In the first few episodes, there is a lot alike, but after that things get very different. Bonnie is curly redhead and last name is McCullough, one of the main character - Meredith is missing. The Salvatore brothers are from the Italian Renaissance era - Katherine last name is Von Swartzchild. Elena is a blond with a little sister named Margaret, no Jeremy. Her parents are both dead and there is no gilbert Ring. These are just some of the basics.