Summary
- Blood sharing is a personal and intimate act between vampires on The Vampire Diaries, symbolizing trust and care between individuals.
- Elena chooses to share the blood of one Salvatore brother after becoming a vampire, causing tension in her relationships.
- Blood sharing is a nod to the books and vampire folklore, but it is not shown as prominently in the TV series to maintain its significance between the central couple, Damon and Elena.
On The Vampire Diaries ran for eight seasons after premiering on The CW in 2009 and chronicles the lives of the inhabitants – both supernatural and human – in the small town of Mystic Falls, VA.
The YA drama developed a loyal fanbase largely thanks to the appeal of its three central characters, Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev), Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley), and Stefan's older brother Damon (Ian Somerhalder), who comprise a love triangle so intense, fans remain steadfast of either "Team Stelena" or "Team Delena." Sharing blood between vampires is actually part of what brings that love triangle to a head as Elena elects to share the blood of one Salvatore brother after she becomes a vampire.
What Episode Do Damon And Elena Kiss For The First Time? & 19 Other Important Delena Episodes
Damon and Elena were the most epic romance in The Vampire Diaries. Their love spanned some truly epic scenes in these episodes.
How The Vampire Diaries Introduces Blood Sharing
For three seasons, Elena works to protect her friends and family from a seemingly neverending onslaught of supernatural threats while struggling to stay alive and mortal. However, during the season 4 premiere, Elena makes the transition into a vampire. It's not an easy one.
Elena's difficulty adapting to her new diet causes friction between the Salvatore brothers. Stefan remains adamant that Elena steer clear of human blood, fearing the repercussions if she can't control her thirst. Damon (a role coveted by many actors) believes the only way Elena can survive and learn self-control is to drink directly from the vein. "You're a vampire, Elena. Be a vampire. Vampires eat people. It's part of the natural food pyramid."
Season 4, episode 2, "Memorial," features some uncharacteristically grotesque scenes as Elena tries and fails to feed on animals. Fearful of disappointing Stefan and determined not to hurt anyone, Elena goes to Damon for help. His solution is to share his blood with his brother's girl, warning Elena not to tell Stefan. Elena questions this, and Damon responds, "Because blood sharing is kind of ... personal."
How Blood Sharing Gets Personal On Vampire Diaries
Ultimately, Elena attempts Damon's solution. It doesn't help her the way Damon thinks it will, but it's clear that the scene demonstrates the trust and care the two have for one another, despite Elena currently dating Stefan.
As Elena drinks, Damon strokes her hair, and the scene has an entirely different feel than the numerous instances of vampires feeding on humans on the show. It's more intimate. So what makes this so taboo that Elena can't tell Stefan? According to a 2012 article in EW, Julie Plec shed some light on blood sharing. "If you look at any of it metaphorically, it’s a very intimate exchange of bodily fluids. So you can read into that what you will. Well, it's like vampire naked cuddling," she said.
Damon its what he's done to Stefan partially because it doesn't work, mostly because he knows it will get under his skin. The revelation causes a rift between them, with Stefan even punching Damon in the face. The incident also strains Elena and Stefan's relationship because she turns to Damon instead of him.
You fed on him, Elena. You fed on him. I know that may not mean much to you, but it means a lot to me. And I know it certainly meant a lot to Damon.
The incident marks the beginning of the end for the couple, as Damon and Elena end up together in Vampire Diaries.
The Vampire Diaries Episode Damon Started Falling In Love With Elena (Not Just Mourning Katherine)
Damon and Elena's romance was one of the central storylines in The Vampire Diaries, but when did it all begin (for Damon) in the CW series?
Why Vampire Diaries Didn't Show Blood Sharing As Much As The Books
While blood sharing starts and stops with Elena and Damon in the series, it features more prevalently in the books (and fan fiction), serving as a substitute for sex but providing an equal amount of pleasure. Plec also itted that the scene was a nod to L.J. Smith's novels and vampire folklore in general.
As for why this crucial aspect of vampire intimacy didn't feature so heavily in The CW's Vampire Diaries show, the explanation could simply be that it was reserved as a special moment for Elena and Damon, who are ultimately the show's central couple. Having other characters engage in this practice more commonly could help add context as to why it's so personal. Still, it could also have lessened the impact of the encounter between the two protagonists.
The Vampire Diaries books also incorporated an element of telepathy into blood-sharing scenes – another way in which the show ended up deviating. It could still be implied that Damon and Elena experienced this phenomenon, but it simply wasn't represented onscreen. Telepathy can be a tricky thing to convey visually since it only happens within the mind, which might be one more reason that book-accurate blood sharing wasn't as common in The Vampire Diaries.
Overall, The Vampire Diaries deviates from its source material in many ways, including the characters' appearances, cutting the key character of Meredith (Elena's close friend), and turning the romantic connection between Bonnie and Damon into a Platonic friendship. On top of this, one more change might not mean much.
The Vampire Diaries is also available to watch on Peacock.
