Elena Gilbert may be the main character of The Vampire Diaries but that doesn't necessarily mean she is the most likable. Although she is often labeled as comionate and caring by other characters, the Petrova doppelganger demonstrates a selfish streak that continuously causes harm to her friends.
Many of the Mystic Falls gang, including Bonnie Bennett, Caroline Forbes, and Matt Donovan, suffer because of Elena's actions throughout the series. Elena cares for her loved ones but she isn't always a great friend.
Not Apologizing For Her Actions Whilst Her Humanity Was Turned Off
Elena becomes a vampire in Season 4 and, after the tragic death of her brother Jeremy, goes on a brief, humanity-less blood binge. The newly turned doppelganger attacks her friends, kills an innocent person, and terrorizes her classmates until the Salvatores' intervene.
Elena regains her humanity but refuses to say sorry to Caroline for her behavior. In contrast, Caroline immediately apologizes to Stefan after she recovers her humanity in Season 6.
Forgiving Damon For His Treatment Of Caroline
Damon initially arrives in Mystic Falls in Season 1 as a charismatic but sadistic series antagonist. The vampire attacks Caroline Forbes early in the season and continues to manipulate her with compulsion before trying to kill her.
Elena discovers bite marks on her friend's body and urges Stefan to intervene, yet disregards Damon's abuse of Caroline in future seasons. Caroline shows an understandable hesitation towards her friend's romance with the older Salvatore brother, though Elena shrugs it off.
Choosing Stefan Over Bonnie
Bonnie's life is turned upside down by vampires in Season 1. Her Grams dies after opening the tomb and she is attacked and kidnapped by vampires beforehand.
This drives a wedge between Elena and Bonnie. Elena continues to pursue a relationship with a vampire, despite the danger it places her and her friends in. Bonnie states that she doesn't want to make Elena choose, yet Elena subtly makes her decision by staying with Stefan.
Reminiscing With Matt On Their Double Date
Elena and Matt's pre-series relationship is explored in Season 1's "There Goes The Neighbourhood." The former lovers go on a double date with their current partners, Stefan and Caroline. Elena spends the majority of the night reminiscing with Matt about their relationship, to the upset of Caroline.
Both Elena and Matt fail to notice how upset Caroline is. Stefan steps up to comfort her, foreshadowing their future friendship and romance.
Asking Bonnie For Help After Her Mother's Transition
Bonnie continues to suffer because of Elena throughout The Vampire Diaries. In Season 3, Damon turns her mother Abby into a vampire to break the Bennett bloodline and save Elena's life after she is held hostage by Elijah and Rebekah.
Bonnie leaves town to be with her mother and spend some time away from her friend. Elena reaches out but only to ask her magical help once more as Alaric struggles with his supernatural dual personalities.
Not Noticing Bonnie's Death
Bonnie perishes whilst bringing Jeremy back to life in Season 4, sacrificing her life for Elena's brother. Elena is oblivious to the death of her best friend. The doppelganger is preoccupied with her new relationship with Damon and pacified by Jeremy's excuse that Bonnie is traveling the country.
Bonnie remains dead for the entire summer without Elena noticing. The newly turned vampire is more concerned with her immediate life, displaying her magnified self-centered nature.
Not Noticing Stefan Was Missing
In addition to overlooking Bonnie's death, Elena is oblivious to Stefan's true whereabouts throughout the summer in Season 5. Although she is troubled by strange dreams about her ex-boyfriend, Elena is distracted by her new romance with Damon.
Stefan remains trapped in misery after Silas locks him in a safe and throws him into the quarry. Stefan dreams of Elena rescuing him but his former lover never comes to his aid.
Making Caroline's Grief About Her
Elena displays an off-putting knack for making every situation about her throughout The Vampire Diaries. This trait is intensified when she becomes a vampire. When Caroline's mother Liz dies in Season 6, the doppelganger fails to listen to her friend and constantly brings up her own experiences instead.
Elena may have good intentions but she can be a selfish friend who hurts more than she helps. Stefan comes through for Caroline once again and pulls her back from the edge of villainy in the knick of time.
Keeping Vicki's Death A Secret From Matt
Each of Elena's friends suffers from her decision to date vampires, including her ex-boyfriend and best friend Matt Donovan. Matt's sister Vicki is turned into a vampire by Damon in Season 1, before being staked to death by Stefan after she attacks Elena.
Elena keeps Vicki's death a secret from Matt and allows him to believe that his sister abandoned him. Matt eventually learns the truth after Caroline discovers Vicki's body.
Trying To Kill Bonnie And Caroline
Elena switches off her humanity in Season 4 and goes on a brief rampage that almost results in the deaths of her friends. Elena and Caroline come to blows, with Elena gaining the upper hand before Stefan's intervention. After Bonnie is named prom queen, the vampire tries to kill her, though she is easily repelled by Bonnie's magic.
ittedly, Elena isn't herself without her emotions. Nevertheless, she almost directly murdered Bonnie and Elena, demonstrating that she can be a terrible friend.