Posted by Red | May 31, 2009, 13:18 (EST) | 58 Comments
Category: Books, TV Series

We’re getting quite a few Twilight fans popping over here (hi guys!), and there are some misunderstandings going on between fans. We think the time has come to clear the air a bit.

First of all, I like Twilight. I loved the first book especially, and really hope that Midnight Sun gets written and published. If anyone was offended by my crack about sparkles in the Vampire Lore 101 article, I apologise. It was never meant to be a dig at Twilight, only a crack at being asked if Vampire Diaries vampires sparkle on a pretty regular basis.

Now, to address a few issues that Twilight fans and Vampire Diaries fans should both be aware of.

Are the Vampire Diaries copying Twilight?
No. The Vampire Diaries series was published in 1991-92, Twilight was published in 2005. The dates speak for themselves.

Does Twilight copy the Vampire Diaries, then?
Again, no. Vee and I certainly don’t think so. Yes, there are some minor similarities, but most of those are themes that you can find in any vampire romance novel in this day and age. The important thing is that the characters, major events, and basic underlying story of each series are completely different. More obviously (as the Vampire Lore 101 article illustrates) the vampires are completely different in both series. Twilight vampires are certainly nothing like Vampire Diaries vampires. The only thing they have in common as a species is that they need to drink blood to survive, and that’s a standard feature in all vampire literature.

The Vampire Diaries TV series is cashing in on the success of Twilight!
Quite possibly, yes. Does that matter? The producers and the CW have recognised from the success of Twilight that there is a market for this stuff. The success of Twilight has shown that people want more vampire romance on their screens, and so this TV series will give them that. It won’t be copying Twilight. The stories are different. The idea is that fans of Twilight might like to give this TV series a shot because they would like to see other things in the same genre. It’s not trying to be Twilight, it’s just capitalising on an interested market and possible ready-made fanbase. Give it a chance, Twilight fans. Please don’t knock it just because it’s been given the go due to the success of Twilight.

Nina Dobrev is brunette – they’re making Elena look like Bella!
I find it highly unlikely they chose Nina Dobrev for the role just because she was brunette and they could have their own Bella. Isn’t it more logical that she auditioned for the role and they chose her because they liked her portrayal of Elena? Bella and Elena both being brunette is purely coincidental. And, hey, brown is a very common hair colour – it’s a dominant gene for a start, so that ensures that brunettes are in a majority. The important thing is that Elena and Bella are entirely different personalities. Even though they’re making Elena more accessible in the TV series, she’s still very different to Bella. Bella was the shy loner, Elena the queen of her high school. Two completely different character types.

 
Now, people are allowed their opinions on each of the books. We don’t expect Twilight fans to love the Vampire Diaries, and vice versa. Some people like both, some only one. It’s just one of those things that happens because people have differing tastes. However, it would be nice if fans of each series didn’t snipe at each other so much, and that includes slamming the series you don’t like in the comments on this blog. Please, be nice to each other, because it makes for a much more pleasant discussion.

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