5 Teases For 4x02 'Memorial'

1. You Will See Elena Evolve: Considering a person's most defining trait is amplified when they become a vampire, you would expect Elena to be the most compassionate and self-sacrificing vamp ever, right? Wrong! "As I play her more and more as the episodes progress, her personality is changing and she's constantly evolving," Nina teases. "We're going to see a side of Elena that's going to surprise everyone...she walks a fine line, which is even more confusing for her, that's why she's even more conflicted with everything that she does and thinks and says. It's like the worst PMS you can ever have; that's what being a vampire is like for Elena at least. She's just crazy and emotional and has cravings, except instead of craving a pint of ice cream, she craves a pint of blood." In episode two, we'll see her try ever flavor of blood: animal, blood-bag and the fresh-from-a-human kind (a human we all know and love, to be precise).

2. You Will Cry: We're not going to spoil anything (because where's the fun in that? Plus, we like our jobs!), but we were a big, crying, snotty mess by the end of episode two. Hint: It's a Damon scene. (Also, the paper lanterns that come just before this scene definitely warmed up our tear ducts, just sayin'.)

3. You Will Be Intrigued by Jeremy's Emerging Storyline: Elena's little brother (Steven R. McQueen) will have a surprising connection to Connor (Todd Williams), the intense and lethal vampire hunter in town investigating the pastor's death. Though new threats don't tend to last long in Mystic Falls, trust us when we say Connor is no flash-in-the-pan hunter, dude is ruthless.

4. You Will See Stefan and Damon Hit the Campaign Trail: The campaign to lure Elena to their practice of blood-drinking that is. Stefan is determined to teach Elena the ways of the animal diet, while Damon insists its unrealistic for a new vampire to live off of woodland creatures. Alas, trouble arises when Elena's body has a very weird (and gross) reaction to certain kinds of blood. "They have these fundamental differences," Paul explains of Stefan and Damon. "It's like Republicans and Democrats. Ian's Mitt Romney. I'm Obama. He's more like Paul Ryan. I'm Bill Clinton!" So how does Ian feel about this comparison? "If Paul fancies himself as Bill Clinton, then I will give that to him and I will be his Monica Lewinsky!"

5. You Will See a Return to Basics: Paul says that season four feels like a new beginning for the show. "I feel like towards the end of season three, there were so many events occurring and there was so much happening, I was starting to get confused myself," he explains, "So it's nice to sort of go back to like, OK, there's an issue, this is the issue…it is sort of a restart in terms of a whole new plot-line, a whole new story."

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Julie Plec - What's Next?

Coming into season four, what were your priorities?

We really wanted to show the struggle of Elena's journey. We didn't want to be one and done. It's not, "Boom! You're a vampire! Weee! Isn't this fun?" Our show has always tried to balance the wish fulfillment of vampirism versus the hard cold reality of that circumstance. And for Elena, someone who never, ever wanted to be this, we didn't want to make it a cake walk. In making that decision, we are slow playing a lot in the beginning of the season. We're eeking out small nuggets of our mythology over the first few episodes as opposed to slamming into it. We are really focusing on Elena's journey; how she's changed, what this means for her, the ups and the downs of what transitioning does to her, her friendships and her relationships.

Inevitably a lot of fans are wondering what went into Pastor Young's decision to blow up the council. What can you say about his choice and what it means for this season?
What it means tragically, and yet ironically, is that there's a big reset button pushed for our supernatural creatures because their human enemies have basically been annihilated. At the end of episode one, they think everything is about to change, but no -- we dodge that bullet and so the supernatural creatures of Mystic Falls can live in peace and harmony ... or so they think until a new vampire hunter rolls in next week. He becomes the singular thorn in their side as opposed to the council. What it means for the mythology is something different entirely. This isn't something we're going to answer right away. In fact, it's going to be a dangling mystery for some time because there will be a big question of who did it, who's responsible for it and it happened. I mean, why did the pastor feel necessary to light a whole room of people on fire? Was he compelled? What went into that decision? That answer isn't coming any time soon, but we'll keep introducing a lot of clues.

For me, one of the big question marks over this season involves Rebekah. She's separated from her brother and has no strong ties to the core characters. How does she fit into season four?
Interestingly enough, episode three kind of answers your question. She shows up at school with a chip on her shoulder and this wall built 10 feet high because she knows that she's the most hated creature in Mystic Falls. It's what she does to defend herself against that unpopularity that will define who she is and what she'll be to the story this season. There are, of course, a couple of surprises in store for her early this season that shake things up.

Now that Klaus-in-Tyler is resolved, what's his mission? Is he still trying to create a family of hybrids?
It's certainly what he says his goal is. Klaus returns in episode three with a bit of a vengeance – he's pissed off and resentful that all these people bound themselves together to defeat him. He won't let them off the hook very easily and by the end of episode three, we start to get a sense that Klaus is putting together some pieces that the rest of our heroes aren't, that gives him a window into this new season four mythology. That makes him a very important player in this new season.

It was also amazing to see Grams again, but what exactly happened to Bonnie's power in that transfer moment?
It was basically a conditioned response. It was the witches saying, "If you go down this road, it will not just hurt you, but [those you love too]." It's the witches way of sending out a very, very dire warning: Do not meddle in that stuff. And that will scare Bonnie straight in episode two. Hopefully she can figure out a way to get access to her abilities again without having to go through that pain every time.

Earlier you mentioned that you were slow playing these first few episodes. Does that allow these characters, whose lives whoosh by, to take stock of everything that's happened?
For sure. I look at episode two in my own special way as the finale of last season's journey. We never got a chance to mourn, we never got a chance to properly grieve Alaric. In a way, our characters are never given the opportunity to sit and think about the terrible things that happen to them. This is a way of saying to the audience, we are allowing ourselves this moment to grieve. We are putting this away and moving forward. In many ways, episode three is truly the launch of season three in that we're really beginning a new chapter. Episode one and two are almost like a nice bow wrapped on end of season three.

Given that, what excites you about the beginning of season four, which begins in episode three?
The beginnings of some very interesting relationship shifts, across the board, for every character. The hints of what we like to call Something Wicked This Way Comes. The door opening to some really big mythology reveals that we'll launch into with episode four, which is our first flashback episode. There will be some conflicts between characters we want to see getting along and some nice moments between characters we're not used to getting along. And there's a couple sexy make out moments ... the show doesn't do enough of those!

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Spoiler From E Online - 12th October 2012

Any TVD scoop you can share?

While Caroline will be there for Elena, expect to see a major change in their friendship when the blond vamp doesn't like the way the new bloodsucker is acting. Hint: It may or may not have to do with a steamy moment Elena shares with the older Salvatore brother in episode four.

An Insight To 4x01 And Beyond

Elena has officially vamped out! 

We all wondered who Elena's first kill would be... and we're still wondering. Personally, I thought Pastor Young was going to be her first taste of human blood, but instead it was a random guard, and it was Stefan who did the (rather brutal) killing. Elena pretty much just had to reach out and slurp.

"We either wanted do this, or to have her first feed be Matt, the way that it was in the books," Plec tells me. "It was a really great moment in the first book, where Stefan brings her to Matt, and that's how he finds out about the vampires -- it was actually one of my favorite scenes. Ultimately, we decided that her transition feed should be a stranger." That said, it isn't quite that simple for Elena. In next week's episode, we'll find that after that first smear of blood from the floor, Elena's appetite becomes a bit... temperamental.

The Founder's Council: 

After Dark Alaric spilled the vampires' secrets last season, we expected the Council members to be major antagonists this year. In this episode, the mysterious group of powerful Mystic Falls residents definitely proved that they know their stuff -- they've had generations of training, and it showed. They came very close to outsmarting our vampires, and Elena almost perished in captivity when she couldn't feed. What I hadn't quite bargained for, though, was the final scene of the episode, in which the town's beloved Pastor Young sent the the entire Council -- himself included -- up in flames, after saying, "Fear not, for I have been chosen to lead us in a movement... Friends, we are the beginning."

The beginning of what, exactly?

"That was really setting the stage for something that's going to be a slow reveal this season," says Plec. "We deliberately meant to leave a lot of questions unanswered. Pastor Young certainly seemed to be in his right mind when he blew everyone up, so we're left wondering, was he compelled? Did one of our heroes compel him? Did one of our enemies compel him? Was there another motive? I think people thought that the council was going to be one of the driving forces of our season, and we wanted to turn things around a bit and literally blow that up in our first episode out."
Damon is lashing out in all the wrong directions.

It was clear in this episode that while he's devastated by Elena turning into a vampire -- and mad at Stefan, and (oddly) Matt for the way that went down -- Damon is also still pretty bitter about Elena choosing Stefan. Obviously, I can't blame him, since in Mystic Falls the rejection only happened yesterday, but it's still painful to watch him bring up Elena's choice time and again.

I loved the moment that Elena remembered Damon's first confession of love. Of course, she's heard him say it since then, but never in quite so touching a way -- and what a visually stunning way to return that memory not only to Elena, but to the audience. Now that Elena's a vampire, her reaction to that moment is very strong, though she tries to minimize it when she talks to him later.

"Someone asked me what the biggest hurdle would be for Stefan and Elena this year, and it's Damon," says Plec. "Plain and simple. Damon and Elena's feelings for Damon continue to be the biggest things that could keep Stefan and Elena from being together forever."

Stefan and Elena are as sweet as ever. 

 The final scene between Stefan and Elena on the roof was admittedly pretty cheesy, but we enjoyed it for the Season 1 callback factor. And the symbolism of Stefan literally putting a ring on Elena's finger was great, though it gives us a sinking feeling that he won't ever be putting the ring on her finger.

The really great Stefan and Elena moments, though, were the slightly less "epic" feeling ones. Her laughing-crying meltdown in her kitchen somehow made vampirism relatable to those of us who remain mere humans. And, of course, her "dying" confession in the jail that she'd chosen him over Damon, and that she wanted to be with him, was very powerful. What fantastic performances from both Paul Wesley and Nina Dobrev -- particularly given the fact that they couldn't even have any contact (physical or eye contact) during the scene. "No matter what happens, it's the best choice I ever made," she says. I don't know whether to feel heartbroken for Damon or elated for Stefan, but I'm guessing this whole inner-neutrality thing means the triangle is still alive and kicking.

Klyler? Tylaus? 

What are we calling the Klaus/Tyler hybrid-squared? First of all, Michael Trevino killed it in his brief time as the Original hybrid -- his restraint and the complete absence of Tyler's usual manic energy gave him a whole new swagger.

I'll give Klaus a few points for attempting to tell Caroline that he wasn't Tyler before they got to the removal of clothing; after all, she barely stopped to take a breath. Still, as an uber-powerful hybrid, he didn't have to give in to her advances... so, it's official, Klaus is still in the villain category. (Who is hot, and has a fantastic accent, and tons of chemistry with Caroline, so. There's that.) Caroline seems like she'll be okay after a good brain-bleaching, but I'd love for someone to ask Tyler if he's okay at this point. It can't be much fun being ridden around by an Original vampire all day.

The Original family business. 

 How absolutely stunning was the scene between Klaus and Rebekah, as he basically took a wrecking ball to whatever was left of her heart? I've said it before and I'll say it again: if this show lets Claire Holt go anywhere, they'd be making a huge mistake. Klaus's motives for being so brutal with Rebekah are suspect. We don't think she destroyed the last of his doppelganger blood supply -- after all, we know more hybrids are coming -- but it was an absolutely gut-wrenching fight. Now that she's truly on her own, is it too much to hope that Rebekah will make some amends and join the Mystic Falls High gang? I really want her in the gang.

Poor Matt. 

The kid just can't catch a break, can he? First he goes swimming with the fishies, then Damon slaps a target on his back. Elena and Stefan had to save him for the second time in two days, this time from Damon, and while we definitely got a kick out of seeing her "vamp out," that guilt is weighing on Matt pretty heavily. I'm just grateful that Matt's got a new lease on life this season, because he needed a little kick in the pants after spending last year being everybody's default shoulder to cry on.
Bonnie's dark magic: 

In a fantastic surprise appearance, Jasmine Guy returned as Sheila Bennett, Bonnie's grandmother who passed away in Season 1. After two seasons of talking about the witches "on the other side" and the power of that sisterhood, it was exciting to see real consequences for Bonnie when she went too far with her dark magic. Kat Graham knocked the episode out of the park, really nailing Bonnie's devastation as a mysterious darkness overwhelmed her Grams -- a consequence of Bonnie's dalliances in "upsetting the balance of nature."

Of course, I have a lot of questions as to what, exactly, happened to Grams. After all, she's already dead. What I know for sure, though, is that the witches on the other side can no longer be called Bonnie's "sisters."

"That was our way of alienating Bonnie from her heritage on the other side," says Plec. "Now, she has no way of knowing if every time she does magic, the witches on the other side are torturing her grandmother in some unimaginable way." Though Bonnie will certainly grieve for her grandmother in next week's episode, this does open a door to a compelling storyline this season.

"It really sets us up for something new with Bonnie, in that she's got a lot of questions and she's now open to a new mentor. She'll meet someone who truly understands who she is and what she's capable of," Plec explains. "That's where this new professor comes in in Episode 4. David Alpay is a really great actor. Professor Shane is really interesting in that -- he's not a witch, but what he's able to do for Bonnie is really powerful and cool. He helps her rediscover her heritage and her powers in what we think is a really great way."

All in all, the first episode of Season 4 was packed with surprises, not to mention some really moving moments, particularly for Bonnie, Elena, and Stefan. I loved that every regular cast member was included in the action, and that as Elena's emotions were heightened, so were those of the rest of the group. It's also nice to see that the stage is set for Bonnie to truly be at the center of a storyline -- she's been sidelined for too long, and Kat proved in this episode that she can handle more than she's been given thus far.

I'm guessing that Klaus will have some apologizing to do with Caroline, and from what Joseph Morgan and Candice Accola told me, it sounds like amends will be made. I'm particularly interested, though, in his relationship with Rebekah. With a bond spanning centuries, and her ability to forgive him for some truly vile things, could Elena's blood really be the thing that breaks them?

As for the show's central triangle, I know this show pretty well, and that rooftop scene felt a bit too romantic to be true. Suffice to say, Stefan and Elena's plan for "forever" begins to come apart at the seams right away next week, when her biological imperative to feed starts to turn her against Stefan's entire vampire ideology -- and push her closer to Damon in a whole new way. While I'm at it -- 10 points to Slytherin for Ian Somerhalder's great work tonight. The anger simmering under Damon's surface was unmistakable, and after the rejection, his outbursts of rage felt truly dangerous in a way Damon hasn't been for a while.

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4x02 'Memorial' Promos

Short Promo..

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Extended Promo...

  

4x01 'Growing Pains' Song List

Little Dragon - "Twice"

The Joy Formidable - "Whirring"

Amy Stroup - "Wait For The Morning"

Vampire Diaries Bite - 11th October 2012

Julie Plec Talks Season 4

For three seasons, viewers watched Elena (Nina Dobrev) fall in love with vampire Stefan (Paul Wesley), learn the truth about her supernatural history, lose Stefan to his Ripper side, develop strong feelings for his brother Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and ultimately decide that Stefan was the one she wanted to be with. But everything changed in the final moment of the Season 3 finale when Elena died only to come back in the transition stage of becoming a vampire. The question now on (mostly) everyone's mind: Will Stefan remain the Salvatore she chooses?

"If you look at it purely from a human point of view, we fall deeply in love, we grow, we change, our love changes and shifts and we find ourselves attracted to other people," Plec says. "But as we go from adolescence to adulthood, what do we need in our lives, the love we had or the love we wish we had? That's going to be a big part of the season: What does Elena becoming a vampire do to both her relationship with Stefan and her friendship with Damon? It's the same question she previously asked but from a different perspective."

Of course, before Elena can even think about life as a vampire, she must go through the toughest part, the transition. And trust us, it won't be easy on the stomach for her or viewers.
"We didn't want to make it easy or over-romanticize it or glamourize it, but we also didn't want to make it devastatingly depressing, so we're going to explore her highest of highs and lowest of lows," Plec says. "Episode 2 gives us a glimpse of what she's going through and then every episode that follows centers on some element of being a new vampire, for better or for worse, and what it's doing to her."
Although Stefan remains by her side when the show picks up, Elena becoming a vampire has a few positives, but quite a few negatives for the former Ripper who's worked so hard to avoid returning to the bloodthirsty guy he recently was. "What's nice about it is that they realize if they want to they can be together forever so in a small way it's a small victory in this whole catastrophe," Plec says. "What's not so nice is that a newbie vampire is a bundle of emotions and rage and hunger and bloodlust and desire and all those things that are really Stefan's Achilles heel. I like to use the analogy of being sober, but your girlfriend just turned 21 and wants to party. For Stefan, Elena usually supports him and is now the one needing to be supported, so who's going to keep Stefan from falling over the edge?"

Ultimately, Plec says, it'll be a long journey for the girl who was once everyone's rock and compassionate to a fault because, at the end of the day, there's no telling what will diminish (or intensify) as her new self takes form. "Elena is uncompromising about is the length she'll go to protect the people she cares about and as a vampire that takes on a whole new meaning. So I do think there is some element of concern on the part of her closest friends to make sure she's not losing her way or losing sight of herself in all this --especially how it relates to the Salvatore brothers."

Torrey DeVitto Interview

It’s pretty much Meredith’s fault that Elena is a vampire. Will there be backlash? 

Here’s what I’ve been saying, and I really do stand by this: I think Meredith should be getting praised for this! People don’t realize there would be no more Vampire Diaries if Meredith hadn’t saved Elena’s life. She’d be dead! I think we should all acknowledge that. You’re right. They should really change it to The Meredith Diaries. You know, what? I’m going to have a talk with Julie Plec about that later today. 

Speaking of Julie, she recently said Meredith would be a “stabilizing force” for Damon this season. Can you elaborate?

 I think you’ll see a bond grow between Damon and Meredith. It’s cool because he’s this erratic character, and she really holds her ground with him and with all the other characters. She’s strong-minded and doesn’t put up with his bulls**t. So deep down, whether he acknowledges it or not, he admires that about her. That’s how their friendship begins, really. 

And what about her personal life? What, or who, will she do now that Alaric is gone? 

Well, let’s hope her relationship past doesn’t mirror Alaric’s. He had a terrible relationship track. I think Meredith’s really focused on her work right now. She loves helping people, so I think she’ll devote more of her time to that. She feels totally just in using vampire blood, as long as she’s really saving someone’s life. She’s a strong, independent woman. She’s not thinking about men. 

Will she get mixed up with any of the new characters, or stick to the ones we know? 

As of now, she’s keeping to the ones we know, but we’re not even halfway through shooting the season. I don’t even think [the writers] know at this point! 

True. I remember the last time we spoke, you said you flip to the end of every script to make sure Meredith’s still alive. 

Oh, I still do. But I think Julie heard me say that, so she promised that before I die, she’ll warn me.

What does Rebekah Give Matt?

The CW has just released the official description for "The Vampire Diaries" Nov. 1 episode, titled "The Five." While it may not actually be Halloween in Mystic Falls, the writers are serving up a Halloween-themed episode as Damon, Elena, and Bonnie head to a super-spooky frat party. As we previously revealed, Bonnie goes to visit Whitmore College, the nearby university where her Grams used to teach. 

She forms a connection with Professor Shane, who has taken over her grandmother's occult class. Meanwhile, Damon and Elena head to a frat party -- keg stands, anyone? It's a "Murder House" theme party, where guests are supposed to dress as their favorite murderer or murder victim. So uplifting. Here, Damon gives a newly vamped-out Elena a lesson on "choosing a victim." Suffice to say, she's fallen off the woodland creatures wagon and is enjoying some of the perks of being a vampire.

Meanwhile, Stefan talks to Klaus about their newest vampire hunter problem, Connor, and Klaus tells Stefan a story of a group of vampire hunters, which leads to flashbacks to the 1100s and the introduction of the mysterious Alexander, whose interactions with Rebekah will leave Stefan reeling.

Looks like Rebekah will also be regretting her attempt to drown Matt and Elena, because the description reveals that she tries to buy Matt's forgiveness. Of course, the Mikaelsons have an endless supply of money and resources, so it's no surprise that she pulls out all the stops -- Zap2it can exclusively reveal that she does offer Matt a new truck. It's the least she can do after sending his to a watery grave.

Longtime "Vampire Diaries" fans will not be surprised to learn that it's a Ford. "I do get a new truck. It's a brand spanking new Ford F150," Zach Roerig tells us. "Crew cab, four wheel drive, midnight blue."

Though Roerig is totally impressed with the gift, Matt isn't quite so swoony. It'll take a lot more than a truck to get him and Rebekah back on the flirty track. (But he's totally keeping it. The kid has a job to get to.)

Ian Somerhalder Teases 'Cute' Delena Moment

Damon and Elena may not be in a relationship when The Vampire Diaries returns on Oct. 11, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be sharing any intimate moments this season.

“There is some stuff that is going to come up this season that I think fans will get a little bit of joy out of,” said Ian Somerhalder, who explained that the love triangle still has a ways to go. “There is a scene where Damon pushes Elena's buttons a little bit and kind of starts undressing in front of her and that throws her for a loop. It was pretty cute.”

Though Somerhalder wouldn’t reveal what happens after Damon finishes undressing, he would say that the scene was so cute that even the crew guys were caught off guard. (Ok, now we’re really curious to see this).

As for how Damon’s going to handle Elena becoming a vampire, Somerhalder says that ultimately, it won’t affect the way he feels about her. “It doesn’t really matter whether she’s a vampire or human being,” he says. “He loves her either way.” Let the swooning commence.

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Vampire Diaries 4x04 Official Synopsis

Ep 4 The Five

A FRAT PARTY AND A FLASHBACK TO 12TH CENTURY ITALY — Damon (Ian Somerhalder) goes with Elena (Nina Dobrev) and Bonnie (Kat Graham) to visit Whitmore College, where Professor Shane (guest star David Alpay, “The Borgias”) is taking over the Occult Studies classes formerly taught by Bonnie’s grandmother. At a fraternity costume party, Damon takes advantage of the wild scene to give Elena a lesson in choosing a victim. Rebekah’s (Claire Holt) attempt to buy Matt’s (Zach Roerig) forgiveness falls flat, but she is intrigued by unexpected news from Klaus (Joseph Morgan). When Stefan (Paul Wesley) questions Klaus about Connor’s (guest star Todd Williams) motives, Klaus reveals a long-ago encounter with a powerful group of vampire hunters, but it’s Rebekah who delivers the information that stuns Stefan.

Paul Wesley Interview

Will we still get to see Ripper Stefan this season?
I sure as shit hope so, but I don’t think so. I mean, I don’t know. I think that Stefan had his dark ride, Season 3, we saw a whole hell of a lot of that. And I said to Julie, “Can we please just not fully commit to being good Stefan? I’d like to go in the grey zone. I’d like him to be conflicted.” And hopefully we’ll see that.

How is he going to feel about what happened to Elena and how him following her wishes contributed to that?
Just goes to show, you never listen to what a woman wants…no, I’m just kidding. (laughs) I’m gonna get home and my girl is gonna be like (makes slapping noise). You’re gonna read it online. No. You know, I just, I’m conflicted as a viewer watching that scene. I’m conflicted by that myself. We find out later that Stefan never meant for her to die. He wasn’t making the decision to let her die. He was making the decision to save Matt first and then come back to get her. For whatever reason. Why he couldn’t grab them both is besides the point. That’s the writers. But he made that decision. She chose Stefan and now he has this against him in a way. So now it’s more of a catalyst for her to go to Damon. I think that’s kind of like the yin and yang. We need to constantly sort of have that push and pull.

Do you think his guilt over what happened to her might cause him to relapse?
That’s what I’m saying. I swear to God, that’s where my head goes. My head goes, “Oh my God, I can’t believe I did this” and like an alcoholic picking up a bottle and going right back to it. That’s how I see it, but I’m not sure if that’s how everyone else sees it. But I believe that the guilt should cause him some drama within himself. Not crying over Elena. I don’t want him to cry anymore.

How is what happened with Elena going to affect Damon and Stefan’s relationship?
Yeah, well now I think Damon blames him and his is like “Oh look, I would have saved her if it were me.” That’s the whole sort of thing that he’s throwing in his face. I like it when they bond; I like it when they’re buddies. I enjoy that. I think it’s pretty interesting. I don’t know, I hear there’s a new vampire hunter coming to town, so maybe they’ll team up again soon. You know, I’d like Stefan and Klaus to be buddies too. Bromance. I like that. I like the two of them bro-ing out.

I like that little bit of footage when Damon said, “Now we have another quarterback. Congratulations, brother.”
Snazzy line, right there. Yeah, he gets the good lines. He gets the one-liners. “Now we have an extra quarterback.” I love it.

It seems like you were kind of like Caroline’s mentor when she transformed. Would you like to see that with Elena?
Not really. I don’t really want Stefan to be a mentor. I want Stefan to show her the dark dangers of being a vampire and I want him to take her down this [path]. I think it could be really adventurous if they embrace it rather than fight it and go on all these wild adventures together. I think that would be far more interesting and more exciting for viewers.

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Spoiler From TV Line - 10th October 2012

Check out the new photo of Mystic Falls’ newest badass vampire hunter, Connor (Todd Williams)? Like many things on the show, he’s not all that he appears to be. “He’s got a history that presents a bit of a mystery that needs unraveling,” teases EP Julie Plec. Bonus Scoop 1: Episode 2 will hint at a connection between Connor, Jeremy, and Connor’s mysterious [spoiler!]. Bonus Scoop 2: I think we’re going to meet Bonnie’s “protective” father in Episode 10

Spoiler From TV Guide - 10th October 2012

Is Elena going to be a Debbie Downer throughout her transition? She looks so mopey in all The Vampire Diaries pictures! 

OK, we'll admit that Elena doesn't look so thrilled in these photos, but executive producer Julie Plec promises that there will be fun times ahead for the newbie vamp. "She's going to go through a little bit of everything. One of the things we set out to do this year was to show the experience becoming of vampire -- highs, lows, warts and all." Plus: a little crow tells us that a very happy Elena parties it up so much in an early episode that she even does a keg stand! (No, not of blood! Ew.)

Ian Somerhalder Interview - Video

The Vampire Diaries' Damon Salvatore showed a bit of his emotional side last season, but the wry, angst-ridden vampire we fell in love with early on is back in full force when the series returns.

"The guy tried everything," Ian Somerhalder told TVGuide.com. "He tried to be the romantic, he tried to be the big brother, but no one listened to him and it all went to sh--. He's now saying, 'You know what? I tried, it didn't work, screw you. This is who I am and this is what I do."

When the fourth season of the CW series premieres (Thursday, 8/7c), Damon will not only be extremely upset at his brother Stefan (Paul Wesley) for not saving Elena (Nina Dobrev), but he'll be also be an important guide for Elena as she transitions into a vampire.

"I think Damon is the key to her understanding a lot of what's going on during the transition," Somerhalder said. "He even tells Stefan, 'She's not going to be able to understand this blood lust, so let her feel the urge and the pain and hunger. That way, she knows what she's up against."

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4x01 'Growing Pains' Review

The CW’s THE VAMPIRE DIARIES ended on a huge cliffhanger last spring. The main character, Elena (Nina Dobrev) is killed with vampire blood in her system meaning that she either feeds on someone, turning into a full vampire herself, or dies permanently.

As season four begins with “Growing Pains,” trying to save Elena from this terrible choice is at the forefront of many of her loved ones’ minds. There aren’t any known instances of an almost-vampire avoiding this fate, however, so the only thing anyone can think of is to ask Bonnie (Kat Graham) for help. Unfortunately, it’s not that Bonnie can’t do what they’re asking, but it’s that she shouldn’t, as there will be grave consequences should she succeed.

It’s cool that THE VAMPIRE DIARIES has consequences for the characters’ actions. It’s not exactly a new concept in storytelling, by any means, but for a show about a bunch of teenagers, it’s important to keep that in mind. Even those with supernatural powers are far from invincible, and they must carefully balance what they do with what will happen because of it.

Bonnie has grown quite powerful as a witch, but to keep her from always saving the day, she has to have obstacles to limit her. “Growing Pains” brings her to the brink once more, tempting her sorely to use dark energies that she doesn’t fully understand or control. Needless to say, it’s a bad idea for her to give into this, no matter how good a justification she is able to come up with.

Even better, Grams (Jasmine Guy), a character who had to be killed off, but was done so way too son, returns as the face of Bonnie’s warning. This is a wise woman who knows lots about magic that Bonnie isn’t mature or experienced enough to figure out yet, and as Bonnie does trust her, she is a reasonable representation of good sense, whether she’s really there, or just in Bonnie’s head. Grams also serves another purpose, allowing Bonnie to be punished without hurting any of the major characters.

Of course, Bonnie can’t just be left alone to do her magic, and the other characters aren’t going to sit around for an hour. Enter the new villain, Pastor Young (Michael Reilly Burke, Vegas, Revenge). Pastor Young sweeps into town and, lickety split, fires the Mayor (Susan Walters) and the Sheriff (Marguerite MacIntyre). He tosses Stefan (Paul Wesley), Elena, and Rebekah (Claire Holt) into cells, and sets traps for the others.

Pastor Young is a neat bad guy. He’s got the religion thing, bringing to mind the Priest (Nathan Fillion, Castle, Firefly) from the final season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He’s devoted to his mission. He has very loyal followers. He’s intelligent and has resources. His sneak attack on the supernatural residents of the town and everyone connected to them goes off quickly and easily, crippling a number of offenses.

But then he’s wasted, blowing himself and his group up. Is this a sign of just how intelligent he really is, knowing that making himself and his people martyrs, probably framing the vampires for the job, will be a huge influence, with tons of other rising up in his stead? Even so, considering how much he is able to accomplish in such a short time, isn’t it a little early for such a Hail Mary play? Why not keep him around for at least a few episodes? And does this mean that Carol and Liz can return to their jobs now?

Because Young is out of the game by the end of “Growing Pains,” it’s hard to tell just where that plot might go now. Yes, he will probably create a threat for the main characters that exists long after his death. But the nature of that threat is still a mystery.

Dealing with being a vampire will not be easy for Elena. We’ve already seen Caroline (Candice Accola) and Vicki (Kayla Ewell) go through the change with varying results, but Elena is even more central than they are, and THE VAMPIRE DIARIES intends to take its time exploring that. We get to see what she’s feeling, and in Elena fashion, she expresses the moral implications of this change.

However, unlike Caroline and Vicki, things should go pretty smoothly for her because she has something they didn’t have: Stefan. Stefan who is in love with her, and Elena has clearly chosen him. Being back in control of himself again, being free from evil influences, Stefan will do everything that he can to smooth her transition, and this should help immeasurably.

Elena does get a glimpse of how noble Damon (Ian Somerhalder) can be when she recovers a lost memory, but she still chooses Stefan, knowing that he is the one who respects her. Damon has blind devotion, but Stefan lets her make up her mind. That is important to anyone, and Stefan will be a kind mentor and partner who doesn’t force her to do anything that she doesn’t want to do. This represents a clear choice between the brothers, and truly for the first time, there can be little argument that Elena has made the right decision. Even Damon fans will have to see that now.

Finally, Klaus (Joseph Morgan) forces Bonnie to put him back in his body, leaving Tyler (Michael Trevino) alone. This comes too quickly and too easily, barely giving Klaus a partial scene to toy with Caroline, and wrapping up what could have been a long, interesting arc. Sure, this prevents Morgan from going to waste, but it really is regrettable that it plays out so swiftly.

Overall, a terrific start to another season. THE VAMPIRE DIARIES airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on the CW.

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Introduction to Connor The New Hunter

The Vampire Diaries is getting a new hunter, and this one means business. Allow us to introduce you, via an exclusive first look, to Elena & Co.’s formidable new foe Connor (Todd Williams).
While we’ll miss Alaric — RIP — let’s face it, the vampire hunter wasn’t so much of an antagonist after his initial introduction. Connor, however, is “a legitimate threat that they’ve got to deal with,” executive producer Julie Plec tells TVLine. 
Not only does he cause “frustration for our heroes because he’s good” at what he does, but he’s also “a tough nut to crack,” explains Plec. “Every time they think they’ve got a one-up on him, he turns the tables and gets the best of them.”

New Recurring Guest Role

Episode 4x10 (untitled at the moment) will see the introduction of a new recurring guest role. Not a lot is known about the new character except his name which is "Rudy Hopkins" and that he is an African American in his late 30's and is a "protective parent".
More to come as and when available.

Candice Accola Interview - Video

How will The Vampire Diaries' Caroline react when she learns that Tyler isn't really dead, but Klaus has taken over his body? Not very well.
"She does figure out Klaus has played the switcheroo gag on her and she's not happy," Candice Accola told TVGuide.com of her character during our recent visit to the set. "But the bright side is Tyler's not gone ... her love isn't gone."
But don't get too excited, Forwood fans: The couple's journey won't be all rainbows and butterflies — especially when Hayley (Phoebe Tonkin), a girl who helped Tyler (Michael Trevino) rid his sire bond to Klaus (Joseph Morgan), comes strolling into town.
"They have to face up to reality [and] it's not going to be easy and it's not going to be pretty," Accola said.
One moment fans can look forward too? Plenty of sexy time between the blonde vamp and the hot hybrid. "That was one way to just kill the excitement of summer vacation," Accola joked.
Watch the interview below for more from Accola on Candice and Tyler's future and how her admirer Klaus fits into the picture. 

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Spoilers From EW - 8th October 2012

I need some VampElena spoilers!!

What about an ID game where Vampire Elena is AT LEAST one of the answers? In the premiere…1) Two characters almost have sex in the woods, 2) Someone gets a very meaningful gift in a moment that will drive fans wild, 3) Someone’s lapse in judgement will cause them great emotional pain in episode 2, 4) Guilt-ridden Matt gets some very wise advice from an unlikely person.

I’ve heard a bit about the first two episodes of The Vampire Diaries but need more Rebekah spoilers!! HELP! 

True story: When I was a kid, I once gave my sister’s Barbie tattoos using permanent marker. I thought it looked cool. She didn’t feel the same way. Why am I sharing? Because I can relate to Rebekah, who ends up destroying a sibling’s precious property some time during the first two episodes. Suffice to say her punishment is a little more severe than getting sent to her room.

Nina Dobrev - Video Interview

Now that The Vampire Diaries' Elena is transitioning to become a vampire, she has another important choice to make: Will she lean on love Stefan or seek guidance from Damon?
"What people will be surprised about is that, yes, she'll lean on Stefan, but she'll also lean on Damon," Nina Dobrev told TVGuide.com on the set of the show in Atlanta. "It's almost like the triangle has been reinstated because at the beginning, there were different qualities she liked about them as a vampire and now there are different things she needs from each of them."

When Season 4 premieres (Thursday, 8/7c on The CW), Elena will wake up from her coma-like state to learn that she died in the car crash with vampire blood in her system and now must complete the transition or die. (Obviously she picks option No. 1.) So how will the even-keeled teen change once she turns into the creature she never wanted to become? "Unpredictable," Dobrev says. "Elena is definitely going to make a lot of mistakes ... and she's going to want to rebel. I think everyone is going to be surprised by what she does."
Watch our video interview below for more on Elena's transition, how it'll affect those around her and if those previously compelled memories of hers will change who she chose to be with.

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Spoiler From Zap2it - 8th October 2012

One way or another, Elena does complete her transition in the first episode of the season. In episode 2, "The Memorial" -- which is, by the way, one of the 5 best "Vampire Diaries" episodes ever -- we'll discover that it's not as easy as she thought. Elena's body begins to reject every blood source she tries (and she tries a lot). Without nourishment, she could die. Again. Also, expect to see her first compulsion as a vampire in "The Memorial" as well.

Rebekah and Elena Will Go Head To Head

If you remember correctly, Elena was turned into a vampire at the end of season 3 and its going to be a bumpy ride for her get used to her new life. New spoilers show that she will be going head to head with Rebekah in the upcoming season.

Here are some great spoilers for this season:

• Elena will try to battle Rebekah, but this might not be a great idea looking at the difference in their age as a vampire.
• Elena will be mad when Rebekah makes the choice to come back to school.
• She will realize that confronting Rebekah is harder than she thought.
• Elena and Damon enjoy a ride on a motorcycle.
• Matt will also confront Rebekah so it looks like she has a hard time this season.

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