“Vampire Diaries” Season 7 will see the return of the cast minus Nina Dobrev this Thursday night. Now that Elena Gilbert is out of the picture, are things going to remain gloomy and sad just like how it was in the finale last season? The answer may surprise avid viewers since everyone seemed to have moved on post Dobrev’s departure. We’ll see Ian Somerhalder’s Damon Salvator drunk at the beginning, but the mood will definitely change when the Mystic Falls welcomes its new visitors and would-be rulers?
Show exec Julie Plec opened up recently and admitted that the greatest challenge for them was how to go on with the obvious absence of the main character. However, she revealed that since the love complicated love triangle between the Salvator brothers and Elena is out of the picture, everyone can now have their own storylines unfold before the viewers' eyes "and the world fleshes itself really nicely out as a result," as per TV Guide.
Aside from focusing on the ensemble cast, there is also the introduction of new characters into the series who will hopefully fill in the huge spot Elena left behind with an interesting arc that could maintain the show's reception among its loyal fans.
"We're bringing in six new people so if they don't have romantic interests that would be pretty boring. One might have a wandering eye; you never know! But we will see romance, and it could involve one of our main characters, but they will definitely intersect with existing romances on our show," show exec Caroline Dries was quoted as saying ahead of the "Vampire Diaries" Season 7 premiere episode.
And it appears that Dries was right when she said that the relationships among the Heretics won't be boring. TV Line has learned that one of the couples that will be introduced in the post-Elena world is a lesbian couple. Characters Nora and Mary-Louise are the series' first same-sex couple ever. And their costar Elizabeth Blackmore, who plays Valerie, is very excited to see this same-sex storyline.
"They're very much a team. It'll be interesting to see them adjust to being in a time where they can be open with their relationship. All of the Heretics, though, have always been very accepting of them together. I'm really excited that the show has taken this storyline on," Blackmore said.
As for the main couples of the series, Caroline and Stefan may be standing front and center this season. After all, Candice King (nee Accola) has admitted that there is a big chance her character and Paul Wesley's Stefan could end up being together. "I think there's definitely a chance for Caroline and Stefan to be end game, but you still never know, and I think that's what's been really an exciting world for the writers and also a great perspective for the actors, is that it's this kind of supernatural magical world where people can die and there's other sides and there's witches and vampires and this idea of eternal life that can easily be taken away, and anything really is possible," she said.
Speaking of the premiere of "Vampire Diaries" Season 7, Candice said that Caroline is going to take some time to grieve the absence of Elena Gilbert. But she won't necessarily be alone in this since Stefan will offer some comfort. But this will lead to Caroline's "biggest struggle" in the pilot episode - becoming indecisive on whether or not she wants Stefan to comfort her through grief.
The official synopsis of the premiere episode of "TVD" reads: "Season 7 begins with Damon being forced to navigate his new reality without Elena. Meanwhile, Stefan waits for Caroline to sort out her emotions and tries to protect the town from Lily and her family of Heretics, who are wreaking havoc in Mystic Falls. Elsewhere, Enzo struggles to find his place in Lily's new life; and Matt teams up with Stefan and Caroline to put a stop to the Heretics."
"Day One of Twenty-Two Thousand, Give or Take" is set to air this Thursday night at 8 p.m. EDT. Watch "Vampire Diaries" Season 7 Episode 1 by tuning in on The CW tonight or by watching the show online using this free online stream link here.
