Elena Gilbert, Bonnie Bennett, and Caroline Forbes begin their journeys in Season 1 of The Vampire Diaries as teenage girls who grow into strong and powerful women throughout the series. Each character embraces their inner strength and navigates the supernatural occurrences in Mystic Falls, as they grow up together.
Elena, Caroline, and Bonnie were friends since childhood, but Elena can arguably only have one best friend. Bonnie stood by Elena and the two were close from the show's first episode. Elena's relationship with Caroline develops throughout the series, however, and the blonde vampire could be considered Elena's bestie instead...
Bonnie: She Never Tried To Compete With Elena
Elena and Bonnie are introduced in Season 1 as best friends, whilst Elena's relationship with Caroline is more strained. Caroline competes with Elena out of jealousy and fails to be there for her friend emotionally. Bonnie and Elena are much closer, and Caroline is often seen pursuing a separate life from her friends.
Bonnie never viewed Elena competitively and supported her friend through her grief. Her friendship with Elena is much stronger than her relationship with Caroline in Season 1, who is more of a frenemy than a bestie.
Caroline: Elena And Caroline Were Both Vampires
Season 2's "Brave New World" sees Caroline struggle with her newfound vampirism after she is killed by Katherine Pierce with Damon Salvatore's blood in her system. Caroline struggles with being a vampire before embracing her new identity. Elena becomes a vampire in Season 4, and Caroline helps her friend through the transition.
Caroline and Elena are both vampires until Elena takes the cure for immortality in Season 6. Both characters understood each other more during this time and shared more similarities than Elena and Bonnie.
Bonnie: Bonnie Sacrificed Her Life For Elena's Brother
Bonnie Bennett sacrificed everything for her loved ones throughout The Vampire Diaries, including her life. Elena's brother and Bonnie's boyfriend, Jeremy Gilbert, is killed by Katherine in Season 4. Bonnie brings Jeremy back but the exertion of magic has fatal consequences and tragically kills Bonnie.
Elena was devastated by Jeremy's death and turned off her humanity to escape the pain of losing her brother. Bonnie sacrifices her life for Jeremy and reunites the Gilbert siblings.
Caroline: She Attended College With Elena
Caroline and Elena temporarily leave Mystic Falls behind them in Season 5 and attend Whitmore College together. The two vampires are roommates throughout their time at college and grow closer in Bonnie's absence.
Bonnie spends most of her time as a ghost in Season 5 before becoming the Anchor to the Other Side. Caroline and Elena's friendship blossoms as they both mourn the loss of their best friend.
Bonnie: She Protected Elena With Her Magic
Bonnie saved the day with her magical powers continuously throughout The Vampire Diaries. She uses witchcraft to protect Elena's life and help the Mystic Falls gang, standing up to powerful threats such as Klaus Mikaelson and Silas in the process.
Bonnie faces off against Klaus in Season 2 and links Elena's life to John Gilbert's death before the moonstone ritual. This ensures Elena's survival, even after Klaus drains her of blood during the sacrifice.
Caroline: Elena And Caroline Grew Closer Throughout The Series
Caroline is initially frosty towards Elena in Season 1 and is envious of her friend. They bond throughout the series, however, and become much closer as friends. Elena helps Caroline embrace her new life as a vampire and stops Damon from staking her to death in Season 2's "Brave New World."
Caroline grows as a person throughout the series and this brings her closer to Elena, who struggles to cope with the paranormal threats in town. The two characters bond over their shared experience as well as the chaotic events in Mystic Falls.
Bonnie: Elena Was The First Person Bonnie Confided In About Her Witch Heritage
Bonnie initially suspects she may be psychic in Season 1, before discovering her true heritage as a powerful Bennett witch. Bonnie tells Elena the truth about her powers, demonstrating her magic by causing a pile of feathers to levitate, and her friend immediately accepts her.
This highlights the trust and respect in Bonnie and Elena's relationship. Bonnie trusted her friend with an important secret and Elena supported her friend as she discovered her powers for the first time.
Caroline: She Encouraged Elena's Relationship With Stefan
Bonnie is apprehensive of vampires throughout the early seasons of The Vampire Diaries. She distrusts Stefan due to his nature and the actions of his brother, Damon. Caroline, however, encourages Elena's relationship with Stefan after seeing how happy her friend is during Season 2.
Caroline is less enthusiastic about Elena's relationship with Damon - though, considering Damon compelled and abused her in Season 1, this is understandable. The blonde vampire encourages Elena's romance with the younger Salvatore despite eventually falling in love with Stefan in Season 6.
Bonnie: Elena And Bonnie Spent More Time Together At School
Elena's friendship with Bonnie is one of the character's most important relationships in the series. They are initially introduced in Season 1 as best friends and hang out with each other a lot more than they do with Caroline.
Caroline is more of a frenemy than a friend to Elena in Season 1. She spends more of her time with other characters as she chases popularity and high status. Elena spends more time with Bonnie and the two appear to be genuine friends.
Caroline: Caroline Recognized That Elena Was Possessed By Katherine
Katherine Pierce dies in Season 5, but not before hatching one last scheme to survive against the odds. The evil doppelganger possesses Elena's body with the help of the Travellers. Katherine assumes Elena's identity and her plan almost succeeds, until Caroline recognizes that her friend isn't who she says she is.
Damon notices Elena behaving uncharacteristically and Caroline deducts that Katherine is inhabiting Elena's body. This highlights the strength of Caroline and Elena's friendship, which remains one of Elena's strongest and most supportive relationships in the show.