The death of Vicki Donovan in The Vampire Diaries' Season 1 episode 'Haunted' created shock for viewers, but production faced significant challenges. Creators Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson revealed in a new oral history book that a rushed script led to a disastrous initial cut of the scene. Despite the troubles, reshoots ensured the moment landed effectively.
Episode Background
In The Vampire Diaries' debut season, Vicki Donovan, played by Kayla Ewell, becomes a vampire after being sired by Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder). Her growing blood addiction turns her into a threat, leading Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley) to stake her in the episode 'Haunted.' This early twist aimed to establish high stakes and unpredictability in the supernatural drama.
Production Challenges
As detailed in Samantha Highfill's book 'I Was Feeling Epic: An Oral History of The Vampire Diaries,' the 'Haunted' script was rushed due to Season 1 pressures. Julie Plec described the first edit as 'essentially unwatchable' and 'a mess,' according to an Entertainment Weekly excerpt. Kevin Williamson added that filming occurred without a finalized script, resulting in chaos that required extensive reshoots and post-production fixes to salvage the scene.
Creative Intent
Plec and Williamson intended Vicki's quick exit to demonstrate that no character was safe, avoiding predictable storytelling. Williamson told MTV post-airing, 'I don't want to be that show where there's no jeopardy,' highlighting their goal to surprise audiences. Though Vicki's death seemed final, she returns in later seasons, notably as a villain in Season 8, underscoring the show's fluid narrative with supernatural resurrections.