PW: What plotline are you excited to see play out this season?
Kevin: The premiere for me was our underhanded way of saying that this is the year we have to deal head on with the relationship between Damon and Elena.

PW: As the people who basically live in these character's minds, I'm curious what your feelings are on the validity of Elena's hatred for Damon. I doubt it. Do you?
Kevin: I think he has such a long road to haul before he can ever be a viable option in her eyes. He’s done so many horrible things – his attack on Jeremy being the worst. I don’t know how you ever get over such a deliberately evil move. It’s going to take a long time for her to get over that. But as Katherine said, hate is the beginning of most love stories. It was no surprise that we ended the episode with Elena saying “I hate him.”

PW: I loved that line.
Kevin: Think about it, it’s romantic comedy 101 – they have to hate each other first, and that will eventually turn itself inside out. But whether or not it’s this season or next season, we’ll have to wait and see.

PW: Finally, what would you tease about the rest of the year?
Julie: This is the season of relationships and changing love stories.

Trent Ford and Daniel Gillies have joined the show along with Lauren Cohan as centuries old vampires, Trevor, Elijah, and Rose. “They have deep ties to Katerina Petrova,” reveals exec producer Julie Plec.