The Rise (and Reign) of Iconic 2000s Friendships On-Screen
From Blair and Serena to Seth and Ryan, the early 2000s gave us TV friendships that defined a generation. Here’s why those bonds hit different — and still do
Nostalgia Queen 
This image was created with the assistance of DALL·E
Let’s face it: if you didn’t dream of having your own One Tree Hill crew or secretly wanted a friendship like Seth and Summer (yes, it counts), were you even a teen in the 2000s?
TV back then didn’t just give us drama — it gave us relationships, especially the ones that weren’t romantic. The ones that made you say: “That’s my person.” 💖
🎀 They Were Complicated, Just Like Real Life
From Pretty Little Liars to The O.C., 2000s besties weren’t all rainbows and pinky promises. They fought. They schemed. Sometimes they even betrayed each other (looking at you, Gossip Girl cast). But that’s what made them real. We saw friendships crack and rebuild — and that taught us something more than any health class did.
🎬 Platonic Love Was Front and Center
Remember when shows actually let us invest in deep, layered friendships instead of rushing to pair everyone off? Supernatural gave us Sam and Dean — siblings, sure, but also best friends. The Big Bang Theory let nerdy bonds shine. And Friends? Well, that’s the blueprint.
These weren’t filler relationships — they were the emotional core.
💬 They Talked — Like, Really Talked
There was no need for a “deep talk” filter in 2008. Conversations between characters like Brooke and Peyton (One Tree Hill) or Rory and Lane (Gilmore Girls) felt like the heart of the episode. Long, emotional dialogues were the drama — and we lived for it.
📺 Friendship Was the Main Character
Before ensemble casts became a thing for algorithms to push, 2000s TV was already doing it. You couldn’t imagine Gossip Girl without the complicated bestie energy of Blair and Serena. Or The Vampire Diaries without Elena’s ride-or-die trio.
Friendship was the main plotline — and it was enough.
Why It Still Matters Today
In an era of solo glow-ups and antihero arcs, those old-school friendships remind us what connection looked like before DMs and TikToks. They gave us ride-or-die energy, passive-aggressive hugs, and the kind of loyalty that came with a monologue in the rain.
So if you’re still texting your BFF, “We are so Blair and Serena,” just know: you’re not alone. You’re just living in the golden glow of 2000s friendship — and honestly? That’s iconic.
xo,
Nostalgia Queen 👑
2000s & Beyond
