This year marks the 17th anniversary since the iconic show “The Vampire Diaries” graced our televisions. We’ve started our annual rewatch to welcome the transition into fall, as every TVD lover does, but do you know what changed when the novels were adapted for the screen? We are sharing a few of our favorites.
The original books by L.J. Smith were published in the early 90s, known as “The Original Arc.” They introduced the book world to Elena Gilbert— the incredibly popular, blonde (not brunette) high school student who finds herself in a love triangle with the Salvatore brothers. The Awakening, The Struggle, The Fury, and Dark Reunion make up Smith’s first set in the series. Then, from 2009-2011, Smith published three more books— Nightfall, Shadow Souls, and Midnight— known as “The Return Arc.” The books that came after this arc were written by ghostwriters.
Smith’s original novels have several differences that many TVD fans noticed upon the show’s 2009 release and even today as new generations find the show and watch for the first time. We gathered 11 big differences between the books and TV show as we celebrate this iconic show’s 17th anniversary. We even included a bonus one for fun.
** warning: spoilers for the show and books below! **
1. The town was actually called Fell’s Church.
The Mystic Falls we all know and fell deeply in love with? Created by the show writers. The town was actually called Fell’s Church in the books. While the town name was changed for TV, Fell’s Church wasn’t lost completely. The location was kept and is where the town of Mystic Falls burned (or so they thought) over 20 vampires in 1864.
2. Elena originally had a sister.
A story without Jeremy Gilbert? We know. It’s hard to imagine. But it’s true. Elena didn’t have a brother, and her sister’s name was Margaret, who was four years old. Jeremy was created for the show.
3. Stefan had curly hair.
We know you’re imagining hero hair when thinking of Stefan Salvatore, but in the books it was curly and not attached to Paul Wesley.
4. Stefan and Damon were from Italy and really old.
The Civil War vibes were not in the books. Stefan and Damon were from the Renaissance era in Italy and over 500 years old. Both Salvatore brothers were born in Florence, Italy during the late 1400s instead of locally in Mystic Falls, Virginia.
5. Their school was named Robert E. Lee High School.
A minor change but still worth noting. There was no Mystic Falls High School until the TV adaptation. Everyone went to Robert E. Lee High School.
6. Bonnie had red, curly hair (and her last name wasn’t Bennett).
The TV adaptation created Bonnie Bennett, who became a witchy icon across the fandom. However, in the books, Bonnie is Bonnie McCullough. She has red, curly hair and a few different skills up her sleeve than our Bennet witch.
7. Caroline wasn’t Elena’s friend (or a vampire).
If you’ve started your rewatch, you aren’t far from watching Caroline Forbes become a vampire. And while she might be Elena’s friend in the show, they are enemies in the books. She also never becomes a vampire, a detail added for television. In the books, Caroline joins the werewolf side of things.
8. Stefan is staying in Mrs. Flowers’ boarding house, not the Salvatore Boarding House.
In the books, Stefan and Damon don’t own the gothic, moody, beautiful boarding house as they do in the show. Instead, Stefan rents a room from Mrs. Flowers, who owns the boarding house in town.
9. Elena had blonde hair (and was very popular).
This was a big deal as Nina Dobrev stepped into the role of Elena Gilbert, but the show producers knew what they wanted. Now, we can’t imagine Elena any other way. But in the 90s and early 2000s, TVD lovers knew a popular, blonde Elena who was not as warm as our Mystic Falls girly.
10. They are seniors in the first book.
Who can forget the very iconic graduation episode as Bonnie says goodbye to her classmates (who aren’t aware she’s on the other side). However, your favorite group of friends starts as seniors in the books instead of juniors like the TV show.
11. Matt’s last name was Honeycutt.
Yes, you read that right. Ole Matty Blue Eyes was not a Donovan in the books, but instead, a Honeycutt.
Bonus: Tyler Lockwood was originally Tyler Smallwood.
This one needs no explanation. Feel free to giggle.
Looking for more articles on “The Vampire Diaries”? Click here for our guide to visiting Mystic Falls.
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