The Vampire Diaries: 10 Major Differences About Damon From The Book Compared To The Show – Screen Rant

Damon Salvatore is a main character of The Vampire Diaries in both the book and show adaptation but there are some major differences between them.

Damon is one of the title characters for The Vampire Diaries.He served as the beginning antagonist in the first season who laterbecomes the third part of the love triangle between Elena and Stefan. Damon is an essential part of the ongoing story seeing as helps reveal the backstory for the show and turned a quiet Mystic Falls into the hub of the supernatural.

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Overall Damon is an important character who changes and develops as the season went on. Many fans of the original book series, might have noticed a number of discrepancies between the on-screen version and the one on paper. Some are small physical traits while others drastically changedhis story.

This is a simple difference that was noticeable right away for fans of the books. Ian Somerhalder dida convening job at representing that sharp jawlineand handsome look that's seen on the book cover. But the cover version has darkeyes.

He has dark almost burnt brown eyes. In the book, they're described as "his eyes were black as midnight." It plays into his dark nature but is often described in the booksas being alluring and dangerousthat ties with his sex appeal. Well, Somerhalder has natural light blue eyes that worked well regardless. It satisfied the same conceptof getting hypnotizedand drawn in if gazing at Damon's good looks.

In the show, Damon's backstory involves him being born to Giuseppe and Lillian Salvatore and resided in Mystic Falls. It sets up the show's storyline and the brothers' connection to the town. But in the book versions, Damon is actually Italian.

The book version sets him having been born in Florence, Italy alongside his family. There's no real mention of any tie to a town called Mystic Falls. In reality, the book version town is called Fell's Church and Damon only goes to annoy is his little brother and wreak havoc.

Damon's birthplace wasn't the only thing that was changed from the books. The show has Damon being born in the 1800s in Mystic Falls. That makes him roughly178-years-old. He's still young in vampire years. But the book makes him seem ancient.

The book has Damon being born during the Renaissance period. To be more precise in the year 1487. That makes him over 500-years-old. That's not even half of the age he's meant to be in the show. Itputs him almost half the supposed age of Klaus in the show who was born in 900 A.D.and is considered one of the most powerful vampires.

Fans watched Damon progress from being the main antagonist to being an anti0hero throughout the show. He went from being incredibly conceited tocaring and protectingthose around him. But, the television version of Damon is more emotional that sometimesleads him to make rash decisions.

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Fans have seen Damon get incredibly angry or upset and kill those near him out of sheer frustration. For example, snapping Jeremy's neck or killing Lexi for his personal gain. Some may argue that the book version does a better job of honing in how he feels. He oftentimes thinks through his actions and doesn't act on impulse.

This discrepancy is due to the changing of time periods when Damon grows up. In the show, Damon goes off to fight in the Civil War. In the books, Damon goes off to college before getting bored and returning. Once he turns into a vampire, he goes on a bloody rampage as part of the Free Companies.

An aspect of Damon that isn't fully seen in the show is that Damon in the books is more feared. Yes, Damon is a central antagonist, but the main characters don't take him as seriously as a ravenous vampire. The only person whosees how dangerous he is Matt. In the books, everyone is much more afraid of Damon and what he's capable of.

Believeit or not but the show Damon has killed more people than the book version. It's surprising but the show version makes Damon out to seem more ruthless. In the book, Damon has a kill count of less than five. The two main people he kills are Mr.Tanner and his brother, kind of.

The show version has killed or tried to kill quite a few people that fans were even left shocked at. For example, Damon kills Lexi, Mason, Mr.Tanner, Bree and kills Vicki and Jeremy, but later come back.

In flashbacks and stories told in the show, fans see Damon and Stefan have a nice childhood together when it comes totheirbrotherly relationship. Fans see them play football together and Stefan hugging his brother when he returns from war.But the book version doesn't describe it this way.

Damon has an inherent resentment towards Stefan since the day he was born. Complications during Stefan's birth caused their mother to fall ill and die. Damon henceforth disliked hisyounger brother and always tried to outdo Stefan and be superior. The death of their mother greatly wounded Damon and created a rift with his younger brother and father.

From the beginning of Damon's arrival in Mystic Falls, fans come to realize that Damon has the odd ability to control fog and creepy black crows. Hence the memorable scene of Elena in the cemetery. He also has the ability to compel others, an ability all vampires have.

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In the book, Damon has a much longer list of abilities that never make it on to the show. In the books, Damon can shape-shift. He often turns himself into a crow and once even into a wolf. Sadly fans of the show never see Damon's telepathic abilities that he used in the book tocommunicate with Stefan. Damon can even manipulateenergy and shoot lightning for his fingers.

This is a huge discrepancy that fans of the book were surprised never made it into the show. While in the show, fans see Damon and Bonnie develop a friendship, in the book it's much more. Their relationship is even described as possibly being soulmates by the author.

In the book, Damon becomes fiercely protective and attracted to Bonnie as well as Elena. He even describes her facial features and looks that he finds attractive. They've even shared multiple kisses throughout the book series.Their relationship bordered between romantic, platonic, sexual desire and friendship.

Unlike the show, Damon is responsible for Stefan's initial death that turns him into a vampire. The show version has Damon being killed by gunshot after Damon tries to save Katherine from the tombs. Having drunk her blood earlier, it triggers his transformation. Stefan is also shot and awoke to later convinceDamon to become a full vampire.

In the book, Damon is the one who kills Stefan after believingthat Katherine committed suicide. Having blamed Stefan for what happened, they duel and Damon stabs his brotherin the heart. Stefan also uses the last of his energy to stab Damon.This triggers both their transformations.

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Gabriela is an Entertainment writer with experience in all things, Tv, Film and pop culture. She's more than happy to stay in and binge-watch new TV shows and movies on Netflix.

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The Vampire Diaries: 10 Major Differences About Damon From The Book Compared To The Show - Screen Rant