Arrow Season 6 Episode 19 Review: 'The Dragon'

The Dragon’s Tale...

Who is Ricardo Diaz? Where does he come from? Why is he so hell bent on taking over Star City? What is his ultimate goal?

After being terrorized by Diaz for more than half a season, we finally get some much needed answers. The episode is about Diaz and his mission just as regular episodes are about Oliver's, taking us back to his early days as a bullied kid in an orphanage to his present struggle to becoming a member of the 'Quadrant', a super high and super sophisticated criminal organisation led by four heads.

Turns out, all Diaz wants is power. The kind that means he will never be ignpred, never be taken for granted, never be pushed around, never be bullied ever again. Star City just happens to be where he's decided to begin his journey -- if he can take control of the City protected by the Green Arrow and his team and deliver it to the Quadrant, they will understand his potential and grant him a place at their table, right?

Wrong. Of course, the plan turns out a little more complicated in its execution. The Quadrant member he sent a request to sends his son to see him instead, and proves he has no interest in seeing a low-level-thug like Diaz until he proves his mettle. So, with Laurel by his side, he goes on a mission for the man, helping them locate one of their stray members being held by the F.B.I. in a safehouse. However, that's not enough. The organisation also asks him to get the member out for 'disciplining', a request that infuriates Laurel. But Diaz keeps his cool and does the job... Until the son himself drives by and shoots both him and the member he got out in the end.

Having confirmed that he was once again being used and taken for granted, he tracks down the son, kills his men and beats the truth out of him -- the Quadrant never got his proposal. His father saw an oppprtunity for his own family tp take out Diaz and take over control of Star City for themselves. Angry, Diaz beats the location of the Quadrant's meeting ground out of him. Then he straps a bomb to him and sends him in, clearing their path of most guards. Then he walks in and delivers his proposition himself.

At first, the leaders of the Quadrant are unwilling to listen and insist there are only four seats at the table, all of which were currently filled. However, when they hear how one of them attempted to steal Diaz's plan, and when Diaz in a fit of rage kills the one in question, they allow him to join them and buy in to his proposal.

After all's done, Diaz takes Laurel and seeks out his old orphanage bully... And burns him to ashes in front of her, signaling the real arrival of the Dragon.

The Green Arrow is barely mentioned and Oliver makes only one appearance at the very tail end. Throughout the episode, Felicity is in a fit of worry, not having his back any more, but at the end he shows up, promising her he's not going anywhere.

And Diaz gets even more power. How exactly is Oliver going to stop him now?

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