No matter where you are, The Wire ranks pretty high on most people's list of the best TV shows ever. With an awesome array of characters, The Wire was able to hit areas most shows were scared to address. Even with a cast as wide and diverse as theirs, one character stood out from the rest. When the name Omar Little is mentioned, viewers' eyes still get big.
Over the 5 seasons, Michael K. Williams played Omar on The Wire, he gave fans some of the best one-liners and scenes ever spoken or created for TV. He was calculating, sneaky and, by most accounts, he had his moments where his actions were either considered genius or boneheaded. Here are 5 Times Omar Little Was A Genius (& 5 Times He Wasn't.)
Having A Code (Genius)
Despite being trapped in a world of crime, drugs, and murder, Omar Little still managed to live by a certain code. As he once told Bunk "I never pulled my gun on a person who didn't deserve it". This is what made Omar so special. But it was also one of the reasons he was often caught in some drama. The streets didn't live by the same code Omar did and because of that, his grandmother was almost killed.
As time went on, Omar lost his peace of mind. For a stick-up kid in Baltimore, we're surprised that it didn't happen earlier.
Not Laying Low (Non-Genius)
After injuring himself during the shootout with Michael, Chris, and Snoop, Omar still roamed the street as if he wasn't injured. Limping around Baltimore proved not to be a smart idea even for the highly-feared stickup kid. This is one of those times where Omar should have gone into hiding to regain his strength. But a man out for blood is a man lost.
We can sit and say that if he never went into the store then maybe he had a chance. That could be true. But the fact of that matter is, eventually, someone was going to catch up to him.
Snitching on Bird (Genius)
It what may have been one of the best scenes by an individual on The Wire. Omar proved to the audience, the drug dealers and even the law, that he didn't care. His heart pumped no fear as Omar took the stand against a killer like Bird. Omar, never one to shy away from any type of confrontation, pointed Bird out and then went head-on with the Barksdale organization's dirty lawyer Levi.
The fans knew Omar from his robberies, but to see him in such a serious, yet comedic spotlight is what may have won some of those on-the-fence Omar fans over. Him snitching was a pure genius move as Omar did what had to be done, considering that revenge was on his mind. Although Omar didn't see the shooting, he testified as if he did.
Not Taking Michael Under His Wing (Non-Genius)
In all fairness, there was no guarantee that Micheal would have gone to Omar for help in the first place. By this time, the Barksdale organization was over and Marlo and his crew were running the streets. Omar was not only a loose cannon, he was a loner. So, for Michael to seek his help would have been a bit strange.
What if Michael had gone to Omar instead? With Omar being so aloof and always waiting in the wings, did he not see the potential in Michael that Chris saw? With Michael likely stepping into Omar's shoes as the last episode rolled, it would have been fitting if it was Omar who actually passed the torch to the kid officially.
Teaming Up With Brother Mouzone (Genius)
It's still baffling as to why these two were not given their own show. Although he and Brother Mouzone had their own squabbles in the past, they learned that, together, they could get things done more efficiently. As good as Omar and his team were, in the end, Omar was always the last one left standing. As for Mouzone, he was always the lone wolf. Taking orders straight out of NYC, Mouzone proved how deadly he was in a town that he didn't belong in.
Their showdowns were legendary, to say the least. But, combined, they were able to do something Omar couldn't get done alone, nor with his own crew: take down Stringer Bell. Pair these two together for the entire show and they walk away unscathed once the dust settles.
Missed His Chance To Get Avon (Non-Genius)
There were too many times when Avon Barksdale left himself wide open. In Season 1, Omar was able to get the drop on Avon after sending a series of texts while he was in the bar counting money with Orlando. As Omar watched Avon at the phone booth, Omar had him dead to rights.
Then Wee-Bey pulled up and that's when Avon knew it was a setup. But this is where Omar made his error. Without his usual casual walk, and with just a bit more speed in his approach, Avon would have been killed. This is one of the instances where Omar miscalculated how good he was.
He Left Baltimore (Genius)
Not many make it out the game alive or free. Omar, despite his track record, managed to do it. It didn't matter if he moved to Philly or Cancun, the fact remains, he wanted out and got out. Living his best life in the sun, Omar tried to put the streets behind him.
After years of hiding, waiting, robbing, plotting, and avoiding certain death, he grabbed another chance at life and knew he wanted more than toting a shotgun, living out of abandoned buildings, and watching his back 24/7. Guess it didn't hurt that he had a bounty on his head either.
Returning To Baltimore (Non-Genius)
Once you have a chance to escape the game, either by changing your ways or simply leaving, that's a blessing. In between seasons 4 and 5, Omar saw the opportunity and took it. He and boyfriend Renaldo saw an out and left the Baltimore streets for the warm weather of Puerto Rico. However, with news that his friend Butchie was murdered, Omar packed up and sought revenge.
Just think, if he had stayed away, then he would still be alive by B-More standards. But, not able to fully cleanse himself of the street life, Omar bitterly signed his and Renaldo's death certificates by returning.
Saves Brother Mouzone (Genius)
In their battle, Omar shoots Brother Mouzone based on misleading information. In the eyes of Stringer and Barksdale, getting rid of the two notorious killers would eliminate two birds with one stone.
Little did everyone know that Brother and Omar are not just killers, they see their murders as artwork and love to relish the process. During their battle, they had time to not only trade bullets but words. Once the truth came out and Brother was hit, Omar could have finished the job but he not only let Brother live, he also called the ambulance.
Calling out Marlo (Non-Genius)
The writers for The Wire didn't make many mistakes over the 5 seasons but there was one glaring issue that went unresolved. While we will put this on the side of Omar's mistakes, this actually belongs to the creative team. In jail, Marlo finds out that Omar was calling him out in broad daylight. This infuriates Marlo as there's nothing he can do about it now since Omar is dead. But as Marlo states "My name is my name".
What should have happened is a standoff between Marlo and Omar. Omar couldn't pull that off against Avon as his gangster status was never in question. However, Marlo always had to make sure that his authority was felt. The writers should have made Marlo come after Omar for one final showdown.