Great bump. just rewatched up to end of season 4 (what an incredible season even if it's perhaps the hardest to understand).
Remember when Marlo bumps off the security guard who gets up in his face over the 2 stolen lolipops. Marlo only took the candy to push the limits. Because he could. He eyes the man up initially, tests him, judges him and punishes him with death in a vacant.
'what did he do?' 'talked back'.
The ring epitomises that kind of power and corruption. And excess - it's a huge diamond one. And too big for anyone who can't find that darkness and excess within themselves, face their fears and take massive risk by going above and beyond what many would say was necessary or appropriate. Each time it is taken it shows risk being taken and a character pushing new boundaries and changing.
Marlo - From one or two bodies to control corners to dozens killed in an industrial organized manner to control
minds.
Omar - From street rips and stolen packages for money to major rip offs on those that deserve it. Robbing the poker game is the transition towards stealing a whole international syndicate's heroin shipment. Of stealing not for the money or revenge but for for the thrill. And maybe justice.
Officer Walker - The ring shows his transition from shit corrupt cop to truly brutal cop breaking 4 of that kid's fingers and robbing Bubble's cart just because he can. And because he enjoys it.
Michael - From child to man. from unhappy angry victim of neglect and sexual abuse to killer and avenger who scares his friends and impresses even Snoop and Chris I (his first kill is Bodie, even though Chris tells Marlo it shouldn't be someone he knows). 'Michael's changed, man'. But Michael is subtle and used to avoiding attention - so he wears the ring semi-hidden around his neck not for everyone to see on his finger.
Marlo clearly sees something of himself in Michael as well. He is shy, private, guarded, closed. But also Michael cant be bought or played - he has to make decisions himself but only when the time is right and when his mind is made up, not when others decide or press him. Marlo respects that more than anything.
Sorry I couldnt sleep and it was going through my mind
