‘Vampire Diaries’ Producer Talks Differences Between Show and Books

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We’ve discussed the differences between the Vampire Diaries books and the show a few times here - and now it’s the show’s producer’s turn. Julie Plec, executive producer of The Vampire Diaries, recently chatted with TV Guide about the reasons for the differences between the two. So if you’re looking for some explanations, you finally have them! Check it out:

Where did Damon's creepy black crow go?
The pilot of the series was pretty faithful to the first book. One of the big changes though was having Damon (Ian Somerhalder) exercise mind control over an eerie crow rather than tranform into it. But we haven't seen his pet in a while. Where did the creepy crow go? Plec says the set-up gave Damon too much power too quickly. "We thought that if we're starting there, and they can do all this now, where the hell are we going to go?" she says. Also, "it felt a little comic booky and while people really enjoyed it, the same amount of people thought it was cheesy."

Why did Elena and Stefan ditch their journals?
Early on in Season 1, the show featured a lot of Elena (Nina Dobrev) and Stefan (Paul Wesley) writing in their journals. Then, they suddenly stopped writing (although we occasionally get a glimpse of the journals in the background). Plec says that's because once the two found each other, they wouldn't need to their journals to turn to. "The power of a journal is when you're lost and alone and feel like you have no one to talk to," she says. "What we have fun with is how to integrate the concept of journals -- from Alaric typing in his computer or the old John Gilbert journals that set off the mythology of the vampire device. And we still haven't laid our hands on a Lockwood journal." Plec isn't ruling out a return to written thoughts either. "There might come a time when Elena has no one to talk to and needs to go back to that journal, but right now she's got lots of people to confide in," she says.

Will Damon and Bonnie grow closer?
In the show, Bonnie hates damn near all vampires, but in Season 2, Bonnie (Katerina Graham) and Damon eventually teamed up to fight the bigger fight. The question is whether or not they will take it a step further and develop the close bond they do in the novels. Plec understands that their relationship important to book fans, but says, for now, they'll just remain frenemies. "The fun we have with them right now is [going] from two people who have absolutely no respect, admiration or love for each other, whatsoever, but because they share a common goal and share common loves, they come together and are willing to put their differences aside and work together."

Read the full interview HERE.

So what do you guys think? Do you fans of the novels agree with Plec’s reasons for the differences or do you wish they would take more from the books?

- Moonlight

About the Author

Moonlight (aka Amanda) loves to write about, read about and learn about everything pertaining to vampires. She writes for top genre sites like vampires.com and werewolves.com. You will most likely find her huddled over a book of vampire folklore with coffee in hand. Touch her coffee and she may bite you (and not in the fun way). You can stalk her via her Twitter http://twitter.com/deaaqua