‘The Vampire Diaries’ E.P. Julie Plec Defends Damon Salvatore To Angry Fans
The Vampire Diaries has a very devoted fanbase and they take their characters very seriously, so it’s not surprising that Damon Salvatore’s (Ian Somerhalder) recent character development has fans upset. Many have left comments for The Vampire Diaries‘ executive producer, Julie Plec, wanting to know why the writers are sending Damon down such a dark path — again.
There are also those fans of The Vampire Diaries that are questioning why Damon Salvatore is getting involved with Bonnie (Kat Graham), when he has Elena (Nina Dobrev) waiting in the wings.
Proving that she loves her fans as much as she loves her characters, The Vampire Diaries showrunner took the time to address as many concerns as she could, but without revealing any major spoilers.
The Vampire Diaries fans ask, why does Damon Salvatore have to be so bad?
One of the biggest complaints Julie has been getting recently is the changes in Damon’s behavior, since Elena fell into her deep sleep. Longtime fans of The Vampire Diaries don’t like the way Damon has reverted back to his old, evil ways, after coming so far under Elena’s care. They feel the younger Salvatore brother should continue on his path of redemption.
“I would argue, and you might not agree with me, that the day Damon Salvatore is a perfect angel is the day we should stop making this show,” The Vampire Diaries E.P. said. “People don’t ever grow up to be perfect, and I’m not sure I’d like that Damon.”
Plec added that this gives fans a chance to explore the depth of Ian Somerhalder’s Vampire Diaries character. On the one hand, Damon still does possess those virtues and vulnerabilities that make him so endearing. His means may have changed, but Plec points out that Damon still does possess a sense of heroism.
Conversely, Damon is also just as unlikable at times, says Julie. She points out that he’s self-absorbed, juvenile, and rash to act, which all tends to give him a loathsome personality, when he opts to act that way. Still, The Vampire Diaries showrunner says it’s a package deal. There can be no light without dark.
Is Damon waiting for Elena or not?
There has been some dissatisfaction with the “Bamon” storyline among some viewers of The Vampire Diaries, because it was assumed Damon would wait for Elena (fans are also still hoping for Nina Dobrev’s return). Now, that one-night stand between Bonnie and Damon will cause even more drama, when it forces Damon to do something that will cause a rift between Bonnie and himself.
It seems Bonnie and Damon are headed for a romance, but Julie says she doesn’t even know if that will occur. The Vampire Diaries showrunner adds that she rarely knows where relationships are headed in advance, because she often changes her mind.
Ms. Plec also commented that Elena gave Damon permission to live his life and to follow his heart, meaning that fans should expect romance to be a part of Somerhalder’s character.
“All I can say is that Damon is committed to being at Elena’s side when she wakes up in however many years it takes, and he’s going to do everything he can to make sure he still believes he’s worthy of her,” said Ms. Plec.
In the end, Damon Salvatore is a creature of habit. He’s going to do what he’s going to do and even those fans of The Vampire Diaries criticizing Julie Plec know that deep down. Whether they’ll admit it or not, that’s why they love him. It’s why we all find something worth admiring in Damon and why we tune in to The Vampire Diaries so faithfully.
[Image by CW]
