The supernatural teen drama, The Vampire Diaries, started with a love triangle at the core of its plot. Throughout the rest of the show, the trope felt overused as many more love triangles emerged. However, despite friendships remaining in the background, they still formed a huge part of the show and were often the highlight.
Even though there was always the possibility of friends becoming more than friends, they were cherished by fans nonetheless. Each season of the show gave its fans some of the most iconic friendships on television.
Season 1: Stefan And Lexi
Stefan and Lexi are one of the most epic friendships on the show that has truly stood the test of time. Their friendship always stayed platonic as both of them claimed and after Lexi's death, she remained Stefan's guardian angel.
Fans first witnessed their friendship in "162 Candles." Unfortunately, Lexi dies in the same episode at the hands of Damon but this one episode was enough to make fans feel the unique bond of Stefan and Lexi and realize how much they mean to each other. Later on, viewers learn more about their friendship through the seasons through flashbacks and Lexi's ghost appearances.
Season 2: Damon And Liz
Damon was the "bad boy" in the earlier seasons but interestingly, he always seemed to make friends with good human beings. Liz Forbes, the sheriff of Mystic Falls and the mother of Caroline, is one of them. Season 2 was the first time when Damon admitted that Liz was his friend and due to this, he didn't hurt or kill her.
They started by helping each other out but soon they became great friends, which remained until Liz's death in season 6 and Damon was with her in her last moments. This proves how deep their friendship was that Liz asked Damon to give her eulogy.
Season 3: Damon And Alaric
Another good-natured human friend of Damon is Alaric. It can be noted that apart from Elena, these friendships with kind-hearted people brought out the human and good side of Damon. In season 3, Alaric dies in the episode, "The Departed" in Damon's arms, and Damon completely breaks down.
Alaric's death showed the vulnerable side of Damon that was very rare in the earlier seasons and it proved how much he cares about his friends. In the earlier seasons, Damon and Alaric made up the best friendship duo of the show.
Season 4: Stefan And Caroline
After Lexi's death, Caroline more or less took her role in Stefan's life. Caroline and Stefan protected each other and helped one another through their darkest phases. When Caroline became a vampire, Stefan protected her from Damon and helped her control her bloodthirst. When Elena broke Stefan's heart, it was Caroline who stood by his side and told him that he would find love again.
Their friendship into a true romance in the latter half of the show but it doesn't undermine their friendship. Their love was true and perfect due to the fact that it was based on deep friendship.
Season 5: Caroline, Elena, And Bonnie
The trio of Caroline, Elena, and Bonnie, have plenty of troubles that affected their friendship. However, in season 5, their friendship was the highlight of the season. Bonnie was dead but she chose to stay with Elena and Caroline as a ghost because she wanted to be with her friends even after her death.
Caroline and Elena also deeply missed her and even though they started a new chapter in their lives and joined college, they deeply missed Bonnie. When Bonnie came back and the friends reunited, it was an endearing moment.
Season 6: Damon And Bonnie
Damon and Bonnie hardly ever saw eye to eye and Bonnie evidently hated him in the early seasons of The Vampire Diaries. When they were both stuck together in 1994 Prison World and had to live with each other day by day, they became extremely close and turned from frenemies to best friends.
Even when they came back, they still cared for each other. Their reunion hug is one of the most heartfelt moments of the entire series and it will be etched in the minds of every fan. Damon also chose to save Bonnie's life over Elena going into sleep for decades.
Season 7: Damon And Bonnie
After Elena had to go into a slumber, Damon decides to desiccate himself until Elena wakes up without even saying goodbye to Bonnie. Bonnie felt betrayed that Damon would leave her and hurt her like that. It proves how much Damon meant to her and even though she could have moved on in her life, she still wanted Damon to be around.
Damon deeply regrets it and assures her that he would never hurt her again like that. What makes their friendship so special is that fans never thought they would become such great friends because of how different they are but the fact they did made fans deeply invested in their friendship.
Season 8: Stefan And Damon
The main duo of the show, Stefan and Damon always shared a tumultuous sibling relationship, many times even toxic. They cared about each other in their own ways but always managed to hurt one another severely. Not to mention the way Damon kept on flirting with Elena and trying to win her when she was Stefan's girlfriend is exceedingly vile.
However, towards the latter half of the show, the brothers matured and they started to have a healthy sibling dynamic. In the final season, they were not only brothers but best friends too. Damon officiated Stefan and Caroline's wedding and Stefan sacrificed to save Damon's life in the series finale. When they reunited in the afterlife and hugged each other, it was a bittersweet goodbye to the Salvatore brothers that every fan cherishes.