WARNING: This article contains spoilers for Arrow Season 7 that may influence your enjoyment in discovering the plotlines. Read at your own risk.
Emily Bett Rickards (as Felicity Smoak) announced a few weeks ago that she's leaving Arrow after season 7 despite being a vital part of the series. Arrow season 7 episode 21, which will air on Wednesday, May 6, at 9:00 p.m. on The CW, will set up her big exit.
According to the episode synopsis, the Star City Police Department will come with an arrest warrant for Felicity in Arrow season 7 episode 21. Oliver (played by Stephen Amell) and his friends, on the other hand, won't be able to do anything to help her because they are going to be engaged in a tougher situation.
Oliver was unfortunately trapped under a building because of Emiko (played by Sea Shimooka) at the end of Arrow season 7 episode 20, which aired last April 29. The upcoming episode will have his friends racing for time to get him out of this trap hence they won't be able to save Felicity, as per Comic Book Movie.
But are the scribes of Arrow season 7 sending Felicity to prison as a way to write off her character? While this may seem like a weak plotline, the writers wanted Rickards' exit to be open-ended in case they could still convince her to guest star for Arrow season 8.
It's known for sure that Felicity won't be killed off in the Arrow season 7 finale. Cast member Kirk Acevedo (as Richard Dragon) hinted this fact when the actor said during a recent fan fest that they should have just killed Rickards' character off to give her story a solid ending.
Meanwhile, TV Guide also has a few theories on how Arrow season 7 will lay down Felicity's absence next season. She may be headed to a secret cabin that was hinted in previous episodes. This safe place is where she'll give birth and raise her daughter, Mia, far away from the madness at Star City.
However, fans also think that Rickards may be replaced with a new actress for Arrow season 8 so that the writers won't necessarily have to write off the character. The prison storyline could give Felicity the time to under a physical transformation while she's not around.
The CW renewed Arrow for an eighth and final season in March. The last installment, however, will only have ten episodes.
