Bunk serves his warrant on Chris. Chris realizes he's screwed, and as has been shown already, he's clearly tiring of life as a gangster. He agrees to flip on Marlo for immunity. Marlo finds out somehow (perhaps through the "leak" at the courthouse, or maybe Chris is just spied cming out of the police station like Bodie was) and has Michael take him out. Michael becomes Marlo's right-hand man.

And, I have a feeling, Michael takes out Marlo in the final episode and takes his place. That would still be a suitably bleak ending, since Michael is every bit as smart and ruthless as Marlo, but the real dagger in the heart is that the audience has followed his entire, sad trajectory from regular middle school kid to sociopath. Marlo was sort of handed to us as a fully-formed killer, but it seems even worse to realize that people like him were once normal kids.

pcv:

And, I have a feeling, Michael takes out Marlo in the final episode and takes his place. That would still be a suitably bleak ending, since Michael is every bit as smart and ruthless as Marlo, but the real dagger in the heart is that the audience has followed his entire, sad trajectory from regular middle school kid to sociopath. Marlo was sort of handed to us as a fully-formed killer, but it seems even worse to realize that people like him were once normal kids.

...and Kenard becomes Michael's right hand man and a few years later when Michael is old (like 22) and goes soft, Kenard takes over. And the cycle continues.

To you and the other posters who continue to predict a Michael as new kingpin, I respectfully disagree.

Michael is way too sweet a boy. Odd of course, because we know him to now be a technically proficient and proven killer (in the 15 months lapse betw. seasons has he killed no one else?). But he's too kind. Avon, Stringer, Prop Joe and of course Marlo's crew are much crueler and harder than Michael can ever be. His constant questioning and qualms about the hits he's involved with speak to this.

Also he's too young. No matter how talented the Greeks or any other serious supplier is not gonna trust their product and their safety to a 15 yr old boy.