The issue of Twilight and the Vampire Diaries

Posted by Red | May 31, 2009, 13:18 (EST) | 59 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.

Tags: CW Network, Elena Gilbert (Book), Elena Gilbert (TV), Nina Dobrev, Pilot, Twilight

A Note On Comments:

We get hundreds of comments a day, and we're only human. Please help us to keep the comments a positive place to be by not arguing with each other, not insulting each other, and not responding in anger. If a comment is over the line, please flag the comment to bring it to our attention. You can do this by hovering your mouse over the comment so the 'flag' link appears.

Comments may be deleted at moderator discretion if we feel they are spammy, cross a line or are taking the discussion too far off-topic. If you want to discuss other things, please do so in the forums.

Please don't use multiple accounts or make pointless one-word comments. Repeated spamming of this nature will result in you being banned or moderated.

Kristy Odom

I am not a teen, but the mother of a pre-teen who has seen the movie but not read the books. I personally have read all the books, and can’t wait for the Vampire Diaries series or the next Twilight movie! They are both good, and there is room for both! I hate when fans start sniping at each other! It really just shows immaturity! I am glad my daughter is not reading this! So that maybe at some point in the future she will pick up the books, and find what I found! Pleasure in reading them!
Julia

i hate twilight! VD are soo much betta in like everything. elena is not my fave character but she is like 100 times better than lame-ass bella. same goes for stefan and edward. im so happy there makin VD a tv series!
http://www.vampire-diaries.net/ Red

Nice to see people paying attention to my request to not slam the book series they don’t like in blog comments… ¬_¬
http://www.vampire-diaries.net/ Red

Good to see other fans of both series. I’m in total agreement; there’s certainly room for people to like both.
http://www.vampire-diaries.net Vee

Too many words, Red! Too many words!
http://www.vampire-diaries.net/ Red

You think I’d do better with interpretive dance? ;)
Jessica

As someone who read the Vampire Diaries series in the 90′s and LOVED it, I’m just so happy that it’s coming back! For years after the 4th book I kept looking for a follow-up and it never came and now POOF! There’s another book with more in the works and a TV show. SO exciting. As far as Twilight, I read those too. And they’re great. The whole Vampire Diaries vs. Twilight thing: The two series are nothing alike. It’s like comparing Harry Potter and Twilight (then again, that’s been done too I guess). Anyway, all I’m trying to say is, both series are great. Give them a chance. Chances are, if you’re into hot vampires, you’ll like both.
Amanda

I read TVD back when I was in high school in the late 90′s and I LOVED them (I’ve also read them over the years since then). I’m very happy about it coming to the small screen (even with the changes,lol) and I read the Twilight books and LOVED them too. I think it’s possible to love both series’ and know the difference between them. There’s enough love to go around for both. I think the CW made a very good marketing decision to go ahead with TVD. It’s good marketing with this day and age with the success of Twilight. Nothing wrong with that.

And Red, I was not offended by your earlier post about the differences. I think it was just a helpful resource for new fans and an enjoyable read to the fans who’ve read the books before.
http://kharasthoughtsandrants.blogspot.com/ Heather Bryant

I love both series ALOT. But to be honest I love vampires in general. I’ve been into vampire since I was in kindergarten. Yes that’s how much of a fan I am :P My parents let me watch vampire movies when I was a little girl! My first Dracula movie was “Blood For Dracula”

I fell in love with TVD series and that started my book reading craze. I can’t imagine how many vampire books I have in my room and the basement.

I remember watch Kindred: The Embraced when I was a kid also! And has any of you seen Nightlife with Ben Cross? OMGOSH! It’s a flipping awesome movie! It came out around the same time as TVD!

I’m in heaven right now with all this vampire love though i’m a little jaded. When I was a teenager it wasn’t such a big thing and I felt a little bit outcast. And now that i’m an adult it’s all over the place. Oh well at least I get to enjoy it :)

I did post a little bit snippy about the whole twilighter coming in and claiming that this is a copy of Twilight. I loved the books except Breaking Dawn :P Still can’t finish that book! And of course I loved the movie and have watched it alot.

I’m gonna be a bit nicer, but man I wish it would stop! I can’t even go on youtube without seeing something about how it was copied from Twilight :P
Emma

I love both The Vampire Diaries and The Twilight Saga. In fact, it was Twilight that got me to read VD (I went on a vampire craze after reading Twilight; actually, I read Twilight because I had just read a really phenomenal vampire book, Sunshine by Robin McKinley, which I’m rereading for the zillionth time, by the way). I understand that some people like one or the other, and that’s fine, but hey, I think they’re both tons of fun. I can’t wait for New Moon and the Midnight Sun book, and I can’t wait for The Vampire Diaries TV show and the next installments in the Return Trilogy. :)
Team Jacob! :D
http://www.vampire-diaries.net Vee

“I’m gonna be a bit nicer, but man I wish it would stop! I can’t even go on youtube without seeing something about how it was copied from Twilight.”

Yeah and, unfortunately, it’s not just some Twilight fans – some LJS fans have been pretty nasty as well. YouTube and IMDb attract the trolls by nature, so it’s gonna happen, unfo. It’s a mixture of ignorance (because TVD, until the past few years, was kind of considered a cult classic, so not that well known) and just plain resentment by a lot TVD fans that Twilight became this massive pop culture phenomenon while they perceived their favorite series as being unappreciated.

Yeah, it’s way tiresome seeing the comments from both sides, but honestly? If conversations and comments here are any indication, TVD has a hardcore fanbase that never thought they’d see the story hit the screen. And people are picking up the books *because* of the TV series, and that’s nothing but a good thing. Makes it a lot easier to ignore the trolls, that’s for sure.

We might not be able to control the misconceptions/nastiness elsewhere on the ‘net (particularly in the media, ugh), but we can certainly try to be reasonable here.
Laera

I’m not a teen but i’ve been into the vampire genre (and horror in general) since I was a kid. When they cancelled Moonlight (which also had a vampire/human love affair but with characters in my age group) I was devastated. I’m SO glad they’re putting a vampire series back on TV. Never mind that it’s for young adults. I’ll watch it anyway. I hope the 8 million Moonlight fans will watch The Vampire Diaries too. Looks like CW is trying to “redeem” itself. CW must’ve realized the mistake it made contracting CBS to air Moonlight (Moonlight was supposed to be a CW show) and the controversy that ensued when CBS cancelled it. I hope and pray The Vampire Diaries will not have the same fate as Moonlight. I don’t think I can handle another vampire show cancellation.
Mady

I love both series… the only thing I don’t really like are the Twilight fans, when they begin to say that Vampire Diaries is a copy from Twilight… the only thing I can say about that is that people need to be inform before make any comment… both series are different from each other and both of them have their good things… come on! Even True Blood has been compared with Twilight… just because is about a vampire/human romance the people think that is a copy from Twilight. Give a chance to the other vampire books/stories/tv shows/movies or whatever, Twilight isn’t the only vampire/human romance in the world and of course the other stories aren’t a copy from Twilight, it’s just the Twilight is more famous.
Mady

it’s just that* Twilight is more famous.

sorry =P
Carol

I am a twilight fan. I was excited to see that the book was being made into a movie. I then heard that CW was going to be trying to do a TV show after another famous series about vampires, I went out and got L.J. Smith’s novel. I am a fan of both now. I think that we need to see people may have a similiar idea but tell it in different ways. And like someone said L.J. Smith start her novels before Stephenie did. This Can we like all of them?
http://kharasthoughtsandrants.blogspot.com/ Heather Bryant

There are tons of books out there with human/vampire love affair. I have read quite a few and there are still more out there that I haven’t gotten my hands on yet. It’s the teen/tween population that has made this into something so big. I’m glad that it has kids reading :)

Alot of the vampire/human love affair books have a bit more adult themes to it. -cough Laurel K. Hamilton cough- I won’t even recommend those books to ANYONE. They’ll think i’m some kind of dirty woman :)

I do love young adult vampire fiction. It makes reading a bit more enjoyable. Nothing like having something so close to sex, and yet it’s not.
Niza

I think both are awsome. I love VD and Ive read twilight too. But I can see why so many people start fighting and saying nasty things. And I think its because most of twlight fans are teens so they know nothing bout VD.
Im so exciting bout the show and cant wait for shadow souls!
Victoria

Yeah. I was waaay snipper than I thought I was in the previous update comments. I apologize for that. Just woke up after hardly getting any sleep and my temperment was foul. No real excuse, but I apologize if it upset anyone because I usually don’t voice anything that is meant to be mean.

I do seriously like both, and I wish there could be a happy medium between fandoms. But since it hasn’t happened for other fandoms that clash I doubt there ever will be.

And I will make sure I have caffine before looking at things online in the A.M. again :S
Scarlett

I honestly have to call “BS” to having to apologize or clarify. I mean, I don’t think the “crack” was offensive. People are so overly sensitive about these things. It’s really absurd that on a site where it’s about tVD we have to defend our opinions in comparison to what is clearly a saturated market of all things Twilight. It’s unavoidable, and if people are going to be babies and freak out over differences of opinions, then…it’s their issue.

This is clearly a situation where you can’t please everyone. I know TONS of Twilight fans who are not so dramatic about the whole snark backlash; c’mon what did people expect when you get sparkling vampires? Really, now. I personally hate the whole franchise and what it’s done to the mythos. It’s like what Teen Wolf did to the whole Werewolf genre, lol. I just think it’s the rabids at it all over again. The small number of overzealous fans who feel defensive.
Nilly

Red, I’d love to see you doing an interpretive dance. (:
Nilly

Okay. To put it mildly, I dislike Twilight. And I just thought there were TOO MANY similarities–some quite small–but that’s just my opinion.

Red, I honestly pity you.. so many questions! You seem to be handling it all pretty damn well. Too much spare time? (:
http://www.vampire-diaries.net/ Red

The apology was a personal thing that I felt I had to do simply because I like Twilight (even with sparkling issues) and didn’t like the idea of people taking what I’d said the wrong way. I’m often accused of worrying too much about things like that, but then that’s who I am.

I also wanted to get this post out there because there are fans from Twilight and the Vampire Diaries who are getting really nasty with each other. While I know you can’t please everyone, it’d be nice if people could respect each other a little more, at least on this site. And hey, it’d be nice if some Twilight fans were able to see past what they perceive as ‘copying’ SMeyer and maybe enjoy the Vampire Diaries in their own right. More fans of TVD is a good thing, right?
Jane

In my oppinion there is certainly room for both Twilight + The Vampire Diaries in this world – they are both amazing! I read The Vampire Diaries when i was about 12 and then basically forgot about them (because I was young and naive and well yeah…) then I read Twilight when I was 15 and it brought back a lot of memories from reading The Vampire Diaries so after The Twilight Saga I decided to search for The Vampire Diaries again and I am so happy I did. I love them both. Admittedly there are similarities in both books but they are both about vampires and teenagers what do people expect?! Haa. As the books progress they both have different (and amazing) story lines and I am proud to say that I am not just a Twilight fan or a Vampire Diaries fan – I am infact a VAMPIRE LITERATURE FAN. lmao xD
http://nina-dobrev.com/ Jessica

So far the only series I’ve read is Twilight, but just a few days ago I order the first two books in the Vampire Diaries series. Even though I’m a fan of Twilight it really irks me when Twi-Fans start saying that any book, tv show, or movie is copying Twilight, but they seem to have no knowledge on the other book, movie, or t.v show they’re talking about.

Just like when True Blood first came out. I think that some things in True Blood and Twilight are the same, but not everyone copied Twilight!!! The Sookie Stackhouse series came out before The Twilight Saga, just as Vampire Diaries did.

I think Twi fans are just trying to stick up for their favorite saga, but honestly, sometimes it gets annoying. I’m a fan of Twilight, but every time I hear about another vampire story, movie, ect, I don’t accuse them of “trying to be like Twilight” right off the bat. I wish people would look up the facts before trying to argue over something that’s extremely silly.

Thanks for writing this article! I enjoyed it!
http://nina-dobrev.com/ Jessica

I don’t thiknk you were supposed to bash either series when commenting =/
http://www.vampire-diaries.net/ Red

It happens. But Most of the comments on this article have been pretty positive, so I think we can take away from it that there are a lot of people who are fans of both series and are happy to get along.
Melissa

I’m happy to read so many adults love TVD and the Twilight series as well. I agree with Heather Bryant (a few posts back) that back in the day you were ‘weird’ if you read vampire novels but they’re the best! I also agree that it’s hard to find an ‘adult’ vampire novel that’s not full of stuff you’d see late at night on Cinemax! Yay for LJ Smith and Stephenie Meyer!
acacia

I read the Vampire Diaries when they first came out and was about the age as some of the young Twilight fans. I read the Twilight Saga last August. I also watch True Blood. There are similarities between all vampire stories, especially those written since the idea of a vampire has become sexy (which was not always the feeling about them). Each fan is entitled to their opinion about which story is better, but it is completely immature to disrespect fans of other stories.
acacia

BTW Heather Bryant: I am also a huge fan of all things vamp and have been reading/watching vamp books and movies since childhood. I actually own a set of Kindred: The Embraced. So glad you remember it–no one else does!! Also love the Ben Cross movie, and was obsessed with the 1991 version of Dark Shadows in which he played Barnabas Collins. There is so much out there from the past, but I am super excited vamps are making a comeback!
Sia

I’m a huge Twilight fan. And well I think it’s cool to have a T.V show like it so I’m all up for it BUT I DID TRY READING THE VAMPIRE DIARIES books but I just didn’t like them but I think I’ll like the show more.
Kat

I have read both the twilight and VD series( still on Vd) anyway I think both books are wonderful and there totally into detail, that’s what I look for,

Reply if you want
Bye!!!!
Natalie

I read VD in the 5th grade. And when I bought the 3rd and 4th ones in 8th grade, my brother made me buy Twilight. I didn’t think it would be good but it was.

And quite frankly, Stefan and Edward are very similar. Both fight their nature and think of themselves of monsters. Plus neither wants to change their loves. They are very similar if you think about it.

But I do agree that VD is a better seires but not by much..
clairavance

I’ll fess up – I’m one of the accused trolls! I like picking at Twi-fans every now and then just for a laugh, because most of them are like my teen cousins who just don’t understand why I don’t have the Obsessive-Cullen-Disorder too. The movie Twilight wasn’t all that bad. I like Robert more with his natural accent though. The book Twilight, however, was a flop. I wanted to go get my money back, but Whitcoulls refused! The VD books, are brilliant. The characters, the events, the dialogue, the plot (I’m gushing, I’ll stop now). I’m hoping the TV series will match up to my expectations. Or better yet – maybe even surprise me! And I’m more of a LJS fan than SM fan – Stephenie sounds as weird as Edward from what I’ve heard. With that said, the trailer to New Moon doesn’t look too bad.
Go Team Jacob!! ;)
http://s0nate-ilu.blogspot.com Amanda

I personally, love both, Twilight and the Vampire Diaries series.

In fact, I find twilight and vampire diaries two different stories.
The only similarities I find in these two books are, the vampires and the romance between a human and a vampire.
The story plot is both different.

I don’t understand why people tend to “HATE” twilight, but I have this stuck into my mind that,
-twilight is written by an author. Say that again if you can write better.-

But then again, I can’t stop from what people think.

Anyway, I really can’t wait for Vampire Diaries TV programme to come out. Do you, in any idea, know when exactly is the release date?
http://www.vampire-diaries.net Vee

We don’t have official confirmation on a date yet, but mid-September is looking likely.
hannah

To quote Damon:
“Perhaps she’ll find that real darkness is more to her taste than feeble twilight.”
pp 243, The Awakening

I don’t hate Twilight; I just don’t like it.
sarah

I cant Wait to start reading this series. I just loved twilight saga books and im hoping i can really get into the vampire diaries as well..!! I just read the house of night series by P.C cast and Kirsten cast.. so good to! I think just because a book has the same subject matter doesnt mean they are coping from each other.. come on grow up!
sarah

If you like twilight and the vampire diaries you should try the house of night series by p.c cast and kirsten cast. it is very good as well! Except the main character in it is a teenage girl who is a vampire its a very different spin on things but still has something to do with vampires.
Nazleen

I actually grew up reading vampire diaries when I was in highschool and was absolutely obsessed with them and read them too many times to count. When Twilight came out I was equally excited to read and the books met my expectations. They were both quite different, and I love and I am excited for both of them. The only thing that bothers me is the “Elena” issue. In the books they harp on her lapis lazuli (blue) eyes, and I am disappointed in the choice of her character. Nonetheless I am very excited.
Renee

Well I honestly think they are both great books. They both symbolize the greatness of the supernatural world and how both come together and find true love in mere humans. I read twilight first and I fell in love. Once I read the whole series, I thirsted for more vampires, which is when I found the Vampire Diaries. They are both great books. And I cannot wait for the next New Moon and also Vampire Diaries.
Shelby

A short comment, I love both books. I read the Twilight series first though, and I have to admit, when I first read Vampire Diaries (just this week by the way) I thought it was a total copy of Twilight just with different caracters. As I got deeper into the book, i realized it was not close to the plot line or anything from Twilight. I cant wait until i can see the movie for New Moon, and Vampire Diaries.
summer

I am a fan of both vampire books.I personally am disapointted in the hair color for Elena. But other then that it looks amazing. I will be watching it everytime it is on.
leslie

i dont think you should be hating on twilight because it is a really good series. you may not like it but that doesnt mean you should start talking crap about twilight. i LOVE the Vampire Diaries just as much as i LOVE the Twilight Saga!!
leslie

I think that it is really, really, REALLY STUPID that Twilighters and TVD fans are fighting!! Seriously!, isn’t the real enemy here the jonas brothers/disney fans that are talking all this messed up crap to ALL of us vampire lovers in general??!

I LOVE both TVD and The Twilight Saga!..AND YOU SHOULD TOO!!
leslie

haha sorry that was SUPPOSED to be a comment and somehow it ended up as a reply!

btw..TEAM EDWARD all day babers!
Emma

Dude, what are you talking about? DISNEY RULES!!! Although I agree about Jonas Brothers. However, I must say Disney beats all vampire stories ever. First and foremost a Disneyphile! :D
leslie

i dont really like disney. ESPECIALLY jonas brothers/miley cyrus(im glad you dont like them either), they are sooooo annoying! anyway i like some stuff like classic disney stories and the pixar/disney stuff, but NO FRIGGIN WAY is it better than vampire stories! vamps are sexy and unlike anything else out there!! YEAH!

i know i sound kinda crazy but i swear im not
leslie

“I am infact a VAMPIRE LITERATURE FAN”
haha..

Me too. =)
leslie

I am a proud Twilight Saga fan and I think its stupid how people are fighting over stuff like that. Anyways, I am zooper EXCITED because I’m going to pick up the Vampire Diaries series tomorrow and I’m pretty sure I will LOVE it! I also apologize on behalf of all the Twilighters saying that the VD series copied Twilight. They should at least give it a chance.

AAAHHHH! can’t wait for New Moon and the Vampire Diaries on the CW! yay!
Meggi

I absolutely adore TVD. I first read them in high school when they came out and I still have copies that I reread. I pretty much set every vampire book I read up against them and I admit that I am not the biggest Twilight fan. I don’t get the issues between the fanbases, though. If capitalizing on Twilight’s popularity brought my favorite books to the screen, then I am thankful for its popularity!

Watch episodes online

Search the Website

Get Updates By Email

The TV Series

Latest Gallery Images

Buy The Books

Partner Sites

Categories

Popular Posts

Polls

Recent Posts