Only a handful of episodes into Season 4 and already things are ramping up on the popular The CW drama series The Vampire Diaries. New mythologies are being explored, characters have died, love triangles have shifted and, yet again, everyone’s future is in question.

During this recent interview to promote the show, executive producer/writer Julie Plec and co-producer/writer Michael Narducci talked about the decision to bring back the actual diaries, what Elena (Nina Dobrev) will be going through now, the hunter tattoo affecting Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen), the need for a human foil, how Elena’s predicament could affect her relationships with Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Damon (Ian Somerhalder), what consequences a cure for vampirism could have on everyone in Mystic Falls, possibly meeting the rest of The Brotherhood of The Five, when the other Originals might return, what the holiday episode will focus on, and the importance of giving big reveals throughout the season. Check out what they had to say after the jump, and be aware that there are spoilers.