Ian Somerhalder has taken his seat in the director’s chair for the second time on The CW’s “The Vampire Diaries.” The actor/director went behind the camera for this Friday’s episode, as the show is finally back after a month-long hiatus.
The new episode, titled “Days of Future Past," will be very different than his last directorial effort, which aired in March 2015.
"My last one was very fast-paced, very dark, very conceptual,” Somerhalder said. “Caroline's turning into this very dangerous sexy maniacal lunatic and it was a lot of fun. It was dark. This one was really setting up where the rest of the season will go."
“Stefan will find himself with a choice to make and his decision will determine the fates of everyone he cares about, especially Damon,” the synopsis of the episode said.
In the episode, Somerhalder’s character Damon will make his brother an offer that he can’t refuse: the hunter’s mark.
"To be honest with you, when I first heard about this mark I was a little concerned because it could get hokey, but the reality of it is—and this is what Julie [Plec] explained to me and she was right—is that it's a way to bring everyone together," Somerhalder revealed.
Somerhalder has been playing Damon for the past seven years and still enjoys playing the vampire, no matter how many questionable decisions he has made in the past and how different they are.
“I consider myself to be very much a caring human,” he said. “All I want to do is help people and save the freaking planet and this guy just f—ing kills everything and everyone around him just to do it.”
While the actor said he was worried that the intensity and the actions of Damon could push away fans, he instead became one of the classic “hate to love” characters.
“As a result of a combination of the writing and me playing this character in such a vulnerable state — because I’ve infused so much of my own self and life into this character — that creates a sense of vulnerability to Damon that people can connect to. This guy could literally — I’m saying this as an analogy because it’s so terrible — he could walk into an orphanage and kill 100 kids and somehow the audience would forgive him and love him.”
“The Vampire Diaries” returns Friday, April 1, at 8 p.m. ET on The CW.
