When Arrow first introduced adorkable tech expert Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards) to unknowingly help Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) take down the baddie of the week, no one could have anticipated what a sensation their romance would become. Flash forward seven years and Olicity has become a cornerstone of the series with a dedicated fandom.

Olicity fans are a force to be reckoned with, which is why TV Guide was curious to hear Rickards thoughts on why Oliver and Felicity's romance has struck such a chord with Arrow fans over the years.

"I hope that it's because it's honest and working towards a place of what we all sort of want and where we can see ourselves bettering ourselves," Rickards told TV Guide. "I don't know what the magic equation is to writing something that hits somebody at a certain time. We're so grateful. I mean, I really like them as a couple, I'm pro-them as a couple. I think the way that they communicate and talk to each other is about them growing. That's not always interesting to watch on TV... it's not always great to watch happy things on TV all the time, even comedy has very dark themes, but there is such a purpose towards them working as a couple and working through it. I hope that's what grounds people to their relationship."

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Rickards is right that through thick and thin, Oliver and Felicity's relationship has always been incredibly authentic and supportive even when they've disagreed or weren't together. Oddly enough, the drama that occasionally kept them apart was never half as entertaining to watch as when they were eventually brought back together. It's a rare TV couple that can be more appealing in the midst of domestic bliss than they are going through the cycle of breakups and makeups.

That doesn't mean, however, that their relationship will be without its own obstacles this season. Showrunner Beth Schwartz says their marriage will definitely be tested in upcoming episodes. "For their arc [this season], what I like about it the most is we're really going for the real struggles in marriage, so that's kind of where we're approaching their relationship. It's going to feel really authentic," Schwartz told TV Guide.

Let's hope one of those struggles is reacclimatizing to co-habitation because Oliver being locked up away from his wife is just so not good for our Olicity-obsessed hearts!

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Stephen Amell and Emily Bett Rickards, Arrow Photo: Diyah Pera, Diyah Pera/The CW



Arrow airs Mondays at 8/7c on The CW.

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