Arrow was pretty bat-shit bananas this season. There was a lot that I liked (like Thea’s journey and how she’s grown up—and grown into a new role on Team Arrow), but there was a lot that I didn’t like (OMG, I’m so sick of Oliver “wanting to protect” the people he cares about. The more he “protects” them, the more he SCREWS UP. They’re grown-ass adults, yo!). One of the things I liked least is how Felicity Smoak, once an awesome hacker who could be counted on to call everyone on their crap, was transformed into a blubbering pile of hot mess. And apparently, the actress who plays her, Emily Bett Rickards, kinda feels the same way.

During roundtable interviews at San Diego Comic-Con this year, she was asked if she felt that Felicity spent too much of the season crying. Here’s what Rickards had to say (via io9):

She felt like she was crying a lot. I feel like she went through a year that wasn’t necessarily her favorite. I agree. I feel like she lost a little bit of her strength to a certain extent. I think she got burned a couple too many times, and then found herself in situations she wasn’t exactly sure she wanted to be in or if she was being true to herself between Ray [Palmer] and between Oliver [Queen], and if she was giving enough time to what she truly wanted. And then we throw her mom in there. And we get mom to really tell the truth. And that’s kind of what happens, and you end up sobbing.

So, are we going to be seeing a stronger Felicity in the new season?

That’s my hope and the plan and, hopefully, she gets funnier again because I don’t want to see her crying all of the time. It was a big disappointment to me to have her crying a lot—because one thing I love about Felicity so much is that she’s so strong and independent and sticks to her guns and is true to herself. And that is something I admire about her. I think she was true to herself last year, but I just don’t know if she necessarily knew what she was doing was authentic and she was trying to find it.

Rickards also talked about the fact that Felicity is someone who’s worked hard to create a strong identity for herself, and that having a secret that she only gets to share with a very small group took a toll. With everything that Felicity’s been through this season, Rickards says, “she probably has nightmares, and I don’t know when she goes to therapy.”

Here’s hoping that whatever is in store for Felicity in the upcoming season of Arrow will allow her to be the badass, brilliant, strong character we know she can be.

(Image via Thlbault on Flickr)

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