There's something happening here...

Some were already putting it on Nikki if Nina doesn't return. Blaming Nikki and her relationship with Ian. Ian, Nikki and no one else should get the blame if Nina decides not to return, because it will be Nina's choice and some of her fans can't respect that it's her choice, so they rather bash and blame others for Nina deciding to leave and for her return being in question.

While there is benefit to keeping such things under wrap SOMETIMES (like for example, how Walking Dead does so well), I'm not sure it's an idea anyone would agree upon here. There's just Too Many fans and stans obsessing over this right now. The same stans that publicly rallied to have the ENTIRE production shut down when their "Queen" left for personal gain...as opposed to having been say, fired. THAT is how irational they are. As I pointed out, it's VERY important to keep rating up. They most likely would go public with the confirmation for that reason and to keep the masses satiated. They can still say she's gonna be back but withhold details. Including which ep. But Julie herself has already gone there. She's said it will be "the end" (finale) and she's also said Nina promised her and she didn't have confirmation yet but that she would have said as much if she did. She indicated Nina was not shredding as easily as they'd hoped. Fast forward to the president of the CW saying they were "in talks" with Nina, then Also indicating she wasn't outright agreeing, stating his faith in JP's back up plan.

As for WHY Nina wouldn't return, I think maybe you missed my point. Every celeb getting hate is irrelevant here. What I was trying to say is that Ian has *repeatedly* taken a VERRRRY public stand against the hate Nikki has gotten from Nina's stans. He's been talking about it and pleading with them since Nina left. Even releasing a statement on E. It's gotten to the point where he's pulled back from social media and he shuts down comments on photos of the two of them/ones he posts of just her. He also goes overboard in declaring his undying love for her, in mentioning his being married and in talking sh*t about Delena. It's a defense mechanism and I can surely understand his hurt and frustration. But to behave the way he did at Comic Con, telling the world he thought it best Nina not return, that very likely was just Too Much Drama for Nina to deal with. It's humiliating. And it came after countless cons where he told giddy Delena fangirls that he was utterly against their ship. He has also come out and stated that he felt forced into doing that, because of the aforementioned relentless hate toward Nikki. Saying he could no longer support it solely for that reason.

Nina was obviously already burned out and over TVD. This is absolutely not what she wants to deal with or come back to on-set. Especially when other castmembers have been dragged into it. Kat has let her claws out at the Dobrevics numerous times. She's friends with Nikki, she loves their relationship. These may be mature adults, but the frenzy the standom gets whipped into absolutely effects them. Not to mention their careers. The rest of the cast, who is CONSTANTLY overlooked by the fandom can't be too stoked on it either. After all, they are the ones who have shlepped around the globe to COUNTLESS cons, doing the same old sh*t, answering the same old questions, being mobbed by the same old screeching fans who are largely half their age. These children who have treated [famous] adults like their personal puppets. Many of them exihibiting a degree of entitlement that is absolutely mind-numbing. For her part, Nina didn't even attend cons. Other than comic con, which was required for press (and fun for all), she was on vacation while her castmates were doing the above. Which I get, she worked harder than everyone. But that doesn't mean there weren't any sore egos. And that doesn't mean she's entitled (or expecting) nothing but open arms. Those are actors who would surely prefer a more mature career and fanbase.

I'm not saying Nina owes that to them or that it's Nina's fault that they've been left in the dust of hissing Dobrevics/Delena worshippers. I'm saying that when Nina left, for a more mature and exciting career, the stans that the rest of the cast has spent years servicing, largely turned on them like rabid monkeys. Calling for the entire production to be shut down, 200+ jobs be lost and all the other characters be permanently put away. Like they mean NOTHING without "the Queen." Nothing without Delena. And Delena means Nothing without NIAN.

The latter being a ship they STILL refuse to give up on. Despite the fact that there's hardly been a more perfect pairing, they await a divorce every day (fed by Tabloid$). And *this* is why Ian is refusing to shoot with Nina anymore. Particularly because they can't easily do that without it being related to Delena. He doesn't want to whip them all up all over again, and Nina, Nikki and Ian would all like for their social media to not be littered with monkey screeches calling for "NIAN!" some time very soon. They would like for articles about them to not make mention of it either. Especially Ian and Nikki, who place such importance on their activism.

It has nothing to do with Julie and Kevin not shooting because of any of this. It's about whether or not Nina is willing to walk into what she may perceive to be a lion's den. And whether or not it may actually be one. It's about how much importance she will place on what she owes to the fandom, to JP and KW and how she feels either choice will (or won't) affect her career.

"...slap a brown wig on anyone" Hehehehe. Actually, l *do* agree with the body-swap. The stans were far too hostile to have accepted it right away, and they said (SCREAMED) as much. The truly hostile environment was not so much on set as it was on Julie's social media. That poor woman has been bullied by these rabid children in ways that made me want to burst into tears. No one has worked harder than her and no one has been kinder or tried to please everybody than JP. She became Nina's whipping boy from the moment Queen Unicorn released her letter of resignation to the fans, from the very weekend-long goodbye party Julie was hosting for her at her lake house.

The stans tried their DAMNDEST to have the entire production shut down when Nina left. That not only meant they didn't give a flying sh*tball about the rest of the characters (AKA extremely hard-working actors, who service their spoiled behinds at COUNTLESS cons {that Nina didn't attend}) but it also meant the loss of 200+ jobs. And STILL, Julie sent Nina off with nothing but love and support. If Nina owes ANYONE, it's Julie (and Kevin).

But I and many other sane and rational folks/fansnotstans, believe she owes it to everyone. That's kind of you to credit her with the voice-over. True, nothing beyond season 6 is *obligatory*. But all that was asked of her there was a telephone recording. A few words. If the story of her in-person return is true, it's because she wanted to see whomever was going to be around for it. She's an EXTREMELY social girl, she's got a zillion friends and flys around like it's nothing. Filming for season 7 is definitely more of a commitment. But that's why The Rational Folks AND even the zealous ones, ultimately agree that just ONE episode is acceptable. So long as they can keep her onscreen enough and keep the writing solid enough to adequately wrap-up Elena's story. Honestly, they need at least 2, more like 3 to properly do that, and even then it would be tough. But everyone prefers 1 to none. That's 2 weeks for Nina. She's known about it for a very long time. She's got 2 films still on her plate beyond Flatliners. Supporting roles in both. There's been a project under wraps for a while, some claim it's Ally in The Notebook, which is supposedly going to be a CW production. But I doubt that for multiple reasons. Most aren't worth getting into, but where Nina is concerned, she wants a film career. She's also too old for the role. Unless it picks up where the movie left off (highly unlikely) Ally's in high school. And then there's the fact that she walked off one of their shows. That labels her as "high risk." That won't effect her film career because she's already ingratiated herself to producers and directors, as well as the actors she's worked with, but her former network isn't apt to cast her over other already more suitable actresses.

Hey, I wish her well. Like you, I don't dig Delena. I loved their build-up, despite being a Stelena shipper. It was exciting and Damon was really there for her in many ways where it counted. But I hated what they did with Elena by the end of season 4 through her exit in 6. She became a completely different person and lost the attributes I loved. I was also not down with The Delena Diaries. It wasn't fair to much of the audience and it wasn't fair to the cast. Caroline Dries was TERRIBLE for TVD. It's sad she didn't leave sooner, they may have been able to save the show. As it was, they lost some of the side-lined actors (like Steven and Michael) and I'm shocked they didn't lose more, like Zach.

I also agree with you that they can't put Nina onscreen with Ian and not have it be Delena-time. But that won't be an issue because Ian doesn't want to shoot with her anyway. And since he's been so damn public about that, I'm sure she's now unwilling too. They don't even have to be on-set at the same time and I'm CERTAIN Julie and Kevin are willing to pull out all the stops to ensure Nina's comfort and joy. It's not a hostile set. If there's issues with anyone, they were ultimately caused by the standom and taken effect after Nina left. I for one Am privy to some of the BTS happenings and I can say with absolution that there is not a matter of "poor Nina" to fret about. BUT, I suppose that doesn't mean her feelings are irrelevant and regardless of who or what (potentially) brought them about, no one wants to feel awkward or unwanted. I think Zach was super sweet at Comic Con tho, when he spoke up after what Ian said, so both Nina and fans would get the message that everyone else did in fact wish she'd return?.

Oh there's no almost, OP is ridiculously entitled, and clearly a Nina hater. Nina did not owe you anything!! She dedicated six years to tvd, chill out.

Will I be pissed if she doesn't return? Hell yes, I want to see my favorite character get closure, I want my otp to have a TRUE endgame! BUT, if she doesn't for whatever reason, I'm not going to hate on her.
4,8,15,16,23,42.

//Lost without LOST//