SPOILER WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for "Spartan," the latest episode of Arrow.
In the year 2040, Deathstroke has really made quite the name for himself. As revealed in "Spartan," the latest episode of Arrow, a gang based on the anti-hero has emerged, and none other than John Diggle Jr. leads it.
As Felicity worked to reverse-engineer the high-tech helmet of a mercenary they encountered, she realized she needed a duplicate power source. Her daughter Mia and Connor Hawke, John Diggle's adopted son, went out in search of one for her. Per a tip from one of Mia's connections, the Deathstroke gang had exactly what they needed. Fortunately, Connor was able to hook them up by using his connection to J.J.
Mia wasn't impressed. "John Diggle has one son in Knightwatch and another who's the leader of the Deathstroke gang?" she asked. "That must make family dinners interesting."
"Well, he grew up hating my parents and the expectations they put on us," Connor explained.
When he returned with the power source, he revealed he hadn't seen J.J. in a year. "Funny thing is, he used to be my best friend," he said with a sad chuckle. "He and my dad started butting heads. Guess I got caught up in the middle. And this Deathstroke thing, that was just a way to rebel. I just thought one day he'd outgrow it, but I tried to reach him, and in the end I think I just reminded him of everything my mom and dad expected him to be."
Unfortunately for Connor, J.J. wasn't over this disagreement. He sent one of his gang members to kill Connor, but Connor managed to overcome his attack and escape. With that, J.J. has made it abundantly clear that he wants nothing to do with Diggle nor his brother.
In this, J.J. and Connor run parallel to Diggle and his brother Andy. After all, Diggle went down the straight and narrow path, becoming a member of the military like his father and then a vigilante after that, while Andy joined the terrorist organization HIVE. Unfortunately for Diggle, it seems his sons are similarly at odds.
Airing Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW, Arrow stars Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen, David Ramsey as John Diggle, Emily Bett Rickards as Felicity Smoak, Rick Gonzalez as Wild Dog, Juliana Harkavy as Black Canary, Colton Haynes as Arsenal, Kirk Acevedo as Diaz and Katie Cassidy as Black Siren.