‘Vampire Diaries’ Season 6 Spoilers: Will Elena Move On From Damon With Liam? New Theory Based On 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer'

“The Vampire Diaries” Season 6 introduced Liam (Marco James) as the new love interest for Elena (Nina Dobrev), but the real question is: Can it last? The new guy seems great, and exactly the change of pace Elena is looking for—but a vampire can’t date a human without revealing her secrets.

Liam was introduced in the Season 6 premiere as a new classmate of Elena’s in her pre-med program. His casting notice described him as “cocky yet good-natured” -- and Elena’s been known to go for the arrogant types. Still, her first instinct was to barely acknowledge him. After Alaric (Matt Davis) erased her memories of Damon (Ian Somerhalder), she took notice of Liam and wanted to set him up with Caroline (Candice Accola). However, Liam was only interested in Elena. He kissed her at the party in “The Vampire Diaries” Season 6 episode 3.

Now Elena has to figure out if she likes Liam. Fortunately, showrunner Julie Plec dropped some hints about Elena’s new flame as the season was starting.

“We’ve considered adding an element into her world that is part of the everyday human existence that she’s trying to live and trying to move on… there actually is a character that floats around in her college universe who clearly has eyes for her,” Plec told E Online. “Whether she has eyes for him, that’s too soon to tell.”

Elena will invite Liam to a corn maze in episode 5, and the new photo above from “The Vampire Diaries” Season 6 episode 7 shows Elena and Liam looking cozy. It looks like she might be warming up to him, and he doesn't seem to be leaving any time soon.

Being the vampire-obsessed fans that we are, we can’t help but think of Scott Hope (Fab Filippo) from “Buffy The Vampire Slayer.” If you haven’t watched “Buffy,” you might not realize that Elena’s love interests mirror Buffy’s boyfriends. Brooding Stefan (Paul Wesley) is trying to repent for his sins just like Angel (David Boreanaz), while Damon is unpredictable and occasionally evil like Spike (James Marsters). Scott was Buffy’s (Sarah Michelle Gellar) shortest relationship on the show. While she was trying to move on from Angel -- because she had to send him to a hell dimension -- she tried to date Scott and be normal. However, she couldn’t develop a real connection with him when she was hiding a huge part of her life and still in love with Angel. It was all for the best since Scott eventually came out as gay in college, and Buffy moved on from Angel with Spike.

“Vampire Diaries” fans will probably find that description familiar. Damon is in a hell dimension, Elena is trying to be normal, and Liam seems safe and cute. So back to the real question: Can it last? If this is indeed a Scott Hope situation, Liam will be yesterday’s news soon, especially with Damon on his way back. When Angel escaped his hell, Buffy focused on her ex, but Elena might not have the same reaction. If Damon comes out of hell while Elena has no memory of him, he’ll have to make her fall in love with him all over again. He might have to steal her back from Liam.

“The Vampire Diaries” airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. EDT on the CW. Do you think Elena’s romance with Liam will be short lived or will Damon have to win her back? Sound off in the comments section below!