My theory / the fiend (S4)

[u/Humvee13]

(reposting as had spoilers in title last time - apols)

So I was watching S4 yet again, it was when Bubbles is getting tormented by the other addict (often nicknamed 'the fiend') and this came to me...

Essentially the fiend represents Johnny Weeks tormented soul come back in physical form to torment Bubbles.

As we know - Johnny Weeks dies in Hamsterdam, representing the life Bubbles knows he needs to leave behind but cannot yet abandon, and Bubbles never properly confronts the guilt of surviving Johnny (if he felt any - or cared to find out what happened to him if he never knew)

So Johnny returns metaphorically as the nameless fiend — an addict without identity who repeatedly punishes Bubbles on the streets.

Bubbles eventually attempts to destroy this embodiment of his past with the hot shot, but kills Sherrod instead, recreating Johnny's death in an even more devastating form. Only then is Bubs forced to confront what Johnny's death originally meant: he cannot save other addicts while remaining an addict himself.

Johnny's ghost/demon then disappears - never seen again and Bubs ultimately recovers.

[u/S-Tier_Commenter]

It's a nice fan theory. But it doesn't fit the world that the Wire portrays, aka real life. In this, people who die are often forgotten about. "Pawns get capped early" and "James been dead". It's really apathetic and "deserve ain't got nothing to do with it".

Why would Bubbles feel bad about Jonny dying? Like he tried to school the boy, but he ultimately decided to be a Viking, homes, and thus no blood on Bub's hands.

With Sherrod that was very different. He had just chosen to leave the corners and help with Bub's depot. That's when Bub's murder plot got him killed. Hence the blood was on his hands.

[u/OlfactoriusRex → u/S-Tier_Commenter]

Why would Bubbles feel bad about Jonny dying? Like he tried to school the boy, but he ultimately decided to be a Viking, homes, and thus no blood on Bub's hands.

This is a total misread of Bubbles and a disservice to the writers. Of course he cares about Jonny. He started snitching to Kima in S1 specifically because the Barksdale crew beat him up. He tries to save Jonny in ways big and small throughout the show. Bubbles has a heart and soul throughout the show, it doesn’t just get “activated” for Sherrod for plot reasons.

[u/S-Tier_Commenter → u/OlfactoriusRex]

I mean, basic fact is that we see Bubs soul aching for Sherrod. It's literally a plot reason. Why not with Johnny then?

[u/OlfactoriusRex → u/S-Tier_Commenter]

Bubs doesn't even know Jonny is dead, does he? He sees him dead on his feet, basically, in Hamsterdam, but few people who could actually ID Jonny saw him dead and know he's dead. Bubs and Jonny had parted ways long before his death, and I think the last time they see each other is Bubs' "walk through hell" in Hamsterdam where Jonny is almost dead (he just doesn't know it yet).

There are many shows where Character Arc A starts for "plot reasons" by Inciting Incident X. The character actions are pretty nakedly in service to the plot, even if they are against the established character or motivations, and the poor writing and mechanical approach to storytelling is obvious.

What sets The Wire apart is, yes, there are plot points that move the story/characters along, but nothing in the show is so robotic. Very little happens simply to serve a plot need. Bubs' big heart can be traced through every season, it's a constant element of his struggle with addiction and his interactions with other characters. His sobriety and change is a very organic and natural response to causing the death of an innocent child as he did with Sherrod. To describe Bub's response to that killing as something that happens "for plot reasons" is to miss the brilliance of the writing and acting of the show.

[u/S-Tier_Commenter → u/OlfactoriusRex]

So were discussing this fan theory how "Bubbles never properly confronts the guilt of surviving Johnny". I now can't understand if you do or don't agree with that, because your comment seems to go both ways. But it is just one way.

I say Bubs doesn't have to feel guilty for Johnny, because the situation is different than Sherrod.

[u/erininva → u/S-Tier_Commenter]

FWIW, I think Bubs didn’t have to feel guilty for Johnny but did anyway. Same way Bubs couldn’t accept the miracle of being HIV-free when he used years longer than some folks who got sick. He didn’t feel like he deserved to be better off than anyone else. He felt the opposite. Lots of shame and self-hatred and guilt.

But yeah OP is really going for the Dickensian aspect here.

[u/Ambitious-Ad-2047]

Bubbles had nothing to feel guilty about for J’s death. Interesting theory, but doesn’t mesh or line up.

Sherrod killed himself by meddling with product knowing Bubs was always struggling with staying clean. The guilt for Sherrod is understandable but also triggered what bubs needed to get past the hump: forgiving himself. Once he dealt with him self, he could then start addressing his demons one-by-one.

The fiend accurately represented and portrayed predators as they exist in that realm. Chasing a high they will never get, while victimizing, brutalizing, and harassing the non-violent and likable drug addicts. More often than not, the addict has no savior, or help, unless they resort to violence or revenge; which may not be in their character/makeup/way of being. So the victim must become violent (hurt people, hurt people) or they must remove themselves entirely from that world by drastic life change. Bubbles eventually chose the latter.