The Vampire Diaries: 5 Things About Elena The Show Changed (& 5 Ways She Stayed The Same) – Screen Rant

Fans love Elena Gilbert in both The Vampire Diaries TV show and L. J. Smith novels. However, the protagonist is quite different in the two mediums.

Elena Gilbert had an epic journey throughout The Vampire Diaries.The CW series retained several similarities from L. J. Smith's novels, including the series protagonist's tumultuous relationship with vampire brothers Stefan and Damon Salvatore. Elena is enamored with Stefan early in season 1, before eventually falling for Damon and reuniting with the elder Salvatore in the series finale.

RELATED: The Vampire Diaries: 5 Ways Elena Was Inconsistent (& 5 She Stayed True To Herself)

Elena's storyline veered from the books throughout the show, with both mediums telling different stories and heading in juxtaposing directions. Despite this, the series managed to include many aspects from Elena's arc in the books.

Elena's physical appearance greatly differs from the books to the television series. In L. J. Smith's initial novels, Elena is described as tall, blonde, and slender, with gold-flecked blue eyes that resemble lapis lazuli.

Elena's appearance was altered for The CW's The Vampire Diaries with actress Nina Dobrev stepping into the role. In the show, the vampire heroine is an olive-skinned brunette with brown eyes and multiple doppelgangers.

The Vampire Diaries' books and TV series begin similarly: Elena Gilbert falls in love with new student Stefan Salvatore before discovering her lover is a vampire. Season 1 of the CW series features the beginning of Elena and Stefan's relationship, which is put to the test by Stefan's brother Damon.

The first book in the series, The Awakening, also begins with Elena falling in love with Stefan. Stefan is initially guarded around Elena before eventually succumbing to her seduction.

One of Elena's most important relationships in the show is with her younger brother, Jeremy. Throughout The Vampire Diaries, Elena attempts to look after Jeremy, providing a maternal presence in their lives following the deaths of their parents.

Jeremy is a non-existent character in the books. Elena has a little sister named Margaret instead, who is only a year old when their parents perish.

The primary narrative in the books and the show is the love triangle between Elena, Stefan, and Damon. Human Elena originally falls in love with Stefan, the "good" vampire brother, before gradually developing strong feelings for his darker sibling, Damon.

RELATED: The Vampire Diaries: 5 Reasons Why Damon & Elena Were Couple Goals (& 5 Why They Were Toxic)

Elena's romance with the Salvatore brothers is at the forefront of The Vampire Diaries and shares similarities in both mediums. While Stefan is her soulmate, Elena shares a profound and passionate connection with Damon that draws her to him throughout the series.

Elena undergoes a rapid evolution in the book series. The heroine is turned into a vampire and dies twice, before returning as an angel with immense magical powers. Elena's new abilities as a guardian angel include the power to call forth wings that offer varying qualities from protection to redemption.

Elena's angel heritage was omitted from the show, along with many of the Salvatore brothers' supernatural abilities. Elena had a brush with the afterlife during the Other Side's destruction in season 5, though returned without additional angelic abilities.

Elenadidn't become an angel in the TV series, but she followed in her book counterpart's footsteps by transitioning to a vampire in the show's fourth season. Season 3's finale culminated with the revelation that Elena died with Damon's blood in her system, triggering her transformation into a vampire.

Elena also becomes a vampire in the books. Like her small-screen adaptation, however, she doesn't remain one. Whereas show Elena takes the cure in season 6, book Elena is killed by Katherine before returning from the afterlife.

Elena and Katherine share a physical appearance in the show, with both characters portrayed by Nina Dobrev. The Petrova doppelgangers are integral to the show's story and share an important, magical connection that jeopardizes Elena's safety.

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

The doppelganger arc is an original plotline for the television series. Elena shares a strong resemblance to Katherine in the books, though the two are not completely identical.

Elena may not be Katherine's doppelganger in the books but she remains her rival. Katherine reveals she is responsible for Elena becoming a vampireinThe Fury and causes Elena's death for a second time when both of them are killed by sunlight.

Katherine targets Elena in the show as well as the books. The evil doppelganger returns to Mystic Falls in the season 1 finale before driving a wedge between Elena and Stefan throughout the second season.

In the books, Elena is a beautiful and popular teenage girl who excels at school and is widely admired by the rest of the town.Shehas her positive qualities, but also her flawsas shesometimes appears shallow and vain, despite her caring nature.

The show omits many of these flaws from the books. From the first season, Elena is regarded as a compassionate character with a good heart and few faults.

Elena's relationship with Matt is largely to the books throughout the CW series. The pair were childhood sweethearts during school before Elena broke off their relationship, though they remained best friends afterward.

Thisis one ofElena's most important relationships. Matt supportsher throughout the series and proves himself as an integral member of the group. Elena's character was largely altered in her small-screen adaptation, though many of her vital attributes remain similar to the source material.

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Leah Flavell is a freelance writer currently living in Kettering, 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 an MA in Creative Writing at De Montfort University. She writes content for Screen Rant, The Sportster, CBR, TheTalko and Outfront Magazine and has also written articles for WhatCulture and YourDogAdvisor.

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The Vampire Diaries: 5 Things About Elena The Show Changed (& 5 Ways She Stayed The Same) - Screen Rant

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