User blog comment:Eobard95/Felicity dies saving Samantha?/@comment-24152851-20170702001110/@comment-26624146-20170704024432

I don't think testing is out of the question I mean look at this logically. Season 1 and 2 are still the best recieved (no Olicity), season 3 and 4 are the worst recieved (Olicity), season 5 while still not quite season 1/2 grade was significantly better recieved than season 3/4 and Olicity was very minimal in that. I think it makes complete sense for the producers to test the audiences one last time to see how they react to Olicity's possible return and while there were obviously people happy with this there were many that were outraged and were ready to give up once the season ended. Then they do a Walking Dead 6x16 styled cliffhanger so people have to tune in to see who died when 6x01 airs, and given that many were practically dancing in Felicity's potential grave right at that very moment speaks volumes.

Speaking of which Waking Dead season 7's cast wasn't finalized due to the cliffhanger ending of season 6 and after Negan's victim was revealed that actor's name was removed (not saying who in case of spoilers but if you've seen it you'll know who I mean), and several other actors names were added in the slot left. I think it's completely possible for them to do the same with Emily Bett Rickards if indeed Felicity is killed.

You should have been on reddit in the weeks leading up to the finale. People were posting pictures from 2x23 of Slade holding a sword to Felicity's throat, and were generaly getting hundreds of thumbs up and were overwhelmed with comments hoping it would happen in 5x23. I thought it was quite amusing to be honest.

I really do think Felicity needs to go. I mean this year Arrow was the lowest rated show behind Legends, Supergirl and Flash this year specifically in that order. Yea even despite Flash's flaws this year it still had more viewers by far. The article I read this on noted that fans started tunning out of Arrow as early as season 3 which is when Olicity started and despite season 5 focusing more on Oliver's story coming full circle most people that left never returned. Click the link below to read all of this.

http://www.cinemablend.com/television/1676820/how-the-cws-4-arrow-verse-shows-actually-compare-in-popularity