The Vampire Diaries: 5 Things That Were Changed From The Book Series (& 5 Things That Stayed The Same) – Screen Rant

There were many changes made to L.J Smith's The Vampire Diaries books when it was adapted into a television series. The show was written for television by Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson and, although many characters from the books featured in the small-screen adaptation, big changes were made that altered the overall story.

RELATED: The Vampire Diaries: The 10 Worst Things Caroline Forbes Ever Did, Ranked

The show's differences set it apart from the books and tell a different but equally as compelling story but, although the two adaptations are very different, there are still some similarities between the books and the show. Here are five things that were changed from The Vampire Diaries book series and five things that stayed the same.

Elena Gilbert is played by Nina Dobrev in The Vampire Diaries. Her character has long brown hair and olive skin, though Elena in the books is described as the polar opposite to her show counterpart.

In the books, Elena has pale blonde hair, blue eyes, and pale skin. She still shares a strong resemblance to Katherine although the two are not completely identical. Katherine's hair is a few shades darker than Elena's and Elena is much taller.

Caroline Forbes and Tyler Lockwood became romantically involved during season twoof The Vampire Diaries. After Caroline becomes a vampire and Tyler becomes a werewolf, the two bond over their newfound supernatural abilities, with Caroline helping Tyler through his monthly change into a wolf.

In the books, Caroline and Tyler are also in a relationship. Caroline becomes a werewolf after falling pregnant with Tyler's child and they later get married and have two children.

Katherine Pierce is one of The Vampire Diaries' most iconic characters. The sire of Stefan and Damon Salvatore, Katherine became a vampire over five hundred years ago and spent the next five centuries fleeing from Klaus Mikaelson.

RELATED: The Vampire Diaries: 5 Reasons Why Katherine Is The Superior Doppelganger (& 5 Why It's Elena)

Katherine's book counterpart is much different. Her full name is Katherine von Swartzchild and she was a young German girl who was turned into a vampire by Klaus unwillingly before she meets and sires the Salvatore brothers.

The main premise of The Vampire Diaries is the same in the television show and the book series. Elena Gilbert, a young human girl, falls in love with two vampire brothers named Stefan and Damon Salvatore.

In both the books and the show, Elena initially enters into a relationship with Stefan Salvatore after the vampire enrolls at her school. Her feelings for Damon grow throughout the series, with Elena eventually falling in love with the other Salvatore brother.

Meredith Fell is a minor character in The Vampire Diaries. She first appeared in the third season of the show as a doctor at the hospital in Mystic Falls and takes an interest in Alaric. Meredith and Alaric wereromantically involved for a brief period, before Alaric's descent into darkness drove them apart.

Meredith has a much bigger role in the books. Her full name is Meredith Sulez and she is one of Elena's best friends. Meredith has a vital role in the group and is one of the only characters to resist Damon's charm.

Elena's transition to vampirism occurs in theshow and the books. In the season three finale, Elena dies with Damon's blood in her system and is turned into a vampire. In the books, Elena becomes a vampire after consuming Stefan and Damon's blood, with The Furyfocusing on her adjustment to the undead.

RELATED:The Vampire Diaries: 10 Things Even Diehard Fans Dont Know About Elena

In both mediums, however, Elena does not stay a vampire. In the show, she takes the cure and becomes human again, and, in the books, she dies as a vampire during a confrontation with Katherine, though she is brought back to life.

In The Vampire Diaries, Elena Gilbert and her friends live in the small town of Mystic Falls in Virginia. The Salvatore brothers originally lived in the same town during the 1800s and, over a thousand years before that, the Original family settled there and became vampires.

In the book series, Elena and her friends live in a picturesque town called Fell's Church in southern Virginia.It unconsciously attracts supernatural creatures such as witches and werewolves due to the several lines of crossed energy running through the town.

All of the characters in The Vampire Diaries were altered in the adaptation from book series to the television show. However, the character of Alaric Saltzman retained some of his original traits, including his profession as a History teacher at Elena's high school.

RELATED: The Vampire Diaries: 5 Times Damon Was A Good Friend To Alaric (& 5 Times He Wasn't)

Alaric studies the supernatural in the books and hunts them in the television series. He is romantically involved with Meredith in both mediums as well as being a caring and compassionate figure in the series.

One of Elena's strongest and most defining relationships in the television series is with her younger brother Jeremy. After the death of their parents, Elena and Jeremy live with their aunt Jenna until her death in season two, with Elena taking guardianship of her brother afterward.

Jeremy Gilbert does not exist in the books. Instead, Elena has a younger sister named Margaret who is only a young child and has a minor role in the series. Margaret is said to share a strong resemblance to her older sister.

Stefan and Damon pursue Elena in The Vampire Diaries' book and television show. Although both of the brothers are vampires,it is made clearearly on that Stefan is the more compassionate and restrained, whereas Damon is vicious, bloodthirsty and disregarding of human life.

Damon grows throughout the series and becomes more selfless as his relationship with Elena develops. Despite his growth, however, he remains the darker Salvatore brother as Stefan works to suppress his nature as a vampire and protect and preserve human life.

NEXT: 10 Things Supernatural Did Better Than The Vampire Diaries

NextBrooklyn Nine-Nine: D&D Moral Alignments Of The Main Characters

Leah Flavell is a freelance writer currently living in Leicester, originally from Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. She graduated from the University of Wolverhampton with a degree in Creative Writing and Film Studies and is currently completing a master's course in Creative Writing at De Montfort University. She contributes content to The Sportster, Screen Rant, CBR, and YourDogAdvisor, as well as writing additional fictional material.

See the rest here:
The Vampire Diaries: 5 Things That Were Changed From The Book Series (& 5 Things That Stayed The Same) - Screen Rant

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero