Arrow EPs Tease Thea's Role Going Forward in Season 5

02/15/2017 10:01 pm EST

Among the other reasons that tonight's episode of Arrow was noteworthy, it saw the return of a fan-favorite character. Thea Queen (Willa Holland) had previously been away on a business conference over the course of the past three episodes.

But tonight, she returned to help her brother Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) serve as mayor in a time of crisis. And according to the show's executive producers, viewers will see more of Thea in upcoming episodes.

"She's headed in a direction that's very similar to where her mother was before she was killed in Season 2. We're excited about it." revealed Wendy Mericle.

For hardcore Thea fans, rest assured, this doesn't mean that her character will die. Although Holland does have a smaller contract with the show - which explains why she hasn't been in all of this season's episodes - she remains an integral connection to the show's earliest seasons, as well as Oliver's only living familial connection.

According to Mericle, this connection between the siblings will play into Thea's storyline going into the rest of the season.

"I'm actually really excited about her storyline because we're taking her to a place where she's been dealing with all of these issues the same way Oliver has, with her bloodlust and with her other elements of her past. And this season's going to find her in a similar place but for very different reasons. There's gonna be a great scene coming up between Oliver and Thea that's one of my favorites on the show."

Executive producer Marc Guggenheim echoed this, highlight the dynamic between the siblings while they both work in the mayor's office. "There's some really terrific Oliver/Thea scenes in next week's episode and beyond. It's been so much fun to have her in the mayor's office and we've really been enjoying writing for them."

Fans will have to wait and see what exactly Thea's storyline entails, and how it will carry into the rest of this season of Arrow and beyond.

WILD DOG'S HISTORY IS REVEALED — A traumatic attack on City Hall triggers painful memories for Rene (Rick Gonzalez) about his family. Flashbacks reveal how Rene went from simple family man to a hero named Wild Dog.

Meanwhile, Oliver (Stephen Amell) must deal with the perpetrator behind the attack and realizes the best way to do so is as Mayor Queen instead of the Green Arrow. Tensions run high in the Arrow bunker.

Kristin Windell directed the episode written by Marc Guggenheim.

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Arrow airs on Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW. "Spectre of the Gun" premieres on February 15.

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