I just read your answer about the time jump, and maybe there's going to be a few years time jump but then flashbacks explaining what happened to MF and with the characters. Sort of like what Arrow does. Tbh, I just really hope that they don't screw up the story for Steroline. But like I really don't know how to deal with this information because what they plan to do really doesn't go with TVD...
I think for sure there will be some kind of time jumpwhether it’s just a couple of months like these past two seasons or actualyears remains to be seen. I feel like they can do it one of two ways; the Arrowroute or the How to Get Away with Murder route. With the Arrow route the showjumps a couple of years into the future and we see flashbacks of what happenedover those two years to help us see how the characters ended up where they are.With the How to Get Away with Murder route we know what’s going to happen andthe season is about what events lead up to it. Personally I like the HTGAWMroute better because we already have something to build up to (Mystic Fallsturning into a wasteland) and that way we don’t miss out on any character developmentthat happens through flashbacks.
Also I think next season is supposed to be darker than thisyear but I don’t think it’s supposed to be depressing. S6 death with grief,loss and pain a lot and took the show on a very human-driven path I would likenext season to get back into more of the supernatural aspects of the show. I’mhonestly not interested in watching Damon and Alaric sulk over booze and justwallow in their man pain so if we could skip that it would be great. That’s notto say either of them should be in a good place when 7x01 starts but I just don’twant to begin at the height of their grief.
In regards to Steroline I think the writers want to makesure we see the beginning of their relationship so that’s why I like the ideaof Stefan and Damon leaving MF for awhile and then coming back in 7x01. It setsit up where Stefan and Caroline have been away from each other and Caroline hada chance to deal with her grief but it also sets up the obvious tension thatwill exist between them once he returns.
