When Michael Trevino tweeted that the Oct. 13 episode of The Vampire Diaries was going to be a “game-changer,” he wasn’t exaggerating — least of all for his own character, Tyler, who I’m pretty sure is now a hybrid. Klaus (Joseph Morgan) turned Mystic Falls High upside down this week in an intense hour that found Stefan (Paul Wesley) fighting compulsion, Matt (Zach Roerig) seeing ghosts, and Damon (Ian Somerhalder) opening up about his feelings for Elena (Nina Dobrev) — yet again.

So, yes, you read that first sentence correctly: I’m pretty sure Tyler is now a hybrid. Klaus forced him to nom on some of his blood before giving him the old neck-snap routine, and when Tyler awoke, he had the same crazy-colored eyes that Simon Camden had when Klaus turned him a few weeks ago. Klaus also made the shocking discovery that he didn’t need to kill Elena in order to reverse the hybrid curse. He only needed her blood! This is sort of good news for Elena, as she at least got to live to see another day.

Desperate to make contact with Vicki (Kayla Ewell), Matt thought it’d be a great idea to literally drown himself in the school swimming pool, forcing Bonnie (Kat Graham) to revive him — this time with CPR, instead of magic — and grant him a connection to the spirit world. Somehow it worked, though I stand by my statement that Matt should no longer be able to make his own decisions. Ever again.

Also chatting it up with ghosts this week was Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen), who Katherine kidnapped — Andy was right! — in order to have him ask Anna (Malese Jow) about the one vampire capable of killing Klaus. Turns out his name is Michael, and he’s Bad News Bears. According to Anna, bringing him back to “life” is a suicide mission, but that didn’t stop Katherine and Jeremy from waking him up at the very end of the episode.

(Side note: Can we talk about how weird it was to see Katherine and Jeremy having a non-threatening interaction? I’m beginning to ship “Jatherine” in my head and it’s freaking me out. She may not be his sister, but she’s basically Elena’s twin. Gross.)

OK, now let’s get to what we all really want to talk about: The epic, albeit brief, scene between Damon and Elena back at the Salvatore mansion. After carrying her home from the hospital — Superman-style, I might add — Damon sat Elena down for a cozy chat by the fireside. He looked at her with those absurdly blue eyes and said, “I promise you I will never leave you again.” She got misty, I got misty; it was an emotional evening all around.

That’s when Stefan showed up and spoiled everybody’s fun. Not only is he sticking around Mystic Falls, but he wanted Elena to know he’s now her special protector, keeping her safe — for Klaus’ return.

It’s freaky how the Salvatore brothers have literally swapped roles this season: Damon is now the sensitive, attentive guy that Elena needs; while Stefan is the reckless, binge-drinking guy that Elena fears.

— Andy Swift

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Bonnie makes her long-awaited return to Mystic Falls on the Oct. 6 episode of The Vampire Diaries – and she’s got some serious catching up to do. “All Bonnie knows is that Jeremy’s acting a little weird,” Kat Graham tells HollywoodLife.com. “She doesn’t know he’s seeing ghosts, and she definitely doesn’t know they’re his ex-girlfriends who just passed away.”

And now that Bonnie’s back in the fold, Kat says she can’t wait for the audience to see how she reacts to Vicki (Kayla Ewell) and Anna (Malese Jow) being a part of Jeremy’s (Steven R. McQueen) life again.

“That’ll be a really cool reveal when it happens,” Kat tells us. “And it’ll be cool to see how Jeremy reacts to her finding out. Obviously that’s going to affect the future of their relationship.”

OK, Kat has clearly taken Julie Plec‘s crash course in the art of the tease. And speaking of Ms. Plec, she recently hinted that Jeremy will be seeing a lot more of Anna and begins to question who he really has feelings for. So, of course, I had to ask Kat how Bonnie will respond to all that noise.

“Her reaction is dependent on how Jeremy chooses to deal with the ghosts,” says. “So I can’t really say what her reaction is, but I can say that what she did — bringing Jeremy back from the dead — has done more than I think anyone can fathom.”

Ooh, spooky!

— Andy Swift

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Watch a sneak peek of tomorrow night’s episode below, featuring Bonnie’s big return:

Click here to view the embedded video.

While last week’s season premiere of The Vampire Diaries was basically an hour-long love letter to fans of Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Elena’s (Nina Dobrev) rocky romance, the Sept. 22 episode was definitely more of a treat for those fans pining for her connection with Damon (Ian Somerhalder). She may gave “given up” on Damon this week, but we all know that was really just a lead-in for their intense final bedroom scene.

This week, Elena’s search for Stefan led her — along with Alaric (Matt Davis) and Damon — to the Tennessee mountains, where they encountered everyone’s favorite preacher’s kid-turned-werewolf-turned-hybrid, Ray Sutton (David Gallagher)! Unfortunately, when Ray was turned by Klaus (Joseph Morgan) he also went a little cray-cray, so he wasn’t exactly a sight for sore eyes. After biting Stefan, he went after Damon, who was ultimately saved by his little brother when he ripped Ray’s heart out — Mason-style.

Now, back to that whole “giving up” on Damon thing: When Elena first learned of Stefan’s whereabouts, Alaric tried to deter her from putting herself in harm’s way. But as Elena said, Stefan wouldn’t give up on her, so she had to save him. Now let’s fast forward to Ray’s attack on Damon: When Alaric told Elena it was too dangerous to stay on the mountain, she hesitated for a minute, but ultimately agreed and left Damon behind.

So did she totally give up on him?

Well, yes and no. Damon confronted Elena in her bedroom later that night — God, I love those scenes — and she said she only left the mountain because she didn’t want to see him get hurt. “I worry about you,” she told him. “Why do you even have to hear me say it?”

Those two — you just gotta love ‘em.

In other relationship news, Tyler (Michael Trevino) came clean to his crazy mom about being a werewolf after she told him he couldn’t date Caroline (Candice Accola), because she was a “monster.” And while I’m surprised she had absolutely no idea about his furrier side, I suppose moms have the uncanny ability to overlook anything that would make their kid seem less than perfect.

Unfortunately for Tyler, his confession might not have been enough to save Caroline, who he also explained is “not a prostitute.” She’s still chained up in a basement, and about to be killed by a highly unlikely new foe — her dad, Bill (Jack Coleman, sans the horn-rimmed glasses)!

And how ’bout them ghosts? Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) told Matt (Zach Roerig) about Vicki’s (Kayla Ewell) plea for help, just as she visited him again and told him “I can come back.” But wait, Anna (Malese Jow) also came back and told Jeremy not to trust Vicki! So who should Jeremy trust — his dead vampire ex-girlfriend or his other dead vampire ex-girlfriend?

And where the heck is his live non-vampire girlfriend, Bonnie (Kat Graham)?

— Andy Swift

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Considering Stefan (Paul Wesley) is now in full-on Ripper mode, I was sure the third season of The Vampire Diaries would be all about Elena (Nina Dobrev) and Damon (Ian Somerhalder) giving into their sweet, nasty passions. But man, was I wrong! The Sept. 15 season premiere was loaded with enough Stefan-Elena moments to convert my Delena-shipping heart. Well… almost.

The episode began, as expected, with Klaus (Joseph Morgan) and his new bestie Stefan literally killing their way up and down the Eastern Seaboard. Apparently they don’t call Stefan “the Ripper” for nothing. He straight-up rips people’s body parts off, then feels guilty and tries to re-assemble them like they’re freakin’ Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas. It’s kind of hot.

Back in Mystic Falls, Caroline (Candice Accola) threw Elena a bitchin’ 18th birthday kegger to help get her mind off of her M.I.A. boyfriend. But sweet baby vamp Caroline had her own relationship drama to deal with, as her feelings for Tyler (Michael Trevino) were intensifying, and Matt (Zach Roerig) continued to pine for her from a distance.

Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) — who appears to have spent all summer at the gym — remained haunted by the ghosts of Anna (Malese Jow) and Vicki (Kayla Ewell), who we heard utter “help me” before a clueless Matt entered the frame and sat on her. But when Jeremy wasn’t playing Ghost Whisperer — move the eff over, Jennifer Love Hewitt – he was getting stoned with his new BFF. (And honestly, even if you’ve never smoked a joint once in your life, don’t tell me you wouldn’t love to light one up with Matt and Jeremy.)

While the Mystic Falls gang got its party on, Klaus and Stefan played a nasty game of darts with a werewolf named Ray Sutton (David Gallagher) so he would tell them the whereabouts of his pack. When he refused to comply, Klaus forced Ray to nom on his blood, then killed him, effectively turning him into — you guessed it — a hybrid! (Seriously, was anyone else totally disturbed watching Simon Camden bleeding and tied to a pool table? Happy have mercy on us all!)

Now here’s the part that really got to me: In an attempt to shake Damon off their backs, Klaus and Stefan returned to Mystic Falls and compelled ace reporter Andie Star (Dawn Olivieri) to jump off a high platform at the local news studio. Damon helplessly watched as his fake/compelled girlfriend lept to her untimely death. Honestly, I’m mostly pissed that she’s dead because now I won’t be able to pretend Damon talks to me through the TV. (He says “Andie,” but I hear “Andy.”)

While Damon broke some chairs in a fit of rage, a super-emotional Stefan decided to give Elena a call. But he couldn’t bring himself to talk to her, so he was forced to stand there while she poured her heart out to the silence. She cried, he cried, and you know what? I almost did, too. “Stelena” fans, this season is still yours — for now!

The episode ended, just as last season premiere’s did, with a tweet-worthy twist: When Caroline tried to sneak out of Chez Lockwood — apparently vampires are also familiar with the walk of shame — she was confronted by Tyler’s mom (Susan Walters), who shot her with tranquilizer darts! Possibly filled with vervain! Damn you Carol Lockwood and your beautiful blue eyes of death!

P.S. Where the heck was Bonnie (Kat Graham)?

OK, now YOU talk: What did you think of tonight’s big premiere? Was that heart-wrenching moment between Elena and Stefan enough to make you think they actually belong together?

— Andy Swift

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We’ve still got two weeks to go until Elena (Nina Dobrev), Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and the rest of Mystic Falls’ finest return for the third season of The Vampire Diaries — but thanks to SpoilerTV, we don’t have to wait to find out what kind of supernatural shenanigans they’ll all be up to. Read on for the latest scoop on season three, and don’t say I didn’t warn you!

OK, here we go. In what should come as a surprise to absolutely no one, Elena doesn’t give up on finding Stefan (Paul Wesley.) In fact, on the season’s second episode — ominously titled “Hybrid” — Elena actually enlists Damon and Alaric’s (Matt Davis) help! But as is the case with most of Elena’s plans, Damon ends up in hot water, this time engaging in “a dangerous fight with a new enemy.” (Seriously, why do they keep letting Elena come up with plans? I love her, but she kind of sucks at it.)

Meanwhile, Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) asks for Matt’s (Zach Roerig) help as he tries to figure out why he’s being haunted by the ghosts of Vicki (Kayla Ewell) and Anna (Malese Jow.)

And the family drama continues over at the Lockwood mansion, as Tyler (Michael Trevino) and his super-hot mom (Susan Walters) clash in what’s promised to be “an emotional confrontation.”

And finally, David Gallagher‘s new werewolf character, Ray Sutton, will factor heavily into Klaus’ (Joseph Morgan) plan to “give him even more power.” Unfortunately for the big-bad hybrid, “things don’t go exactly as Klaus had planned.” (What a pity.)

OK, let’s start talking. Do you hope Damon and Elena find Stefan right away, or do you think they deserve a little more alone time? And will Jeremy soon replace Tyler as Matt’s best friend? I guess we’ll find out in 14 days!

— Andy Swift

Follow Andy on Twitter for more Vampire Diaries

A brand-new batch of stills from The CW reveal what Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Klaus (Joseph Morgan) are up to on the third season premiere of The Vampire Diaries! You know, while Damon (Ian Somerhalder) is busy relishing his alone time with Elena (Nina Dobrev) back in Mystic Falls.

It appears Klaus and Stefan really are off on a tour of terror, and their journey brings them to a young werewolf played by 7th Heaven‘s David Gallagher! (I can’t help but imagine Happy giving Simon lessons in how to act like a dog, maybe I might be losing my mind.)

Meanwhile, it looks like Caroline (Candice Accola) and Tyler (Michael Trevino) have their respective paws and fangs in some serious relationship drama. They seem to be sharing a nice moment as they set up for Elena’s party, but once the festivities begin, the conversation tenses up.

Caroline’s tension parade continue, as she shares a seemingly awkward moment with recent ex-boyfriend, Matt (Zach Roerig.)

Sadly, there’s still no sign of Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen), Bonnie (Kat Graham), or either of Jeremy’s ghostly exes (Kayla Ewell and Malese Jow.) But something tells me they’re saving that quartet in the shadows for a reason.

— Andy Swift

Follow Andy on Twitter for more Vampire Diaries

The third season of The Vampire Diaries premieres Sept. 15 at 8 p.m. on The CW!

I know we’re all excited to see how Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) will deal with his ghosts of girlfriends past on The Vampire Diaries this season, but let’s not forget that Anna and Vicki (Kayla Ewell) have other ties to Mystic Falls aside from their broody ex-boyfriend. “There’s a whole storyline between Vicki and Matt,” Kayla tells HollywoodLife.com exclusively. “We’re really exploring their brother-sister relationship, which is wonderful. I mean, I just died and left and he never knew what happened.”

Part of Matt (Zach Roerig) and Vicki’s recovery process involves a stroll down memory lane, but be warned — family photos can be deceiving.

“They had asked Zach and I for photos from when we were little so they could make an album of [Matt and Vicki] as kids,” Kayla says. “My youngest brother, my real brother, looks so much like Zach — blonde hair, blue eyes, same height — so when I sent them the photos, they said, ‘Instead of trying to superimpose Zach’s head on these pictures, can we just use your brother?’ [My brother] is so stoked. He keeps calling me, like, ‘So, when do I premiere again? When am I on?’”

I think I speak for us all when I say I can’t wait to see Vicki, Matt — and Kayla’s brother — finally come face-to-face when The Vampire Diaries returns Sept. 15 on The CW.

— Andy Swift

Follow Andy on Twitter for more Vampire Diaries

Kayla speculates on what Vicki has in store for Jeremy next season. Why do YOU think she’s suddenly back in town?

Vampire Diaries fans everywhere let out a collective gasp when Vicki (Kayla Ewell) and Anna (Malese Jow) returned in the final moments of the season finale. And even though Kayla may not know what Vicki is now, she knows she’s got big plans for the people she left behind in Mystic Falls. “Whatever she is — a ghost or an angel or something like that — she’s definitely one with unfinished business,” Kayla tells HollywoodLife.com. ”I think part of the reason she’s back is that she has a lot to make up for.”

But while I’m still equal parts giddy and shocked that Vicki’s really back — in whatever form that may be — no one was more surprised about the big return than Kayla, herself!

“I got the call on April 1, and genuinely thought my agents and managers had come together to play a cruel [April Fools] joke on me,” Kayla says. “Of all the shows I’ve ever been on and would want to go back to, Vampire Diaries is number one on the list.”

Kayla’s thrilled to see Vicki back in action, because “there’s so much more to explore with Jeremy [Steven R. McQueen], her brother Matt [Zach Roerig], and her ex-boyfriend Tyler [Michael Trevino.]“

That’s right, kids. Just when you thought life in Mystic Falls couldn’t get any more complicated… enter Vicki Donovan.

Read on for more of my interview with Kayla Ewell:

If Vicki and Anna really are ghosts, do you think it’s weird that they’ve just been lingering around Jeremy’s house this whole time?

“That’s the big question: Have they been hanging out there the whole time? I don’t think we’re stalker ghosts. My theory is just that now, since Jeremy was brought back from the dead, we’re able to reach out to him. I personally think we both just really care about him and we’re there to help him through it. His life sucks. He’s had so many deaths.”

This was Vicki’s first scene with Anna, and your first time working with Malese. How was that?

“I had never met Malese, but I’d heard such wonderful things about her from the cast. I was able to watch her on the show, and I really enjoyed what she did and how talented she is. I’m excited to see what happens. As for meeting her in person, she was so bubbly and sweet. Getting a storyline with someone like that, who’s so easygoing, is going to be wonderful.”

Malese compared Steven to a ‘fine wine’ who gets cuter with age. Would you agree?

“Oh, absolutely. I had a huge crush on him from day one; I still do. I think he’s so cute, and he’s got this boyish charm that makes him so likable. I think he’s one of those guys who’s really cute, but doesn’t know it, and I find that really attractive.”

How about the rest of the cast? Did you get to see everyone when you went back to shoot?

“Yes! Even if the girls and guys weren’t working that day, they came to set and we had a little party. It was really fun, and I was able to enjoy the city that I missed living in so much. … It’s so fun to be able to reprise a role I love so much. The whole cast, the writing of the show, is something that makes it so much fun to do. It’s so rare to have such wonderful people all around.”

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