Recent "Arrow" season 4 episode guide hints of the return of Ray Palmer (Brandon Routh). The former Palmer Technologies CEO vanished in last season's finale.
He is not dead but he badly needs help from former girlfriend Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards).
Felicity is now with Oliver Queen/Green Arrow (Stephen Amell) and Ray Palmer will surely be saved since he is one of the leads in upcoming spinoff TV series "Legends of Tomorrow."
When he does get out of trouble, will the billionaire try to get back with Felicity?
Executive producer Wendy Mericle said Felicity-Ray romance, or a love triangle with Oliver is no longer an option.
"The most surprising thing for us was that we don't feel like there is any residual tension, romantically, between the two of them," Mericle told The Hollywood Reporter.
"We debated a lot in the writers' room if Felicity and Ray would try and rekindle their romance and that just didn't feel natural. After everything they have both been through, not to mention that she's absolutely 100 percent in love with Oliver, they are in a really good place in their friendship and there are no hard feelings between them."
Although Oliver and Felicity are already assured their feelings for each other are true, Ray's arrival will put their relationship to a huge test.
"It's the first episode we've done where we really explore fully the first challenge to Oliver and Felicity's new relationship since returning to Star City," Mericle said in another interview with Entertainment Weekly. "It takes us to some very surprising places. Ray is definitely part of that, but not in the way you would think."
"In our minds, when Ray and Felicity broke up in season 3, there weren't any hard feelings. There are still residual emotions playing out, especially for Felicity, who didn't have a chance to really grieve the loss of Ray between seasons. That's something we'll definitely be exploring. Those chickens will be coming home to roost, especially for her."
Next episode is called "Lost Souls." Read "Arrow" season 4 episode guide below.
"Felicity is frantic when she learns that Ray is alive and being held by Damien Darhk (guest star Neal McDonough). Felicity's guilt over not finding Ray sooner causes tension between her and Oliver. Meanwhile, Sara (guest star Caity Lotz) joins Laurel (Katie Cassidy), Thea (Willa Holland) and the team on a rescue mission for Ray. However, the effects of the Lazarus Pit take over and threaten to jeopardize the entire operation. Donna Smoak (guest star Charlotte Ross) returns to Star City."
