Who Is Lenny in Snowfall and What Led to His Demise?
Lenny’s Character Overview
- Lenny was a hoodlum and thief in Compton, primarily serving as the antagonist for Franklin’s storyline in Season 1.
- He first appeared along with Ray-Ray at Claudia’s nightclub, attacking Franklin Saint and stealing his cash and motorcycle.
- After discovering that Franklin, a newcomer, had started selling cocaine, Lenny and Ray-Ray initially attempted to rob him outside the nightclub.
Transformation and Revenge
- Later on, Lenny was tied up and tortured by Karvel and his gang, who raped him and stole his hidden money.
- This brutal experience drove Lenny to seek revenge, culminating in an attempt to kill Franklin that ultimately led to him shooting Leon Simmons instead.
- His vengeful nature was further fueled by the abuse he suffered, marking a transformation into a tragic figure.
Betrayal and Demise
- At the end of Season 1, Lenny was captured by Ray-Ray, who struck a deal with Franklin to betray him.
- Bound and dragged out to the middle of nowhere, Lenny was given an ultimatum: Ray-Ray had to either kill him or face death himself.
- In a brutal twist, Lenny was killed by Ray-Ray, highlighting the tragic betrayal by his once close ally.
Impact of Lenny’s Death
- Lenny’s demise was not just physical but also emotional, showcasing the depth of Franklin’s story.
- It served as a pivotal moment, illustrating Franklin’s power over people, even as Ray-Ray carried out the act of killing Lenny.
- Lenny met his end in the most humiliating fashion imaginable—his manhood taken from him in his own home, witnessed by others.
Understanding the Complex Relationship Between Ray Ray and Lenny
Understanding the Complex Relationship Between Ray Ray and Lenny
Ray Ray is a known hoodlum and thief in Compton. He serves as a minor antagonist for Franklin’s storyline in Seasons 1 and 2. Along with Lenny, he jumped Franklin Saint outside Claudia Crane’s nightclub, stealing his money and motorcycle.
At the end of Season 1, Ray Ray was forced at gunpoint to slit Lenny’s throat. He was given a possible opportunity to work for the Family but chose not to pursue it. Later, he was locked up in Pitchard for another crime and discovered Franklin there, seeking payback and retribution for Lenny.
Moreover, Ray Ray betrayed Lenny due to Lenny shooting Leon, which greatly angered Ray Ray after he had advised Lenny to let it go. Lenny, already bloodlusty, escalated the tension.
In summary, the relationship between Ray Ray and Lenny is marked by betrayal, tension, and conflict, culminating in an epic showdown filled with drama that captivates fans of the series.
Exploring the Impact of Lenny’s Death on Snowfall’s Narrative
The impact of Lenny’s death on Snowfall’s narrative is significant, as it marks a pivotal moment for Franklin and deepens the emotional narrative of the story.
Death lingers in each scene of the episode as everyone grieves Jerome’s absence. Jerome, the true patriarch of the Saint family, has been like an uncle to all of us viewers. Therefore, the magnitude of this loss is impossible to ignore. With Jerome gone, the man who kept them all anchored, the remaining Saints begin to sink. However, the way each family member moves forward is uniquely different and represents their inner demons.
The episode is appropriately titled “Charnel House,” a metaphor for any place filled with death.
- Louie’s Grief: Louie’s guilt is the most obvious. If it weren’t for her blind ambition, she wouldn’t have been held hostage. Jerome’s love for her ultimately triggered the bullet that killed him. Battered and raw, she is forced to say a premature good-bye to his body at the funeral home and then sinks into an abyss of grief and pure rage.
- Cissy’s Reaction: Cissy, who is now the last of her immediate bloodline with the exception of her offspring, seems to disassociate after her brother’s death.
- Franklin’s Coping: Franklin deals with his grief internally, as is his nature. He occasionally has outbursts, which have become more frequent as things get dire. His coping skills involve deep thinking and avoidance. Franklin’s silence in this episode is deafening; the quieter he is, the more he’s dealing with internally.
At the end of Season 1, Lenny was captured by Ray-Ray, who struck a deal with Franklin. Ultimately, Lenny was bound, dragged out to the middle of nowhere, and killed by Ray-Ray. After being on top of the world for a few seasons, the series finale of ‘Snowfall’ left Franklin Saint worse off than where he began.
How Did Lenny’s Actions Set Off a Chain Reaction in Snowfall?
The inclusion of Len Bias’s death in the season five premiere feels foreshadowing for Franklin being forced to defend his immense drug kingdom from the invading forces of the U.S. government. This is especially significant given the changing racial makeup of the victims of his drug trade.
The episode doesn’t delve deep into the ramifications of Bias’s death. Nevertheless, its repeated mention in the first half foreshadows what’s to come. Four months after Bias’s actual death swept the nation, U.S. President Ronald Reagan signed into law The Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986. This legislation called for life imprisonment for anyone whose dealing of drugs led to the death of someone and has been commonly referred to as the Len Bias Law. It effectively instituted a cultural war against Black people.
Moreover, Franklin learns about the murder from a news report on TV. This happens even though we’ve seldom seen the Black casualties of the drug game in L.A. broadcasted on the news in Snowfall. The fact that Franklin discovers a death attached to Volpe moments after reading about Bias’s death in a national news publication signifies how the lives of celebrity athletes and affluent white kids are considered more valuable than the Black bodies the L.A. drug trade was built on.
Both instances convey the idea of an impending storm brewing for Franklin’s cocaine empire. The deleterious effects of his drug-dealing have escaped the neglected traumas of the inner city and made their way to national news.
In a recent episode of Snowfall, a character named Karvel, hired by Franklin Saint, escalates his violent interrogation of Lenny to a horrifying level, culminating in Lenny being raped. This act reveals the depths of violence and humiliation within the drug world. Franklin and Leon’s realization of what is happening to Lenny adds to their terror, complicating their feelings towards the situation. It highlights a visceral emotional reaction to witnessing male sexual assault.
John Singleton, co-creator of Snowfall, explained that the idea for this scene emerged during a discussion about interrogation techniques and the most shocking way to humiliate someone. While unsettling, this decision serves to address deeply ingrained societal attitudes about masculinity and the stigma surrounding male rape. It challenges viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about power dynamics and trauma.
As events unfold, determined for payback, Lenny plots to kill Franklin Saint. Instead, he ambushes and shoots Leon Simmons outside Franklin’s house but fails to kill him. Lenny, a trigger-happy thief, is consumed by thoughts of revenge. After the beating and abuse he suffered from Karvel, all that ran through his mind was payback. Since he couldn’t find and kill Karvel, he settled for the other HTB boys.
Lenny was bloodlust-driven, seeking retribution against Franklin but more so against Karvel for what happened to him. He retaliated by killing off Karvel’s crew while searching for him. This scenario marks the trigger for a chain reaction. If Lenny wasn’t in the game, Karvel wouldn’t have raped him. Consequently, Lenny wouldn’t have sought revenge, leading ultimately to his demise. This incident “popped their cherry.”
Furthermore, Ray Ray betrayed Lenny because of Lenny shooting Leon, which set him off after Ray Ray advised him to let it go. Lenny, already bloodlust-driven for revenge against Franklin and Karvel, faced extreme violence from Karvel—who took it too far by hitting him with a baseball bat and eventually raping him.
Analysis of the Villains in Snowfall: Who Are They and How Do They Relate to Lenny?
Villains in Snowfall: Analysis of Ray Ray and Lenny
Ray Ray is a minor antagonist in Snowfall. He is a thief who betrayed his best friend Lenny to save his life from Franklin Saint and his uncle. Ray Ray appears for the first time in the robbery orchestrated by him and Lenny to steal Saint’s coke money. After robbing him outside Claudia’s Night Club, Lenny tries to kill him, but Ray Ray stops him by proving that he has hearts; in fact, it is implied that he does not—he loves killing and probably never has.
Ray Ray will then give Franklin consent to talk to him after Lenny goes crazy killing all the members of the Karvel gang. Franklin will attempt to recruit him and convince him with money to take Lenny to them for personal revenge.
Importantly, after having Lenny kidnapped with his uncle, Ray Ray forces him to cut Lenny’s throat, making him cry. He then tells Lenny that if he is looking for work, it could be useful to have someone like him for his organization.
Lenny was a hoodlum and thief in Compton along with his buddy Ray Ray. He serves as the main antagonist for Franklin’s storyline in Season 1. Lenny was already blood-lustful to get back at Franklin but more so Karvel because of what happened to him, which drove him to kill off the Karvel crew in retaliation while searching for Karvel.
At the end of Season 1, Lenny was captured by Ray Ray, who struck a deal with Franklin. Lenny was bound and dragged out to the middle of nowhere, where he was killed by Ray Ray, given an ultimatum to kill or die.
Moreover, Lenny was a trigger-happy thief. Ray Ray betrayed Lenny because of Lenny shooting Leon, which set him off after Ray Ray told him to let it go. In a brutal turn of events, Karvel viciously rapes Lenny to force him to reveal the location of Franklin’s money, horrifying both Franklin and Leon once they realize what is happening.
