'Vampire Diaries': Daniel Gillies on Elijah's return -- 'He's gonna shock and possibly even horrify'

In next week’s episode of The Vampire Diaries, Elijah is back. “There’s been a lot of talk about what I’m returning for and to do,” Daniel Gillies says. The episode’s synopsis simply states that Elena has a “surprising encounter” with Elijah in Pennsylvania, where she and Rebekah are headed in their search for Katherine and the cure. “All I can say is tune in,” Gillies says, “because Elijah’s gonna shock and possibly even horrify a few. In fact, I’ll say he’s gonna horrify many. But franky, I don’t care. I think what he’s doing is wonderful.”
Exec producer Julie Plec is even more vague: “The first glimpse of Elijah, your heart explodes, you’re so happy to see him. And he is quintessential Elijah, dressed in his beautiful suit with his lovely demeanor, and, as always, trying to find ways to keep Klaus in his place and keep his family together.” (That’s also what Elijah will be doing in the April 25 episode, which serves as the backdoor pilot for the Originals spinoff.)
After this week’s episode, in which Silas put the white oak stake in Klaus’ back and threatened to do worse if he doesn’t get him the cure, Klaus appears to need all the help he can get. While promo shots show Caroline with him — is she getting the splinters out? — we like the shirtless shot of Joseph Morgan, above, the best.