‘Arrow’ season 2 spoilers: How Barry Allen could change Oliver, Felicity relationship

Do you ship “Olicity” on “Arrow”? If so, we understand; it’s one of the series’ most-popular pairings beyond the shadow of a doubt, and at this point, it’s crazy by just what margin this has catapulted beyond another popular pairing n Olivier and Laurel (you know, the couple that is seemingly destined to actually be together). Maybe some of this comes via the allure of the unknown, or something that feels like much more of a “will they or won’t they?” situation given that Oliver and Laurel have already shown that they “will.”

Already this season, it feels like the chemistry between Emily Bett Rickards and Stephen Amell’s characters is such that it far surpasses anything that we had back in season 1, but don’t take this as any sort of confirmation that a hook-up is on the horizon. The arrival of Grant Gustin’s Barry Allen (who forms a very quick bond with Felicity) could be something that makes Oliver question his own feelings for her, and Rickards explains this by saying the following in a chat with Screen Spy:

“[Barry] puts [her and Oliver] on a different wavelength. There’s a whole other topic to be discussed. It’s safe right now if Oliver is the only other man in her life but is that where she needs to be? I think we’ve all been in that situation before too. You have the friend and then the friend starts seeing somebody and then you have to consider what feelings arise from that. Do you ignore your feelings? If you play host to them it’s going to get you into trouble either way, as romance does. It’s interesting to see a normal relationship explored like that. It’s such a common thing in people’s lives after all. Should we stay friends? Should we not? How much do I love you? How much do you mean to me? I think it’s something we first discover when we’re young. Then it happens when we’re adults, and then you’re like ‘Oh! I’m still doing that!’  Do you know what I mean?”

Given that Barry doesn’t appear until a few episodes down the road, it is fair to say that we are not going to see these questions fully explored for at least a little while. Until that time, the two clearly have other priorities, including trying to save Starling City from a whole host of nefarious criminals and villains.

You can check out some more of that in the preview video here for Wednesday night’s new episode, which is going to not only show you what happens next with Oliver in a dire position, but also introduce more of the Black Canary story.

Photo: The CW