Sophie TV Drama exam answer

Notes - The Street 

• Slow and slightly dramatic sounds
• Different camera angles to possibly show emotion, close up shot of the man hammering at work- to show anger
• Medium shots
• 180 degree rule
• Panning
• Sexist- woman not able to fix a broken pipe on her own (needs another man to help)
• Shows a sense of no personal control
• Unhappy lives (within the home and relationships)
• Blame others that they love the most
• Lower/working class
• Children have the main consequences of their parents actions 
• Children look like they're use to the arguments between their parents
• People always want what they feel is better and ideal
• Children for one family are quiet - use to their parents arguing, knows there is nothing they can do
• Children for the other family are louder and answer back- use to the way their parents act and copy their actions
• Car shown as a prop
• Football playing on the TV also shown as a prop
• Loud sound from the TV could show the lack of  control that people now have
• Slow music to show drama
• Blame everything else apart from the real things they should be blaming (mans fault for watching football, when in reality the man who was driving wasn't looking where he was going)
• Casual clothing- lower/working class
• Business clothing - working/middle class
• Religious
• Woman maybe wants something different - exciting, new
• Dad blames the children for them being 'skint' possibly the young girl who gets hit is running away from home
• Don't confront the real problems 
• A quiet street where no drama happens, everybody knows each other (shown within soap operas)
• Music shows suspense when it shows other people who live on the street
• Communities come together
• Greed- possibly why their shown eating eclairs
• Woman shown as feminine (stays at home, does the shopping, stereotypical male (watches football, works on a building site, sits on a designated chair wearing a vest- men shown to have most control and casual, possibly slobbish)
• Anger 
• Dark lighting - something wrong

Exam Answer

In the clip 'The Street' it shows two different families who live within the same area and who's lives follow the same type of path until something dramatic occurs. Both families are what society would class as the average working/ middle class stereotype family, with one family wearing quite casual clothing, t-shirts, jeans and a standard comprehensive school uniform. The other slightly the same but the male of the family wearing a business suit, you can see he is still rather lower class wearing a suit possibly from somewhere affordable than a designer brand that someone who is higher class would wear. 

(Step one) The clip also shows an stereotypical aspect of males and females. It shows how the woman is a stay at home mum, a stereotypical house wife. It also shows her doing shopping and she's unable to fix a broken pipe without assistance, that shows her as a feminine character. The man within the clip is also shown as an archetype of a masculine male. He watches football, works on a building site and sits in a designated arm chair to watch TV, wearing a vest which shows an aspect of a casual, slobbish male and also a sense of control. (Step three) The male shows he has more power than the woman, this makes him the dominant partner with in the family home. 

'The Street' shows how the lady feels unhappy and doesn't have much self control. Due to her having an affair it shows that the underlining troubles and doubt she has are all released in different ways. It shows that she has no personal control, so can't contain her feelings when she gets a slight attraction from a male that isn't her husband. It could also show that she wants something different, something new and exciting from the average, boring day she has regularly. Also greed, that she isn't content and the clip could being showing this by watching the pair eating eclairs that shows not only greed but indulgence too. Or it could just be she is simply unhappy and is trying to find happiness but discarding her troubles.

The clip shows how the parents actions mainly have consequences on their children. Within one family the children are quiet, that their used to they're parents arguing and even though it has an effect on them they know what ever they do won't change anything, so they leave their parents marriage to crumble around them, but this is where the families different. In the other family children are more louder and answer back to their parents, it shows how they copy their parents instead of shying away from the confrontation in front of them.

The clip could show a high percentage of emotion and also along with that blame. After the young girl get hits by the car instead of blaming the reason for the accident, the woman found it easier to blame her husband for something that he didn't have any involvement with. Also the dad within the same family blames his children for the reason they're 'skint', this could be the reason why the girl got hit, she could of been running away from the issue's she has in her home life. People always want what they feel is ideal and that is what I think this clip is trying to show how it's easy to pass blame but not confront the real problems. 

'The Street' doesn't show many props, but there is large involvement with a car and TV's loudly playing a football game and also a chocolate eclair which was shown in two scenes . The clip does express a lot of sound, the most significant sound I felt was the loud football game. It showed it as a diegetic sound and as the volume of the TV increased it showed the lack of control that characters didn't have. The music in the clip is also slow and slightly dramatic, also adds suspense when it shows other people that live on the street.

The clip shows a lot of different camera angles, this could be to possibly show emotion for example there was a close up shot of the man hammering at work, this could be so the audience relate to his anger, aggression and desperation that he feels towards his home life. The other shots used are 180 degree rule, panning and medium shots. The clip is shown with quite dark lighting, possibly to show there is something wrong and to produced more tension which is already being created by the actors dialogue and body language. There hasn't been much editing, with clips placed next to each other. 

Changed parts in pink.

Notes

How does the camera construct/ emphasise assumptions of male and female roles/ traits? 

Shot types

Angles

Movement

Focus/ lighting

Composition

Julian is dressed in masculine clothes, no make up and low scruffy ponytail which is not usually associated with a stereotypical woman in a movie- she is obviously a masculine role in the movie and the one in power due to the bomber/ terrorists ebbing her that are on her side of the shot showing she is the leader and in more power in the room than the man opposite her. Theo is in dark baggy clothes and a stubble which is usually associated with a troubled man- his body is turned away from her which shows he dislikes her or the job she is in; he is not viewing her as a sex object but rather a human being that is almost on the verge of threatening him. The room is bright but it gives an eery atmospher due to the grey- whiteness of the building and the colours of clothing the characters are wearing- they are dullin black and browns which could emphasis they are in a day of danger and loss at the same time. The angle of the shot in the picture gives the impression that in the film it would be 180 degree rule and shows the location and setting of the scene they are shooting. Interestingly Theo is taking up majority of the left hand side of the screen showing his masculinity that would be stereotypically portrayed due to his height and build but the angle of his shoulders portrays that he is almost defeated which then reflects the reason why and emphasises Julian's power. This explains that in this film the woman does not conform to the usual assumption/ stereotype of women- she has the power and air of a man.

This woman is working in a garage fixing motorbikes which gives a masculine personality to her character- this is not what women are usually associated within a stereotypical portrayal of a film, but due to the genre and plot of this film it shows her strength and how she is capable of looking after herself and standing up for herself. However the way she is sitting on the motorbike, the messiness of her hair and the tight revealing clothes, she is obviously being seen through the male gaze; even though she is obviously a strong independent woman, the director is using her to draw in the male audience's attention- she is the sex object and the jobs she does like fix motorbikes- in the modern age is viewed as 'sexy' and a preference of men because it introduces a challenge. The lighting used is some form of spotlight that has been cast in from the right hand side of the shot to emphasise the curves of her womanly shape by casting shadows on the indents and curvature of her legs, bum and waist. The motorbike could be a metaphor for her straddling a man due to the very sexual position she is in. He location is outside and the logo of the company she is working for is in e background which portrays how she doesn't mind getting dirty on the job. Her glowing tan and makeup show her youth and healthiness and living in the sun. Also the woman is the centre of the shot and the close medium shot shows her whole body but shows that she is the centre of attention within this certain scene.

This film is a fantasy drama action type movie. This shot shows the vampires in mass coming out of the water, the costume is dark colours even though they're wet- it shows their power and danger and that they cannot be stopped by anything within the natural world even if they're not. The stances of the actors and actresses are very agressive which reinforces their power and threat within the movie. The lighting is muggy and dim which enhances how they have not brought happiness and excitement into the movie but the danger they bring. There is not much space between the vampires which almost indicate that they are a family, working together in mass- intimate: they are in eachother's personal space. It gives the impression they are unbeatable as they are moving towards the camera so it shows they are unfazed and not scared of opposition. The black of their clothes, their aggressive stances and the location they are in indicates that they are villains. They are moving in a triangular formation which shows the man at the front is in charge of the vampires behind him- probably older and the others are all young new vampires. It is almost like the formation of birds when they are in flight- it gives the impression that they are animalistic as they conform to animal type conventions. Women and men are alike - there is no difference- they all have the same mindset- all have power like a man.

Tv drama exam- Anna Tyler

TV Drama: a definition

A story that is presented in a dramatic way and explores a range of genres, from soap opera to science fiction to costume drama 

A piece of film that engages with the issues of the day in an accessible fashion, i.e. Through believable characters, through fantastic locations or plots

Framework for analysis

Step1: look for significance of (gender, ethnicity etc)

-character 

-behaviour

-story situation

Step2: relationship of power (who is subordinate and who is dominant)

Step3: difference (how are they represented as opposites)

Step4: is this reinforcing or challenging stereotypes, are they acting how we would expect them to act

Four technical areas: 

-camera shots, angle, movement and composition 

-editing

-sound

-mise en scene

Things we analyse and explore within tv dramas:

-construction and representation

-sexuality

-gender

-ethnicity

-social class

-a reflection of reality? 

-is it a marketable product

-influence on society

Key skill requirement:

-Use variety of technical and Symbolic elements at a micro level to create representations at a macro level

-Characters

-Narrative

-Genre

Consumption: how you access tv dramas

-iplayer

-youtube

-tv

How will you be assessed?

-20 marks: analysis of argument

-20 marks: use of examples from clip

-10 marks: use of terminology

Tv drama sub genres:

-teen dramas: this relies entriely on the audience empathising with the story and characters (usually through authentic characters, age-specific situatuions and anxieties, e.g. Skins)

-soap operas: never ending; audiences usually accept these as 'socially realist' and convey a sense of real time e.g. Coronation street

-costume dramas: usually linked to classic novels or plays and offer an alternative set of pleasers to dramas set in our modern world with our own concepts and times e.g. Sharpe

-medical/ hospital dramas: usually deploys soap dram a conventions but play upon our pleasure at witnessing trauma and suffering with a rnage of characters of doctors and patientsand relate to the staff e.g. Holby city

-police/ crime drama: work in the same way as medical/ hospital dramas but substitute the health context with victims and criminal activity e.g. The bill

-docu-dramas: these are set apart by the fact that they dramatise significant real events which usually have human interest, celebrity focus, or political significance e.g. Horoes and villains

7 groups of representation:

-class

-sexuality

-disability

-regional identity

-age

-ethnicity

-gender

Clip: the street representation of social class

Parents fighting

Children affected by the sounds 

Blaming the children

Close ups on the mum and dad and children throughout the clip to make audience empathise with the characters as the expressions are vivid 

Track pan makes the audience follow their movements so it is relating the audience to their emotions

The woman is dressed in tight clothes to emphasis her femininity but is portrayed as the weaker person due to the rough edge and masculinity of her husband. She is shown to be a typical, stereotypical housewife.

When the main pipe bursts and begins to flood the house she is shown to be strong as she tries to fix it but then conveys her weakness as to not being able to stop the flooding main pipe. Could be a metaphor for the way her marriage is falling apart and that she is helpless and will not be able to stop the flood of events that will unravel and ruin her life. 

She has to ask a man across the street to help her out which emphasises the point that women need a man to help them out. He stops the flooding pipe and the close up on their faces emphasises that there is a chemistry between them before they pretty much jump on one another... It helps the audience relate with the build up of sexual tension between them before it breaks free. 

The way the camera tracks across the back of sofas with the rustling of clothes and giggling voices shows that they are having relations with one another. The reveal of a medium shot showing the two of them wrapped up in a sheet highlights that the two of them indeed had relations. Him eating her sandwich conveys the fact of how women are represented as housewives- this woman stereotypically portrayed as she is happy with him taking her own sandwich. 

The close up on their faces and their whispering and sharing a sandwich show how they are happy with being in one anothers company even though it is a blatant affair. Both families argue all the time which shows that both the man and the womean are trying to find an escape from their argumentative and stressful lives- almost taking them back to being teenagers again and making foolish decisions driven by their sexual and inibitious desires. 

A man collapses in the middle of the street and everyone comes out of their homes to help him, people calling an ambulance etc. the use of medium and close up shots show the bond within the community but the man who stays in the car with an awestruck expression on his face is portrayed as out of the circle of the community- selfish and driven by motivation for what will benefit him.

This whole sequence of events is due to the fact that the man is feeling guilty at cheating on his wife and is trying to make a swift escape but knocks over a young girl as he is not watching his surroundings. The man is in shock which is why he stays in the car. Man faints in the street because he witnesses the young girl getting run over rather violently. The community become abusive towards the man in the car who is basically having a panic attack. The girl is badly almost fataly injured and turns out to be the daughter of the woman the man had an affair with. The woman comes round the corner and notices that the man in the car is the man she had an affair with, but rather than blaming him, she blames her husband. The girl was at home with her father which gives the suspicion that she could've run out of the house because her father was having a go at her about something.

The editing between cutting of a close up on the woman's face and a close up on the man's face show that they do not know what to do in their situation. The hectic sound and shouting of men and women add to the chaos of the situation. The editing is fast and tracks movement which is easier for the audience to emphasise with. 

The family that appear first are arguing about money which shows that they are most likely a  lower working class family where the other family are arguing about school which most likely means they are middle to higher working class- the difference in dress of the husband and man the woman had an ffair with is quite drastic as her husband looks quite gruff dressed in jeans and a vest where the man is clean shaven dressed in a suit. This shows the feud between the working classes and how opposites attract when there is friction within their own households. 

The street is stereotypically known to be a london street which the uk audeince can easily relate to as it can be believable and the lighting is a musty bright effect which is usually associated with england due to our cloudy days that are very popular. The location is very middle-working class due to the style and layout of the street. The camera shot that is most common is viewing from the side of the street of which the woman comes from so that the whole scene of the car, girl, man that fianted and people trying to help is clearly seen so that the whole atmosphere can be captured correctly and efficiently. 

Woman is submissive towards her husband but wants an escape into the realism of a childish fantasy that is possible with this man. The fact that she is disloyal but says she is happily married shows that she is contradicting herself with her actions and what she says. 

These notes of analysis show that 'the streets' is a soap opera due to the family drama and relatable mise en scene that is used. 

UK/USA character analysis - Sophie

Pretty Little Liars (American based)

Jenna Marshall

Dresses quite girly, is shown wearing big black sunglasses and using a white stick to help her with her surroundings. The audience would feel sorry for her as she is blind due to being a victim of a prank that went horribly wrong.

Later on the audience would'nt feel any pity towards Jenna, as she gains her eye sight again but pretends she's still blind. She does this so people feel sorry for her and it's also a way she can control situations to a way which suit her.

A mean and controlling character, who is clever so she can gain what she wants. 

Normally shown using a extreme close up shot (so the audience can see the damage to her eyes) and also a long shot (so the audience can see her walking with/without her surroundings) 

Ezra Fitz 

Smart/casually dressed. Wants to achieve and become an author, but is still being successful working as an English teacher. 

Normally shown teaching.

Shown as a caring character that people could trust, but is now being shown as a mysterious man who could have a dark and dangerous part to his personality.

Shown either with a close up, medium or long shot. The audience like the character due to him being nice, but their opinions could change of him as he is now someone you might not be able to trust.

Waterloo Road (UK based)

Barry Barry

Dresses in a school uniform and casually outside of school. Isn't very well spoken or educated, as he uses slang words and fails to actually do any school work. He's manipulative and not a trustworthy person as he scams to get what he wants in life.

The audience would like Barry Barry because even though what he does is wrong, he always seems to do things in a funny way.

Shown either with a medium or long shot, so the audience can see what he is doing when he's doing his scams and deals.

Simon Lowsley

Well educated and dresses mainly in suits as he's a school teacher. He's well liked by pupils of the school as he try's to achieve the best for them but isn't very liked by other staff members as he's determined to become the head teacher.

I think the audience would like him as he try's his best to make a failing school into one that achieves.

Shown in normally a medium shot.

exam- Anna Tyler

30 mins screening x 4
45 min TV drama
45 min Music Industry 
(no break - 2hrs straight)

Representation: a reality- Anna Tyler

What is the relationship to reality?
It is a fake portrayal of reality so that society will admire and aspire to be a celebrity and in the meantime get them to buy lots of products such as makeup's, protein shakes, sports equipment and any other thing that supposedly will make you slimmer, more muscly or more beautiful.

An example would be Photoshopped images of celebrities which is the epitome of the fault of women and men feeling self conscious about their bodies and inferior to the media and others. Celebrities are portrayed to be perfect specimens like a god but in reality they are like us: normal. In truth celebrities probably feel bad about how they feel due to the fact that their whole appearance is changed to fit the media and what it viewed as 'perfect'.

The media conveys to men that they have to be 'buff' and tough to be a man otherwise they do not live up to life's expectations where normal men can vary from the stereotype.
Women have to be slim, flawless, makeup pretty and fashionable otherwise they are not classed to be 'cool' enough.

Notes- Anna Tyler

YOU SPASTICS << advert
reactions towards the advert:
-attitude towards disability
-offensive: detrimental language
-not expected from a national newspaper >> typical tabloid 1987
-the spastics society >> use a pun 'handicap'
-immoral
-'spastic' headline is attention grabbing

Spastics Society is now called Scope

Little Britain - Andy
- not very well presented
-slob
-rude
-overweight
-cross eyed
-slurred speech
-greasy/ straggly hair
- takes the piss out of disabled people's lifestyle >> takes advantage also

Paralympics- Meet the superhumans
-perfectly capable
-united together >> not competing but encouraging
-strong
-brave
-effects their family but they live on and continue as normal
-music is dramatic showing endurance
-cheering from crowd
-respect

Disabilities in TV Dramas
-Jack's daughter in eastenders >> wheelchair
-guy in wheelchair from glee
-flynn from breaking bad >> cerebal palsy
-downs syndrome girl in glee
-jimmy from south park >> wheelchair
-andy from little britain >> fake
-jack carol from britains got talent >> wheel chair

Notes- Anna Tyler

TV dramas
-scripted to reflect the life of their intended audience
-broadcasted in a series
-audience tends to grow with the characters
-audience can relate to issues on screen
-led to believe it can happen in real life
-entertainment

Examples of TV dramas:
-Sherlock Holmes
-Doctor Who
-Casualty
-East Enders
-Coronation Street
-Hollyoaks
-NCIS
-CSI
-The Vampire Diaries
-Breaking Bad
-Supernatural
-Teen Wolf
-Glee
-Little Britain
-Mrs Brown's Boys

Key Words for TV dramas
-Matriarch (female dominant role)
-Patriarch (male dominant role)
-Camera Angles
-props
-costume
-relationships
-language
-shot
-sympathy
-pan
-track
-zoom
-reverse zoom
-villain
-hero
-victim
-Bully
-love/hate

Eastenders
Lola- eye line camera shot to make audience relate, stressed but getting on with life; average teenage clothes; strong character because she fights for what she thinks is right; sympathy due to situation with her child -victim; bully due to beating up a girl around the same age; only got her grandad as family support; no role models for her to lead her life; 'common' speech; typical 'chavy' teenage girl; almost looks a younger version of Kat.

-medium/ long shot are the most frequently used
-flickering back and forth between characters
-actors/ actresses never look at camera so makes it feel as if we are imposing on their daily lives
-no one really seems to work like normal lifestyles

SchwartzFahrer: old woman
-used to old ways and find it hard to adapt
-racist
-rude
-because he annoyed her she started to discriminate against him and pick him out from the crowd
-most likely a widow and cranky at anything in life
-opinionated
-thinks she is right
-selfish
-harshly spoken
-matriarch
-bully/ villain
-made to not like the character

SchwartzFahrer: man
-sympathy
-victim
-eating/ crunch >> snack
-wants to be accepted
-patient
-silent hero
-knows the reaction he is going to get
-clever/smart
-isn't rude back
-respectful

UK & USA TV Drama character analysis- Anna Tyler

Merlin (UK)

Gaius

He is the physician in the castle. He knows about magic and used to practice it himself; this is why he looks after and guides Merlin. He gives him a book that can give him all the spells he’ll ever need. He protects Merlin’s identity and powers from anyone and everyone even under torture. He is the one that spears Merlin to protect Arthur from the evil sorceresses and enemies made by Uther. He keeps everyone in line including king uther and morgana. People look up to him for guidance and help, he always knows the right solution or what to do. However he can even be blinded to the truth through thinking a personnhasnt changed so this is when Merlin steps in to protect him like Gaius does to Merlin all the time.

King Uther

He governs the land of the Pendragon kingdom. Him and his wife were not able to conceive a child so, Uther asked a sorceress to help them; she told him there would be consequences as magic has to find a balance and he agreed. On the birth of his son, Arthur, his wife died from childbirth. However, Uther saw it as a trick by the sorceress and banned sorcery across the nation and if anyone were to be found of using magic they would be killed. He tried to find her over the years but never did. He also cheated on his wife with a sorceress, Morgana is his secret daughter. He ruled his kingdom then on through fear and killed those who opposed him. He is a stern King and always turns to Gaius for his wisdom and help whenever he needs to. Throughout the series he has tried to be killed and also even been manipulated to try and gain power but Merlin was always there to save the Kingdom. Uther always sees his son as the saviour. If he knew about Merlin he would not see another side to it other than he should be sentenced to death. When he died due to battle wounds he made sure he told Arthur that he was proud of the man he had become and should rule it how he saw fit.

The Vampire Diaries (USA)

Katherine.

Katherina Patrova, better known as Katherine Pierce is a vampire and the second doppelganger to exist in the lifetime of the original vampires. She originally comes from Bulgaria where she had a child out of wedlock but it was taken away from her; this is why she ran away to England where she met the original brothers, Klaus and Elijah. Klaus is a hybrid of vampire and werewolf but the original witch cast a spell on him to leave his werewolf side dormant. To break the spell he had to perform a sacrifice which a doppelganger had to be used in: when they found Katherine, she was supposed to be used. Elijah had a kind heart and therefore was vulnerable when he told her of the ritual- she ran away and took refuge with a couple of vampires where she tricked them to feed her their blood so she could change into a vampire. By doing this she would not be able to be used in the ritual and would not die. Unfortunately, Klaus got angry and killed her whole family so when she returned she found their scattered bodies over her homeland. She learned to look after herself. In 1864 she went to America with her new friend Pearl and Pearl’s daughter Anna where they took shelter in the Salvatore home. Katherine knew how to charm a man and soon got Damon and Stefan under her ‘spell’, however when she told Stefan of what she was he was horrified but she loved him so compelled his fear away, whereas Damon did not require any compulsion as he loved her for who she was, but unlucky for him she did not love him. In her selfish ways she wanted all of them to be happy together. The town of mystic falls where she took shelter had a secret council where they tried to track down the vampires. Stefan being naïve gave his father a clue as to who the vampires were. Katherine was taken away that night with all the other vampires, but Stefan and Damon tried to save her where they were shot by their own father due to their betrayal and siding with the vampires. By her exchanging blood with Damon and Stefan they were turned into vampires. She was supposed to be put into a tomb with all the other vampires under the church in mystic falls where they were to be sealed in with a spell, but Katherine had made arrangements with Mr. Lockwood who happened to be a werewolf that she would give him the moonstone in exchange for her freedom. The moonstone had a legend attached to it that it was the spell that bound werewolves by the moon and vampires were weakened by the sun and depending on which species broke the spell, their curse would be broken, which is why it was so valuable to Mr. Lockwood. She was to be known to die in the church- this was to cover her tracks because Klaus was trying to catch her due to her slipping through his grasp many years before when he tried to use her in the ritual. Over the years she watches over Stefan, still in love with him, however when she returns to mystic falls, she finds Stefan has fallen in love with Elena, the doppelganger of Katherine. Jealousy raged her, and she confronted Stefan, only to find out that he hated her guts. Katherine’s façade did not allow Stefan to see that he had hurt her feelings. Even through her feelings for Stefan, her motivations are purely for herself and her well being. This is how she has learned to survive. Stefan and Damon try to lure Katherine into a trap in the masquerade ball but she is already one step ahead of them by making a witch link her life to Elena’s meaning that Stefan and Damon will not touch her. The witch turns on Katherine once she finds out a Bennet witch is involved in the whole incident. Katherine is sealed into the tomb where she was supposed to be for the last 165 years. This way Damon, Stefan and Elena could find out the valuable information that Katherine knows about the original vampires and her history that would lead to Elena’s biological mother. Katherine works her magic on Damon and is able to free herself from the tomb where she ‘sticks her nose’ into everyone’s business where she manipulates everyone for the result she desires yet always seem to end up in the worst situation by the end. By series four she has made an enemy of Elena who is now a vampire, and they have discovered a cure for vampirism- this is what Elena shoves in Katherine’s mouth in the last episode. How is she to cope? Is she going to turn into human Elena? Will she turn herself back into a vampire?

Katherine overall is just a girl that has learnt over time that she cannot trust anyone, but by learning this she lost her friends, how to be friends and most of all how to make friends with people. She has an unrequited love, Stefan that she tries to win over no matter the situation but helps him nevertheless.

Bonnie

She is close to her Grams, who continually tries to tell bonnie that she is a witch. Bonnie starts to experience her powers and turns to her Grams for help. Bonnie has two best friends, Elena and Caroline who she has known since childhood. They all grew up in the town together. When Stefan moves to town, she touches his arm and only feels what she imagines death to be like. Bonnie is a bystander of all the events that play out; witches are always drawn into vampire problems. By helping Elena she asks her Grams to help her with a really strong spell, her Grams dies because of it. From this Bonnie tries to stay out of vampire business but no matter how hard she tries she is continually brought into it: because of Stefan, because of Elena, because of Caroline, because of Matt and Vicky, because of the town’s protection, she cannot help her involvement. There is a series where her ancestors use her to finish their unfinished business with Damon and the vampires in the tomb but that is to no avail. Her ancestors try to give her strength. Bonnie goes in search of her biological mother but finds that because she left bonnie, the ancestors punished her by taking her powers away; nevertheless they work together try and restore her powers. In another vampire problem her mother is turned into a vampire and leaves her again. Bonnie always seems to be the one suffering and having to sacrifice her happiness for that of her friends’.  By the fourth series she is being manipulated by a professor to use a dark source of magic, known as expression to unleash an immortal creature that legend says is to wreak havoc on the world but is hidden with a cure for vampirism. In the process of trying to stop him and trying to keep the guy she loves, Jeremy, alive, she dies in the last episode of the fourth series. However, she does not want her friends to know so tells Jeremy to tell them that she went away to visit her cousins for a while. What will happen now? Will she come back?

Bonnie is a kind hearted girl that is always in the middle of situations. She puts her friends and everyone else’s circumstances before herself. She is the one to suffer no matter how hard she tries otherwise.