On the Vampire Diaries Set: What the Show Will --- and Won't --- Take From the Books

Diehard fans of both The Vampire Diariesand the series of books the show is based on know that they aren't the same thing. Certain elements from the novels haven't made it into the show -- but executive producer Julie Plec says that doesn't mean they won't borrow in the future. (Besides, she adds, some of what works in the books comes off, well, a bit "cheesy" on screen!) 

Plec sat down with TVGuide.com on the Atlanta set of the CW series to talk about the relationship between the books and the show. What won't make it to TV? Which relationship may not happen at all? Plus, Plec reveals she's thinking of giving one couple more of a history.

Where did Damon's creepy black crow go?
The pilot of the series was mostly faithful to the first book. One of the big changes, however, was having Damon (Ian Somerhalder) exercise mind control over a scary crow rather than morph into it. But we haven't seen his pet in a while. Where has his feathered friend gone? 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."

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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, suddenly, they both stopped! 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?
Vampires and witches are notoriously enemies, 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 theirs is a 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."

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How about something new? What about giving Matt and Elena a flashback?
When Stefan entered Elena's world, she and Matt (Zach Roerig) had already broken up. Wouldn't it be interesting to see what they were like as a couple, before the Gilbert parents died and before Stefan's return to Mystic Falls? Plec says she wouldn't mind a gander, but wouldn't go back in time unless it served a significant purpose. "Emotionally, it would be amazing to show that, we just have to find the time when we also can learn something new [about them]... otherwise, it's just a little trip down memory lane. If we can find the thing that changes everything as a result of that journey then I would love to see Elena and Matt coming out of football and cheerleading practice, headed to the grill. I just think it would be adorable."

Keep checking back for more of our coverage from the Vampire Diaries set.