Tonight, Arrow returns to Sky1 in the UK, and after firmly establishing itself as US TV's best ever comic book adaptation with a stellar second season, the show looks set to raise the bar even higher this year.

For one thing, season three is set to finally pay off Oliver Queen's unrequited love for Felicity Smoak, his adorable tech-savvy partner-in-crime-fighting.

Digital Spy spoke to Felicity's alter ego Emily Bett Rickards about what fans have dubbed 'Olicity' - plus comic books, chin-ups, crossovers and more!

'Olicity' is no sure thing

Cate Cameron



Oliver's feelings for Felicity are clear - and it's obvious that she feels the same way - but while the pair will finally go on their first date this season, don't expect any romance to run smoothly.

"It might be a beautiful relationship but might is not a guarantee," says Rickards. "When you start a relationship, there's part of the friendship that dies - you can never go back. You can't be like, 'That didn't happen' - I tried that once, it didn't work!

"What if Felicity falls in love with somebody else? She's not going to frickin' wait around - I'm not going to let her. She's too powerful for that."

Felicity will make an appearance on The Flash - but don't expect crossovers every week



This year, Arrow is joined by a new spinoff series - The Flash, which sees Grant Gustin reprise his role of sweet-natured police tech Barry Allen, now transformed by a freak accident into the fastest man alive.

"No promises, but I think Felicity will make a couple of appearances," Emily confirms. "The thing is, does Barry actually want to come back to Starling City?

"I mean, that's a different part of the story that people need to think about. Why does Oliver Queen need to go to Central City? I mean, they have phones!"

Emily thinks what Oliver Queen needs most is... a new workout regime?!



"I think he's the worst at keeping secrets," Rickards says, acknowledging the fact that not just Felicity Smoak, but also Diggle (David Ramsey), Roy (Colton Haynes) and Laurel (Katie Cassidy) have all discovered Oliver's vigilante secret.

Maybe The Arrow needs to add a Men in Black neuralyzer to his arsenal? "I don't think he needs one. He just needs a bit of a reality check... and a better workout regime."

Speaking of which, Emily is learning to do chin-ups...

Cate Cameron



"My God," she gasps. "I've never used those muscles before in my life. I didn't even know they existed. I mean, I did bars and gymnastics as a kid, but chin-ups was never something you had to do."

The new workout routine is just for Emily's own benefit though, so don't expect the new season of Arrow to introduce a super-jacked Felicity. "You know who can do chin-ups?" she adds. "Caity Lotz [who plays Sara Lance] - she is ripped!

"The first time I saw her in her sports bra on television, I was like... 'I'm never going shirtless on the show'. I was like, 'How are you so jacked?' and she's like, 'I'm a break-dancer, I'm super cool, I just look like this... like I just walked out of Jessica Alba's womb!'"

Nobody is safe on Arrow - not even Felicity Smoak

Cate Cameron The CW



Season two of Arrow saw Oliver's mother Moira Queen shockingly offed, following in the footsteps of Ollie's best friend, the dearly departed Tommy, so is anybody safe on this show? Could... *gulp*... Felicity be next?

"I don't feel like anybody's safe on the show," Emily submits. "I think as actors we should be told if anyone is going to get killed off, but I don't think anybody should be safe, because it would just make the story less interesting."

Arrow isn't ashamed of its comic book roots - and Emily loves that

Cate Cameron The CW



Rickards brands the hit show's creative team "comic book nerds" (in the most affectionate manner possible!) and is effusive in her retelling of how they translated Arrow from comic books to the small screen.

"They took the comic book concept and mastered the style," she says. "They didn't hide that it was a comic. They were like, 'This was a comic, and it rocked'. I think that was the idea and they killed it."

Arrow season three begins tonight (Thursday, October 30) at 8pm on Sky1.

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