The time is finally here and The Vampire Diaries returns tonight for season 3. It sure has been a long summer and before we preview the new episode let's have a catch up over the events that went down in the season 2 finale (for the full review head here).
In "As I Lay Dying" Damon (Ian Somerhalder) was feeling the full effects of his Tyler (Michael Trevino) werewolf bite. Whilst Stefan (Paul Wesley) was trying to find the cure for this deadly problem, Elena (Nina Dobrev) ended up playing nurse maid to the hallucinating and unstable Damon. In the process of this Damon flashed between past and present seeing Elena as both herself and Katherine. In the big moment that many fans have been waiting for the two shared a kiss, but was it fuelled by forgiveness rather than passion? Katherine walked in at this opportune moment and shared some wisdom:
"It's ok to love them both. I did."
Will this be the case for Elena in season 3? What makes this a possibility is that Stefan on his hunt for the cure, made a deal to give himself over to Klaus (Joseph Morgan) and become the Ripper (or "Rippah" if you will) that he once was when he drank human blood. For Stefan the season ended with him leaving with Klaus, but not before feeding on an innocent human girl. Will the pair catch up with Katherine who has left town after delivering the cure to Damon?
The other big 'holy crap' moment of the finale came from a surprising place; after Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) was shot accidentally by Sheriff Forbes (Marguerite MacIntyre) and seemingly killed in the process Bonnie (Kat Graham), used not just her witch powers to resurrect him but the power of the massacred witches. Bonnie was warned there would be consequences (aren't there always) and indeed there were; the finale ended with Jeremy seeing both his dead ex-girlfriends Vicki (Kayla Ewell) and Anna (Malese Jow).
So what about now? Spoilers ahead.
Unlike last season where the events continued from where the finale had finished, season 3 begins almost 2 months after where season 2 left us. This is plenty of time for Klaus and Stefan to have wreaked havoc and it sure looks like they have. Elena has been looking hard for her boyfriend (or is he still her boyfriend?) with the help of Sheriff Forbes (who now appears to be team vampire), but not so much with the help of Damon who seems less than enthused with this hunt. In true Damon style though he has actually been conducting his own search with Alaric (Matt Davis), which hopefully means some great bromantic scenes between these two; especially when they find the latest scene of the Klaus and Stefan show.
Tonight's episode is called "The Birthday" and it is Elena's 18th. Caroline (Candice Accola) is planning a spectacular party for her friend but if all the other Mystic Falls parties are anything to go by expect drama and danger. Caroline is also trying to remain just friends with Tyler though this tension is sure to boil over soon; is a vampire/werewolf hook-up on the cards? If this steamy promo is anything to go by then I think so.
In other vampire/werewolf news Klaus and Stefan are trailing Ray Sutton a werewolf (guest star David Gallagher) who probably doesn't want to be associated with these two.
Jeremy has joined Matt (Zach Roerig) in the Mystic Grill employment and he has spent the summer keeping the random visits from Vicki and Anna secret. He will soon be spilling this secret to someone unexpected. How will Bonnie feel about this when she eventually finds out?
The season 3 premiere looks like it will have plenty of action and because The Vampire Diaries writers love their fans there might even be some naked Damon time.
Will Elena have a happy birthday? Is Stefan too far gone to care? Why is Jeremy seeing Anna and Vicki? Hopefully these questions will be answered in the premiere, so be sure to tune in tonight at 8/7c on the CW.
Updated: Watch sneak peeks from the premiere and read spoilers for four upcoming episodes here.
What are your hopes for season 3? Let us know in the comments below.
For more on The Vampire Diaries check out the show page which includes spoilers, promo photos, trailers and the brilliant new season 3 poster.
