It was first made clear on the 2011 finale, and is now emphasized below: The Secret Circle is about to go very dark.

First, there's the new cast poster which The CW just released, adding in new regular Chris Zylka and dressing the coven entirely in black... while also teasing the proliferation of witch hunters on the way:

Then, there's the title of the January 5 return episode: "Darkness." The network has also released the following synopsis for it:

Cassie turns to Adam when she uncovers a secret about herself that she needs kept from the rest of the Circle, including Diana. Meanwhile, Diana is thrilled when her grandmother Kate  drops in for a visit, but Charles is suspicious of his mother's motives after Kate takes an unusual interest in Cassie. Meanwhile, Faye recruits a mysterious stranger named Lee (played by Grey Damon) to help her with a spell that could change the balance of the Circle forever.

Are you excited for the return of The Secret Circle?

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