‘Arrow’: Brandon Routh On Ray’s Feelings For Felicity, How Oliver’s ‘The Man!’

Ray Palmer shared a kiss with Felicity Smoak in a recent “Arrow” episode, but just how into her is Starling City’s billionaire businessman?

“I think he’s a little confused by his feelings, a little bit,” Brandon Routh, who plays Ray, told Access Hollywood, when we spoke with him at the Television Critics Association Winter Tour.

Brandon said he’s noticed that some fans have worried about Ray’s interest in Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) over the course of Season 3, but he knows his character is coming from a genuine place.

WATCH: Brandon Routh: What Are Ray’s Feelings For ‘Arrow’s’ Felicity

“Obviously, there’s a whole issue of people being concerned with Ray being stalker-ish and I’ve thought… a decent amount about it and the thing about it is, at the beginning, he just wants the best brain in the business. So he’s not stalking her because he wants to be with her or for any weirdness that way. It’s because he wants the best brain in the room to be a part of his company, which I guess could still be considered stalking, but is not the more scary kind of stalking,” Brandon told Access. “But, I think that’s why it hits him and why he’s shocked by it when the kiss happens, because it’s all wrapped up in this appreciating her brain and her talent, that [he’s] not really seeing his true feelings. And so now, he’s having to figure out how that works for him because he has kind of bottled all that up since his [fiancee] died.”

There are plenty of fans rooting for a Ray/Felicity (Raylicity) romance between the two characters, but there are also those who are thoroughly are invested in Oliver/Felicity (Olicity) getting together properly (well, once Oliver returns).

PHOTOS: ‘Arrow’ Season 3, Episode 11: ‘Midnight City’

Brandon said he hasn’t minded seeing the Twitter reactions from the latter group.

“It’s all in fun. It’s good that people are reacting. Whether it’s good or bad towards Ray, it’s positive [for the show] and we’re creating some kind of commotion and feeling, which is positive,” he said. “I’ve definitely gotten more positive than negative support.”

But, the actor said he can completely understand those who feel Oliver and Felicity are meant to be.

“He’s the man and it’s his show and I can’t blame ’em either,” Brandon laughed.

WATCH: Brandon Routh On Starting To Suit Up As The Atom

“Arrow” continues Wednesday at 8/7c on The CW.

Jolie Lash

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