The Wire Top 50 Characters

[Maynard]

#42 - Beadie Russell

Beatrice "Beadie" Russell is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actress Amy Ryan. She was featured prominently in the second season, after she discovered thirteen corpses in a container on the Baltimore docks.

Russell is introduced into the series as a port authority officer, a work that she's been performing from two years previous. She took the job because she needed the pay to support her two young children after her husband abandoned them; before her appointment, she worked collecting tolls, though it didn't represent a decent income. Russell's parents often help her with the kids. She found the job unchallenging and spent most of her time patrolling the docks and checking shipping manifests. She developed a friendly working relationship with many of the stevedores, including Frank Sobotka, though she was kept out of the loop regarding major criminal activities within the stevedore's union because of the Port Authority's lack of manpower.

Sweet Beatrice Russell is a port cop who was featured mainly in season 2 but also throughout season 4 and 5. She played a major role in the port investigation as she was the police who discovered the 13 dead girls in the can. With no experience, she was left in charge of an investigation nobody else wanted. But thanks to McNulty needing to fuck over Rawls, the murders were placed on homicide and she was detailed to assist in the investigation with Bunk and Lester. Danials unit eventually took over the investigation and she worked closely with his unit looking hard at the dock workers.

She was green when they started, but by the end of the investigation she was a seasoned police. Unfortunately for her, once the detail was over, she went back to patrolling the docks. She later became McNultys girlfriend and saved him from himself in a diminished role. but her role as part of the season 2 dock investigation was strong and earned her a spot on this list.


Favorite Scenes
1: When she goes to the IBS hall to try and convince Frank to come in and talk to the detail. She was very emotional and showed that she cared for these guys despite the criminal activity they were a part of. She was willing to overlook their wrong doings and protect them if it meant getting to the greek and his people.

Favorite Quotes
"You said you were with the marine unit? What does the marine unit have to do with a bunch of dead girls in a can?"

​

 

[Tailback U]

I like this. It's your list, do whatever you want with it. 50 characters is not easy.

The quotes are my favorite part so far. Some really forgotten quotes from that series.

 

[Pitty]

Davis at #44?

 

[Maynard]

#41 - Kenard

Kenard is a fictional young drug dealer on the HBO drama season, The Wire, portrayed by Thuliso Dingwall. Kenard is a younger member of Namond Brice's circle of friends (also known as the Fayette Street Mafia). He is first seen in season three, where, following a prolonged gunfight at a Barksdale stashhouse, Kenard argues with his friends over which one gets to pretend to be Omar Little while playing in the area and re-enacting the gunfight.

Kenard is a young 12 or 13 year old kid that makes his first appearance in season 4. He is a badass little kid who you know will grow up to be a career criminal and might even be a kingpin. He has a hard nose attitude and has no fear. At his young age he looks to make himself known as a lieutenant for Namond Brice, but ends up stealing the package. He made this list because he had one of the biggest impacts on the show by murdering Omar. How can you not include the kid who killed Omar.


Favorite Scenes
The murder of Omar Little. This was such a great scene because you never saw this coming. You expected someone from Marlows crew to kill him in a gun fight if anything. But if you were like me you just assumed Omar would never be killed. It was a bitter sweet moment in TV history and perhaps the greatest scene from the greatest show ever.

Favorite Quotes
"package up my ass gump!"
​

 

[Maynard]

#40 - Randy Wagstaff

Randy Wagstaff is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Maestro Harrell. Randy is an enterprising student who is dependent on social services. During season 4, he was an 8th grade pupil at Edward Tilghman Middle School and is friends with Namond Brice, Michael Lee and Duquan "Dukie" Weems. He had been living with a foster mother, Miss Anna, who instilled some discipline in his life, until her house was firebombed, forcing Randy into a group home. He is well known amongst his peers for his imagination and ideas. Randy runs a small business selling snacks and drinks to his peers and neighborhood drug dealers. He shares his last name with drug lieutenant Cheese Wagstaff. Though the relationship was never established on the show, creator David Simon revealed Cheese to be Randy's biological father -- which would also make Proposition Joe Randy's great uncle.

Randy Wagstaff is introduced in Season 4 as part of the school angle. Randy is a smart, good kid who would proabably have a very successful life if brought up under better circumstances. He may have ended up that way anyways if the streets didnt change him for the worse as he got older. But he is a typical 8th grader who is naive and gullible. He lives with his strict foster mom and ends up ratting on someone for tagging lockers in school to save his own ass. A very weak move on his part, and he ultimately pays the price when he is asked to have Lex meet up with a girl behind a playground. This ends up haunting him for the remainder of the series.

Randy is yet another in a long list of smaller roles that played a big part on the show. He made a few appearances during season 5 and in the latter episodes showed how the streets eventually changed him into a street tough kid. Its a sad character because he is naive in thinking a simple request would end up killing (we assume) his foster mother and getting him his ass kicked on a daily basis for being a snitch. An otherwise good kid who made some bad choices. To me he is the ultimate irony in a show full of ironic characters.

Favorite Scenes
1: The scene with Prez ordering his candy. Randy has a proud smile on his face where you know he is going to make something of his life.
2: The scene in school where Prez has all the kids partner up and Randy asks Kareem to partner up and Kareem refuses. The confused buy aware look on Randys face showed he knew he was in for trouble.

Favorite Quotes
"Ya'll better get this cop out my face before I bank his ass"
​

 

[Maynard]

Favorite Seasons
#4 - Season 1 - The Detail

The first season of the television series The Wire commenced airing in the United States on June 2, 2002, concluded on September 8, 2002, and contained 13 episodes. It introduces the drug-dealing Barksdale organization and the police detail that is investigating them.

Season 1 was the season that kept me from ever watching The Wire. i tried 3 different times to watch this show based on all the great reviews the show had. But everytime I tried to watch it I got bogged down by what I thought was a terrible show. I was bored out of my mind by the show. It just seemed to talk and talk and blah fucking blah every show. I just couldnt get into it and could not for the life of me figure out what the big deal was. But people just wouldnt shut the fuck up about how great it was. Then during my 4th try and about 6 shows I was about to give up for the last time when vsn's Sethmode posted a comment about how I need to keep going because the next show was about to make the show great. I listened to him and he was right. Except it wasnt until episode 10 when Griggs got shot. After that, I went on to watch the series 6 or 7 times in a row and I was hooked. I am still hooked as I completed a cycle then immediately started another cycle where I am on season 4. I digress.

At one time season 1 was my clear cut choice for 4th favorite. But now its really tied for 2nd with 3 other seasons. But for my purposes I put it at 4th. This season is all about the developing the characters who make up the foundation for the series. There are events from season 1 that carry over all the way through to season 5. But while it may take its time setting up the show, it does it such a masterful way that I have the most respect for this season and its the one I look forward to watching more than any other. I love seeing how the detail is created and how the police characters come together to form bonds and partnerships that would last the entire series. The Bunk and Jimmy McNulty. Rawls giving him the double fingers. Jay Landsmans ass kissing ways. Seeing Lester Freamon go from being on the self for 13 years and 4 months into a respected natural police. Herc and Culver taking direction from Kima and of course, Lt Danials.

Not only do we get police developed, but we also get the street developed through Barksdales organization with Wee Bey, Stinkum, Stringer Bell and D'Angelo Barksdale. We get to see how the real world drug scene plays out in the West Baltimore with Bubbles and Johnny, and we meet Bodie and Poot and see how they began their careers as drug dealers. We get to see why and how Bubbles becomes a CI for the series and his famous red hat.

Then we get blindsided by a guy and his crew who robs drug dealerz. Omar Little who patiently stakes out the drug dealers he intends to rob and carries out his work with a shotgun all around Baltimore. He is a likable character from the start because its just so bizarre to see a character like this in a show. But then he throws you a curve ball because he is also a homosexual. Such an infamous role that really develops into a great character over this season.

The story within season one is well told, albeit very slow and deliberately, it does warm up during the 7-9 shows, then just lights up from episode 10 on. This is truly a remarkable season that might be difficult for some to get through at first, but if you plug away and keep watching, you realize you just watched something really special. After you finish the series you will find yourself wanting to come back to it over and over again.
​

 

[dave]

Great concept for a thread. Kinda disagree with the low rankings for Clay Davis (he was hilarious) and Nick Sobotka, but this will be an interesting thread to read, nonetheless.
During season 1 (first time watching), I had to turn on the subtitles to have a clue what the fuck most people were saying. That helped a lot.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

During season 1 (first time watching), I had to turn on the subtitles to have a clue what the fuck most people were saying. That helped a lot.

jesus dave, i'm the whitest guy on earth and even I think this is pathetic.

 

[Tailback U]

Great concept for a thread. Kinda disagree with the low rankings for Clay Davis (he was hilarious) and Nick Sobotka, but this will be an interesting thread to read, nonetheless.
During season 1 (first time watching), I had to turn on the subtitles to have a clue what the fuck most people were saying. That helped a lot.

Where's the emoticon for that sound you make when you laugh out of your nose with your mouth closed when you need it!

 

[Glenbino]

Wow a lot of big names in the bottom 10.

I don't know why so many people kill season two.. I really liked it.

Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Maynard]

#39 - Kimmy

Kimmy is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Kelli R. Brown. Kimmy was partnered with Tosha Mitchell as both her lover and associate in robbing drug dealers until Omar Little returned to Baltimore and persuaded them both to join his crew. Tosha was accidentally killed by Omar's boyfriend Dante in a heist gone wrong on a Barksdale stash, leaving Kimmy distraught. She then decided to leave Omar's crew, stating that there were easier people to rob than the Barksdale organization. In season four, Kimmy reunites with Omar in an elaborate plot to steal Proposition Joe's large drug shipment that is meant for him and his Co-Op. After the successful heist, Kimmy takes her cut of the stolen drugs and tells Omar that she will now retire from her dangerous profession.

Kimmy is a member of Omars crew and is about as badass as they come. She is a thief and a killer and would kick just about anyone's ass she comes across. Kimmy has skills as she scams her way into many drug houses by playing dealers with her looks and sex appeal. She has no fear in a gun fight and as a member of Omars crew, happens to also be gay. Her charecter is not developed in a way that we get to know her beyond her criminal behavior. But we do get to know enough about her to know she is cold blooded and doesnt care about much of anything besides her lover, her crew and robbing drug dealers.

She compliments the development of Omars role in the show very well by offering a view into his world. I would have loved to see her have a deeper role in the show, but sometimes the best things come in small packages. Kimmy is one of those examples of a small role that plays a huge part in the series.

Favorite Scenes
The gun battle outside the Barksdale stash house. Stringer doubles the muscle after Omar hit a previous location, and while they almost got in and out with no problems, a bigtime shootout took place on the streets.

Favorite Quotes
"I'm out. You back to dealing with Barksdales people Im out yo. I'm in it for the money"
​

 

[Maynard]

#38 - Butchie

Butchie is a fictional blindman on HBO drama season The Wire, portrayed by S. Robert Morgan. Mostly blind" Butchie is Omar Little's bank and advisor. He runs an East-Side Baltimore bar.

Blind Butchie is a character we see from seasons 2 through 5 and he is usually in an advisory role to Omar. He banks his money and provides a line to sit downs with people like Stringer Bell and Prop Joe. He does not play a huge role in the show other than that of one that focuses on the development of Omar. We dont know much about Butchie other than he is a blind drug dealer who flies under the radar and has done so for years. He owns a bar and keeps a tight group of people he trusts around him.

Like Kimmy, he is used more or less as a setup character and as such gives a clear view of the type of person Omar is despite being a career criminal. In doing so, Butchie adds a excellent dynamic to the show over the course of many seasons by being a mentor to Omar. Personally I think the roles of Butchie (and Kimmy) are brilliant characters because they add so much to the shows story without being a focal point of the the show.

Favorite Scenes
Chris and Snoop torture Butchie so they can find out where Omar is. Butchie doesnt give him up and takes a unbelievable amount of abuse from Chris and Snoop before they finally put him out of his misery. A very intense scene.

Favorite Quotes
"Avons call? And Avon is Avon"
​

 

[Maynard]

#37 - Stan Valchek

Stanislaus "Stan" Valchek is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Al Brown. Valchek is the Polish-American commander of the Southeastern district, home to many of the remaining white ethnic neighborhoods in Baltimore. A politician more than a policeman, he is well-connected and is on good terms with various Democratic organizations close to City Hall, most notably the politically influential developer Andrew Krawczyk. In Season 4 Tommy Carcetti suggests that Valchek was named commander of the Southeastern Police District because it is a position reserved for either Greek American or Polish American commanders in the department. His political savvy led to a quick and easy rise through the ranks, despite being disliked by commanding officers such as Commissioner Ervin Burrell and Deputy Commissioner William Rawls. Valchek is Roland Pryzbylewski's father-in-law.

Major Valchek is a diverse character on The Wire in the sense that he fills various roles in different story arcs. He is part of all 5 seasons and plays a major role in season 2. The other 4 he is more of a support character that develops the stories of other important characters. He is always associated with Prez being that he bails Prez out of every idiotic situation he gets himself into, that is until he decides to cold cock him in the jaw. After that Valchek is usually seen advising Tommy Carcetti.

Stan is a typical political commander. He is always willing to do for others, as long as he knows that favor will be returned. As a polock from the Southeast District he is not respected as police, this is referenced several times as he known as a "necessary evil." Stan is however respected due to his political influence and he eventually rides out his string of favors and political dealings to get himself appointed Police Commissioner.

Valcheks biggest role in The Wire came during the season 2 docks angle. He is the driving force behind the entire season as its his beef over a stain glass window for the church that cause the entire foundation for the season. Its the ultimate irony in a show full of ironic moments. Here you have two polocks, in a stereotypical sense, arguing over a stupid window for the church that nobody could give a shit about, and because of these two dumbfucks you have all the drama, corruption, murder, theft and despair that comes out of it. Its brilliant and what makes this show incredible.

Favorite Scenes
Every scene where Valchek opens a letter with a picture from the dockworkers who sent his surveillance van around the world in 880 days. Although the very last one is my favorite. Stan opens the letter which he already knows has a picture of his van in some foreign country with some IBS worker taking a picture of himself in front of it. As he opens it he says, "Frank you cocksucker." But its at that moment we get an idea of Stan's humanity, compassion and perhaps a bit of guilt for Franks death as him bids him a farewell "rest in peace" in polish.

Favorite Quotes
"he doesnt mention no blowjob, and neither do you. Nah, it just lays there, like a bad pierogi on the plate."​

 

[Maynard]

#36 - Malik "Poot" Carr

Malik "Poot" Carr is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Tray Chaney. Poot is a drug dealer in the Barksdale Organization who slowly rises through the ranks, but ends up serving time in prison as his institution collapses around him. His time in prison proves to be short, however, and he rejoins his old partners on the drug corners shortly after his release. Eventually, due to the violent nature of the drug trade and the loss of many friends, Poot "outgrows" the lifestyle and pursues a legitimate profession. He has the distinction, along with Wee-Bey Brice and Proposition Joe Stewart, of being the only characters in the drug trade to appear in every season.

Poot is part of the west Baltimore drug scene. As a youngin he comes up with Barksdale as corner kid and works his way up to the running a corner. His time running the corner is short lived as the war with Marlow sees Poots muscle get killed by Snoop. Poot miraculously survives. He ends up doing a prison term and comes back to work with Bodie on his corner. Towards the end of the series Poot ends up leaving the game and gets a real job.

Poots role is minimal, but important as he is a big part of showing the lifestyle of the corner kids through seasons 1-3. Poot is a typical teenager as he is often shown trying to hook up with the ladies. He gives the viewers a look into what its like to grow up in drug environment and through his survival over the years, he really shows how most people dont survive. But the fact that he does survive and takes a real job shows people living in that world are hanging on by a thin thread and if they are lucky, they might just get out alive.

Favorite Scenes
Bodie and Poot have to kill one of their close friends, Wallace. They end up making sure all the kids Wallace takes care of are gone from the house and follow him upstairs. Both Bodie and Poot take turns shooting Wallace and change from boys to men at that moment. its one of the best scenes ever in the show.

Favorite Quotes
"They took him out cause he was talkin to ya'll. Word is they seen him with a police down at central booking. So cuff me or kick my ass off this corner before you do me the same."​

 

[Palooza]

I do not agree.

 

[A Tasty Burgerr]

#1) Snot Boogie

 

[Palooza]

no fuzzy dunlop?

 

[Maynard]

#35 - Maurice Levy

Maurice "Maury" Levy is a fictional character in the HBO drama The Wire (2002-2008), played by Michael Kostroff. He is a skilled defense attorney and was kept on retainer by the Barksdale Organization, representing the organization's members at trials and advising Avon Barksdale and Stringer Bell on how to avoid investigations for drug trafficking. Levy is presented as corrupt and unscrupulous, willing to aid his clients in furtherance of their criminal activity.

Maury is the sleazy drug lawyer who plays a role in all 5 seasons. He handles Avons people for 3 seasons and then we see him as Prop Joes lawyer. Joe is kind enough to pass him along to Marlo Stanfield. He also has his hands in the courts as he pays the clerk of courts for sealed documents He makes his living off the corruption, violence and despair of the people of Baltimore. His role is defined as such and we dont really get any look into anything beyond clients and their activities. The only time we get a look into Maury as a person is during season 5 when he express's his gratitude to Herk, (who ironically stole Marlowe's phone number from his office) for being such a wonderful investigator and invited him to his home where his wife is making brisket. This is a very stereotypical Jewish way of doing things. Once you are in the club with a jew, they are very loyal to you.

i enjoyed Maury through all the seasons as he played a sort of Tom Hagen role to his clients. Mostly though when he handled Avon and his crew. You got a good look at how a lawyer like this does the bidding for criminals by keeping them active and allowing that cash stream to continue.

Favorite Scenes
Season 2 when he is cross examining Omar at Birds trial. There are two split up scenes, and both are fantastic, but the second one is where he tries to destroy Omar's credibility as a witness and instead gets schooled by Omar. Its probably one of the greatest scenes in all of TV.

Favorite Quotes
"Shame on you Nullity dragging me from the Levy family preserve on a Friday night, Yvette made brisket.​

 

[Maynard]

#34 - Marlo Stanfield

Marlo "Black" Stanfield is a fictional character on the HBO television drama The Wire, played by actor Jamie Hector. Stanfield is a young, ambitious, and extremely ruthless player and, along with Chris Partlow and Felicia "Snoop" Pearson, is head of the eponymous Stanfield Organization in the Baltimore drug trade. Marlo's organization starts out small-time, operating in the vacuum left by the Barksdale Organization, and rises to the top of the Baltimore drug trade fairly quickly. A repeated theme in Marlo's characterization is his demand for unconditional respect, which trumps all other concerns. He frequently orders the deaths of those who disrespect him or undermine his name on the streets, however unwittingly. He is arguably the most violent and ruthless of the drug kingpins portrayed in The Wire.

Probably going to have some people not agree with this placement of Marlo. But the reason he is so low is simple. I dont believe him. He did not come across as a believable character and the only reason he isnt lower on this list is because he played such a large role in seasons 3-5. I feel like this is one place the show let me down. As a king pin I just did not believe he was real. Maybe it was the way his role was written, or perhaps the way Jamie Hector played the role.

Marlo was of course the man who back doored his way into the crown. He didnt take it from Avon, he won it by default when Avon got busted in a room full of guns when Stringer Bell ratted him out to Bunny Colvin. In fact, Slim Charles had him in his sights when and should have been killed, but sadly, Avon got busted right when Slim was asking for the go ahead. Once he had the crown he was a notoriously harsh drug lord who killed anyone and everyone. People who talked back got killed along with anyone who posed a threat. Marlo eventually got busted in season 5 with McNulty and Feamons fake homeless killings wire tap.

The only time I felt Marlo as a real kingpin or even learned anything about him that was compelling was while he sat in the cell in season 5 and showed anger over his lieutenants not telling him his name was in the streets. I thought that was a real wearer of the crown. Unfortunately this was in the series finale and that was that.

Favorite Scenes
Series finale when Marlo left the party or social gathering Levy took him to to prance him around after he got busted. Marlo left the party and again showed us a real king pin by stepping up to some people on a corner and fucked them up in a matter of seconds. It was a glimpse of what could have been.

Favorite Quotes
"What the fuck do you know about what I need on my mind mutha fucker? My name was on the street? When we bounce from this shit here ya'll gonna go down on them corners let them people know, word did not get back to me. Let em know Marlo will step to any mutha fucker, Omar, Barksdale, whoever...My name is my name!"
​

 

[Pitty]

Quite possibly the strangest, most inaccurate list ever on VSN?

 

:troll: