When he first arrived in Mystic Falls, Damon Salvatore was the ultimate bad boy. He fed on innocent teens, compelled people to do his bidding, snapped people’s necks left and right, and pretty much harassed his younger brother, Stefan, on a daily basis. Throughout the past few seasons of The Vampire Diaries though, Damon has matured — he’s grown as an individual and allowed some of that pent-up humanity to seep through. Nevertheless, now that Alaric’s gone, Elena’s on the brink of being a vampire and nobody listened to him about not teaming up with the Originals in the Season 3 final, Damon’s pissed off and he is more than ready to embrace his bad boy ways once again.

Watch the interview below to find out what Ian Somerhalder had to say about Damon’s role in Season 4:

On Loneliness: “Damon lost his best friend [Alaric]. He doesn’t have any friends — he has Stefan. Ooph! That’s a sad reality.”

On Brotherhood: “I think Damon and Stefan are closer now than they’ve ever been. And, due to that fact, I think what makes it really interesting is that the next thing that comes in between them — as close they are — may separate them farther apart.”

On Supernatural Mayhem: “I do know that there’s a lot of really cool stuff coming up, by virtue of the fact that [Elena's] a vampire — because it adds this entirely new layer. She no longer is a young, beautiful damsel in distress. She doesn’t have to be protected anymore. The reality sets in that she’s ultimately this other force of nature.

What is your biggest wish for Damon Salvatore this season of The Vampire Diaries? Tell us below and be sure to tune in for the Season 4 premiere tonight at 8/7c on the CW!