'Arrow': Katie Cassidy on fighting back, Laurel's soul mate

Starling City is under attack in tonight’s episode of Arrow — and running is no longer an option.

With Slade’s Mirakuru army invading the entire city, everyone is forced to suit up — even Laurel, who can be seen holding a bow and arrow in tonight’s episode. “She does have it in her hands, but whether she knows how to use it or not, we’ll find out,” Katie Cassidy says with a laugh.

All jokes aside, it’s time for Team Arrow (and all the help they can get) to fight back. “Everyone at this point is in danger. It’s just a matter of coming together as a group, and figuring out what to do, and handling it from there,” says Cassidy. And for Laurel, in particular, that means fighting alongside the guy she once loved — the guy she recently realized was saving her city.

“When I read that Slade tells [Laurel] that Oliver is the Arrow, I definitely felt as though that made her embrace the situation even more and made her fall more in love with him. Because at the end of the day, he is the person that she thought he was,” she says. “For me, reading what they had written and going forward, I think embracing the situation and being supportive of him and what he’s doing and encouraging it was the right way to go. It also makes her not necessarily 100 percent a part of Team Arrow, but another support system, encouraging him and just being on board with everything. That, to me, comes across stronger than someone who was to retaliate.”

So if Laurel is more in love with Ollie than ever before, will those two find a way back to each other? Cassidy certainly thinks so. “At the end of the day, to me, Laurel and Oliver are soul mates. I’ve always felt that way. I’ve always approached the material that was written as ‘He is the love of my life, but there’s a lot obviously that’s gone on,'” she says. “I think that she’s a very open person. I think she’s a very forgiving person. I think she’s a very strong person, and forgiveness is, to me, the strongest quality to have…I feel like if anyone can, it would be her.”

And forgiveness might come into play in Arrow‘s next two episodes, which Cassidy described as “action-packed,” “huge,” and “suspenseful.” “For me, when I was reading the script, I was just waiting to turn the next page. I was on the edge of my seat because they’re so gigantic, and there’s so much going on. There’s pivotal plot points and things happen that aren’t necessarily expected. It definitely keeps you on your toes,” she teases.

So while we wait for the final two episodes of the season, we thought we’d keep Cassidy on her toes with a game we like to call “Arrow or Canary?” Check out her answers below:

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Who would win in a chess match? Arrow or Canary?

KATIE CASSIDY: Canary.

What about an arm wrestling match?

Uh, the Arrow. [Laughs] Although I don’t know, it could be neck and neck!

There’s been a bad breakup. Who would get Laurel’s spare room for the night?

Neither. [Laughs] I know that she was supportive for a minute, but she’s still secretly kind of like, “He’s with me.” I don’t think she wants to be involved.

Laurel needs someone to beat up a bad boyfriend. Does she call Arrow or Canary?

Arrow, without a doubt. I don’t want to put my sister in danger.

Laurel has a life-threatening secret. Which one does she tell first?

Arrow.

Is that just a trust thing?

I say that because with me and my relationship with my sisters, they’re my hardest judge. They’re tough on me, which is a great thing because it keeps me grounded. But there are things where I’ll go to my best friend instead of my sister because I’m like, “I don’t want to get sh– from my sister.” In this case, Oliver is her soul mate. I think going to Oliver or the Arrow would be her number one choice.

Laurel is out of town and needs someone to dog sit. (She doesn’t have a dog on the show, but go with it.)

She calls Diggle! She’s not calling either of them. She’ll call Diggle, the bodyguard.

Who would win in a salmon ladder race?

It depends.

On what?

When is this race happening?

A year from now.

It would be a tie.

Arrow‘s penultimate episode airs tonight at 8 p.m. on The CW.