Tweet

Join me in analyzing the new ‘Vampire Diaries’ covers & how they appeal to each of the show’s rabid shippers. Which stars look best undressed?

Fans of The Vampire Diaries are going to smile (and probably blush) when their copy of Entertainment Weekly arrives on their doorstep this week. The show’s holy trinity — Ian Somerhalder, Nina Dobrev, and Paul Wesley – graces three crazy hot covers, each fueling different ships. The show’s executive producers, Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec, even discuss how they worry about angering the shippers while brainstorming story lines. Fortunately, I have a feeling these covers will make everyone happy.

OK, here’s the part where I analyze each of the three covers to death. Read what I think, or just skip my nonsense and vote for the one you think is hottest. Either way, we all win.

NINA & IAN:

I’m not just saying this because of my blatant Damon-Elena bias, but this is undeniably the hottest of the three covers. Not only are Ian and Nina both totally nakey, but they’re both doing some hardcore smoldering at the camera. I dare say it puts Damon’s (many) bathtub scenes to shame.

I also appreciate this cover because it totally feeds into Ian and Nina’s real-life relationship, or at least what people think of their relationship. When asked about an off-camera romance with Nina, Ian simply responds, “Nothing has been confirmed yet.”

NINA & PAUL:

This cover is what one might call “tasteful,” and I wouldn’t be surprised if hardcore Stefan-Elena shippers feel cheated. That said, Nina and Paul still look all kinds of sexy and I feel ugly just discussing what I’m seeing.

It’s also interesting to note that they’re under dark sheets, as opposed to the pearly white bedding on Nina’s cover with Ian. While I’m sure this is merely a nod to Stefan’s dark side this season, I can’t help but think that Ian would have been under the dark sheets had this cover come out two years ago. My how things change.

ALL THREE:

Talk about a crowd-pleaser! The cover with all three stars — which, I think, blows the pants off the Rolling Stone cover with the True Blood cast — perfectly sums up what The Vampire Diaries is all about. Everyone is sexy and everyone wants Elena. Plus, you get to see at least 5 percent of the side of Ian’s left butt cheek. So, that’s pretty spectacular.

— Andy Swift

Follow Andy on Twitter for more Vampire Diaries updates