Choosing one's friends can be difficult. People change over time so it's impossible to predict whether they will still be just as great as when they befriended someone else. And when supernatural shenanigans enter the mix, it becomes even more challenging to build lasting friendships. The Vampire Diaries is the proof of that.
The show has seen the characters fight evil multiple times, fall in love (also multiple times), and form and break friendships. Some of the heroes were more able to stay close with their friends while others struggled to do so. That doesn't change the fact that fans would love to befriend some characters even though they might not have always been the best friends to others on the show.
Would Love To Be Friends With: Caroline Forbes
When it comes to choosing between Elena, Bonnie, and Caroline, Caroline seems like the best person to hang out with. Especially once she became a vampire and a better person. Caroline is the type of friend any girl would have a lot of laughs with. She likes to have fun, is loyal and kind-hearted, chatty, and helpful. She strikes friendships easily since her charisma makes it hard to reject her.
Would Rather Avoid: John Gilbert
John Gilbert was Elena's biological father but most of the time, the fans agree he wasn't the best parent. The reason for this was John hated all vampires, even the good-hearted ones. He was responsible for killing Anna and thus ending one of the more popular romances on the show between Jeremy and Anna. John turned things around when he sacrificed his life to save Elena in the end but he won't still be winning any popularity contests anytime soon.
Would Love To Be Friends With: Stefan Salvatore
Stefan might not have been so popular as his older brother but many fans loved him anyway. When he had his emotions switched on, Stefan could be moody and brooding but he had a lot of positive traits as well. He was kind, attentive, and loyal to his friends. And since he wasn't a party person, every friendship he built was deep. Stefan is the kind of person his friends could rely on even in a crisis.
Would Rather Avoid: Kai Parker
Being friends with someone who murders people without blinking an eye would never be a good idea. Some fans liked to dislike the villain Kai but most of them would gladly get rid of him for everything he did.
Kai's worst deeds included killing his sister Jo at her wedding even though she was pregnant at the time. He was also the one responsible for Elena's curse that kept her asleep as long as Bonnie was still alive.
Would Love To Be Friends With: Lexi Branson
Even though Lexi didn't have a lot of space on the show, she instantly became one of the fan-favorites. Who wouldn't want to have a friend who would travel a long way just to cheer them up on their birthday? That's exactly what Lexi did in the first season when she went to visit Stefan. Unfortunately, Damon killed her in the same episode. But Lexi's kind nature, loyalty, and sense of humor all make her a great potential friend in either death or life.
Would Rather Avoid: Mikael
Mikael made even Klaus seem all that more sympathetic. And considering the bad things Klaus had done, that speaks volumes. Mikael was strict, prone to get angry fast, he had no problem with hurting other people, even those who offered to help him. For example, when he woke up from his slumber, he fed on Katherine. Mikael would be the party killer, not the person others would be excited to see.
Would Love To Be Friends With: Damon Salvatore
Thanks to Damon's charisma and a sense of humor, many fans liked the older Salvatore brother the moment he first appeared on the show. Even though Damon didn't always behave like a good guy, he still became one of the greatest fan-favorites.
As a friend, Damon can be very loyal and outgoing. But he can also be unpredictable, depending on his emotional state. Still, he became a significantly better person over time so he deserves a shot at friendship.
Would Rather Avoid: Tyler Lockwood
Tyler had both better and worse moments on the show. But most of the time, he wasn't as sympathetic as other main characters. Tyler struggled with controlling his emotions; he acted before thinking. He could also be incredibly rude to other people, he didn't treat his girlfriends or friends in the best way, and was downright arrogant at times. Tyler had a few friends but it would be difficult to get along with him more often than not.
Would Love To Be Friends With: Katherine Pierce
Katherine was one of the villains the fans grew to love despite everything she'd done. It's true that Katherine liked to manipulate others and was dangerous. But she also had a snarky, ironic sense of humor that warmed her to some of the fans. She knew how to enjoy life, was smart, and seemingly ready for everything. People appreciated Katherine's lively nature in contrast to Elena's milder (someone might even say boring at times) character. Plus, Katherine had a killer fashion style.
Would Rather Avoid: Sybil
It's interesting to see that even though the fans liked Katherine despite the way she manipulated people, most of them disliked Sybil for doing the same. Like a siren, Sybil was able to control the other characters, even vampires. And she used this power to a great degree. One of her most heinous deeds was killing hundreds of people and eating them. During her appearance on the show, Sybil did zero things that would make her likable, someone people would want to be friends with.