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…

Credit http://www.tvfanatic.com

In an apparent last-minute casting move, Mia Kirshner — whom audiences loved to hate as Jenny on Showtime’s “The L Word,” will join the cast of “The Vampire Diaries” when the series returns in January.

Though the Jan. 21 episode was already in the bag, E! reports that an “11th hour reshoot” has given Kirshner the opportunity to play Isobel, the wife of Alaric Saltzman (Matt Davis) — who, in addition to being everyone’s favorite vampire-hunting history teacher, has mentioned being a widower.

There’s no word on whether Isobel will be playing a living or (un)dead character, but since the role is recurring, it certainly incites questions about whether she’ll be returning as Mandy for the eighth season of “24.”

Weigh in on Kirshner’s casting in the comments below!  Are you psyched for Isobel’s arrival in Mystic Falls, or would you rather her stick to “24″?

– Carina MacKenzie (follow me on Twitter @cadlymack)

Courtesy of Vampire Diaries Fan