We've all been there: there's a new interview with one of the producers or Nina Dobrev that we can't wait to read. Of course the subject of Delena and the triangle comes up. Will Elena ever reciprocate Damon's feelings? When will the triangle really start? But what happens? Julie and Kevin skirt round the topic by giving an answer that is so vague, anyone who watches the show could have given it. Sometimes they say mildly encouraging things about Damon and DE, but it often feels as if they want to make us think it won't happen at all. Nina isn't much better. Then they talk about SE. You want to strangle them. They gush over how in love they are and how important the next episode will be for them because they will grow closer in ways they never have before. You finish reading the interview with a sinking feeling of despair in the pit of your stomach. The interview seems to imply that DE are nothing but a footnote in the love-fest that is SE. Not only are Julie, Kevin and Nina massive SE shippers, it sounds as if they don't care about the love triangle or DE at all. Maybe the writers are stringing us along. Maybe the triangle will never happen, at least, not the way we want it to, with Elena developing real feelings for Damon too.
As tempting as it might be to fear the worst, we shouldn't read too much into interviews like these. I'm probably in the minority, but I've learned not to take anything Kevin, Julie, even Nina, says about DE too seriously. No matter how deflated you feel after they say how surprising it would be if Elena ever did have feelings for Damon, or how unlikely it would be if they got together any time in the near future, don't panic.

'The Vampire Diaries' operates a little differently from other TV shows in that a big future storyline featuring a relationship between 2/3 characters has already been made known to us. In most shows, the audience are kept in the dark about any couples who get together, and they don't know what avenue the writers choose to go down romance-wise until it actually plays out on screen. DE have taken several massive steps back this season. Indeed, instead of going ahead and breaking SE up indefinitely while scripting lots of juicy DE scenes which we were all hoping for, the writers have done the opposite: they've made it harder for Elena to fall in love with Damon, not less. Now, when some fans might be inclined to take that as their cue to lose hope, I don't see it that way. Why? Well, the show thrives on the element of surprise. But therein lies a big problem for the writers at the heart of the show. The question is, when everyone knows there will be a love triangle, how can they write the story and still surprise us? Answer: make it look like it might not happen by tearing the relationship to shreds and have it start all over again. The more difficult they make it for DE, the more unlikely it is that viewers will expect it to happen. Tell me, would they bother doing all that if the triangle was never going to happen at all?

'OK,' you're probably thinking. 'But why do they have to be so pro-Stelena all the time in interviews? Can't they say something nice about DE - even if it was very vague, like how anything could happen in the future?'
I think we should keep in mind the next time Nina sounds doubtful about DE that she's very limited in what she can say about them. Of course she is going to comment on how in love Elena is with Stefan, (to say anything but would be a downright lie). SE are a safe topic to discuss, and Stefan is who Elena's with right now. SE are a safe topic to discuss, because Nina knows where Elena stands. Damon and DE however, are the big unknown. If she even hinted that she would like them to get together, then it would come across as unprofessional, if she hinted that something DOES happen, she would be giving away a potentially big spoiler. As much as everyone jumps to the conclusion that Nina is an SE shipper, the truth is, she can't state a preference. If she sounds disparaging of DE's future, take it with a pinch of salt. She could know a lot more than she's letting on, but not be allowed to say anything.

What about Kevin and Julie? Isn't it true that they adore SE, and are never finished raving about what a beautiful, magical, devoted, committed, epic couple they are, and nothing short of a hurricane will ever tear them apart? Isn't it obvious that they favour SE over DE, and that they can't care about DE, because they are always saying discouraging things to make us think it won't happen?
I find it peculiar how Julie and Kevin are fond of using phrases like 'true epic love story' and 'soulmates.' (oh hang on, didn't Kevin retract that last statement?) So SE do have an intense connection and got together super-fast. And yes they do love each other. But do those things really define them as an 'epic' couple? And would producers from another TV show describe a couple like this? I think the answer's got to be no. Precious little has stood in the way of SE's course to true love. Huge, life-changing obstacles have stood in the way of DE's.
I think Kevin and Julie are well aware that SE are NOT epic. If they were, then well...why would they promote them in every interview? And would they even feel the need to use words like 'epic' when they talked about them? I'm going to use a bit of reverse psychology here and conclude that because they say SE are epic, then that means they're not.

So why do Kevin and Julie seem loath to say anything good about DE? Why do they seem keen to shoot us down whenever the subject comes up? Quite simply, they can't say anything until we see it happening on the show. They could have big plans for DE, but they can't possibly divulge them until nearer the time. I know some fans think that Julie and Kevin don't have any plans, but I disagree. They would be very poor producers if they didn't have some idea of where they wanted to go relationships-wise, and the relationship with DE is a big one we've all been waiting for. The question is timing. Joshua Safran, one of the co-executive producers for 'Gossip Girl' has revealed that they always wanted to write a Dan/Blair story. 'We wanted to wait as long as possible...and that helped the story. Because it felt like it was a long time coming and you were ready to go there with them.' Just because the triangle is slow to get off the ground this season doesn't mean it never will. The timing might not be right yet, but it will be. And remember: the next time you see a link entitled: 'Nina Is Doubtful If Elena Will Love Damon', or 'Damon/Elena Relationship Hits The Brakes - Producers Reveal All', roll your eyes. It's a futile attempt. Nice try though.