The Vampire Diaries: 10 Differences Between The Books And The Show

3. Elena’s appearance 

In the Vampire Diaries books and TV series, the character of Elena Gilbert appeared quite differently. In the show, Nina Dobrev played Elena as a kind and generous individual with brown hair, brown eyes, and a warm personality. However, in the books, Elena was described as fair-skinned, blue-eyed, and blonde, more like a typical high school cheerleader. Her character was depicted as mean-spirited and cruel, contrasting with the show’s portrayal of her. Additionally, there was a love triangle between Elena and Caroline in the books, which was not present in the TV series.

4. Bonnie wasn’t a witch in the books 

In the series, Bonnie was the final representative of the potent Bennett family of witches, possessing psychic, emotional, and magical powers. She was the sole African-American character and had relationships with Jeremy and Enzo, but unfortunately, didn’t find a joyful conclusion following Enzo’s demise in Season 8. In the novels, Bonnie was a druidess of Celtic descent with red hair and pale complexion, tracing her ancestry back to an ancient line of druids. Initially portrayed as airheaded, flirtatious, and lighthearted, Bonnie evolved into a more dependable character over time.

5. The Salvatore brothers were much older and vicious in the books 

As a lifestyle expert, I’d say: In the world of supernatural drama, I’ve had the pleasure of delving into the captivating lives of the Salvatore brothers, Stefan and Damon. On-screen, their paths were intertwined by a secret shared only between them – Damon was given Katherine’s blood, while Stefan remained blissfully unaware. Tragically, they met their untimely end at the hands of their father during the vampire purge of 1864, marking the beginning of their immortal existence.

6. Elena had a sister in the books 

In The Vampire Diaries books, there wasn’t a character like Jeremy Gilbert. Instead, Elena had an younger sister named Margaret, who was just a toddler when their parents passed away. As the novels progressed, Margaret would have been around 5 years old. Introducing Jeremy in the TV series rather than Margaret broadened the storyline, giving him the opportunity to become a Hunter and romantically involve himself with Bonnie. On the show, Elena was John Gilbert’s daughter, making Jeremy her cousin.

7. The Gilbert’s died way before in the books 

The show and novels both depict the tragic death of Elena’s parents, Grayson and Miranda Gilbert. In the show, Elena is grieving the recent loss of her parents, while in the novels, she has had time to process the loss. In the books, the Gilberts died three years earlier, giving Elena more time to grieve. In the show, Elena is more affected and motivated by the death of Grayson and Miranda Gilbert, while in the books, her parents are Thomas and Elizabeth.

8. The town was named something else 

In the fictional world of The Vampire Diaries TV series, the town, originally known as Fell’s Church in the books, was famously recognized for its supernatural happenings. This was due to its long history steeped in magic and unusual events. Notably, this was where the Original vampires were born, along with various werewolf lineages and the Bennett family of witches. Although Fell’s Church has a more occult connotation, the show creatively renamed it Mystic Falls, perhaps to give it a less ominous yet still mystical feel. However, in tribute to its origins, the series named the church where ancient vampires were confined “Fell’s Church.”

9. Katherine and Elena were half sisters in the books 

In the series, Katherine and Elena share striking similarities due to their ancestry from the Petrova lineage, although they aren’t closely related. Elena is a descendant of Katherine but not a blood relative. Both women have Bulgarian origins, as depicted in certain episodes that flashback to their past. In the novels, Katherine is German and Elena’s half-sister, referred to as Katherine von Swartzschild. Despite her health problems, Klaus turned Katherine into a vampire to enhance her wellbeing, following a request made by her maid, Gudrun.

10. The vampires were more powerful in the books 

In The Vampire Diaries series, both the books and TV show, we encounter strong vampires like Damon, Stefan, and Caroline who possess extraordinary traits such as compulsion, incredible speed, eternal life, enhanced telepathic skills, and the ability to transform into different forms. However, it’s worth noting that in the novels, these creatures also have the capacity to transform into animals and read minds, which gives them more power compared to their television counterparts. Initially, these abilities were not directly introduced in the pilot episode but were later incorporated through a process called retcon (retroactive continuity) in the novel series.