It has been nearly six years since Emily Bett Rickards shocked ‘Arrow’ fans with her departure before the show’s final season. Her character, Felicity Smoak, had become one of the most beloved figures in the Arrowverse.
She went through a major transformation from a quirky, one-off IT specialist into the backbone of Oliver Queen’s journey, both as his tech-savvy ally and his eventual wife. Moreover, recently, the actress claimed that despite her abrupt exit, she is willing to return to her role.
Emily Bett Rickards Believes Felicity Smoak Didn’t Get A Proper Conclusion
Recently, on Michael Rosenbaum’s Inside of You podcast, Emily Bett Rickards opened up about her feelings regarding Felicity’s storyline and why she would be willing to return. Unlike many actors who revisit past roles out of nostalgia or for the fans, Rickards made it clear.
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“I want to give Felicity her flowers, to be honest,” she explained. “There are things that I wish that Felicity stood up for more. I love Felicity so I’m not doing it for Arrow or really the fans. I’d be doing it for Felicity. And then everybody else gets it just as a side effect!” Her words resonate with a sense of unfinished business.
While Felicity’s last appearance in the series finale gave her a poetic reunion with Oliver in a peaceful afterlife, Rickards’ remarks suggest that the journey leading up to that moment wasn’t as fulfilling as she had hoped. Her unexpected departure in 2019 meant that the showrunners had to pivot their original plans.
It left Felicity absent for most of the final season. The actress now hints at the creative struggles behind the scenes, reflecting on her character’s arc with a mixture of gratitude and regret. “I think she got a little lost in the later seasons, and I wish I could have changed that for her…but I wasn’t a writer,” she admitted.
She also acknowledged that while she did voice concerns at the time, she believes she “would be clearer now” in articulating her perspective if given another chance. This openness provides fresh insight into what was previously seen as a shocking departure. Fans who followed the series closely will remember how central Felicity was to Arrow’s DNA.
So, her exit was unsurprisingly a significant loss for the final chapter of the show. Now, with the Arrowverse officially ending in December 2024 following the conclusion of ‘Superman & Lois’, could Felicity Smoak make one last comeback?
How ‘Arrow’ Strayed Away From Felicity Smoak’s Original Version
Felicity Smoak was never meant to be the defining character she became. Introduced as a one-time guest role in ‘Arrow’s first season, her chemistry with Stephen Amell’s Oliver Queen was undeniable. This dynamic quickly propelled her to series regular status. She evolved from a witty tech genius and ultimately became Oliver’s wife and the mother of their daughter, Mia.
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But as ‘Arrow’ progressed, many fans noticed a shift in Felicity’s role. While still an integral part of the story, her character’s agency seemed to wane in later seasons. She revolved more around romantic drama than her original independent brilliance. This change likely contributed to Rickards’ feelings of dissatisfaction. Additionally, it also explains why she might want to revisit the role.
If an Arrow revival ever happens, it would be a challenge to reintegrate Felicity into the narrative in a meaningful way. The series finale positioned her in a peaceful “paradise dimension” with Oliver. This makes her return tricky from a storytelling perspective. However, given the nature of superhero fiction, where multiverses, time travel, and alternate realities are commonplace, there are certainly ways to bring her back.
