10 Radical Ideas To Save Arrow

Throughout season three and the latter part of season four, Felicity has been allowed to drive the car when it comes to propelling the narrative on Arrow. She's become the co-protagonist of the show with the Green Arrow himself, and the current backlash against her shows what a mistake this was.

If there’s an issue between two people on the show and a tough love speech needs to be made, in comes Smoak with her two cents. If it involves Oliver, she swaps out those two cents for a roll of quarters. Everyone raves about how awesome she is: and even when she's wrong, she's never, ever portrayed that way.

There are all kinds of logical fallacies involved in her insistence that Oliver has to be honest with her at all times. She lied to his face for months when she went behind his back to provide support to Team Arrow after the pair of them ‘retired’ - but she made a cute face, so that was forgiven in seconds.

More than that, though - this is Oliver Queen we’re talking about. She fell in love with an isolated and withdrawn screw-up with more baggage than an airline lost property office. Since the day she met him, all he’s had are secrets.

She knows full well that she still knows next to nothing about those five lost years of his - the places he went, the things he saw and the worse things he did. Breaking it off with Oliver Queen because he kept something from her is like throwing out stilton because it’s got mould on it: yes, of course it does, it always does... and be honest, that’s kind of why you bought it.

Of course, Felicity is not a real person. The fault lies in the writing - and in the performance. Emily Bett Rickards is not a convincing enough dramatic actress to carry all of that contrariness off and still allow her character to remain sympathetic, another reason for the recent backlash.

Felicity needs to transition back into a supporting role on Arrow. If she remains on the show, that is.