So what do you guys think?

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Password:

Prepare yourselves, Vampire Diaries fans.

“It’s a really sad episode,” executive producer Julie Plec says of tonight’s outing of TVD. And after screening the episode, we can totally corroborate Plec’s statement.

While the episode is tinged in sadness, there is a ’20s-themed decade dance going on to lighten the mood, at least for a little while. So yes, this hour of TVD really does have everything going for it, including romance, heartbreak and some laughs, including a few that might make you cry.

After careful consideration, we’ve listed five things fans can look forward to in tonight’s episode, so if you want to go in completely spoiler-free, we suggest you hit that little “x” in the top right corner right about now!

Kleenex Stock Will Rise: ”Do Not Go Gentle” is such an apt title for this episode as the writers definitely did not go gentle on our emotions and tear ducts. It’s such a poignant and emotional hour for more than one character. One scene in particular, which brings almost all of the series regulars (minus Joseph Morgan) together, which is pretty rare on this show, will have you grabbing the tissues and pausing the show to collect yourselves. Did we mention there’s no dialogue in the scene? Plec says the scene was almost cut by the network (time constraints), but she fought to keep it in as its “the heart and soul” of the entire season. Keep fighting the good fight, girl!

We’ll Learn What Makes Ric Tick: Many fans have been wondering how exactly the ring turned Alaric (Matt Davis, who steals the hour) into this dark, vampire-hating ass-hat, and the show will answer that question in detail tonight. One small tease? Let’s just say Esther (Alice Evans) and Evil Ric have some kind of history. P.S. Esther gives up control of Rebekah’s (Claire Holt) body pretty early on in the episode. Boo!

The Other Love Triangle: Tyler (Michael Trevino) is still pretty pissed about Klaus (Joseph Morgan) trying to mack on his girl (Tyler’s words, not ours, since you know, we’re not a high school football player) Caroline (Candice Accola), but he’s forced to grin and bear it as he doesn’t want Klaus to know he broke the sire bond. Cut to Klaus attempting to woo Caroline while dancing and Tyler sulking from the sidelines. Ouch! So does Klaus make any progress? We’ll have to check back in a year or two…or 50.

Bonnie Finally Gets Some Lovin’! Yes, the show’s resident witch has finally found a nice, normal guy in Jamie (Robert Ri’chard), who like Oz (Seth Green) on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, adapts extremely well to Bonnie and her friends’ pretty insane extracurricular activities (#witchgirlproblems?). While the two share a steamy kiss, Bonnie also leans on Jamie in a moment of emotional exhaustion and it was nice to see the vulnerable side of her.

Stelena Steals Delena’s Thunder: What preview is complete without some teases to satisfy the shippers? While Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Elena (Nina Dobrev) had their moment (boy, did they!) last week, tonight’s episode is all about Stefan and Elena reconnecting while acknowledging they can never go back to how things were. Elena invites Stefan to be her date for the dance (yes, Damon is jealous) and their relationship is stronger than it’s been all season by episode’s end. Without saying too much, after having Elena never give up on him all season, Stefan is finally able to return the favor. (Gee, could we vague that up for ya?) Elena’s decision is not getting any easier, folks!

The Vampire Diaries airs tonight at 8 p.m. on the CW.