‘Elementary’ Season 5 Spoilers: Kitty Returns! Is A Romance Possible Between Sherlock & Joan? Lucy Liu Speaks Up

Plenty of recurring characters -- both loved and despised -- were introduced on "Elementary" since it first aired in 2012. Ophelia Lovibond's Kitty Winter was among those recurring characters that have made a mark in the CBS series. Naturally, "Elementary" fans are wondering whether she would make a comeback in Season 5. Fortunately, the answer to that question was recently confirmed.

Entertainment Weekly reported that Lovibond will return to her role as Kitty "for at least two episodes in the latter half" of the current "Elementary" season. More details about Kitty's return, however, haven't been released. Lovibond also confirmed her comeback via a recent Instagram post.

The actress first portrayed the role in the "Elementary" Season 3 premiere episode titled "Enough Nemesis to Go Around" as Sherlock's (Jonny Lee Miller) new apprentice in London after the genius detective parted ways with Joan Watson (Lucy Liu). Kitty had a difficult past; she was kidnapped, raped, and tortured by a man and was forced to live under an assumed identity to escape her harrowing experience.

Kitty last appeared in episode 12 of "Elementary" Season 3. In that episode, Kitty finally exacted revenge on the man who abused her, bade goodbye to Sherlock and Joan, and returned to London.

Joan's sister, Lin (Samantha Quan), will also return to "Elementary" Season 5, particularly in episode seven. Co-executive producer and writer Robert Hewitt Wolfe confirmed Quan's comeback last month via Twitter.

One of the best aspects of "Elementary" is probably the undeniable on-screen chemistry of lead stars Miller and Liu. Viewers know that their characters' friendship is a deep and unshakable bond and it left fans wondering whether a romantic future is possible between the two.

Those who want Sherlock and Joan to hook up will be disappointed, though. "Elementary" creator Robert Doherty said that the series will follow what's "sacred to the original material," meaning Sherlock and Joan's relationship will remain strictly platonic, CBS News reported.

Liu believes that "fans especially don't want" a romance between Sherlock and Joan on "Elementary," adding that their friendship "is what drew people" even into the original "Sherlock Holmes" stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The actress acknowledged that making Watson female changes things but a romantic future for the duo wasn't really taken into consideration.

Liu thinks that Doherty's original idea for "Elementary" was for Sherlock to always have this "kind of uncomfortable feeling around women" it would be "interesting to have a woman being around him all the time." Do you want a romance between Sherlock and Joan? Why or why not? Share your thoughts below.