.darknessis3494 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Respect the validity of this theory

  • @flightofthebumblebee9529
    @flightofthebumblebee9529 ปีที่แล้ว +31

    I always assumed because he went to prison and didn't snitch on anyone else but himself. By season 5 Vondas and the Greek are back hanging out at Little Johnny's like the port investigation never even happened. (Kind of silly from a plot and storytelling POV). The main reason Sergei never snitched is because he doesn't need FUHKING CANTEEN.

    • @zacharyb2723
      @zacharyb2723 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      nah they didn't 'hang out' at Johnny's, just Vondas at first went there (i think) when Marlo asked for a meet. they kept the counter man there to keep an eye out, they weren't just grabbing coffee there. still risky, but with their law enforcement contacts they probably know there isn't any real investigation left targeting them.

    • @pcharl01
      @pcharl01 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@zacharyb2723 to be fair on the time difference between season 2 and season 5 I believe might be 4 to 5 years. So in that case, would the police even be looking into the diner?

    • @sillysailor5932
      @sillysailor5932 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Sergi did snitch. He told the polce what hotel the greek was in. The police were to slow

  • @moneymikz
    @moneymikz 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +10

    The Greeks aren’t bound by the snitch code of the streets, they would have no problem with Sergei giving up useless info to save his life

  • @drmartin5062
    @drmartin5062 ปีที่แล้ว +25

    I think they all had plans to rat with info that ultimately leads nowhere

  • @jwouter
    @jwouter ปีที่แล้ว +20

    I don’t think he wanted to help Marlo at all , I think Avon made it clear that if he doesn’t prison will get a lot worse ….. Avon wanted Marlo to cut out the east side as he still held on to the east side west side beef ….

    • @Paul-vf2wl
      @Paul-vf2wl ปีที่แล้ว +8

      He was doing a favor for Avon because he needed protection being a white guy in a Baltimore jail.

    • @cj-hw3pv
      @cj-hw3pv ปีที่แล้ว +14

      I think Avon figured out that Prop Joe was a major reason Stringer did what he did and blamed him for Stringers death, Avon did this to get revenge.

    • @maxclifford937
      @maxclifford937 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@cj-hw3pv yea and I think he probably thought Marlo wouldn't last. He would pick a flight with the wrong person in the end and it'll go wrong or get bored when he is the only one left and mess up. Someone like Marlo will always self destruct or make mistake so might as well make use of him while you can.

    • @georgejackson4426
      @georgejackson4426 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      ​@@Paul-vf2wlSergei was not being protected by Avon. Unlike most other state prisons the dominant White prison gang in Maryland is affiliated with the BGF.

  • @octavioherschberg5280
    @octavioherschberg5280 ปีที่แล้ว +48

    This was always my biggest question. I get the name is not my name thing, but he still tried to sell them out. And why would they take his call for Marlo? I wrote this before watching because I like to pontificate.

    • @andrewcook1246
      @andrewcook1246 ปีที่แล้ว +21

      Contingency plans out the wazoo with them Greeks. Hell of an outfit they were. Tentacles everywhere. He only knew names and he was a good worker. He could've spoke about other murders. "Murders stay murders" or at least for a few decades. Like Vondas said he looks into his peoples eyes and knows if they snitch or turned soft. Knew Sergei was like Bey. Gave up dead and people who were already caught at the scene of the crime. He definitely put in more work that what was shown on S2 and knew plenty more. They probably gave him or his people a small pension and he still has ways to get in touch with them to feed them info. They are the heroin trade so knowing who's trying to do what with Sergei on the inside close to the Avon's up at Jessup. Seems profitable.

    • @Natalialoboorca
      @Natalialoboorca 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I think it's actually simple. There is a good chance they didn't know he was a snitch. He associates with Avon who is "some sort of authority figure up in here" meaning Sergei has status in Prison. You can not get that respect as a known snitch.

  • @eliwhaley4804
    @eliwhaley4804 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Literally just got done with season two and the next day cina puts this out. Perfect timing

  • @actuallynotsteve
    @actuallynotsteve ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Isn't it possible that Sergei played both sides? He could have ratted to save his skin, and then made his first call The Greek, saying he won't be home for dinner or whatever

  • @alanmjohnson
    @alanmjohnson ปีที่แล้ว +13

    I think it is a slight mischaracterization to say that DeAngelo was killed as retribution for snitching. I mean, he did, but ultimately he didn't do it officially. He was killed to prevent him from having second thoughts somewhere down the line.
    Also, why would Sergei have been under Avon's protection? Avon never even knew who the Greeks were, if he even knew that they existed (all he knew is that Joe had a good source to heroin).

    • @h.o.o.d.recordingandmanage2841
      @h.o.o.d.recordingandmanage2841 ปีที่แล้ว

      Because he runs the prison and the Greeks have no pull in the state prisons only the blacks

    • @dksoulstice6040
      @dksoulstice6040 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      D'angelo snitched on Weebay and told the cops where he was.

  • @dzilla4208
    @dzilla4208 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I thought it’s like heavily insinuated that the Greek had an FBI informant so I guess I always assumed that he was given a heads up after Sergei told on them

  • @Banzai51
    @Banzai51 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I always got the impression they had a protocol for what info they could safely give up if caught.

  • @johntaaustin293
    @johntaaustin293 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    The Greeks knew he talked. Marlo and Chris found him through court paperwork that was a matter of public information. No way the Stansfield Organization knew about his documented cooperation and the Greeks didn’t.

    • @zacharyb2723
      @zacharyb2723 ปีที่แล้ว

      Is it in the court papers that he snitched? They try to protect informants, the court papers just say that he took life to avoid the death penalty, am I right? doesn't look like a snitch on paper. With Avon, his sentence was so light that people thought he snitched even though he didn't.

    • @johntaaustin293
      @johntaaustin293 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@zacharyb2723 yes everything regarding your case including cooperating is in the papers when you take a plea. If you remember Stringer told the attorney for the connect that he sent all of the document over so that they could see that Avon didn’t cooperate. Sergei’s cooperation would have been used in a trial had they caught Vondas and The Greek so there would be no way for the state to keep what he gave them out of the documents.

  • @wynwilliams6977
    @wynwilliams6977 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Its common in the military when people go on missions, hold out for a certain amount of time, they change codes, call names, mission parameters etc within that time then you can talk about it all you want

  • @jeffvanmeter1330
    @jeffvanmeter1330 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    According to the book “The Godfather of the Kremlin,” a large percentage of Russian mafia, especially in the upper echelons of power, are former KGB, which would mean that they have specific training in how to avoid giving really important information during interrogation. One technique, is to give information that may seem like gold to interrogators, but is in fact of little value. “The Greek” would have known that Sergei had been arrested, and if he was former KGB himself, he would not only have known that Sergei would give up ‘Something’; but likely have known exactly what Sergei would say.

  • @answerman9933
    @answerman9933 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Sergei should have known that being sentence to death, especially in a state like Maryland, means you will more than likely die of old age.

  • @GiiipsonPoet
    @GiiipsonPoet หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I know I'm late to the party, but I believe a season 6 that was focused on the prison system would have been super dope. Bringing Avon back to the main character which would bring the the show Full Circle. As far as the streets, they could have had secondary story lines of who ended up taking the place of certain characters and the development of others but the story of showing how much of an authority figure Avon actually is in prison and the effect that it has on the the streets would have been a complete closure to the series in my opinion

  • @KtotheG
    @KtotheG ปีที่แล้ว +11

    I think Sergei was acting because he was so quick to give them up.

  • @jamiegodfather
    @jamiegodfather ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I always thought Sergei worked with Marlo because Avon had told him too!! I think he just told Marlo about the Diner it wasn’t a bar!!

  • @sayseriously
    @sayseriously ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Great vid. Sergei was one of the best side characters.

  • @TheCmascagni
    @TheCmascagni ปีที่แล้ว +7

    There is no way they wouldn’t know he snitched.

    • @monadreher2428
      @monadreher2428 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      They absolutely knew he snitched. It was literally in the dialogue between him and Marlo. Him helping Marlo and putting The Greeks onto a potential promising asset is what would've put him back on The Greek's organization good side.

    • @dantemackey7471
      @dantemackey7471 5 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      I like that thought.... I didn't think about it like that....that would make more sense... I've always wondered why would they even talk to him again

    • @TheCmascagni
      @TheCmascagni 5 วันที่ผ่านมา

      I’m not even Greek….

  • @erics362
    @erics362 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    I never understood why Vondas and The Greek returned to Baltimore after their close call with police there.

    • @JayyJay92
      @JayyJay92 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      I think they went whenever their fbi contact was. When they were in San Diego it’s cuz he was there and now that he’s in Baltimore area they came back.

    • @trenttrip6205
      @trenttrip6205 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      $$$

    • @stevenhaas9622
      @stevenhaas9622 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Because they still have connects on the docks. The docks are the key to their business.

    • @erics362
      @erics362 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      @@stevenhaas9622 Not my point. I understand why that was a great location for them. But wouldn't their return pose an extreme risk to them given how close the police got to them last time?

    • @StephNuggs
      @StephNuggs 14 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      @@erics362 The Wire isnt as well written as the hipsters would have you believe

  • @rooseveltsmith6963
    @rooseveltsmith6963 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Sergei wasnt a snitch he did what he was told thats y he was still able to reach out to them.

  • @JayyJay92
    @JayyJay92 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Guarantee he was told he could give the fake names in order to save himself. The only thing I didn’t get is he knew they would leave so in season 5 how did he know they were back ? Unless they reached out to him somehow.

  • @defAngel
    @defAngel ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I always struggled with seasons 1 & 2

  • @Nerdy_The_Punk
    @Nerdy_The_Punk ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Why bother risk getting caught killing a guy who is now nothing and in jail and can do nothing to hurt you.

    • @ramstacp
      @ramstacp ปีที่แล้ว

      It’s all about reputation and scaring anyone else from doing the same

    • @zacharyb2723
      @zacharyb2723 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@ramstacp But the Greeks aren't interested in street rep. All they want is to stay off the radar and print money.

  • @lampshade3795
    @lampshade3795 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    The first theory makes the most sense.

  • @johnpenley
    @johnpenley ปีที่แล้ว +2

    We really have no clue as to how Sergei was related to the connect itself?
    Could be simply a case of that if anything happens to Sergei, the dope connect goes south? 🤔

  • @frankmurphy7234
    @frankmurphy7234 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Haven't watched the video. But I kind of always felt that Sergio was the perfect soldier / Fall Guy kind of like what El Chapo is 2 El Mayo

    • @JayyJay92
      @JayyJay92 ปีที่แล้ว

      That would be a better comparison if it was vondas. Everyone knew vondas very few had talks with the Greek.

  • @muntublackson4757
    @muntublackson4757 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Season two was the most dynamic and complex in terms of character development and storylines
    I know its everyone least favorite after season 5 but season 2 was some pretty extraordinary writing

  • @T-roc57
    @T-roc57 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Clearly the greeks had no beef with Sergei if marlo had to go directly through him to get the connect.

  • @JayyJay92
    @JayyJay92 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    It was probably established that he could tell them all that on purpose. Cuz he never told the cops about the little deli they operated out of. Or else they would’ve set up cameras there waiting for Greeks to return.

  • @KMacMerlin
    @KMacMerlin ปีที่แล้ว +5

    They weren't exactly long gone though lol cigs were still warm

  • @samus282
    @samus282 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I think the writers used Sergei to help unfold the plot. He is the character that connects 3 elements of the story in season 2; the docks, the police and 'the greeks'.

  • @RayAtkins-wk9zv
    @RayAtkins-wk9zv 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I miss this show

    • @wayne9077
      @wayne9077 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      It was one of HBO's best series

  • @mysticx0
    @mysticx0 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    he gave them exactly what he was supposed to give them. what we dont see is what probably would have happened: counter-terrorist agency gave him witness protection before the trial ever started and serge reconnected with the greeks down the line.

  • @luisd7636
    @luisd7636 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    good stuff.

  • @mbryson2899
    @mbryson2899 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    The Greeks could also take street credit for getting Sergei out of the death penalty. That likely got traction with their other minions.

    • @ramstacp
      @ramstacp ปีที่แล้ว +2

      No, just no. Smh

    • @mbryson2899
      @mbryson2899 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@ramstacp Why not?

    • @stephenswift9896
      @stephenswift9896 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@mbryson2899 Yeah I think it makes sense that they would have a contingency unlike some one such as Marlo who kills at a whim.

  • @grinchoi1
    @grinchoi1 25 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Why would Joe think Marlo was business orientated? He knew that he was beefing with Avon over corners and he had no interest in the co-op or any of those Eastside bosses.
    Also there is no breaking of the code in killing Marlo. That code applies only to members of the co-op and as stated Marlo didn't care for the co-op.
    The simple truth is that Marlo had more muscle than all those guys put together. We knew this all of those East Side guys could drive the New Yorkers from THEIR OWN TERRITORIES. They had to get Marlo on it.
    It would have been cool to see if one of em could get Brother Mouzone to get at Marlo. That would have been fun to watch

    • @WittynotSilly
      @WittynotSilly 8 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Joe knew marlo wasn't interested in the co op or the "business" as you put it joe wanted to manipulate marlo he knew that mf was dangerous so he wanted to keep him close sorta how he played stringer you know the saying keep your friends close but your enemies closer
      killing marlo was certainly not an option.. marlo had monopolized the west side and had 2 of the top hitmen in the city on his team but what prop joe should of known was that marlo wasn't just sarisfied with the westside he wanted control over the whole city but prop joe was in the way of that marlo couldn't muscle his way on the east side because joe had the plug my suspicion is that marlo was plottin on joe from day one he just needed to get up under him and pick his brain knew joe was up to something he just didn't know what so he played dumb , joined the "co op" and let joe show his hand so he could meet the plug once he got in with them he could knock off joe , disband the co op have the whole city on his nipple prop joe played himself into a corner he was the last kingpin in the city after avon got popped.. so he's in marlo's crosshairs , omar got him by the balls over the set up at the card game , new day co op , robbing of the shipment so he can't sic omar on marlo like he did avon.. and avon being locked up has hand enough time to think and he figured out it was prop joe who played on stringer and brought down his whole operation.. joe underestimated marlo's cunning

  • @CaptainTripppz
    @CaptainTripppz ปีที่แล้ว +1

    The line-of-thinking near the end of the video seems the most acceptable. The Greek's probably wouldn't have deep reach into the American prison system and simply cut their losses figuring Sergei couldn't do any more damage anyway (due to their cautious nature and knowing he is facing death they would assume he talked). Some of the comments that Sergei would know the Greek's have already cut their losses and limits his cooperation to mostly corroborating what they already know is reasonable. It is heavily implied by the nationalities of their members and Russia prison tattoos they are a trope/caricature of a 'Russia mafia' family.
    As for Sergei needing Avon's protection in prison: how many white prisoners did you seen in all the season 2 prison scenes? Sergei is tough, but he's in there for a life.
    Marlo didn't even understand online banking so it's doubtful Sergi gave him a Tor/Freenet or other online way to contact them. All the phone numbers he knew would be burned. And, since Vondas gives Marlo a phone specifically for contacting them, it seems Sergei simply gave Marlo the location for Johnny's Diner (which I think would actually piss them off more...). Nick or Sergei never gave up the Diner to the police, and the other other people alive who knew about it is Ziggy and maybe Johnny Fifty. In the show's final montage we see Fat-Face-Rick and Slim Charles meeting Vondas at the Diner, again suggesting Marlo simply gave them the location.
    The diner stuff is a bit thin, but most of this is S5 which has a lot of thin and rushed plot points. But, it's good enough two bring back two fan-favorite characters: Avon and Sergei. Also, if you've read this far there is a funny easter egg involving the diner where in S2 Ziggy asks about the pie and Nick says 'it's shit- lets go' and in S5 we see Snoop eating pie at the counter during the meet.

  • @an152771
    @an152771 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Sergei had fake names, only faces, and on top of that was a BMF nobody wanted to mess with

  • @johntaylorson7769
    @johntaylorson7769 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Can't help but notice a lot of these "why did-?" questions about The Wire come from season 5. Could it have just been substandard writing (and I don't mean bad writing per se, just substandard from the amazing writing of the previous seasons. There's a bunch of stuff about S5 that doesn't make any sense and I don't think it's anything more than a bit of a duff season.

    • @CineRanter
      @CineRanter  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      You know, while I was making these videos I was actually thinking that. In fact, I mentioned it in my recent video about Levy.

    • @johntaylorson7769
      @johntaylorson7769 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@CineRanter Yeah, I watched that one yesterday and it got me thinking about it. S5 is still cracking entertainment and head and shoulders above a lot of other TV, but there's a lot of contrivances which don't wash under close observation. On a couple of rewatches of The Wire I tend to stop after S4 (the last shot of which, possibly intentionally(?) is a STOP sign!).
      Love your channel by the way- great content and astute observations of some great cinema and TV. You ever looked into The Shield? For my money, the best long game and finale of any crime show (including the behemoth that is The Wire).

    • @CineRanter
      @CineRanter  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@johntaylorson7769 Thank you. I may do down the line. Currently watching a show that many subscribers have asked for. Going through my list one by one

    • @zacharyb2723
      @zacharyb2723 ปีที่แล้ว

      Season 5 had less time to make and fewer episodes, its definitely messier and some stuff was just them rushing to meet HBO's schedule.

  • @Potatoshaneko
    @Potatoshaneko 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Sergei is Ukrainian, not Russian.
    Nicky: "You're Russian right?"
    Sergei: "No, Ukraine, Kiev is Ukraine"
    Ziggy: "It's the same difference though"
    Sergei: "No, you are wrong".
    I was actually very impressed by that particular dialog to be honest, Ukrainians have predominantly tried to distance themselves from Russia since before the collapse of the Soviet Union. And I'm sure you've all seen what's happened in Ukraine the last 18 months.

  • @kingfelix1966
    @kingfelix1966 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    One thing people don't understand about the game.. No one reaches the upper echelon without working with the folks.. Like it or not.. Even the cartels worked with their government and the us government

  • @WoronzoffPawel
    @WoronzoffPawel 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    BTW, there's no such last name like Malatov, although it may sound similar. I was always wondering why scenarists don't use normal names, instead of weird ones - Foma Kiniajev, Malatov. It could be Malakhov or Molotov, but not Malatov. Like englishman with last name Jucksen, or something like that.

  • @kamiioo3289
    @kamiioo3289 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Why would they kill Sergei when he most likely is serving a life sentence w/o the possibility of parole? Even if he flipped on them, they have many passports, many identities. They'll, most likely, never be caught. He takes the dead bodies in that can, as well as the trafficking that's caught on the wire. The Greek will compensate him, or he'll leave him where he is. Either way, Sergei is not a threat.

  • @bjt81366
    @bjt81366 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Sergei popping up in season 5 and not dead was just as unrealistic as Marlo being able to meet the Greek in person or the Greek located in the hood. First, the death of the women in the container was national news and his capture would have been big news. Second, if dude just disappeared the Greek would have wanted to find out why because Sergei knows all about the operation. Third, arrests are public records, a couple of phone calls and anyone with a phone can find out who's been pinched. Season 5 was good, but it was the only season that was not realistic.

  • @RileyFree1
    @RileyFree1 2 วันที่ผ่านมา

    It’s simple, whatever he said to the police for the most part couldn’t hurt the Greeks. None of their real names were said, and they had already fled and ducked the indictments. The things Sergei said didn’t further the police’s investigation, the only thing they really got from him was wrapping up who killed that crewman. And you see later on when Marlo is trying to back door prop Joe to get to the plug, Sergei still had a line to the Greeks. I imagine they probably had a meeting about what to do if you were caught just like when they all met and get new identities and passports when the operation was compromised. Blame it on “Vondas” cause Vondas is nobody anyway! We’ll just get him another name! Simple

  • @MilkmanC
    @MilkmanC ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Not enough transpired for Sergei to be on let alone be seen on any "Discovery" report, but also, The Greek said it himself ...he's not even Greek lmao

  • @geordiejones5618
    @geordiejones5618 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Any criminal operation needs guys who are willing to "talk" because they know enough to know what not to say and what's gonna be found out no matter what. If your operation depends on total isolation/deniability of upper management, there's not much that anyone below that level can damage more than cops and feds will. That's why you only tell subordinates what they NEED to know and get rid of anyone who suggests they outta know more than they should. If you truly take care of your people and give them no reason to doubt the safety of their family, you'll have people willing to fall for the cause, knowing their loved ones aren't being left out in the rain. It's easy to turn traitor if you feel like the other side will give your dependents a better chance.

  • @mecachislamar
    @mecachislamar 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    i think they were structured, and hence, i buy the line of sergey knowing it was ok to give info. they would know in due time about the information given, and disappear. win win. it is about win win for them to supervise, as seen through the season.

  • @josephlawler1213
    @josephlawler1213 ปีที่แล้ว

    I don't think the greeks forgave Sergei. Avon is probably protecting him in exchange for protection. Avon and the greeks knew Marlow would burn out because he was too vicious. Avon and Prop Joe were stable influences on the game, and with Joe dead, Avon was the only OG who could smooth out all the dealers and get the money flowing again.

  • @michaelhammond2394
    @michaelhammond2394 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Big fact

  • @mwenvlay
    @mwenvlay ปีที่แล้ว +2

    they didn't kill him because they didn't have to. anyway, i think the more interesting question is why did avon ok the transfer on the connect to marlo for a measly 100 large. that always struck me as a false note. and tbh, i'd like to know if, in a real life version of this plot, would marlo really have been able to get 10 million from the co-op? seems like there were too many people involved in that deal to make it a good bet.

    • @maxclifford937
      @maxclifford937 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Probably the fact 100k is a better than 0. I think Avon assumed Marlo wouldn't last anyway (which is generally a good bet for someone like Marlo) and so he might as well make a but before Marlo burns out. Maybe thd next guy will do the same and he can make another 100k.

    • @trenttrip6205
      @trenttrip6205 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      I think that was just a power play, Avon wanted to show Marlo he still ran shit at some level

    • @jb3151
      @jb3151 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      That’s also how much he lost to Prop Joe in Season 1

    • @mwenvlay
      @mwenvlay ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@jb3151 ahhhhhhhhhhh, good catch! thanks so much for pointing that out.

    • @woahblackbettybamalam
      @woahblackbettybamalam ปีที่แล้ว +3

      He wanted to get back at prop Joe for swindling him on the ball game.

  • @mastod0n1
    @mastod0n1 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Sergei isn't Russian. He's Ukrainian, which was a significant difference to him in that scene with Ziggy and a massive difference nowadays.

  • @Paul-vf2wl
    @Paul-vf2wl ปีที่แล้ว +9

    What makes you think Sergei wasn't Russian? Also it wasn't a bar that the Greek hung out in it was a diner. Other than that I agree with you the Greeks likely had no clue Sergei ratted on them and they probably reached out to him when he was in prison.

    • @THEjoelivingstone
      @THEjoelivingstone ปีที่แล้ว +20

      In one of the sitdowns, Zig calls him Boris. Sergei gets annoyed.
      He's called a Russian, and Sergei immediately corrects him to say he's Ukrainian.
      Nick responds "Same thing."
      Sergei responds "Actually, you're wrong."
      So yeah, Sergei wasn't a Russian.

    • @user-xm9ms5dl8d
      @user-xm9ms5dl8d ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@THEjoelivingstone But they are the same ethnicity. He was born before 1991, before ukraine was invented by NATO.

    • @THEjoelivingstone
      @THEjoelivingstone ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@user-xm9ms5dl8d Ukrainians are a distinct ethnic group of eastern Slavs that predate NATO by centuries. FOH with that bullshit, Boris.

    • @joachimwalle3760
      @joachimwalle3760 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@user-xm9ms5dl8d Where do you get your information from? NATO did not invent the Ukraine.

    • @aggrodkreg4321
      @aggrodkreg4321 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@joachimwalle3760 it's a recent Russian propaganda line to justify their expedition into Ukraine.

  • @elftax
    @elftax 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    This is dumb speculation, Sergei was a key lieutenant so he would have a paid lawyer…a lawyer who is also connected to the Greeks. The Greeks knew exactly what Sergei told the police before the ink was dry.

  • @tmofee
    @tmofee 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    First of all. They didn’t know enough. Apart from spiros, none of them really knew the Greek. Secondly, if they hurt or killed him, it could possibly put them in a position where not even the FBI could protect them.

  • @LesterBrunt
    @LesterBrunt 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    . In that business it is inevitable that people are going to get locked up with heavy sentences, getting rid of them is a costly and risky, so it is better to keep them in your pocket as they might end up being useful in prison.

  • @LoneWolf_Cub_Ogami_Itto
    @LoneWolf_Cub_Ogami_Itto ปีที่แล้ว

    Probably because his testimony didn't matter do to no Greeks, no Vondas. So they likely have it on file but wasn't used in court. The Greeks may or may not know about Sergei talking, but there is no Vondas, no Greek.

  • @terranman4702
    @terranman4702 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    "Urkainian"... "Same difference." .... "NO! You are wrong!" Thanks WIRE! One dialogue explaining the ukraine conflict with russia!

  • @BreakPunk
    @BreakPunk 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

    this is a chair, not the 3 year sentence

  • @IvalDeLo
    @IvalDeLo 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    He is in jessup md in prison. There we literally HUNDREDS of “ bikes “ ( cellphones ) throughout jci. I even had one myself from 2016- till I was transferred to wci in Cumberland at the end of 2017. He could easily contact them. Not to mention Sergei looks like he’s put on weight. That’s not from working out. That’s from Sitting in a cell eating commissary and watching tv. You gotta have money for that. Not to mention Sergei is a stone cold killer. A man with skills like that can make ALOT of money in prison. Especially Maryland. The Greeks definitely didn’t know and took care of Sergei.

  • @justkhail
    @justkhail ปีที่แล้ว +1

    That was a long and entertaining video. They didn’t kill him because they didn’t have to. 🤷🏾‍♂️

  • @elcochino8139
    @elcochino8139 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    So if Avon had access to the Greeks from the inside why not sell it to another Westside ninja and not Marlo?

  • @JTNugget
    @JTNugget 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Going by your theory, why did they kill Frank Sobotka then?

  • @78CRI97
    @78CRI97 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    He got their ear for marlo ,so they must be still in someway conected

  • @alhollywood6486
    @alhollywood6486 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Did he have hands?

    • @harriscarson4207
      @harriscarson4207 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      then it wasn't us!

    • @TheCmascagni
      @TheCmascagni ปีที่แล้ว

      Did he have a face? Then it wasn’t us……….idiot😂😂😂

    • @TheCmascagni
      @TheCmascagni ปีที่แล้ว

      😂😂

  • @teflonson718
    @teflonson718 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Next vid...why did herc tell levy about the wiretap?

    • @DarthWinterMadness
      @DarthWinterMadness ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I'd say because he's a moron and often doesn't think before acting.
      Or maybe he was bitter his career as a cop went down the sh*tter so he did it as a middle finger.
      That's an interesting question though...
      Cheers from France! 🍻

    • @StephNuggs
      @StephNuggs 14 วันที่ผ่านมา

      I mean that is the dumbest shit in the show ever. Herc just became a plot device with the IQ of a carrot. Made no fucking sense at all

  • @IronMikeDyson1979
    @IronMikeDyson1979 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    As i got older, i realized season 2 went into depth regarding corruption, human trafficking, foreign mobs, business moves, strategies etc. Only low level minds want shootouts and corner beefs from season one 24/7

  • @vincentmedley5091
    @vincentmedley5091 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    That wasn't a bar. That was a diner.

  • @jonahweinshenker
    @jonahweinshenker หลายเดือนก่อน

    They are truly just business men. They’ll do whatever makes them the most money for least risk.

  • @EdwardSimms
    @EdwardSimms ปีที่แล้ว

    It would also be to the Greek's advantage to have a skilled killer in prison, to do their bidding.

  • @charlespirate1
    @charlespirate1 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    “Highly realistic” really?

    • @madhack69
      @madhack69 ปีที่แล้ว

      Agreed, but more realistic than any Dick Wolf produced show

  • @homoerectus744
    @homoerectus744 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Where is Merry Land?

  • @Whatisright
    @Whatisright ปีที่แล้ว

    Probably wasn’t worth the trouble to have Sergei killed. The Greeks being about business and nothing else it probably would have just brought more heat onto them. If they have him killed it’s probably a sign that their either still around or back. Why stole the flames when they can let them die down and resume business later when no one is looking.

  • @scottymacdewder5229
    @scottymacdewder5229 ปีที่แล้ว

    Sergei wasn't taken out, as he could still serve as an asset, even from his cell.

  • @sunnyatkar1982
    @sunnyatkar1982 ปีที่แล้ว

    Why kill a loyal, trusted soldier that will always help.?

  • @charlieruehl8589
    @charlieruehl8589 ปีที่แล้ว

    It was so fuckin badass when Sergei tells Marlo that US prison is fucking nothing compared to Ukrainian prison, and he doesn’t want or need his fuckin money

  • @alanfarquharhill
    @alanfarquharhill ปีที่แล้ว

    The big question: what gets The Greek up in the morning? The short answer is 'business; always business'. But that doesn't feel wholly convincing.
    With Tony Soprano, he is a degenerate gambler and has numerous ties that bind him to his life - not least an oath to the Di Meo family. The Greek....it just doesn't feel that way.

    • @trenttrip6205
      @trenttrip6205 ปีที่แล้ว

      He seems to enjoy a great deal of wealth, just on a classier and less flashy level than most gangsters. We see he has a pretty fulfilled social life eating at fine restaurants and stuff.

  • @nilslindqvist8825
    @nilslindqvist8825 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    He was, of course, Ukrainian, no small difference…not least these days.

  • @hatuletoh
    @hatuletoh ปีที่แล้ว

    Does he have hands? A face? Yes? Then it wasn't us.

  • @KobaTheBori
    @KobaTheBori 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    What if The Greek is really a Turk

  • @Smith13j
    @Smith13j 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Probably because Boris is too dangerous. He’s obviously a professional.

  • @chairmanmeow2588
    @chairmanmeow2588 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I think they probably just knew he didn't know anything so no reason to waste there time killing him.

  • @Void7.4.14
    @Void7.4.14 ปีที่แล้ว

    We actually never see the Greeks in a bar, mostly just a diner, family.
    I personally think it can be more than one of these at a time.
    In the streets there is a code. And while it's not as adhered to as it once was it is still followed by plenty. Snitchin is one of the absolute worst thing ya can do. Not necessarily civilians witnessing, not necessarily civilians reporting crimes that happen to em, but being in the dirt and selling others out when the heat comes to save yourself is just foul on so many levels and can't be tolerated or it all falls apart. But that's the streets. It's actually pretty common at high levels for the people involved to rat with a quickness, sometimes even as a preemptive measure to get protection down the road (like it kinda seems like the Greeks may have done, or they never were actually informants but their man on the inside had em listed as such for protection). A lotta these high level mfs give it up. They aren't in the streets like that, they aren't as emotional about these things, they're typically pretty greasy themselves so they have to be more pragmatic about others doing the same. It's less a must to end rats and more calculated, might happen, or a dozen other things might.
    It also probably wasn't the easiest thing to get em touched even if they wanted and they probably didn't think he could hurt em in any meaningful way. If they could easily get him maybe they would, but it's also just as likely that they didn't know exactly what he said in the box, only that he put himself in.
    I know when I used to be out there before a job, a lick, or a run it was routine for me and whoever I was with to game plan and come up with a story, Plan B, what to do if we got pinched, all that. Ya gotta be a fool to play with your life without a plan. So it's very possible they also had that set up ahead of time for him and others to fall on their sword and give em some useless info. But even though it kinda appeared so initially, he didn't seem to be on that inner circle like that so they may not have even needed to plan it, all he ever had was bs.
    I always wondered this too, but I guess for them they need to pick and choose who they wack. They rely on their ability to be ghosts and if they go around dropping anybody and everybody for every little betrayal and infraction it's hard to stay low-key. It's also possible that even a compromised Ukrainian is still potentially useful down the road so that saved his life for the time being. Who knows.

  • @jonny-b4954
    @jonny-b4954 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I figured they wanted him to rat on them. They'd just change their identity and move to another city. Means nothing to them.

  • @finnamdahlflor3318
    @finnamdahlflor3318 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Sergei is from Ukraine. He corrects Ziggy on this.

    • @alanmjohnson
      @alanmjohnson ปีที่แล้ว

      I think the video calling him Russian was just setting up the joke in the next line.

  • @xxbobsetsfirexx4269
    @xxbobsetsfirexx4269 ปีที่แล้ว

    H is a letter..not a word...

  • @positivevibesandmorelife7307
    @positivevibesandmorelife7307 ปีที่แล้ว

    Sergie snitched point blank period and they didnt know he did