Love triangles and vampire stories are classic themes, and they’re especially captivating when combined. While many TV shows have used these elements, The Vampire Diaries stands out as one of the best. Based on L.J. Smith’s popular novels, the show was a big hit on The CW. It was co-created by Kevin Williamson, the writer behind the Scream movies, and continued his tradition of self-aware horror.
The show The Vampire Diaries really revolved around Elena Gilbert and the people in her life. After experiencing a lot of loss, Elena found comfort and a renewed sense of hope through her relationship with the kind vampire, Stefan Salvatore. Stefan’s brother, Damon, added complexity, creating a famous love triangle. Despite its many good qualities, the show ultimately suffered from a single flaw in its writing.
Elena Was Not the Character From The Vampire Diaries Books
It’s common for TV shows based on books or other sources to make changes. Some elements just don’t translate well to the screen. The creators of the Game of Thrones series took liberties with George R.R. Martin’s novels, and The Vampire Diaries adaptation was even more freely interpreted.
L.J. Smith’s books offered a general idea for the series, but weren’t followed closely. The characters, starting with Elena, served as starting points for inspiration rather than being directly copied. While Elena Gilbert is often remembered for always trying to do what’s right, the book version of her wasn’t quite so dedicated to morality.
As a big fan of the series, I always saw Elena as… well, a bit spoiled. She was definitely the queen bee of her school, used to everyone giving her what she wanted. When Stefan arrived, she immediately decided he was hers, which was interesting because, in the original story, Stefan actually tried to avoid her – even though she reminded everyone so much of Katherine! It was a cool dynamic that got a little lost in the adaptation, honestly.
Elena was determined to win Stefan over, and he eventually gave in, beginning a relationship with her before she discovered he was a vampire. The Elena portrayed in the book and the TV show were quite different, a choice that Kevin Williamson stood by.
The producers of The Vampire Diaries wanted their lead actor to portray a more classically heroic character, moving away from the typical “mean girl” trope often seen in teen dramas. The book version of Elena lacked this strength, and it seems the show went a bit too far in the opposite direction. While the TV Elena wasn’t unkind or self-centered, she didn’t have much drive or development as a character.
Throughout the show, Elena remained static while other characters grew significantly. Damon experienced a positive transformation, becoming his best self by the finale. However, Elena repeatedly fell into the trope of needing rescue, even after becoming a vampire. She didn’t develop as a character and ultimately became the weakest link in the series.
Elena’s Character Could Have Had a More Interesting Arc in The Vampire Diaries
There’s a need for more nuanced and complicated female characters in television. The creators of The Vampire Diaries preferred characters who were consistently ‘good,’ but a flawed character is often more compelling. If Elena Gilbert had been more like her character in the original books, she would have had more opportunities for development and growth.
Because Elena was already such a kind and caring person from the start, her character didn’t have much room to grow. If she’d begun as less developed or thoughtful, the show could have focused on her journey of becoming a better person. However, her consistent goodness is also why viewers loved her.
Becoming a vampire helped Caroline finally accept herself and stop being so anxious. She was more resourceful than Elena, but that changed when Caroline became human again. Losing her vampire powers made her question everything she thought she knew about herself, and surprisingly, brought her closer to her biological daughter.
I’ve always felt Elena was a bit…static. While she dealt with a huge loss in her parents, I think she’d have grown from that eventually, even without the drama of those two gorgeous vampire brothers! Let’s be real, the show wouldn’t be a show without her, but for me, The Vampire Diaries truly shined because of everyone around her – the fascinating world they lived in, and all the unexpected twists and turns. That’s what really captivated me.
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2026-02-03 07:38