The Vampire Diaries: 8 Exciting Things We Know About Season 7

Not only is everyone dealing with Elena's absence (which the cast talked about on the panel), but don't forget that Jo and her babies with Alaric are murdered. "When we meet Bonnie and Damon, they're with Alaric in Europe on a binge-drinking tour," said creator Julie Plec. They're "basically two buddies and their sidekick, trying to drown their sorrows." Basically, this is the saddest vacation of all time.

Damon is not OK. "It's going to take him some time to figure out who he's supposed to be without Elena," said Ian Somerhalder. He confirmed that there will be a "lot of drinking," because when you get down to it, "Damon Salvatore is a lushy, smarmy drunk." Indeed, Plec hinted that while "he is committed as committed can be" to waiting for Elena, "he wasn't necessarily celibate the entire time he waited for Katherine." Don't expect him to be sleeping around with Bonnie, though. "There are some deep bonds of friendship between Damon and Bonnie," said Somerhalder. Sadly, it's sounds like that's all there is.

When asked if there will be flashbacks or flashes forward on the new season, Plec replied, "All of the above." Michael Malarkey even gave away that "Enzo's flash-forward is potentially going to see him with somebody that we may already know on the show." Might that person by Caroline? Meanwhile, we even know about Stefan and Damon's flash-forward: "Someone is after Damon and Stefan," said Paul Wesley. "There is an imminent danger and threat. They're running from this thing, but we don't know what it is."

Hoping that Stefan and Caroline's romance will finally get a chance to bloom? You're in luck. "The Stefan and Caroline relationship is continuing to blossom and grow," said Plec. "Stefan is always wild about a girl, so this time, it's Caroline," said Wesley.

Producer Caroline Dries put the new villains into language that's easy to understand: "Picture Kai but times six." Yikes. In case you forgot, heretics are both witches and vampires, which is a deadly combination that hasn't yet been seen on the show. They're led by Lily, who is going to try to keep them from wreaking total havoc, but hey, they can't help their nature. The season will be very much an "us versus them" situation, said Dries.

"Enzo is the only one whose loyalties are questionable at this point," Plec said. "We figure out which side he stands on very early in the season." Malarkey confirmed that Enzo is between a rock and a hard place, but Caroline might have a bit of pull on where he stands. "He's thinking in terms of what he needs as a vampire."

Somerhalder was adamant that season seven will be very much like the first couple seasons, back when things were much simpler and the show was character driven. "We want to go back to that season one and two type of storytelling where it's dark and volatile and fun," he said. No more insane backstories on enchanted objects and spells; the new season won't be "bogged down with mythology."

As was previously announced, this season will feature a new lesbian couple. Nora and Mary-Louise are two heretics who meet in the year 1900 and are now experiencing, for the first time, being in an era where same-sex relationships are accepted. "The idea of just able to hold hands in public is a big deal," said Plec.