5 Ways The Vampire Diaries Can Bring Back Alaric

So just how might the vampy drama bring Elena and Jeremy's guardian back from beyond the grave? We've got a few ideas:

1. Silas and Bonnie take down the veil to the Other Side
The ancient warlock and Bonnie the teenage witch have been threatening to tear down the separation between the world of the living and the world of the supernatural dead all season long, so it seems like a pretty good bet they'll succeed on some level. Alaric was transformed into an Original by Esther before he died, so technically he'd get to come back. It's unclear whether he would still be evil Alaric, though.

2. Someone new can see ghosts
Jeremy developed the ability to see ghosts after Bonnie brought him back from the dead, so there's no reason why the same thing couldn't happen to another character. It's about time Matt got a piece of the supernatural pie, no?

3. His death was never real to begin with
Sure, it seems like Alaric is dead and gone — but The Vampire Diaries loves a good twist. What if Esther's spell only made it seem like he had died, but in actuality his murderous alter-ego went into hiding somewhere? We know Damon hung out with Alaric's ghost earlier this season, but the two didn't technically interact. In Mystic Falls, anything is possible (seriously, anything).

4. Juicy flashback drama
The Vampire Diaries loves flashbacks, and often uses them to tell new stories and enrich the current action. Alaric's past has already been somewhat explored thanks to his history with Isobel, but there are loads of holes that could use filling in. A flashback arc could bring Matt Davis back for a bit while still technically keeping Alaric dead. Everybody wins.

5. A new doppelganger in town
Now that Elena and Katherine are both vampires, the whole Petrova doppelganger thing is pretty much a dead storyline (unless, of course, Elena takes the cure). The show has implied that there's only one bloodline of supernatural doppelgangers, but why should the Petrovas have all the fun? Saltzman definitely sounds like a name with some deep roots...