21 Ways 'Allegiant' Is Different From The Book

For many people, knowing that a favorite movie series is coming to an end brings nothing but sadness — remember how many tears you shed back when the final Harry Potter film hit theaters? Anything that puts off the inevitable pain is more than welcome, which is why for a lot of fans, hearing that a final book in a series is being split into two movies brings a huge sigh of relief. Such is the case for The Divergent Series: Allegiant, the first installment of which is out Mar. 18, with the second half not being released for another year. The only downside to splitting the book up? Realizing that due to a need to stretch the novel's events out, there are plenty of ways Allegiant changes from the book — not all of which are going to make fans happy.

While not all of these changes are major (although believe me, some are), they all matter to fans hoping for a satisfying adaptation of the final book in a beloved trilogy. Even the smallest differences are bound to be noticed, and it's certain that fans will have mixed opinions about whether or not these changes were necessary. To help form your own opinion about the new movie, here are the 21 biggest changes Allegiant made from Veronica Roth's book. Spoilers ahead!

1. The Voice From The Box Doesn't Belong To Tris' Ancestor

Or if it does, it's not mentioned; the voice that tells Tris and the others about the world beyond the wall is nameless, and so Tris doesn't begin questioning her heritage.

2. The Story Is Mostly Told By Tris

Although some scenes are from Four's POV, the majority of Allegiant is seen through Tris' eyes, unlike the book's decision to split between her story and Four's.

3. Leaving The City Is Totally Sped Up

For the sake of time, a lot less happens in the movie before Tris and the others leave the city. The destruction of the Choosing Ceremony Bowl doesn't come up, Four saving Caleb happens much faster, etc.

4. Peter Forces His Way Into The Group Leaving The City

Unlike in the book, where Tris is informed that Peter is coming with them, the movie only sees him joining them when he threatens to expose their mission unless they let him in the car.

5. Four Skips The Whole Fear Landscape Thing

Again, for time, Four doesn't bother going through his fear landscapes before leaving. Let's just assume he's gotten them under control, OK?

6. The Escape Is Much More Exciting

The book's version of the group's escape over the wall and into the other world is far less exciting than it is in the movie, because in the film, they scale the wall, run from bullets, and basically jump down the other side, walking through a landscape straight out of The Martian before eventually being found.

7. Tori Still Dies, But Differently

Instead of being shot before they even get to the other side, Tori is killed when she's on top of the wall, talking to Tris. Still bad.

8. Zoe And Amar Don't Exist

When Tris, Four and the rest are met on the other side, they encounter Matthew, the leader of the Bureau of Genetic Welfare and his followers, but not Zoe and Amar, who are big presences in the book.

9. David Tells Tris, But Not The Others, About Being "Pure" Or "Damaged"

Rather than tell all of the group that they're either pure or damaged, David only tells Tris this information, and she eventually passes it on to Four. Also, Four is still Divergent, just not as pure as Tris is.

10. Tris And Four Don't Inject Themselves For Genetic Testing

Just hearing that they're pure or damaged is enough, thank you very much.

11. Marcus' Trial Doesn't Exist

Although a large portion of Tobias' narrative in the book is filled with his thoughts on his father's trial, Marcus only comes up in the movie towards the end, when Evelyn chooses to give him a memory-erasing serum (more on that soon).

12. Instead Of Reading Her Journal, Tris Goes Into Her Mother's Memories

Like literally, thanks to a present from David. It's way more exciting.

13. The Guys All Get Jobs, Plus Lots Of Screentime

The movie shows Peter, Caleb, and Four settling into their new jobs, with the first two taking over surveillance and Four learning how to hunt with cool new weapons.

14. Four Learns About The Bureau's Evilness When He Goes On A Mission

Instead of being told directly by Nina that the Bureau is up to no good, Four sees it for himself, when he goes out on a mission to "rescue" kids from the fringe but instead, ends up seeing their parents killed and their memories wiped.

15. And Tris Learns About The Bureau's Evilness When She Goes On A Different Mission

In the movie, Tris doesn't believe that David has been lying to her until he takes her on a trip to visit the Council, and she's told that he could be helping Chicago but is choosing not to.

16. There's Much Less Violence

At least for the main characters. Unlike in the book, Tris, Four, and David all don't get shot, and no one has to go to the hospital.

17. David Doesn't Ask Her To Be On The Council

Because, as said above, he instead takes her to the Council as a prop, which doesn't work.

18. Tris and Four Never Break Up

They argue a bit, but an actual break-up? Doesn't happen.

19. The Entire Serum Plotline Is Different

Here's the biggest change in Allegiant. In the book, Tris wants to use the memory serum to erase the Bureau's memories, but in the movie, that's never brought up; instead, the entire third act is about Tris and Co. trying to stop David (and Peter, who's volunteered to help him) from releasing the serum throughout all of Chicago.

20. So Tris And The Others Go To Chicago

By stealing David's plane, because that's how they roll. They also have a mission to rescue Four, who's been captured there.

21. The Entire Ending Changes

Due to the fact that the book Allegiant is being split into two movies, a lot changes in this first installment's ending. Caleb doesn't attempt to sacrifice himself, Peter doesn't use the serum for himself, Tris doesn't die (!), and there's no epilogue. That's not to say that those things won't happen, because there is another movie coming along, but in this movie, the ending is totally different.

Here's how it goes: once Tris and Christina rescue Four, they all go to stop Peter from releasing the memory serum over Chicago. In a battle, Peter shoots Evelyn, yet when they all realize the serum might affect them, too, Peter runs off and the others get the hell out of there. Tris goes to find a way to shut off the ventilation system (and thus stop the serum from spreading), and when she does, she's confronted by a video of David, who's watching her from the Bureau. He tells her she has no chance, but she outsmarts him, shooting the tank and causing the serum to stop. She and the others escape, and while the threat of David is still out there, they're safe, for now, with plans to tear down the wall.

Clearly, Allegiant isn't too concerned with sticking true to the book, but whether that's ultimately a good or bad thing is up to fans.

Images: Summit; Giphy