When The Vampire Diaries (finally!) returns with a new episode on January 21, most fans will have one concern:

Is Elena okay?!?

When we last left this angst-ridden character, after all, she was stuck in a crashed vehicle, with some sort of creature making his way toward her.

Still, it's safe to assume that Elena makes it out of this situation alive for two reasons: she's a main character on the show and (spoiler alert!) she's featured in a couple photos below.

On the upcoming installment, "Bloodlines," Elena and Damon meet Bree, a Mystic Falls bartender played by Gina Torres. As you might expect, this character will turn out to be more than a mere drink maker.

Also featured on the episode: Jeremy yearns to learn more about his family's history...

Torres is one of a number of recurring guest stars coming aboard The Vampire Diaries in 2010. She'll be joined on the show by:

• James Remar
• Kelly Hu
• Dillon Casey
• Mia Kirshner
• Brandon Quinn

Which of these actors/actresses are you most excited about?

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.