What's Comic-Con without monsters? It's a time to gather all the best fantasy characters from across all facets of the media realm. Comic enthusiasts, movie buffs and television diehards alike gather to celebrate a universal theme. It's a chance for cast and crews to show off their big guns and preview what's on the horizon. It's a time of hope, innovation excitement. It's beautiful. Among the fantastical creatures present, it's the vampires that are attracting the most attention.

During the "Vampire Diaries" panel at the San Diego Comic-Con, executive producers Julie Plec and Caroline Dries joined stars Nina Dobrev, Ian Somerhalder, Kat Graham and Candice Accola to talk about what's in store for the bloodsuckers in the upcoming fifth season.

The gang began by addressing one of the most pressing matters going into the new season: Elena and Damon's new, exclusive relationship.

"There's no drama in happiness," Plec said. "[We] try to keep them happy for a while in midst of all the bad things around them trying to tear them apart." We'll see how long that lasts.

Speaking of Delena, they won't be the only ones finding love in season 5. "There will be some apples to be picked," said Accola when talking about new boy prospects at Whitmore College. Caroline's "pretty determined to get Tyler to college so they can finally be together, since Klaus is gone."

But romance wasn't the only topic of discussion during the Comic-Con panel. Silas will play a major role in the upcoming season now that he's disguised like Stefan, but Plec teased that he might run into an adversary along the way. "The Big Bad rarely launches the season," she said. "The Big Bad often gets vanquished," by an even more formidable foe. Fans will also "catch a glimpse of what happened to get Silas the way he is."

And what about Katherine? Now that she's human, she'll have a tough time making due with no one left in Mystic Falls to protect her. "It's not going to be good for her," said Dobrev. "She's going to be lost and weak and insecure," as well as dealing with some odd green phlegm from a cough, Dries added.

"The Vampire Diaries" returns to The CW October 10. Check out a special teaser from Comic-Con below.