Stringer Bell bites the dust

[Christiern]

In my opinion, HBO's The Wire is one of the best-written, best-acted, most absorbing dramas on television today. Last night's episode--the next to last for this season--was superb, but we lost one of the series' most interesting characters. Anyone else here watch this show?--Chris

December 13, 2004

Whacked! Another HBO Main Player Meets His End
By LOLA OGUNNAIKE


Idris Elba plays Stringer Bell, who was gun-
ned down in last night's episode of "The Wire."


Fans of HBO's hit crime series "The Wire" may have been shocked off their couches last night when one of the show's main characters, the calculating drug dealer Stringer Bell, was gunned down in a gruesome ambush.

But it is unlikely that anyone in the Sunday-night audience was as stunned as Idris Elba, the 32-year-old actor who has brought Stringer to life since "The Wire" began three years ago. "When I first read the script I was like: 'What? No! This isn't supposed to happen,' " Mr. Elba said over dinner at an Upper West Side restaurant. "I was deeply disappointed. It was a surprise, a complete surprise."

It is an unusual move to be sure, but one that has become increasingly common on HBO, a network known for unconventional plot twists and bold, can-you-believe-they-did that? surprises. "The Sopranos" has never been shy about doing away with major characters - Big Pussy, Ralphie and Adriana were all killed off. "Deadwood," the drama series set in the lawless West, lost its Wild Bill Hickok. And D'Angelo Barksdale, the young drug-dealing character who carried much of the first season of "The Wire," was strangled in a brutal prison scene. Another prominent "Wire" character, Frank Sobotka, ended up with a tag on his toe after being shot in the second season.

"One of the themes of the show is that raw, unencumbered capitalism is not good for anyone," said David Simon, creator and mastermind of "The Wire." "You may get a short run, you may get a long run, but the drug trade is the only thing that's eternal." As a reporter for The Baltimore Sun, Mr. Simon covered the narcotics beat for 15 years. He was the author of the book on which the NBC series "Homicide" was based, as well as co-author of "The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood," an account of a West Baltimore community dominated by an open-air drug market. "The Corner" became an acclaimed mini-series on HBO in 2000.

Mr. Simon said the blueprint for Stringer's death was created two years ago. That the drug dealer became a must-watch figure is of little consequence, he said. "Holding on to a character and then twisting the story to serve the character?" he said. "There's no gratification in that for anyone. We're not doing a soap opera here."

Set in the crime-infested streets of Baltimore, "The Wire" centers on a band of big-time drug dealers and the motley crew of cops who are determined to bring them down. Stringer, the refined, upwardly mobile consigliere to the decidedly gangster Avon Barksdale, was intent on becoming a legitimate businessman. He favored starched shirts and understated Italian suits and studied macroeconomics at a community college. In one episode, he ran a meeting with his army of pushers according to Robert's Rules of Order.

Mr. Elba, who is far more sensitive than the stoic Stringer, said his last day of work was particularly emotional. Michael K. Williams, who plays Omar Devone Little, the gay, shotgun-toting thug who blasts away Stringer, said: "There were a lot of wet eyes on the set. I just had to keep telling myself that Idris is alive and he has a bright future ahead of him."

Fans of the show may be surprised to learn that Mr. Elba is not African American. The only child of a mother from Ghana and father from Sierre Leone, Mr. Elba was born and brought up in Hackney, a working-class borough of London. It is a fact he reluctantly shares with fans, preferring instead to use his American accent when talking with those who request autographs. "Wherever I go the real hard-core dudes come up to me and confide in me," said Mr. Elba, who over the years has been approached by dozens of drug dealers identifying with Stringer. "I almost feel guilty turning around and saying: 'Hello, mate. My name's Idris and I'm from London.' " Mr. Elba burst into an exaggerated version of his cockney accent. "I don't want to break the illusion."

It was in an effort to impress an older woman at his all-boys junior high school that Mr. Elba discovered acting. "Ms. McPhee," the actor said wistfully. "Not only was she a great drama teacher, but I had a crush on her." Emboldened by Ms. McPhee, who encouraged him to pursue theater, Mr. Elba enrolled in acting school. He moved to the United States years ago and quickly made it his mission to master an American accent. "No point in being here if I couldn't do that," Mr. Elba said.

While his peers bussed tables and tended bar, Mr. Elba worked as a D.J. at Manhattan nightspots like Madame X to pay his bills. After being passed over for a supporting role in the buppie romantic comedy "Brown Sugar," Mr. Elba landed his part on "The Wire."

Despite now being out of a steady gig, Mr. Elba has managed to remain busy.

In recent months, he has become quite a man about town, hopping from soiree to soiree. "Apparently Puffy is a huge fan of the show and he called me personally and invited me to his birthday party the other day," Mr. Elba said, referring to the music mogul Sean Combs. "Puffy is huge in England." When not hobnobbing with the hip-hop cognoscenti, Mr. Elba continues to D.J. at New York City lounges under the moniker "Big Driis the Londoner." The self-professed "music nerd" called D.J.-ing his first love. Late one recent evening, Mr. Elba headed to Bombay Palace, an Indian restaurant in Midtown, where he played tracks ranging in flavor from garage to old school R&B. Though there were few in attendance, Mr. Elba, happily in his own world, did not seem to notice.

His next project is the HBO movie "Sometimes in April," about the Rwandan genocide. It is scheduled to be shown in March.

In the film, Mr. Elba plays a Hutu soldier married to a Tutsi wife. Their family is torn apart by the 1994 genocide that claimed more than 800,000 lives. A majority of the film's crew were native Rwandans, and Mr. Elba's eyes filled with tears when he recounted their stories.

"My driver's whole family was murdered right before his eyes and he had to pretend like he was dead," Mr. Elba said. "These people were hacked to death with machetes. Everyone knew this was happening and nobody did anything. It's for the sake of these people that I'm proud to be associated with this film."

Mr. Elba moves to more lighthearted fare in the movie "Johnny Was," an action thriller about an Irish freedom fighter who flees to England in search of a new life. He won't have to do much research for this effort, which is scheduled to be released next year. "I'm playing another drug dealer, but this time," Mr. Alba said with a chuckle, "he has a British accent."

[catesta]

In my opinion, HBO's The Wire is one of the best-written, best-acted, most absorbing dramas on television today. Last night's episode--the next to last for this season--was superb, but we lost one of the series' most interesting characters. Anyone else here watch this show?--Chris

I could not agree more.

I'm glad you brought this up. I thought I might be the only one watching.

The character of Stringer Bell was by far my favorite. I thought for sure it was going to be Barksdale that got killed, leaving "String" to take over everything.

It seemed as if he knew Avon gave him up when they were saying goodbye.

Obviously I was wrong.

I'm sorry to see the character go, but can't wait to see what happens next week.

Looks like major things going on for next season.

[catesta]

BTW, Elba is indeed one hell of an actor.

[mgraham333]

It seemed as if he knew Avon gave him up when they were saying goodbye.

Obviously I was wrong.

I saw it the other way around. When they were talking on the balcony, to me it was Avon that knew he had been betrayed. The way Avon said it was "just business" the way Stringer had done - I knew that Avon knew. And it looked to me like Stringer had an idea...but obviously he wasn't watching his back.

I wonder how long the duo of Omar and Mr. Bow-tie will last. Isn't that an odd pair.

Great show!!

[catesta]

I saw it the other way around. When they were talking on the balcony, to me it was Avon that knew he had been betrayed. The way Avon said it was "just business" the way Stringer had done - I knew that Avon knew. And it looked to me like Stringer had an idea...but obviously he wasn't watching his back.

I wonder how long the duo of Omar and Mr. Bow-tie will last. Isn't that an odd pair.

Great show!!

It was obvious Avon was going to make a move, I just assumed "Stringer" was wise to it and was going to take care of Avon before he got to him.

Not sure what is going to happen with that Brother Mouzone and Omar.

[relyles]

In the past month I have watched all of season one, read the synopsis of each episode on season two on the HBO website and caught up on all of season three (On Demand can be a good thing). It is a great show. I will miss Stringer. he was definately one of the most interesting characters, but in the end I think all the shady moves he made did him in.

[Harold_Z]

I too was surprised that Stringer was eliminated. As said above - he was a great character and this is a great series.

I missed most of the first season - I think I'll get the dvd set and catch up.

Is Avon going to be put back in jail by Colvin - leaving things open for Marlo?

[jlhoots]

My favorite show. We'll see what happens next week.

George Pelecanos has a lot to do with it.

If you haven't read his novels, you should.

[sheldonm]

I've watched many episodes but can't seem to get into a regular pattern of watching; very good show though!

Mark

[catesta]

Is Avon going to be put back in jail by Colvin - leaving things open for Marlo?

That's a good question.

However now that "Stringer" is gone, the case against Avon may not be so strong. Did he ever tell where they could find the guns?

I'm hoping they don't start to build the show around Marlo.

We'll see.

[SEK]

I've been hooked on "The Wire" since I finally found it last season. The acting, the writing, the characters, the stories - all great. I never miss it.

Stringer Bell is a great character, but it was very cool to see two of my other faves team up to take him out.

I'm not worried about the future of this superb show.

[Harold_Z]

I'm hoping they don't start to build the show around Marlo.

We'll see.

Yeah...Stringer had some charisma. I was sorry to see him go...but Marlo? I keep on thinking he's there to be eliminated - maybe next episode?

I guess that kid is a talented actor - he sure can make you dislike him.

Cutty must have a larger part coming up...why else would the producers be "investing" the time in him?

I was surprised to read that Elba is English and normally speaks with a British accent. A friend of mine from my office told me that McNulty is from Ireland and speaks with an Irish accent !

These guys can REALLY act !!

[BruceH]

I've only seen season one on DVD, so I shouldn't even be reading this! (But what the hell.)

[catesta]

I was surprised to read that Elba is English and normally speaks with a British accent. A friend of mine from my office told me that McNulty is from Ireland and speaks with an Irish accent !

These guys can REALLY act !!

For sure.

I never knew that about McNulty until seeing an HBO promo for the Peter Sellers movie.

[BruceH]

Anybody catch the Duke Ellington music playing near the end of one 1st-season episode?

[Christiern]

Anyone catch Dennis Lehane as the property clerk (reading a porno mag) in the last episode?

He is one of the season's writers, also author of "Mystic River," etc.

[catesta]

Anyone catch Dennis Lehane as the property clerk (reading a porno mag) in the last episode?

He is one of the season's writers, also author of "Mystic River," etc.

Yep.

[garthsj]

I first saw Idris Elba playing one of Helen Mirren's senior police aides in a "Prime Suspect" mini-series a couple of years ago. Of course, he used his basic London accent ... so when he turned up on "Wired" I was rather surprised ... but like "McNulty" (played by Dominic West) he has perfected an American accent. It is far easier, apparently, for British actors to do a good American accent, than it is for an American actor to do a half-credible British accent.

[Christiern]

I was wondering how they would tie up the many loose ends in the season's final episode. I thought they did it rather well, and left us enough carrots for the next round. Looks like that will center around political battles. I like the way each season focuses on a different aspect of Baltimore's behind-the-scenes goings on. I doubt if we have seen the last of Barksdale and I hope there is more of Omar.

[catesta]

Interesting ending.

McNulty back to a beat cop.

Barksdale and most of his crew in jail.

Looks as if Marlo takes over the west side.

Omar, out?

I get the feeling the writers will be taking a new direction with the next season.

I think you're right, Chris. Looks like it may be more of a story focused on politics and police.

Edited December 20, 2004 by catesta

[catesta]

I doubt if we have seen the last of Barksdale and I hope there is more of Omar.

Could be.

Slim is still out on the streets.

[Christiern]

I don't know if you ever visit the "Wire"site, but it contains a lot of interesting background info. Here's a sample:

• Dominic West's Audition Tape
  
  The casting surpassed all expectations. Only the role of McNulty gave us fits, until a bizarre videotape landed in Baltimore, shipped from a London address. On it, an actor was tearing through the orange-sofa scene in which Bunk and McNulty jack up a reluctant D'Angelo, search him, find his pager, then walk him away in handcuffs.
  
  Unlike every other casting tape ever made, however, this one seemed to be the merest suggestion of a scene. The actor, a squarejawed, Jack-the-Lad sort named West, was reading the McNulty lines, then pausing in silence, reacting to emptiness where the responding lines should have been.
  
  With several weeks of fruitless searching for a lead actor weighing on our souls, the tape caught us off guard. Bob and I watched this weird half-scene for a long moment, then fell out of our chairs, laughing uncontrollably. Hearing us, Clark Johnson, the Homicide veteran who was directing the pilot, entered the room, watched a few moments of tape, then joined us on the floor.
  
  "What the hell is this goofy motherfucker doing?"
  
  The audition tape may have been comic, but the performance itself — when we gathered our wits and began to concentrate on what the actor had going — was impressive. A week later in New York, Dominic West explained that he couldn't get anyone in London to read the scene with him, and he didn't have access to a casting office to put himself on tape. His girlfriend had tried to help, but her full English accent kept making him laugh, throwing off the scene. Best she could do was keep quiet and hold the video camera steady.
  
  "I didn't know what else to do," our McNulty confessed, "except say my lines and leave spaces where the other lines are supposed to be."
  

[Harold_Z]

Man ...I'm sorry the season is over ! I'm going to get withdrawal pains....what a show! Everybit on a par with THE SOPRANOS and DEADWOOD and maybe better!

My take on next season ? Carcetti gets a lot of play....Cutty gets a lot of play....Marlo gets play but will probably meet his demise (I'm not sure if I'm being analytical or indulging in wishful thinking).

I missed the most of the first season. I made up my mind last night to get the dvds - I made a mistake not taping the shows as they played. I'm convinced that the best programs on tv are currently the Sunday night HBO things.

Anybody catch the actor that plays Colvin in RAY? With a wig and moustache...

I'm still impressed with McNulty and Stringer being played by guys that normally speak with a English/Irish accent...These guys are pros!

I understand via the grapevine that Bodie is a Paterson guy.

[PHILLYQ]

I've been telling my wife that 'The Wire' is a great show for over a year now, and she finally relented and watched a few episodes with me. Now she's hooked and lamenting the end of the season. I do hope it gets picked up for another season-that issue hasn't been settled yet.

[Christiern]

Let's do our part to keep this superb series alive.

http://www.savethewire.com/