Top 10 Best Teen Drama Friendships

Though TV storylines have progressed in many ways, we still don’t see a lot of male-female friendships that don’t end with the two characters ending up together romantically. One great example of this is seen in “The Vampire Diaries” with Bonnie and Damon. Despite the fact that these two definitely didn’t get along in the earlier seasons of the show, this witch and vampire ended up having a friendship that had many rooting for them over some of the more romantic pairings. They’ve both made major sacrifices for each other, risking their own lives in the process.

You’d be hard pressed to find a group of teenage girls who have been through more together than the Liars. They were brought closer together when one of their own went missing, and spent the remainder of the show trying to survive being terrorized by a variety of different people while they attempted to solve the mystery of what happened to Alison. They’re bound together by the massive secrets they share, but beyond that they also take the time to treat one another just like friends in the real world do when times get tough.

There may not be a more wholesome pairing on our list than these two. While many female friendships on TV are full of cattiness and moments of conflict, for the most part Rory and Lane are steadfast in their kindness to one another. Despite how close she is with her mother, Rory always makes room for Lane in her life and often goes to her first with big news - like her first kiss or when she slept with Dean for the first time. They share a love for music, junk food and town activities and are always ready to step in and help the other when they need it.

There are some friends who never let a girl come between them… but Pacey and Dawson don’t fit into that group. These old friends have plenty of conflict over the show’s six seasons, primarily over their mutual love for Joey Potter. Despite this obvious cause for a rift though, the two friends always come back to each other. Their personalities are entirely different, with Dawson being more introspective and slow to act and Pacey being more impulsive and bold. While their old childhood friendship may have been forever changed when girls came into the picture, it’s clear they still care about one another.

It’s hard to pick our favorite “Glee” friendship because there are so many contenders. While we love the pairing between Sam and Blaine, we couldn’t help but pick Brittany, Quinn and Santana AKA the Unholy Trinity. Their relationship definitely isn’t simple and they’ve gone through their ups and downs, at times cutting out one member or another. They’re definitely competitive and can be straight up cruel when the occasion calls for it. But their performances as a trio are unforgettable, and we appreciate that they’re willing to reunite if only for the sake of the music.

The kids of “Degrassi” sure go through a lot of teenage drama, encountering pretty much every high school cliche and after school special situation you can imagine. But Manny and Emma start out with a strong friendship at the beginning of the series that maintains throughout the duration of the show despite the many hardships they both face. They deal with bullying, strict parents, issues with alcohol and mental illness. While their personalities may differ and they experience different levels of popularity, these two stay together through thick and thin.

Brooke and Peyton may vacillate between being friends and frenemies, but in the end they always remember that it’s hoes over bros. Lucas definitely manages to come between them on more than one occasion, but when things really get tough (like you know, when you’re being held hostage by your fake brother on prom night?) they’re going to be there to protect each other. In later seasons, they were no longer competing over boys, and in fact Brooke ended up being the godmother to Peyton and Lucas’s daughter, who they bestowed with her name.

Male friendships don’t get enough credit, but one of the best examples in recent memory has to be Scott and Stiles from “Teen Wolf”. These two were inseparable from a very young age, but their bond was strengthened when Scott was turned into a werewolf at the beginning of the show’s run. They started the McCall Pack together and throughout the series used their differing personalities to overcome so many different obstacles. We can’t even count how many times they saved each other’s lives, but they still found time for moments of levity as well.

Buffy may be The Chosen One, but she wouldn’t be able to accomplish anything without her besties by her side. Xander and Willow are both integral members of the Scooby Gang, and support Buffy as she tries to rid the world of evil. They both bring their own skills to the table, be it Willow’s computer skills and witchcraft or Xander’s sense of humor. These three share a deep love and devotion for one another that spans the entire series and overcomes countless interferences. If they hadn’t all made it to the end, we’re not sure we would have been able to cope.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Seth Cohen & Ryan Atwood
“The O.C.” (2003-07)

Jenna Hamilton & Tamara Kaplan
“Awkward” (2011-16)

Aimee Gibbs & Maeve Wiley
“Sex Education” (2019-)

Anne Shirley & Diana Barry
“Anne with an E” (2017-19)

Kevin Arnold & Paul Joshua Pfeiffer
“The Wonder Years” (1988-93)

While Blair and Serena are definitely more adversaries than friends for much of “Gossip Girl’s” run, their love for each other always prevails in the end. The series kicks off with the former best friends being estranged after Serena returns home from a mysterious absence from New York, but as the series progresses the two alternate between being close and outright feuding. The thing is though, when Blair and Serena are on the same team, they’re a force to be reckoned with, and no amount of drama can get in the way of that.