Why Julie Plec Is OK With Vampire Diaries Fans Calling Stefan and Caroline the New Pacey and Joey

Exclusive! The CW hit's executive producer, who worked on the iconic WB drama, teases what's next for Steroline, Delena and more

By Tierney Bricker Jan 22, 2015 6:00 PMTags
Josh Jackson, Katie Holmes, Paul Wesley, Candice AccolaWB/CW

Are Stefan and Caroline the new Pacey and Joey? 

If you're a TV fan, you definitely know this is a big deal. Huge. And you've also probably made the comparison before, as Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Caroline (Candice Accola) on The Vampire Diaries are definitely following in the iconic footsteps of Dawson's Creek's Pacey (Joshua Jackson) and Joey (Katie Holmes). 

But does the woman who actually worked on both shows (and both relationships) see and welcome the comparison between the two couples?

"Absolutely, I welcome them," the CW hit's executive producer Julie Plec, who worked on Dawson's Creek, tells E! News. "I welcome them."

Bob Mahoney/The CW

in fact, it's a comparison she saw before the fans even noticed that there might be something growing between Stefan and Caroline, his former girlfriend Elena's (NIna Dobrev) BFF. (Sorry, Elena, you are the Dawson in this scenario!)

"I remember the day that I knew it was a friendship that was meant to grow and grow and grow and see if we could go anywhere with it," Plec says, "And that was episode two of season two." Fans will remember that is the episode in which Stefan helped Caroline with her transition into becoming a vampire. 

But will Stefan and Caroline's friendship eventually take a turn for the romantic? If Pacey and Joey's journey was a slow-burn, the Vampire Diaries' pair's has been a glacial one. 

"I think that they're going to be rooted in a deep, deep friendship," Plec says. "And so it's really just a matter of can that friendship turn romantic or not?"

Bob Mahoney/The CW

As for what's ahead for Stefan and Caroline, and Damon and Elena, we asked Plec  to offer up quick teases of what fans can expect:

Steroline: "Obviously, Caroline is going through a ton and Stefan as a lot of ground to make up, in terms of being a good friend. He really does step up and does work hard to win her friendship back and he is her rock through the whole experience. It really bonds them beautifully and will lead to questions about are there feelings there, can those feelings go anywhere? We'll see how that plays out over the rest of the season."

Delena: "Damon and Elena are just trying to work their way back to any kind of happiness. She erased all her memories of him, all the good ones, at least. So now it's are these two people fated to be and can she fall in love with him again?"

The Vampire Diaries returns tonight at 8 p.m. on the CW.

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