Get your first look at ‘The Vampire Diaries’ without Elena in this new trailer

Vampire Diaries fans were shocked last season when series star Nina Dobrev announced that she was leaving the show at the end of season six. We mourned the loss of Elena, but, thankfully, showrunner Julie Plec didn’t kill the beloved character off, but rather put her in an long sleep that won’t end as long as Bonnie is alive — just one of those best-friends-literally-tying-their-lives-together things. Still, even though she’s not technically dead, Elena is gone from TVD, at least for the foreseeable future.

How will the show continue without its lead, many have wondered? Well, we’re getting our first look at that answer now because The CW just released a trailer for season 7 that will have you thinking, “Elena who?” (Okay, that might be an exaggeration — we still miss Elena, but this trailer is pretty epic.)

Things in Mystic Falls are clearly not slowing down. In fact, if anything, they’re more action-packed and blood-thirsty than ever. A new group is rolling through town and staking their claim to not just Mystic Falls, but every human in its borders. Caroline describes them as “supernatural terrorists.” And the leader of the group/new big bad? She appears to be Damon and Stefan’s mother. So there’s that.

But some things aren’t changing, of course. Stefan’s hair is still perfect. Caroline is still dramatically (but rightfully) worried about everything. Damon is still the delightfully-snarky bad boy we fell for. Some things never change.

The new season of The Vampire Diaries premieres October 8 and we’ll be rewatching this trailer over and over until then.

(Image via The CW.)