Arrow Season 7 interview: Rick Gonzalez talks Season 7 changes, Rene’s mental state

Arrow star Rick Gonzalez reveals new details about where fans can expert to find Rene, aka Wild Dog, as Season 7 begins this October!

As the sixth season of Arrow came to a close, the worlds of our favorite vigilante heroes was turned upside down thanks to two unexpected twists.

After Quentin Lance died unexpectedly following complications in surgery, Team Arrow (both new and old) was left in shock as it was revealed that Oliver had struck a deal with the FBI which would protect all members of his team in exchange for turning himself into the police on charges of vigilantism. In other words, Oliver yet again bit the bullet to protect those he loves most.

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However, before Oliver was handcuffed and hauled away, he managed to give his friends an important directive: Keep fighting. As star Rick Gonzalez revealed during our conversation at San Diego Comic-Con, it’s a directive that will be interpreted in many ways by the various members of Team Arrow setting up for unique journey this season.

"“I think he’s ended up at a place of interpreting the directive that Oliver gave him to keep fighting,” Gonzalez previewed of where fans can expect Rene as Season 7 begins. “He does want to continue to do that and is doing that in his own way. He’s a person who has always been in turmoil and second guessing every decision he makes but at the end of the day goes after what he thinks is right.”“Ultimately [it comes down to] how do we honor the directive that he gave us to keep fighting and we’ll have to see how that plays out,” he continued. “Obviously everyone is going to interpret that in their own way and that’s going to be an interesting part about this season is seeing that journey.”"

As Gonzalez noted, however, following through with Oliver’s directive will be easier said than done thanks to the unresolved factors from the show’s past year.

"“Mentally, in following the redemption arc, it’s like okay, our leader’s in prison so where does that leave us?” Gonzalez revealed. “He wanted us to keep fighting, but how? To be a vigilante is outlawed and there are a lot of factors we left in place in Season 6 that the characters have to take into account.”"

For more on what’s to come this season on Arrow including more on Rene’s growth as a leader, be sure to check out our complete interview with Rick Gonzalez below!

Don’t miss the Season 7 premiere of Arrow as the series settles into its new night and time beginning Monday, October 15 at 8/7c only on The CW! 

Thoughts on what new details Rick Gonzalez was able to spill about Season 7 during our chat at San Diego Comic-Con? Any predictions as to how Wild Dog and the rest of Team Arrow will find a way to keep fighting the good fight? Keep the conversation going in the comments section below.