The splintered pieces of Team Arrow take the fight to Diaz, each in their own ways. But can any of them make a dent in the criminal empire that has consumed Star City?
Arrow – “Shifting Allegiances”, Season 6, Episode 20
Airdate: April 26th, 2018
Director: Alexandra La Roche
Writer: Greg Berlanti & Marc Guggenheim
Based on the DC Comics Created by: Mort Weisinger & George Papp
What You Should Know:
The team is fractured, with Diggle now a member of Argus, the Outsiders still picking up the pieces from the great Civil War between them and Team Arrow, and Oliver now returning to a solo crusade. While they flail against their better natures, Diaz’s control of Star City continues to ossify.
What You’ll Find Out:
Oliver uses Bratva contacts to try a “divide and conquer” tactic on Diaz, by trying to lure Anatoly back to his side, creating a clear path for Anatoly to return to Russia and the Bratva. The plan backfires, as Anatoly has grown comfortable in his role as second fiddle to Diaz’s orchestral masterpiece. Anatoly turns Oliver over to Diaz, and the two agree to fight in solo combat for the right to stay in Star City, thanks to some guilt held onto by Anatoly. Single combat ensues, and the two-bit drug dealer somehow manages to hold his own and then some against a former leader of the League of Assassins. But when the tables start to turn, Diaz stabs Oliver, ending the fight.
Black Siren, concerned by how dangerous said two-bit drug dealer is, confronts Quentin Lance. The metahuman with the ability to shatter concrete expresses her fear of Diaz because he’s a psychopath and convinces an angry Quentin to help protect her and free her from Diaz’s grip. Even Quentin comments on how absurd her fear is but still capitulates.
Rene is finally released from the hospital, but he finds himself suffering from PTSD in almost the exact same manner as John did earlier in the season. When Diggle’s ARGUS team and The Outsiders discover they are after the same arms shipment, the two teams join forces to make sure Diaz’s crew does not get their weapons. Mr. Terrific shines in the efforts to tag the cloaked trucks, and a drone eventually is able to destroy them all.
After defeat, as Anatoly tries to free Oliver again out of guilt for his lost honor, Oliver is called before The Dragon. Rather than kill Oliver, however, Diaz, a man who lit his childhood orphanage bully on fire as revenge, instead opts to have a helpless and wounded Oliver arrested in connection to the Green Arrow Trial.
What Just Happened?
Last week, the writers treated us to a very well written episode. As a result, they took this week off. That seems fair, no? The banter between Anatoly and Oliver was pretty well done, and it was nice to see Curtis get his chance to shine, but the best thing I saw all week was the announcement that next season of Arrow will feature a new team of showrunners.
Rating: 4/10
Final Thought: Don’t let this distract you from the fact that in 1966, Al Bundy scored four touchdowns in a single game while playing for the Polk High School Panthers in the 1966 city championship game versus Andrew Johnson High School, including the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds against his old nemesis, “Spare Tire” Dixon.
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