Ranking Characters Of The Wire: The Streets

Season Four made the bold decision to strongly focus on four young boys struggling to live in Baltimore and it paid off massively leading to the best season of the show. All four of the young actors were great as were their characters but it is Michael Lee who became the standout.

Introverted and quiet, Michael is absent of ego or ambition for most of the fourth season. He puts the majority of his efforts into safeguarding his little brother and avoids all situations in which he would owe anyone anything. This puts him on a difficult path with his authority figures such as his teacher Roland Pryzbylewski and the local gym owner Cutty Wise. They want to help Michael flourish but his innate distrust of them makes it difficult for him to open up.

The reveal that Michael had been sexually abused by his step-father is fittingly shocking but helps to understand his previous actions at keeping people at arms length. Michael eventually falls in with Marlo Stanfield and becomes cold and cruel.

After struggling with who he wants to be on the back of his trauma, Michael transitions into a mirror of Omar Little as he becomes an independent stickup artist ripping off other drug dealers in Baltimore.