The Vampire Diaries finally returns from its two month winter hiatus tonight with an episode full of Klaus, badass Stefan, conflicted Elena and cocky Damon (read our advance preview). But we're already looking ahead to some other sure-to-be-memorable episodes that will be coming up during the rest of the season.
On January 19, episode 3.12 will air. Titled "The Ties that Bind", this episode of The Vampire Diaries introduces us to a previously unseen character: Bonnie's mother. Actress Persia White has been cast as Bonnie's mother, Abby. Beginning tonight, Bonnie has recurring dreams about the coffins containing the bodies of Klaus' fellow Original family members. These dreams will continue into the January 19 episode, when Bonnie believes that these dreams might provide the clue as to how Klaus can be killed.
The dreams then lead to a reunion between Bonnie and her mother, who has been absent from Bonnie's life for the last 15 years. Bonnie and Elena head out to Abby's remote farmhouse on January 19, where they meet Jamie, the man who took in Abby many years ago. Abby isn't prepared to meet her daughter, but she does try to tell Bonnie about her past.
Meanwhile, Tyler's struggling to regain his free will against Klaus and finds an unexpected ally in this episode. Dr. Fell (which will be introduced in the January 6 episode) will continue to appear in the show and in the January 19 episode, she'll gain Damon's attention. Finally, Klaus will continue to bargain with Stefan for the coffins of his family members.
Updated: Watch a trailer for episode 3.12.
Use the arrows above to browse through a few photos for the January 19 episode of The Vampire Diaries and don't miss new episodes of the show on Thursday nights at 8:00 p.m. on The CW.
"The Ties That Bind"--LtoR: Paul Wesley as Stefan and Joseph Morgan as Klaus on THE VAMPIRE DIARIES on The CW. Photo: Quantrell D. Colbert/The CW ©2011 THE CW NETWORK. ALL RIGHT RESERVED.
"The Ties That Bind"--Joseph Morgan as Klaus on THE VAMPIRE DIARIES on The CW. Photo: Quantrell D. Colbert/The CW ©2011 THE CW NETWORK. ALL RIGHT RESERVED.
"The Ties That Bind"--Paul Wesley as Stefan on THE VAMPIRE DIARIES on The CW. Photo: Quantrell D. Colbert/The CW ©2011 THE CW NETWORK. ALL RIGHT RESERVED.
"The Ties That Bind"--Ian Somerhalder as Damon on THE VAMPIRE DIARIES on The CW. Photo: Quantrell D. Colbert/The CW ©2011 THE CW NETWORK. ALL RIGHT RESERVED.
"The Ties That Bind"--LtoR: Paul Wesley as Stefan and Ian Somerhalder as Damon on THE VAMPIRE DIARIES on The CW. Photo: Quantrell D. Colbert/The CW ©2011 THE CW NETWORK. ALL RIGHT RESERVED.
"The Ties That Bind"--Joseph Morgan as Klaus on THE VAMPIRE DIARIES on The CW. Photo: Quantrell D. Colbert/The CW ©2011 THE CW NETWORK. ALL RIGHT RESERVED.
"The Ties That Bind"--LtoR: Kat Graham as Bonnie and Persia White as Abby Bennett on THE VAMPIRE DIARIES on The CW. Photo: Quantrell D. Colbert/The CW ©2011 THE CW NETWORK. ALL RIGHT RESERVED.
"The Ties That Bind"-- Persia White as Abby Bennett on THE VAMPIRE DIARIES on The CW. Photo: Quantrell D. Colbert/The CW ©2011 THE CW NETWORK. ALL RIGHT RESERVED.
"The Ties That Bind"-- LtoR: Robert Ri'chard as Jamie and Persia White as Abby Bennett on THE VAMPIRE DIARIES on The CW. Photo: Quantrell D. Colbert/The CW ©2011 THE CW NETWORK. ALL RIGHT RESERVED.
"The Ties That Bind"-- LtoR: Nina Dobrev as Elena and Kat Graham as Bonnie on THE VAMPIRE DIARIES on The CW. Photo: Quantrell D. Colbert/The CW ©2011 THE CW NETWORK. ALL RIGHT RESERVED.
"The Ties That Bind"-- LtoR: Nina Dobrev as Elena and Kat Graham as Bonnie on THE VAMPIRE DIARIES on The CW. Photo: Quantrell D. Colbert/The CW ©2011 THE CW NETWORK. ALL RIGHT RESERVED.
"The Ties That Bind"-- Robert Ri'chard as Jamie on THE VAMPIRE DIARIES on The CW. Photo: Quantrell D. Colbert/The CW ©2011 THE CW NETWORK. ALL RIGHT RESERVED.
"The Ties That Bind"-- LtoR: Nina Dobrev as Elena and Kat Graham as Bonnie on THE VAMPIRE DIARIES on The CW. Photo: Quantrell D. Colbert/The CW ©2011 THE CW NETWORK. ALL RIGHT RESERVED.

IAN IS SO HOT!
the painting in the back looks like it could be bonnie, caroline and elena xD