When we last saw The Vampire Diaries gang, Mystic Falls had become a no magic zone... The Other Side disintegrated into thin air... and we lost and gained a few characters.

Since then, The Vampire Diaries spoilers, picture previews and interviews have only increased our thirst for The Vampire Diaries Season 6 Episode 1, so this seemed like a good time to check in with our Round Table team.

How are they feeling about Season 6? What are their hopes, thoughts and predictions? Hear from Miranda Wicker, Leigh Raines, Crissy Calhoun (co-author of Love You to Death) and Matt Richenthal below and then chime in with your thoughts...

What are you looking forward to the most for The Vampire Diaries Season 6?

Miranda: The return of Alaric!! With a side of the deliciousness that is Damon. 

Leigh: Damon needs to get himself back to Mystic Falls, like yesterday. I'm not just saying this because I had a red-wine induced ugly cry after the finale and looked like a 12-year-old girl getting shut out of a Justin Bieber concert. Also "Ric and the Dick" can't work with only half. AND RIC IS BACK.

Crissy: I am just glad the show is back. I've missed these TVDers.

Matt: Stakes. Not in the literal sense, I'm fairly confident we'll be seeing the wooden variety. But too much of The Vampire Diaries Season 5 felt... unimportant. We need lives to hang in the balance this fall and we need to see lives actually be lost for a change.

Where are Bonnie and Damon?

Miranda: Duh, getting ready for their spin-off of course.

Leigh: Hanging out with Rosalie from Twilight, duh. Vampire crossover? In terms of the show, I think there is always another "Other Side." They are being kept safe somewhere with Grams.

Crissy: The Other Side's other side. Some kind of witchy juju holding pen.

Matt: I don't know. But I just hope something actually comes of this storyline, that the characters are changed in some way. It would be very lame for them to just go away to some Other Side-y place and then simply... return. It would come across like shock value for the sake of shock value to end Season 5.

Who is going to be spiraling the worst: Elena, Stefan or Jeremy?

Miranda: Elena, naturally, because what would this show be if she didn't need saving?

Leigh: Uhh, from this looks of these Jeremy Gilbert photos, he is just fine. Literally and figuratively. See above for Miranda's answer. I agree.

Crissy: My money's on Stefan. Elena may emote more, but I think Stefan will be more truly effed up.

Matt: I agree, Crissy. We all know how personally Stefan takes things and how traumatic events (like being locked in an underwater safe for many months) tend to have a lasting effect on him. Can anyone say Ripper? Look out.

How will the group break the curse and get back to Mystic Falls?

Miranda: Will they go back to Mystic Falls? That the better question. 

Leigh: Well, a couple of them still live there is I'm not mistaken. I'm going to leave this one up to Matty Blue Eyes. This is his year, I can feel it!

Crissy: Oooh, I like where Miranda is going: maybe Mystic Falls will never be home again. That's depressing/awesome.

Matt: Make it three out of four! Fresh start for the show, fresh location for the show. Sounds about right to me. They should all head to New Orleans. I could see them having some fun there with some old friends.

Which recurring cast member are you most excited to see: Alaric or Enzo?

Miranda: See #1. I'm so glad to have Matt Davis back.

Leigh: Oh, I fully cried (no wine!) when Alaric died. He was one of my favorite characters of all time.

Crissy: Alaric, but man, am I glad we get both. I can't wait to see them raise a glass together.

Matt: ALARIC FOR ALL THE WINS!

What storyline are you happy to leave behind?

Miranda: The Travelers. We better be done with the Travelers.

Leigh: I think I actually mentally blocked out the Travelers because they were so awful. I am done with the Doppelgangers!

Crissy: The Stefan-Damon-Elena love triangle. Which I refuse to believe will every be a reliable storyline ever again - it's too much of a retread. Onwards!

Matt: It's sort of sad that I agree with all three above answers, isn't it? But I've gotta echo the love triangle sentiment most of all. Talk about running a storyline into the ground.

Jump into the comments and let us know your own hopes TVD season 6 expectations! Also don't forget you can always watch The Vampire Diaries online to catch up anytime before Thursday.