"The Vampire Diaries" finale is almost here (Thurs., May 10, 8 p.m. ET on The CW). Fans already know there will be flashbacks to Elena's parents' accident and that she'll make a decision between Stefan and Damon.
But who will survive the finale and make it to the newly announced Season 4? Was the last episode really the last we'll see of Klaus? And can Caroline and Tyler finally get together?
"The Vampire Diaries" star Michael Trevino, who plays Tyler, answered those questions and more -- to the best of his not-too-spoilery abilities -- for HuffPost TV. Find out what Trevino had to say about his character's "life-changing" decision, who he wants to work with and who he is "shipping": Delena or Stelena?
It almost looked like we were going to lose Tyler last episode. What did you think when you read that script?
Well, you really don't want to f--- with Klaus. But I wanted to read the entire scene till it was done to say, "OK. That's nice that he wants to stick up for himself, but is he going to survive?" So thankfully, it wasn't just Tyler alone; he recruited Damon and Stefan to take [Klaus] down so it all worked out.
Also in last week's episode, Alaric outed Caroline and Tyler to the Founders' Council. So are we to assume Caroline and Tyler are on the run in the finale?
That's what I would think, yeah. [Laughs.] At this point, you would hope that Caroline and Tyler's moms would come together ... and maybe they'd be a parent at that point and help us out and tell us what to do. I think what we're going to see is a decision -- a life-changing decision -- being made between them. I think at this point, he's going to go to Caroline and say, "Look, there's too much going on. We gotta get out of here." Or maybe they stay and ride it out.
But poor Tyler and Caroline. You'd think they'd want to run at this point.
Right? Yes, you'd think they'd run and just get away because if it's not one thing it's another, with everything going on in Mystic Falls that either gets in the way or ruins their relationship.
Last episode it was shocking to see Klaus die. Is this really the last we'll see of him?
You know, this is Mystic Falls: Ghosts are coming back and people come back from Season 1. Even in this week's episode, we have flashbacks. So it's probably safe to say it's not the last we'll see of Klaus, but I will say that it's not that we see him right away. It might be a while.
But at this point, Klaus is gone, so what does that mean for Caroline and Tyler's relationship going forward?
I think they're stronger now. It's like, "OK. He's finally gone. We don't have to worry about him popping up at all." I think their relationship is strong right now. You know, Elena and Caroline are best friends, and I'm pretty sure Caroline knew what Tyler did [when he saved Elena's life]. He was actually telling the truth. He wasn't sired anymore. He really did break every bone in his body for her and that's love right there. So I think him sticking up to Klaus and taking him down and trying to save Elena's life, I think their relationship's stronger now, more than ever.
In the finale, we're flashing back to the time when Elena's parents died. What, if anything, will we see of Tyler during that time?
Unfortunately, I think because these are flashbacks to our freshman year of high school -- basically, our Season 1 -- Tyler was probably off being an alpha male douchebag, beating up some nerdy kid in the hallway. So we won't see him in the flashbacks at all because I'm pretty that's what he'd be doing.
Tyler really has come a long way from the cocky jock who dated Vicki back in the day in Season 1. How do you feel about his progression?
Now, I can breathe and be happy with how Tyler has progressed because in Season 1 he was really non-existent and one-note and that was a bit frustrating. But these past two seasons, 2 and 3, have been great. They only get better. From regular human to becoming a werewolf to becoming the first successful hybrid, it's been fun -- and showing how he deals with that, good and bad. If we remember at the beginning, when he was first sired, he's happy to be sired. He's excited and he's powerful and he's a new hybrid and he's glad that Klaus picked him. And towards the end, he's hating life because he is sired and it's not good after all.
Are you happy that Tyler's not doing the transformation scenes anymore? They seemed so difficult.
I'd like to say they've gotten easier, but they really haven't. I'm excited [to do them] because I know fans love them ... But as far as my preparation and such, it's kind of like running a marathon really because you don't want to sprint through it because we're doing so many takes and I'm just gonna run out of gas. I kind of just pace myself with the physicality of it. But if there's more physicality to the scene, it's a bit easier to tap into that emotion. So it's more work, it's more difficult, but it does help trigger emotional senses in me that just go off.
In the finale, we know Elena finally chooses between the Salvatore brothers. Obviously, this doesn't have to do with Tyler, but are you Team Damon or Team Stefan?
I ship Delena. I like Elena and Damon. He's crazy, he's wild. [Laughs.] He's just more fun, I feel. So that's who I'm shipping. I think they'd be a more interesting couple.
Yeah, Stelena can be a bit boring.
Yeah. It seems like Damon and Elena would be more fun as a couple. And have Stefan go with Rebekah because Rebekah's crazy and she can liven him up again. There you go.
More of an opposites attract situation.
Exactly. That's what I want in Season 4. I want those two to become couples.
Yes, I also want to congratulate you on the renewal! Will you be back next season?
No, I definitely cannot say. Not until after the finale.
Well, if Tyler does survive and make it to Season 4, what are you hoping will happen?
I'd like to see what happens with Caroline and Tyler now that Klaus is gone. And I'd like to see how the friendships evolve in general between say, Elena and Tyler and Bonnie and Tyler ... people I don't really have scenes with. I'd like to see more of a different dynamic. I always see them in hair and make-up and dressing rooms and such, but I want to work with these people! So hopefully our characters would cross paths in Season 4, if our characters even survive.
Find out who does survive the Season 3 finale on Thursday, May 10 at 8 p.m. ET on The CW.