>"Now that Barry has gotten a glimpse of the future" — one in which Savitar slays Iris — "he will be trying to do whatever it takes to save her," says co-showrunner Aaron Helbing. "Everybody will play a huge part in that, because Iris is part of the team." Maybe even former frenemy Julian will lend a hand? Having unwittingly served the sinister speed god, "He feels culpable, and wants to make amends." But wait, wasn't Savitar dispatched with in the fall finale, imprisoned in the Speed Force? "That will be an itch that Barry can’t scratch," says the EP. "Like, ‘How is this possible?'" Team Flash members also have individual odysseys ahead of them. Helbing says there are "big, exciting plans" for Caitlin, stemming from her wrestling with her powers for the rest of the season; Cisco will find in the badass Gypsy "a very strong adversary" as well as "someone he can’t stop thinking about"; and Wally will continue to "go a little half-cocked" as Kid Flash.
>RETURN DATE: Tuesday, January 25 at 8/7c (The CW)
>former frenemy So what the fuck is he now? A frequent fuckboi?
Wyatt Rivera
ARROW
>Seeing Laurel (?!) "is a very welcome surprise" for Oliver, says showrunner Wendy Mericle. "But there will be… whatever the reverse of a ‘silver lining’ is… when he finds out what’s really going on. It will have a lot of emotional resonance, particularly for him and Felicity." On top of that is the "significant fallout" of Malone’s murder, a tragic accident that steers Felicity to "a darker place" as she sets her own sights on Prometheus. That, coupled with the question of the Big Bad’s identity, "is a gift that keeps on giving for the rest of the season," says Mericle. Elsewhere, Diggle emerges from his latest imprisonment "with a much bigger drive, and not the same fatalism that he had earlier in the season," the EP previews. "He’s going to come up against Colonel Walker" as well as "grow closer to Adrian Chase." Among new faces, Talia al Ghul plays a "crucial part" in unraveling the Prometheus mystery, while SCPD Detective Tina Boland will form a connection with Oliver, seeing as "she has been through her own hell, her own sort of ‘island.'"
>RETURN DATE: Wednesday, Janunary 25 at 8/7c (The CW)
John Williams
SUPERGIRL
>"A lot of secrets have been brewing this season," executive producer Ali Adler acknowledges, promising that "we’ll get definitive answers" in the back half. For starters, we’ll find out what Mon-El is hiding, and why he claims not to remember "that almost unsatisfying kiss" he shared with Kara. "We’ll explore more of that relationship," Adler says. "Kara still has to figure out how she feels about him." Meanwhile, Alex and Maggie face a new crop of "complications"; Winn will learn "what it means to be a hero" (and will "get a little taste of love" for himself); Lena and Kara grow "closer," leading to a possible shift in the Luthor/Super dynamic; and an army of enemies will emerge, including legendary DC Comics prankster Mr. Mxyzptlk. ("He’s a really funny character, and we’re going to get a lot of that humor.")
>RETURN DATE: Monday, January 23 at 8/7c (The CW)
Alexander Murphy
>Everybody will play a huge part in that well not EVERYBODY
Xavier Cooper
>Supergirl going for the /u/ with Lena
I have to watch this
Carter Bailey
AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.
>Coming out of the midseason finale, Ming-Na Wen says, "The big question is, ‘What is Radcliffe's motivation?’ — not so much Aida's — because he's the taskmaster in this whole scheme of changing out May for the LMD May. Is his agenda for something good … or is he the mad scientist hoping to advance science? I don't think he went through all this trouble for s–ts and giggles!" In the meantime, "Philinda" shippers will struggle with whether to embrace this budding ersatz relationship ("It will be interesting to explore that path," Wen teases), while Aida’s portrayer, Mallory Jansen, offers this simple advice: "Never trust an android." What about trusting an Inhuman S.H.I.E.L.D. Director? "How Mace got his powers, his whole backstory, is going to be a major part of the next batch of episodes," says Jason O’Mara. "How he legitimizes Daisy is going to be revealed as well, so there's lots to look forward to there."
>RETURN DATE: Tuesday, January 10 at 10/9c (ABC)
Brayden Phillips
The Flash is terrible at using its supporting cast.
Jace Wilson
LUCIFER
>When it comes to Will They/Won’t They, "A lot of shows milk that for years," notes co-showrunner Ildy Modrovich. "But we always try to be different, like, ‘Let’s really just go at it!'" Of course, the wrinkle for Lucifer and Chloe is the largely secret fact that she was a "miracle baby" put in his path, by God. "If Chloe is the key to getting home, and Mom will stop at nothing to get home, will Chloe’s relationship with Lucifer be put in jeopardy? The answer is: of course," warns the EP. While Charlotte mulls how to "weaponize" this intel, Amenadiel will "have a new spring in his step, having finally chosen a side. But did he choose the right one? And if he didn't, will he realize it too late?", teases Modrovich. Elsewhere, Maze — when not posing as a "sexy stewardess" to hunt a bounty — "will be pushed to possibly hurt Lucifer"; Dr. Linda’s "First, Do No Harm" doctoral vows will be put into question in Episode 13; and even sweet, spiritual Ella may be harboring a secret.
>RETURN DATE: Monday, January 16 at 9/8c (Fox)
Jacob Moore
>CW Flash wasting the Rogues Stop the presses. I mean why do anything fun when we can focus on his relationship with Iris, have Cisco crack a stupid joke, or focus on Caitlin and her poisonous womb
Ethan Collins
He's having dinner with his parents, leave him alone.
