Julie Plec Talks Elena's Choices, Fan Culture & More with Forever YA & E!Online

Julie Plec Talks Elena’s Choices, Fan Culture & More with Forever YA & E!Online

Posted by Kate | June 7, 2012, 8:01 (EST) | 42 Comments
Category: TV Series

We’ve got a few more great Julie Plec interviews from the ATX Festival for you! At E!Online, she talks about changes from the books, whether Damon will ever hear “I love you,” and how Elena’s big transition will reboot things for season four:

“In a way when we start over again, we’re starting over—we’re starting a new story. Same world, same characters, same feelings, same everything but for our ingénue, and our heroine, we are beginning. It is a beginning for her and what was exciting about it is we knew we were going to do it and so everything we did all year long was leading up to this. This is a girl who misses her parents, this is a girl who regrets the person that she has become and wonders if her parents would be ashamed of her. This is a girl who is trying desperately to hold onto a friendship that reminds her of when she was human. And all that stuff, the Wickery Bridge stuff, everything was all leading knowing that at the end we were going to her driving off the bridge again. And then when we started breaking the fourth season, it makes everything feel so new and so fresh and so, in that way, it takes us back to that great feeling of the beginning of that first season where it’s about a girl with a secret and it’s a becoming, it’s a transition; it makes it all so grounded in character and more interpersonal suspense than big bold epic mythology.”

READ THE REST OF THE INTERVIEW AT E!ONLINE.

And over at Forever YA, Julie discusses some more specific changes from the books, fan culture, and the evolution of characters, as well as some of her favorite characters and interactions to write. On the tone of the show:

“We have a rule that we remind ourselves of all the time and that we try to follow at all costs. I mean, obviously some rules are made to broken, but when you set out to follow it it really gives a good foundation, and that is: These are real people. These are real young people in a real world — a world of science, a world of history — and that everything we do has to somehow emanate from a real world point of view. Even our magic, we try to always keep it grounded into the earth, into the elements. You know, of course we break that rule all the time out of desperation. But if we always connect everything back to love, to family, to loss, to loyalty, to friendship, then we’ve found that we’ve been able to keep it tonally in check.”

READ THE WHOLE INTERVIEW AT FOREVER YOUNG ADULT.

Tags: ATX, E!Online, Forever YA, interviews, Julie Plec, Season 3, Season 4, writers

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A_softsong

This sounds like Oops! to me.
Iansfan

… so Damon is crippled by love and self destructive…? Somebody who let love cripple his soul would build a wall of stone around it that nobody could destroy. But season two and three showed Damon´s ability to care (for Caroline, for Rebekkah, for Jeremy, for Rose and even for Bonnie) to let friendshipp happen (Sheriff Forbes and especially Alaric) and to love (Stefan and Elena). Nobody who is crippled by love can do that.
Self destructive…? Well Damon tends to put his own welfare behind that of all people he loves and is loyal to. That usually leads to him being hurt terribly. But I wouldn´t call that selfdestruction. It´s rather a form of altruism that is unique among all the TVD vampires. The only matter he puts above himself is his love for Elena. What sabotages his image is that in contrast to his brother he doesn´t discuss plans and ask questions but simply acts and does whatever is necessary, even if it´s quite uncomfortable and dangerous at the moment.
http://www.facebook.com/EminaAngel Joan Fel Lucero Fernandez via Facebook

“woo..<3 this articLe",. i'm very excited for the upcoming Season 4 Vampire Diaries. missin Stefan Sa;vatore.
http://www.facebook.com/EminaAngel Joan Fel Lucero Fernandez via Facebook

‘I wonder,.will ELENA become now a Vampire?.” *thRilled*
A_softsong

Applause! Applause.
Iansfan

… :) not that it would ever happen… but if I had the choice between the one who takes matters into his own hands without asking my permission (even if it´s scary from time to time but works well all the time) and one who loves me as deeply as the other one but isn´t able to do something without my “go” I´d choose the first one. I do not have to be asked if I know that my friend/man whatever knows what to do. I´d actually enjoy to let somebody else decide for me. That is the feeling of absolute trust isn´t it. I don´t see that like something bad.
Damon would have chosen her and let Matt die. It´s the question if she did not pay a very high price for her freedom of will. She will probably wonder the same.
But this kind of absolute true trust might be something you have to learn in a relationship.
Maybe it´s too much asked of a 18 year old young woman. Damon is not only the stranger with answers to all her questions, a little dark, mysterious and even dangerous, he is also truely really loyal and 100% reliable. So I´d choose him (but that´s no secret anyway, right?)
From Beginningg To End

So vampire Elena= Compassionate badass. Interesting.

I think if they knew all season they wanted to turn Elena they shouldn’t have made everyone and their mother turn too. It was like, ‘Omg, so now Tyler’s a vampire too!” and then “Whoa, Carolines dad? So sad…” followed by “Bonnie’s mom this time? Ok.”, “Damn…Ric now?” and finally, “Oh, so now Elena’s going to turn. I’m so…surprised?”
A_softsong

I will be watching for the other characters. I am very interested in Klaus, Caroline and Tyler. Bonnie and Jeremy rock. I am looking to see all of that welled up compassion flow from Damon. I want him to Vampire up (man up), free his heart and fall in love with Rebecca. They need each other and to keep these two lonely souls separate is just sadistic. I want Matt to find love as well, but not Caroline. He wouldn’t live through the night.

I would love to see Damon get ripe and just take Elena away and make her drink from a live person. Teach her to drink, heal and compel. That would be the best. Take her back to Stefan and say “She’s fixed now, surely you can do the rest.” Damon turns a speeds from the room back to Rebekah.
Georgia_Peach

I don’t think Stefan will try to put Elena on “bunny blood”. He realizes what diet she will need in order to function as a strong healthy vampire. However, I’m sure his pain and guilt over allowing her to drown will be overwhelming for him.

At first Elena will probably not want to transition into a vampire since she hates their “nature” so much. After all, she never wanted to be a vampire. However, if what Julie says is correct in regards to Elena being fearless in protecting the people she loves, extremely loyal to a fault, and selfless in her actions, which will definitely be heightened as a vampire, that description sounds just like Damon. Maybe Elena, as a vampire, will realize just how much her and Damon have in common and be of the same mindset, of which they were not while she was human. As a vampire, Elena will probably not just stand by while someone she loves tries to be a “suicidal bunny” and would never acknowledge their “free will” to do so.

It will be interesting to see how Elena functions as a vampire because things are certainly going to be a lot different for her.
VAMPLOVER1973

Hmm….I’ve been thinking that the first 3 seasons of TVD is like a really looooong book. You know, how they break it down into sections….well, we’ve just watched Part I, which ended the life of human Elena. Part II is going to be about vampire Elena and how she copes with whatever comes her way….

I hope, and pray, that Elena becomes more fierce in protecting the ones she loves. But now, she’ll have the supernatural strength to back it up. Fierce, loyal, selfless…hmm…that kinda sounds like….well, like Damon. I wonder if vampire Elena and Damon will have a “meeting of the minds”, or something close to it. I kinda like that spin on the situation, now I just wonder if it will actually happen;)
VAMPLOVER1973

Yep, this is so true….but if you don’t mind, I’d like to add that Damon doesn’t feel the need to advertise his good deeds….he just does them:)
A_softsong

Why does the description of the “new beginning” sound like bzzz and smell like horse dung?
Lexa

Because everything will be the same we will be still led around by our noses as far as most of the storylines are concerned the only difference Elena is now a Vampire, and I dont know about everyone else but I dont want to be watching and screaming like they implied we would do, just give me a straigth forward story with some little suprises on the way, I dont need the WTF moments had to many in S-3.
From Beginningg To End

Agreed. Also, I’m sure if Matt had been awake he also would have had an opinion- he probably would’ve wanted Elena to be saved first. So really, who’s free will would Stefan have supported then?
From Beginningg To End

Because he doesn’t want anyone to expect more good deeds, remember? :D
KatAttack

I’m excited about season 4!! Can’t wait to see how they handle Elena’s turning. I was kinda unconvinced about the idea at first, but all this talking about it has made me excited and curious. I’m looking forward to all the fallout emotionally, too, cuz it makes really good TV…I wonder how mad Damon’s going to be at Stefan for letting her die? Probably pretty mad… I wonder if anybody else (Jeremy, Bonnie, Klaus??) will be super pissed as well? Hmm.
A_softsong

Elena stated in S3E8 that Rebakah is just a girl, that she loves blindly and reckless even if it consumes her. Those personality traits are the very traits that Damon needs. This is part of the wish Damon had for Elena in the flashback S3E22. I think Rebekah will offer something else that has been totally lacking from Elena’s character and that is she will be truthful. Elena’s lies are soul deep. Damon and Rebekah will have a consuming love, passion, danger but most of all trust. I do realize that this is TVD but I am hopeful.
ihatepeople

Trust and love are the problems I see with putting Damon with Rebekah. Damon is stubborn about who he loves just like Elena is. I don’t see him giving it away to Bex very easily especially when there is no trust there. He might understand her, have hot sex with her, have the same temperament and their loyalty qualities might be the same but neither trust each other. That doesn’t make for a love match. That’s why I don’t see it going anywhere. Someone new like her but too much has happened I think for it to be her.

I don’t know about you but I get kind of irked when JP talks. The very last paragraph when they’re asking her why no has ever told Damon they love him and she says they never noticed that and it wasn’t intentional. I’m not sure I believe that given the running theme of him never being good enough. She basically reaffirms that he certainly won’t ever hear it from Elena (which no shocker there) because there is still so much of her story with “epic” lover to be told. Yawn, yawn. Haven’t we already heard it all?
ihatepeople

If it sounds like and smells like it then it probably is.
ihatepeople

And that goes all the way back to his father because when you do what’s expected of you then you’re loved but the minute you do something different hecause you disagree you’re a disappointment. If no one has expectations of you then you can’t be a disappointment and they can’t withdrawal their love.
ihatepeople

I agree with you 100%. I’d choose the decisive person too. The trust between Damon and Elena had been built up in the first half of the season so that by the Homecoming episode Elena answered quickly, without reservation “yes” when Damon asked her if she trusted him regarding his contingency plan without actually telling her what the plan was. They became a good team. Even when they disagreed in the hybrid episode they came to a compromise. What I find sad is she turned her back on that trust the minute Stefan showed an inkling of feelings. All of a sudden she stopped listening to what he said. Look where it got her. I personally would rather have the guy who would protect me at any cost especially when I’m making a choice that could get me killed than have the guy who is my yes man. I guess I have more respect for someone who has the guts to call me out when I’m being an idoit even if he knows it will piss me off.
ihatepeople

And yet he’s always considered the bad guy. Never to hear those 3 little words “I love you”.
A_softsong

And you know it is sad because it almost seems personal, like a jealousy or some type of vendetta against Ian Somerhalder.

Like they can’t hurt the real person so they will go after his character and just dog him out. The writers have killed Damon, beat him with an aluminum bat, had Alaric knock him out and almost stake him, Rebekah drained blood from his body (And gave him an Elena fantasy at the same time) It seem that somebody decided for some reason that Damon, if not Ian himself, is an object of pure hatred.
And no, we the fans, will never hear anyone say I love you to Damon because anything having to do with his character is sadistic, masochistic and down right degrading. That is why I am so upset. It comes through that this is not just happening to a fictional character on screen, but to a real life person. And guess what I don’t think he will ever get an apology and neither will we the fans.
ihatepeople

Ironic isn’t it that Elena wants free will for herself but has done exactly the same kind of behavior that Damon has done in order to protect those she loves even if it takes away their free will, ie, having Jeremy compelled twice and daggering Bex to ensure she didn’t screw up their plans. Yep, she and Damon are a lot alike in their deep ability to love and their fierce loyalty to protect whom they love. As a human Elena couldn’t see that’s why Damon sometimes did questionable things. She viewed things too black and white regarding right and wrong. She started to behave more like Damon in doing whatever was necessary to protect others by the end of the season but she still felt guilty for it. Maybe in turning the guilt will subsides as she understands more.
ihatepeople

“A meeting of the minds” could happen but in time she’ll probably just end up looping back to her old mind set. She’s pretty stubborn that way as we’ve seen. At least with vampire powers and immortality she won’t need constant rescuing.
A_softsong

Thank you for your post. Season 1 was so great because it was focused and straight forward. It had a few gotcha moments but for the most part it was a really well told story.
Lola Rose17

i was afraid to write this but from what i saw and from the introduction of (Meredith), i wonder if some actor is been favorable than the other……..!!!!! i still remember casting coach
A_softsong

This post is off the subject. I saw Daniel Gillies show Saving Hope yesterday and it was really good. I really enjoyed his character. I certainly hope he make many appearances on TVD season 4.
VAMPLOVER1973

In regards to your last sentence about who else should be pissed at Stefan for letting Elena die……

I see pretty much everyone being upset, but the one person who shouldn’t be upset is Klaus. In Before Sunset, he was draining her blood so she would die, therefore eliminating the threat to himself and his family (Ric)….so, in all honesty, from Klaus’s perspective, the problem is solved…..although, Damon does have that stake still;) Ric was going to stake Damon with it before he died, so chances are, it’s still in Damon’s possession;)

I think Jeremy’s going to be SUPER pissed, especially since he knows that this is not what Elena wanted….and probably Bonnie, too. Let’s face it, her mom got turned into a vampire all because the boys (Stefan & Damon) wanted to protect Elena. And now, because of Stefan’s actions, Elena’s dead.

Edit: I think Damon being pissed is a given. He & Stefan had a pact. They were to protect Elena no matter what. Damon’s lived up to his side of the bargain….not so much Stefan.
VAMPLOVER1973

Yeah, I know….and that’s one of the many reasons I love this character so much;)
A_softsong

I don’t know how the season will be written but, I really
believe that Damon will come to Rebekah’s aid and defend her. Damon is a 170 year old vampire and has
always been on the receiving end of everybody’s ire. Damon has been blamed for
everything but a hangnail. The important thing here is Damon understands collateral
damage. With Damon the ends do justify the means. My reasoning is below.

S2E18 – Damon a Bonnie hatched a scheme to make Klaus think
she’s dead, they don’t tell Stefan or Elena. Bonnie was on a suicide mission
and Damon was happy to let her go because he was protecting Elena at all costs.
Damon explains about collateral damage. He doesn’t mind being the bad guy, if
it means he’ll keep Elena alive.

S2E7 – Damon is also the one that comes up with the plan to
kill Katherine. Nobody was safe but, he carried through with the plan. Natashia
Williams as Lucy Bennett actually saves the day, but Damon would have tried to
save Elena even if it meant they would all die.

S3E22 – Rebekah actually saves them all and saves Damon’s
life and nobody on TVD in Mystic Falls has the right to snub her. With bad
Alaric dead they are all saved from his vampire killing rampage. Bad Alaric was
also going for the vamp sympathizers, too. Damon, if nobody else understands,
would have done the same thing.

Yes, Damon will grieve but he has proven that he believes
that the ends justify the means. He would not have wanted his best friend dead
but, he will understand why he had to go.
Remember he will always choose Elena. The Elena before she made her “now”
choice and perhaps afterwards. Who
knows?

Damon once alluded to Katherine and Elena fighting over
Stefan for an eternity. LOL. Maybe we’ll get to see that. Maybe we will get to see the practical side of
Damon in a serious non-compelled relationship with Rebekah.Rebekah will be sad for what she did and they will shun her. Damon will fix her heart and that is how they will build trust in that relationship.
ihatepeople

Well I definitely think we’ll see Elena and Katherine fighting over their precious Stefan for eternity. LOL
ihatepeople

Hmmm you brought a good point about Bonnie being pissed. I expect Jeremy for sure and of course Damon but you’re right that Bonnie will likely be pissed too because both Damon and Stefan sacrificed her mom’s human life to save Elena only to have Stefan allow Elena to die anyway. That probably won’t sit well. She wasn’t very happy with them at the dance because her mom as it was.
A_softsong

I think she will because her stubbornness will be enhanced as well.
A_softsong

We need a TVD mini series to take us thru to October…
ihatepeople

Yeah how about a flashback mini series about the brother’s experiences as vampires like how they have the separate diary books?
ihatepeople

Oh God I know. There are some really bad parts that could be enhanced besides her compassion. There is her stubborness as we’ve mentioned, her moralistic black & white perspective, her judgemental behavior, her really crappy decision making, her Stefan gushing, her caring too much what her friends think and her death wish. None are good options.
Iansfan

…oh, please, not really, right? Or maybe we should let them fight and have Damon fun with Rebekkah….
ihatepeople

Sounds like a plan. :)
Miss_luuucy_

When two hearts are ment for each other, no distance is too far, no time is too long, and no other love can brake them apart!
may soe

damon is so poor .He always true loved two women.katherina and elean but thye are chosen stefan. stefan always wins . I so sorry for damon .pls should be give one for damon. plz come back delena. my english is very bad so sorry.
Rivara

It’s refreshing to see Elena’s character being dissected so bluntly. :)

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