The Vampire Diaries: Revealing 15 Mind-Blowing Discrepancies Between the Beloved Books & Electrifying TV Show

Summary

The Vampire Diaries TV show made changes from the books, including the friendship between Caroline and Elena, who are rivals in the books.

Bonnie's character in the Vampire Diaries books is portrayed as a Druid, whereas in the TV show, she possesses the ability to communicate with spirits similar to Emily Bennett.

The physical appearance of Elena and her romantic entanglements vary between the books and the TV adaptation. In the books, she is depicted as a blonde who harbors feelings for Stefan, whereas on the television series, she is portrayed by Nina Dobrev and eventually embarks on a relationship with Damon.

The Vampire Diaries started as a successful series of novels before becoming a popular TV show. When comparing the Vampire Diaries books to the show, there are noticeable differences. Adapting a literary work often involves changes, whether it's altering appearances or completely reimagining characters. Some changes are well-received, while others may not be as favorable. These creative decisions play a significant role in the process of translating a book to the screen, often aiming to enhance the filming experience.

There is an unparalleled excitement when beloved books are adapted into movies or TV shows, as it allows for more time with cherished characters. Although not every adaptation is successful, The Vampire Diaries has gained immense popularity as a TV show. Its success is evident, as it has even spawned two spin-off series. Numerous novel-to-TV adaptations have been well-executed, including TVD, which is based on a series of books written by L. J. Smith. Smith's original story served as the foundation for the CW series.

Elena And Caroline Are Rivals In The Books

The friendship among the young women in the CW's Vampire Diaries series is a notable aspect of the show. However, it is worth mentioning that one of these friendships does not actually exist in the books. In the novels, Bonnie and Elena remain friends, whereas Caroline and Elena are not portrayed as friends.

One significant contrast between the Vampire Diaries books and the show lies in the dynamic between Caroline and Elena. In the books, Caroline and Elena are rivals, competing for the attention of the same boys. Caroline even goes as far as trying to uncover Elena's secrets. While shades of this relationship can be seen in the show as both Caroline and Elena express interest in Matt and Stefan, they ultimately support one another.

Bonnie Is A Druid In The Books

In the Vampire Diaries book series, there is no character named Bonnie Bennett. Instead, Elena's friend is Bonnie McCollough, a redhead who comes from a lineage of Druids. Unlike the TV show, Bonnie McCollough is also involved romantically with Damon Salvatore. Both Bonnie McCollough and Bonnie Bennett discover their magical abilities as the story progresses, but their magic takes different forms.

In the novels, McCollough taps into the power of the Druids for assistance, while Bennett communicates with the spirits of her ancestors. The most prominent spirit she interacts with is Emily Bennett, Katherine's handmaiden who saved numerous vampires in Mystic Falls during the 1800s. Unfortunately, Emily is eventually burned at the stake after being exposed as a witch. Throughout the series, Bonnie is able to communicate with Emily, gaining insight into her experiences.

One Of Elena’s Best Friends Is Missing In The Show

Caroline becoming one of Elena's closest friends in the TV series resulted in the absence of Meredith Sulez, another prominent friend from the novels. Although Sulez doesn't appear in the series, a character inspired by her, named Meredith Fell, is introduced later on. Portrayed by Torrey Devitto, Fell shares similarities with Sulez as she is also a descendant of one of the town's oldest families. Additionally, her name pays homage to the original name of the town in the book series and Fell's Church in the Vampire Diaries television series.

The Relationship Between Elena And Katherine Is Different

The Vampire Diaries books and the show differ greatly when it comes to the connection between Elena and Katherine. In the show, the doppelganger storyline plays a significant role, intertwining the two characters. However, in the novels, their resemblance is uncanny, but it is attributed to a completely different reason. In the novels, Elena and Katherine are actually half-sisters who share the same mother.

Vampires Have More Abilities In The Books

In the Vampire Diaries television series, vampires possess numerous formidable abilities. They surpass humans in strength and speed, and their healing capabilities far exceed that of humans. Additionally, they possess the power to compel others to obey their commands and have the potential to live indefinitely, subject to certain conditions. These characteristics hold true in both the novels and the TV show.

Remarkably, in the novels, vampires also have the ability to shapeshift. Specifically, Damon frequently assumes the form of a crow throughout the story. Interestingly, it appears that this ability was initially intended to be included in the television series as well. This is evident in the pilot episode, where considerable emphasis is placed on crows surrounding Elena. However, this concept was ultimately abandoned.

Elena Is Blond In The Books

In the book series, Elena is described as having blond hair and blue eyes. However, in the TV adaptation, Nina Dobrev portrays Elena Gilbert, who is a brunette with brown eyes. This alteration was a significant departure and even surprised the author, L.J. Smith. Nevertheless, this decision proved to be successful as the showrunners prioritized casting the most talented actor for the role, rather than strictly adhering to physical appearances. As a result, fans now cannot envision anyone other than Dobrev in the role.

Katherine Is German In The Books

The casting of Nina Dobrev as Elena resulted in more than just a change in appearance. The backstory of Katherine Pierce/Petrova was also modified to align with Dobrev's own background.

Originally portrayed as German in the books, Katherine's nationality was adjusted to Bulgarian to align with Dobrev's heritage, as she played both Elena and Katherine. In a 2010 interview with the Toronto Sun (which has been taken down from the publication's website), Dobrev disclosed that she personally translated Katherine's lines in flashbacks into Bulgarian.

Stefan Drinks Elena's Blood

When Stefan and Elena initially encounter each other, he denies himself the pleasure of consuming her blood. Despite his intense desire and temptation, his unwavering commitment to abstaining from human blood is crucial, particularly considering the dire consequences of succumbing to his urges and transforming into a dangerous ripper.

Eventually, Stefan does succumb to the temptation and drinks Elena's blood on certain occasions. However, this act mainly serves as a means to strengthen their connection and is only possible because Elena trusts him not to exceed reasonable limits. In the Vampire Diaries books, Stefan indulges in drinking her blood more frequently.

Elena Has A Sister In The Books

In the book series, Elena's younger sister is Margaret, who is four years old. However, in the TV show, Elena has an older brother named Jeremy (played by Steven McQueen) who is a high school student.

Although Jeremy's character is no longer on the show starting from the sixth season, he had a significant presence prior to that. He develops relationships with Elena's friends Bonnie and Vicki, and even becomes a vampire hunter, storylines that would not have been possible with a younger sister.

Elena Loves Stefan, Not Damon

The Vampire Diaries in book form differs from the TV show in another significant way: in the novels, Elena's love interest is Stefan Salvatore and not his brother Damon. However, although Elena initially loves Stefan in the TV series as well, the show eventually takes a different direction, resulting in her ending up with Damon.

The change in Elena's romantic partner was influenced by the remarkable chemistry between actors Ian Somerhalder and Dobrev. Their on-screen dynamic was so captivating that fans desired their characters to be together, even in the early episodes when they were not yet friends.

Mystic Falls Is Fells Church In The Book Series

Mystic Falls, a spine-chilling town filled with vampires, witches, sirens, and werewolves, is a terrifying setting. Interestingly, in The Vampire Diaries book series, this town is not called Mystic Falls but rather Fells Church. This alteration in the name does not have a significant impact on the major distinctions between the books and the television show.

However, Fells Church does not possess the same unsettling aura as Mystic Falls. Nevertheless, the show still incorporates Fell's Church as a literal church where significant events unfold. Notably, this church houses the tomb that once imprisoned vampires from the 1800s.

The Book Series Had Angels

The CW network series Supernatural is famous for its portrayal of angels, whereas TVD does not feature angels but instead explores various other supernatural creatures. Tyler's storyline introduces werewolves and hybrids, creating opportunities for their inclusion in the series. However, the majority of supernatural beings in the TV show are of a magical nature.

In the book series, angels played a significant role, with Elena and her younger sister being half-angel/human. Additionally, "phantoms" who consumed human emotions, shape-shifting "Kitsune" foxes, and "guardians" (who were angels) were present. Despite not being featured in the show, these beings were substituted by other supernatural entities.

Elena's Journals Are A Huge Deal In The Books

Elena's journals play a significant role in the book series, forming a crucial aspect of the story. She meticulously documents various aspects of her life, including Stefan's vampire identity, and Caroline discovers these journals, craving to expose the truth to the town.

On the other hand, although Elena does write in her journal in the pilot episode of the Vampire Diaries, this item scarcely makes another appearance. Stefan, however, maintains numerous journals primarily focused on vampire history and the town's past.

Elena Was A Mean Girl In The Books

The difference in Elena's personality between the Vampire Diaries books and television show is significant. Unlike the sweet and kind-hearted Elena in the TV show, she possessed a much colder demeanor in the book series. In fact, she was often labeled as an "ice queen" due to her attitude, a reputation well-known to those who have read the books.

In the books, Elena was portrayed as a mean-spirited girl with a strong sense of self-centeredness. When she first laid eyes on Stefan, she even went as far as claiming him as her possession, as if he were some sort of prize. Despite both versions of Elena being popular in their respective high schools, the book version proudly flaunted her popularity while the show version was known for being a great friend.

Stefan And Damon's Backstory Is Different

Throughout most of season 1, Damon is portrayed as the unpredictable villain who finds pleasure in his vampiric nature. Surprisingly, it was Stefan who initially exhibited unstable behavior and convinced Damon to become a vampire, thus paving the way for his subsequent choices.

While the TV show depicts Damon and Stefan's transformation into vampires during their time on a Virginia plantation in the 1800s, the book series takes a different approach. Their backstory in the books involves consuming vampire blood and engaging in a deadly argument that ends in murder, as opposed to perishing while attempting to rescue Katherine. Additionally, the book versions of these characters have a history dating back to the Italian Renaissance, making them much older than their TV counterparts.

The Vampire Diaries books and television series may have several distinctions, but in the end, the show beautifully captures the essence of the novels, offering viewers a captivating and imaginative narrative to relish.