Paul Wesley stars in "The Vampire Diaries"

It's been a tumultuous year for fans of "The Vampire Diaries." The season 6 finale -- which aired almost exactly a year ago -- saw the departure of Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev, "Degrassi: The Next Generation"), the show's central character, and many wondered how the series would fare without its leading lady.

But you can't keep a vampire down, and this show is chock full of them. Season 7 premiered in October, and quickly proved that the story could remain as compelling as ever without Dobrev. The season finale of the supernatural series airs Friday, May 13, on CW.

This season has already had many twists, turns and dramatic deaths, but the fraternal relationship between the show's biggest remaining headliners, Damon (Ian Somerhalder, "Lost") and Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley, "American Dreams"), has remained a key focus.

After losing Elena, their mother and their town, the brothers separated for a time. Stefan, marked and hunted by a ruthless vampire killer, went on the run, leaving his fledgling relationship with Caroline (Candice King, "Dating Rules From My Future Self") behind for an extended road trip with witch-vampire hybrid (or "heretic") and former flame Valerie (Elizabeth Blackmore, "Legend of the Seeker"). Meanwhile, Damon crawled into a coffin for three years, hoping to wait out the remainder of Elena's long sleep. (Oh, she's not actually dead, didn't I mention that? She's been cursed to sleep for as long as her best friend, Bonnie [Kat Graham, "The Roommate," 2011], lives. It's all very "Sleeping Beauty" meets "Dracula.")

But, of course, Stefan is lured back home when Caroline is threatened, and he wakes up Damon to help him solve his vampire huntress problem. As they try to turn the tables on Rayna Cruz (Leslie-Anne Huff, "MacKenzie Falls"), the supernaturally relentless huntress, they seek the help of other Mystic Falls alumni, and viewers begin to see how the three years that Stefan and Damon spent running and sleeping have affected the rest of the "Vampire Diaries" characters.

The show has always been over the top, and this season definitely doesn't disappoint in the drama department. So much has transpired since its premiere in October that it would be impossible to recap it here, but a few recent off-screen events have shaped -- or will shape -- the direction of the series in unexpected ways.

First, Valerie the heretic has removed herself from the equation of Stefan's love life. In an April episode, Valerie used advanced magic and risked her own life to save Stefan, then admitted that she knew he didn't love her the way she loved him and took her leave. This abrupt departure came right on the heels of an announcement that actress Blackmore had signed on for a recurring role in another spooky CW show, "Supernatural." No sign yet whether Blackmore will return to "The Vampire Diaries," but there has been no indication that she's gone for good either.

Elizabeth Blackmore as seen in "The Vampire Diaries"

The character of Valerie was a likable and fascinating one, and one that provided insight into Stefan's past, and fans are conflicted about what her departure might mean, as it helps clear the way for a Stefan/Caroline reunion -- or "Steroline," if you will. Even the show's most avid fans can't agree on whether said reunion would benefit the series, with some calling it an epic romance and others calling it boring. Either way, this week's season finale should shed some light on this evolving storyline.

The other off-screen events bound to influence the show's trajectory are the announced departures of two of its main characters.

The first to make the announcement was Graham. At the beginning of April, she told Us Weekly that season 8 will be her last. Not to be outdone by his on-screen best friend, Somerhalder made an announcement of his own less than two weeks later, but he went a little too far. "We have decided to do one last season to really do the story justice," he told a crowd at Nashville's Walker Stalker Con, leading the fandom to believe that "The Vampire Diaries" would come to an end after its eighth season.

He walked back this statement later the same week, though, tweeting: "... I was to make what I believe [is] my last year as great as possible. Somehow in my infinite wisdom and end-of-season foggy brain, I managed to make it sound like the show was coming to an end."

So no, "The Vampire Diaries" isn't calling it quits just yet, but both Graham and Somerhalder will be leaving after season 8. Their departures would mean a huge shakeup, and fans are anticipating that day with great trepidation, curiosity and excitement.

In the meantime, though, there's lots more drama yet to unfold. Catch the season 7 finale of "The Vampire Diaries," airing Friday, May 13, on CW.