Episode 9 of “The Vampire Diaries” Season 7 may have marked the series’ mid-season finale, however, things are just starting to become interesting for several characters in the CW show. “The Vampire Diaries” showrunner even hinted of the struggles that Stefan and Damon will face in the upcoming Season.

In an interview with Variety, “The Vampire Diaries” showrunner Julie Plec talked about the personal battles that Damon, played by Ian Somerhalder, will face when the CW series returns after its mid-season break. Episode 9 titled “Cold as Ice” saw Somerhalder’s character’s soul being sucked into the Phoenix stone after Julian (Todd Lasance) staked him. Plec told Variety that the concept episode to be aired in January will show fans “Damon’s experiences as a result of being trapped in this personal hell.”

This was already hinted in a flash forward scene shown during “Cold as Ice,” which featured a snapshot of Damon reliving his Civil War days. During Plec’s Variety interview, she shared that director Deb Chow did a “spectacular” job with Damon’s upcoming Civil War episode.

“She just came in with such an incredible point of view, physically and visually, and really understood the show and the story and characters and really created a small movie in the eight days that we gave her to make it,” she said of Chow. “It was spectacular. We had cannons and amputees and an entire Civil War combat village.”

And while “The Vampire Diaries” showrunner was open about Damon’s journey through his personal hell, Plec has declined to disclose what Stefan, played by Paul Wesley, will face during his Phoenix stone experience. In the mid-season 7 finale of the CW series, Wesley’s character’s soul was also trapped in the stone after heretic Nora (Scarlett Byrne) stabbed him. However, Plec did hint that the Stefan’s journey will be unveiled in upcoming episodes.

“What’s great about the episodes that are coming up in the next chapter is that our winter season launches with a really great concept episode…,” Plec told Variety. “The way that we unveil [Damon’s] journey and we unveil Stefan’s are completely different and that’s kind of the fun of it.

Meanwhile, “Cold as Ice” also showed Caroline’s personal challenges as she struggles through pregnancy and crazy mood swings. In a previous interview with Entertainment Tonight, “The Vampire Diaries” executive producer Caroline Dries shared how Candice King’s character would be having a hard time dealing with all the “crazy conflicting emotions.” Dries added, “This is the episode where she turns to the one person she can think of to turn to and let it all out. We really feel for her in this episode. I think she deserves a voice to articulate that.”

Episode 10 of “The Vampire Diaries” Season 7 will air in the US on Jan. 29, 2016.

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