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General Matthew Shrieve (died 2010) was a corrupt military general of the U.S. Army. Fearing China would eventually bring the end of America, Matthew plotted China's downfall with a bio-weapon which killed thousands in Hong Kong including Akio Yamashiro. In rage, Matthew was executed by Akio's father, Maseo, but only after hours of painful torture by Oliver Queen.

Biography

After Oliver Queen stopped Chien Na Wei from selling the Omega, General Shrieve told Oliver he had to return to China for a debrief, in return, he would allow Oliver to go wherever he wished.[1] Upon finalizing Oliver's debrief, Matthew kept his word and allowed Oliver to go anywhere he wished, but he had to go to Japan with the Yamashiro's first. It later was revealed that he broke his promise and ordered men to hunt down and kill Oliver and the Yamashiros. It turns out, while Oliver is infiltrating an A.R.G.U.S. field house, General Matthew had held Amanda Waller prisoner. He thought that Hong Kong was a military threat and was planning on using the Omega to destroy the city.[2]

After Akio was subjected to the virus, Maseo and Oliver tracked down Matthew where they forced him to procure the cure for Akio. Unfortunately there was never a cure, as Matthew revealed that Maseo had in fact taken insulin for Matthew's diabetes. Upon his trickery, he subdued Oliver with snipers.[3]

Due to Akio's death caused by the virus, Oliver tortured Matthew for hours and left him unconscious until Maseo shot him in the head, killing him instantly.[4]

Legacy

Despite his death, Matthew's actions were what indirectly led Maseo Yamashiro to join the League of Assassins, becoming known as Sarab. Matthew's brutal death made Oliver believe he was torturing him for justice, but eventually realized it was vengeance and served as a vital growth point to help him distinguish justice from vengeance.

Personality

Matthew was a manipulative liar with little regard for the people he hurt, justifying it with the belief that he was serving his country. He attempted to kill Oliver and the Yamashiros in order to tie up loose ends despite the services they had done for him. He was probably as sociopathic and immoral as Amanda Waller was, if not worse, in his pursuit of his goal to wipe out China that he believes to be a major military threat using the Alpha-Omega bio-weapon that would kill thousands of innocent people. In his final moments, he had absolutely no guilt or remorse for his actions.

Despite his horrendous actions, he did genuinely believe his actions wold benefit the United States by crippling China. These negative traits of his were what led to Matthew's painful yet deserved torture at the hands of Oliver Queen, and justified death at the hands of Maseo Yamashiro.

Appearances

Arrow

Season 3

Season 4

Season 5


Behind the scenes

  • In the DC comics, Matthew Shrieve is a military lieutenant who leads a paramilitary squad known as the Creature Commandos, comprised out of cinematic monster themed super-heroes.
    • Matthew is portrayed in contrast to his DC comic counterpart; originally he was a hero, but in the Arrowverse he is an immoral, sociopathic villain.

References

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