I'm no stranger to obsessively 'shipping couples on TV, yet, when it comes to Arrow, I admit I'm sometimes at a total loss of who to root for. Am I Team Olicity or Team Raylicity? At this point, even I'm not so sure. In fact, I've found myself 'shipping both pairings so often that I'm tempted to just suggest Felicity date them both at the same time. (What? You know you were thinking the exact same thing.) But given the direction things seem to be heading, I have a feeling Olicity 'shippers will get a solid win in the near future. Why? Because, from the look of things, Ray and Felicity are headed for a break-up before Arrow Season 3 comes to an end.
The synopsis for Wednesday's episode, "Suicidal Tendencies," not only states that "Felicity and Ray hit a rough patch," but it also highlights the fact that Oliver and Ray will "have a heated exchange." That doesn't exactly bode well for Raylicity's prospects. Because despite their very solid foundation, if Felicity had to choose between Ray and Team Arrow, I'm 100 percent positive she'd side with Team Arrow each and every time. Those vigilantes have become her Starling City family in a big way. She stuck by them even when she thought Oliver was dead. So if this stand-off escalates too far, it could end up officially sinking this otherwise blossoming relationship.
And the crazy part is at how I find this news both exciting and sad at the same time. (Damn you, Felicity, and your ability to have insane chemistry with everyone! Just kidding, never change.) Seriously, though, it's not as if I'm necessarily rooting against Ray and Felicity. On the contrary, I find them to be a very dynamic duo who bring out each other's best qualities.
But at the same time, I can also see this relationship serving as more of a stepping stone for both parties than a final destination — a statement that carries even more weight due to the fact that there's an Arrow and Flash spinoff in the works, which Brandon Routh (aka The Atom himself) is slated to star in. I mean, that practically confirms the actor's already got one foot out the door. So the likelihood of Ray and Felicity lasting is almost a moot point. (Or moo point, if we're going by Joey Tribbiani's criteria.)
Either way, it doesn't change the fact that, with Ray out of the picture, Oliver will have another chance to swoop in and win Miss Smoak back. That is, if he ever smartens up and allows himself to actually be happy. (I'm all for the occasional brooding session, but enough already!) Plus, is it just me or does this image from next week's episode "Public Enemy" look like a break-up talk? Just saying.
Mark my words, Arrow fans, Olicity is still far from being over.
Images: Dean Buscher/The CW; Giphy; Diyah Pera/The CW; doubledviant, oliverdant/Tumblr
