Michael Lee (The Wire)
| Michael Lee | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| First appearance | "Boys of Summer" (episode 4.01) |
| Last appearance | "–30–" (episode 5.10) |
| Created by | David Simon |
| Portrayed by | Tristan Wilds |
| Information | |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Drug Dealer, Soldier for the Stanfield Organization, Stick-up Man |
| Family | Bug (half-brother), Raylene (mother) |
Michael Lee is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Tristan Wilds. He is a middle school pupil and is friends with Namond Brice, Randy Wagstaff and Duquan "Dukie" Weems. He is more soft-spoken and composed than his friends, and appears to have a leadership role among his peers. Michael is very protective of his younger half-brother Bug, to whom he is effectively a parent, and Dukie, who is often ridiculed by his peers for his poverty. His mother Raylene is a drug addict and he avoids any adult interest in his home life because of the precarious nature of his situation. It is strongly implied that he was sexually abused by Bug's father, even though Bug's father seemed helpful when returning from prison. Because of this, Michael has little trust in the adults in his life and, rather than trust or confide in any of the law-abiding men who try to mentor him, becomes a protégé of Marlo Stanfield's enforcer Chris Partlow.
Michael is interested in boxing and often works out in a local gym. He distrusts authority figures; he rebuffed both Dennis "Cutty" Wise's offer to train him in boxing and Marlo Stanfield's offer of a cash handout with no strings attached. He tells his friends that he is reluctant to feel like he owes anyone. Regardless, Stanfield is impressed with Michael's strength of character in denying a handout, not budging even after Stanfield personally confronts and insults him. In order to provide new school supplies for himself and his brother, he temporarily took over Namond's job as a runner for drug dealer Bodie Broadus. Bodie took a strong interest in him and offered to employ him permanently, but Michael turned him down.
Cutty continues to encourage Michael to take an interest in boxing and even takes him to a professional fight. Michael avoids conversation and physical contact with Cutty. Marlo orders Chris Partlow to find out more about him. Chris approaches Michael and offers him cash and protection to join the organization. Michael turns down the offer, claiming that he must look out for his family first and that Chris was never there for him or his mother. Michael also turns down Randy to work delivering fliers on election day. He also refuses to work with Namond selling drugs.
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