– Team Bonnie and Damon: It’s about time, right? Unfortunately, things are majorly tense between them. However, the finale is such an ordeal that the duo will experience a myriad of emotions.
– A distraught Elena: While the episode’s event will lead Elena to spring into action, other developments will also cause a big emotional breakdown. Seriously, have your tissues nearby.) But don’t worry, she’ll definitely have a certain someone to comfort her.

– Stefan and Caroline’s feelings are (finally) addressed: Dries tells us, “[Stefan and Elena’s] relationship has evolved so much and they share such mutual respect for each other that we wanted them to have a meaningful friendship moving forward… but in terms of romance, at the moment at least we said he’s moved on.” As for Caroline, Dries adds, “I don’t think she’s going to rekindle things with Tyler, but we don’t want to rush her into anything either. We want every step of her love story — with whomever it’s with — to feel meaningful and organic.”

– Reunions galore: Even more fan favorites will return in this episode. As to who, you’ll get a distinct sense of one of them within the first few minutes. Not only will this person’s arrival make a character really happy, but viewers as well.

– A very different feel for Season 6: Dries reveals, “It won’t explore where Vicki disappeared to [in Episode 18], but we will be seeing a lot of newness in Season 6. The finale will have major effects on our characters and they all will have their own way of dealing and moving on. We think of it as the college metaphor. You leave for college and then when you come home to visit, everything feels a little different and eventually you realize you don’t really live there anymore.””