The Vampire Diaries briefly familiarized fans with the history surrounding the latest set of antagonists toward the end of last season as part of Lily’s (Annie Wersching) story arc. In the season seven premiere, viewers get their first real look at the new troublemakers, as they trade-in their drab century old wardrobe for some trendsetting new duds.
In contrast to Chris Wood’s character, Kai, who commanded the role of resident devil incarnate until Damon forcefully removed him from his self-erected pedestal, the heretics possess at least some semblance of likability. Their maniacal, and easily provoked, nature is reminiscent of another featured villain on the show, Klaus (Joseph Morgan), who proved to have a talent for charming his way out of death even when the odds were stacked fairly well against him.
In the unlikely event that any of the heretics are redeemable, the safe bet is on Valerie (Elizabeth Blackmore) – the only character among the latest batch of psychopaths to take up residence in Mystic Falls who appears to show any staying power. Even early on, it’s easy to see that the writers have created an obvious connection between Valerie and the two remaining female leads – Candice Accola’s Caroline and Kat Graham’s Bonnie.
And speaking of those two female leads, as a form of memorial to their absent friend, Caroline and Bonnie have taken up journaling as a way to still include Elena in their lives. Fans of the show will easily recall the prevalence of this pastime in the show from the very beginning, often as a form of coping. Coincidentally, this is also a habit that Valerie seems to enjoy. By including this detail, the writers may be sending a subtle message to viewers. A heretic switching sides would definitely be a twist worth watching, and considering the growing disdain for Lily’s passive nature, not too far outside the box either.
The Vampire Diaries has a real shot at regaining its former glory with a season that will make fans remember why they’ve stuck around this long. Although Elena was arguably the glue that held everything together for most of the show’s run, it is clear that the writers have successfully bred both Accola and Graham to fill the void left by Dobrev’s departure. The relationships that exist within this fictional world have survived the loss of dozens of characters, and through one creative loophole after another, continue to flourish.
If the show plays its cards right, there’s nowhere to go from here but up.
