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.
The show's differences set it apart from the books and tell a different but equally compelling story but, although the two adaptations are very different, there are still some similarities between the books and the show. Here are some things that were changed from The Vampire Diaries book series and some things that stayed the same.
Updated on June 14th, 2021, by Gabriela Silva: The Vampire Diaries is still incredibly successful even after ending its run on television. Before the show even went on the air, it was already buzz-worthy as it was an on-screen adaptation of the popular book series by L.J. Smith. Fans of the books before the show and new fans may have realized that the show’s creators tweaked some characters, storylines, and details. Some aspects were kept the same like the needed love triangle. Some differences changed the way characters were seen on the show. Even characters' appearances aren't as they were described in the pages of the books. We've added a few more of the most major differences between the books and the show.
The Same: Certain Characters' Tragic Pasts
The events that changed Elena in the show also occur in the books. In both versions, Elena’s parents die in a tragic car crash. This leaves her and her sibling to become the responsibility of their aunt. Another small detail that was kept the same from the books was Damon’s relationship with his father.
In the show, flashbacks reveal that Damon and his father had a strained relationship. His father even made Damon eat his pet turkey and hurt him when taking the blame for missing money. This is accurate from what fans know from the books.
Changed: Tyler’s Character
Fans of the books are aware that Tyler was never meant to be a main character. Besides his last name change, the show’s creators decided to make Tyler part of the main cast. This meant giving him a much more detailed and amped-up storyline than what was seen in the books – like becoming a hybrid.
There was one major change that needs to be made about Tyler to make him worthy for the small screen. The books portray Tyler as a much more aggressive and predator-like character who even makes a forceful advance at Elena. This Tyler wouldn’t work for the show, so it was one of the better changes.
The Same: Klaus’s Involvement
Klaus is easily one of the most feared but well-loved villains to appear on the show. Klaus, being one of the main villains, was kept mostly the same as they were in the book series but with some changes here and there. Just like in the show, Klaus is one of the original vampires with immense power.
He also comes to use Tyler for his own gain and evil plan in the show and books and Klaus also had a small rivalry with Katherine just like the show depicts. However, Klaus becomes a villain all the way through the book series, while Klaus in the show is only seen for one or two seasons.
Changed: Elena’s Angel Storyline
The show made some tweaks to Elena’s story but ultimately cut out a huge chunk of her journey. The show never included the celestial, meaning they didn’t include the existence of angels. In the book series, Elena appears as a guardian angel to save Stefan, Bonnie, and the others.
After doing what she had to, Stefan screams in agony over their separation once again. Elena then finds herself dropped on the ground and brought back to life. This storyline had no real purpose in the grander scheme of the show though.
Changed: Elena Gilbert's Physical Appearance
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.
The Same: Caroline And Tyler's Relationship
Caroline Forbes and Tyler Lockwood became romantically involved during season two of 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.
Changed: Katherine's Name And Backstory
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.
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 Same: The Stefan-Elena-Damon Love Triangle
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.
Changed: Meredith Fell aka Sulez
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 were romantically 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.
The Same: Elena Becomes A Vampire
Elena's transition to vampirism occurs in the show 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 Fury focusing on her adjustment to the undead.
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.
Changed: The Name Of The Town
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.
The Same: Alaric Saltzman's Profession
All of the characters in The Vampire Diaries were altered in the adaptation from a book series to a 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.
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.
Changed: Elena's Siblings
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.
The Same: Stefan Is The 'Good' Brother And Damon Is The 'Bad' Brother
Stefan and Damon pursue Elena in The Vampire Diaries' book and television show. Although both of the brothers are vampires, it is made clear early on that Stefan is the more compassionate and restrained, whereas Damon is vicious, bloodthirsty, and disregarding 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.