Bonnie Bennett as "Lisa Turtle"

CW's The Vampire Diaries TV series ended in March (2017). The show ran for 8 seasons and I watched every single episode. Why? Bonnie Bennett.

Bonnie Bennett, is a fictional character played by the gorgeous, Kat Graham. The book series (like the infamous Twilight book-turned-cinematic trilogy) was eventually made for the screen. The small screen, in this case, when sexy vampires were still all the rage.

There is no doubt, that Bonnie was my favorite character. I found her incredibly relatable and truly the most interesting woman on the show. She was full of magic and power (literally as a witch) and amazingly beautiful, yet she was portrayed time and time again as the sacrificial lamb.  Seriously, she had more near death and actual death experiences than anyone on the show, all at the expense of helping others.

Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson (CW's The Vampire Diaries TV Show creators) may have had something to do with casting Bonnie Bennett as a black woman.  In the Vampire Diaries books, Bonnie's character is described as white.  In fact, all the Bennett witches/warlocks who came and went, over the show's lifespan (except one, I think) were cast with African-American actors. Kat Graham was born in Switzerland and her heritage is of Jewish and Liberian descent. 

Still, I couldn't help but identify with Bonnie. She was the only long-term black character on the show and I gravitated toward her, because, yes, she looked like me and because she was the underdog, which is how I often see myself.

In real life, the singer, actress and fashionista was engaged to fellow actor, Cottrell Guidry--but they split in 2014.  Bonnie didn't have much luck in the love department either.  I would often refer to her as the Lisa Turtle (SAVED BY THE BELL, LARK VOORHIES) of the group.  The "Lisa Turtle" of the group simply means she is the prettiest and most stylish but never gets (to keep) the guy. Ahem, Bonnie's love interests:

Jeremy: He left to train as a vampire hunter (never returning). 

Jamie (Season 3) played by hottie, Robert Ri'chard: Murdered. 

Enzo: Murdered.

Once, the show's central character, Elena, (Nina Dobrev) left the show, Bonnie, got a bigger role which involved a love affair with a B character (Enzo) only for him to be unnecessarily murdered. But, get this, even in her grief, she goes on to save every body!!! She literally saved everyone at the show's finale!

This really bothered me because the many plots, over eight years, had always made her so slightly insignificant. She was a constant martyr, and not to mention, hair and make-up staff never got her weave right!  In the end though, like, on the VERY LAST EPISODE EVER, she was given essentially the starring role (even after Elena awoke from her Sleeping Beauty curse).  Why did Bonnie Bennett fans have to wait to the finale to see her be the big deal she had been all along?  

Thanks Vampire Diaries  for making me wait eight years only to see Bonnie end up single and alone...but with all the power in the world.

P.S. Bonnie and Damon would have so hooked up while they were trapped in the prison world, just sayin'!  

http://www.mtv.com/news/2371344/damon-bonnie-vampire-diaries-friendship-goals/