The friendship between Alli Bhandari and Eli Goldsworthy formed in Season 12 of Degrassi, after having a casual disdain for each other in the previous seasons.
Friendship History[]
Overview[]
The two became acquainted through Clare Edwards when Clare began to date Eli in Season 10. As Clare's best friend, Alli was always supportive of her romantic relationships, and gave Clare advice when things with Eli grew tense. Alli and Eli meanwhile casually disliked each other at first, but became friendlier with one another through supporting Clare in difficult times.
Season 10[]
Clare is flustered by Eli and Alli can tell.
In Breakaway (2), Alli tries to take Clare's glasses away from her and they end up falling in the street where they are run over by a hearse. An emo looking boy steps out and says he thinks they're dead. As Clare stammers out a sentence about not needing them anymore due to her surgery, Alli's eyebrows raise, as she has seen Clare get flustered over boys before. Alli is excited at the prospect of Clare liking the new boy and teases her. She smiles and says that she's seen that look before on Clare. Clare rolls her eyes and says she has no idea what she's talking about but smiles and tosses her glasses in a nearby trashcan.
In Better Off Alone (1), Clare walks up to Alli and they watch Eli walk off. Clare tells Alli "He's just so... UGH! You know?" Alli replies that she gets it; she's in love with Eli. Alli says she would rather talk about Drew.
In All Falls Down (1), Alli is then seen with Clare, walking into their exam, discussing Clare's recent kiss with Eli. Alli pushes Clare to ask Eli what they are, and makes up the scenario about the dreaded Car Wash Girl. After the advice, they write their exams. Later, when Clare tells both Alli and Jenna she is going with Fitz instead of Eli, Alli and Jenna share confused, and bewildered looks, as Clare explains why. Alli laughs and jokingly asks Clare, "When did your life become West Side Story?"
In Drop the World (1), Eli tries to impress Clare with the Stalker/Angel story being published. He seems manic and is suffocating Clare, so Alli looks disgusted and slightly worried. Eli tries to take Clare away from Alli and the latter gives him an uneasy look. Eli and Alli maddog each other, and Clare decides to stay with Alli and hurries off into school with her, leaving Eli upset. Alli tells Clare that it seems like Eli is getting clingy.
In Drop the World (2), Alli tries to convince Clare to break up with Eli, but she is hesitant to do so. Alli tells her that he is manipulating her and that breaking up with him wouldn't make her a bad person. After Alli was pressuring her to do so, Clare breaks up with him and stays to dance with Alli. When Clare leaves to see Eli, Alli seems annoyed. Later, Clare goes back to the Spring Formal to find Alli at the entrance. She tells her she wants to dance and have fun. Alli tells her that lets have fun, and they both walk back in to the Spring Formal.
Season 11[]
In LoveGame, Clare and Jake arrive and Clare introduces Alli, Sadie, Dave, and K.C. to Jake. Alli then asks Clare if he has met Eli before looking at K.C. who laughs.
In Should've Said No (1), when Clare tells Alli she hates a guy, Alli questions if it is Eli. Clare asks why she can't stop picturing his half-naked body, and Alli says, "Definitely not Eli."
In Nowhere to Run, Alli and Eli attend Jake's party at his cabin. Clare picks Eli over Alli to ride in the car back with Jake after ending her friendship with her.
In In The Cold, Cold Night (1), Alli finally reconciles her friendship with Clare by helping her to finish the edition of the newspaper. When Clare asks if anyone else is going to help, Alli looks away, as if knowing and trying to hide something, and Eli appears, ready to help. When Eli over-reacts to something Clare says Alli looks at him uneasy and he calms himself.
In In The Cold, Cold Night (2), when Clare turns down Eli's invitation to eat lunch with him, Jenna tells her that Clare was being harsh with him, but Alli says that she was doing it for Eli's own good.
Season 12[]
In Come As You Are (1), when Clare tells Alli and Jenna that she kissed Eli before the break, the two girls are excited for her. They convince her with the help of Jake that if he is interested, then he'll kiss her again. At the party, Alli drags Clare away when she is trying to talk to Eli, and tells her to try and have fun.
In Come As You Are (2), at school, Clare is talking to Alli in class about her and Eli's re-first date, when Ms. Oh makes an announcement to the class about Clare starting a co-op today. Alli says to Clare that she'll have to cancel the re-first date.
Alli and Eli smile at each other, proud that Dave was able to take Eli's direction easily.
In Got Your Money (1), Alli and Dave are kissing in front of the school when Eli approaches them and interrupts the two. He apologizes, and Alli says that it is alright. Eli tells Dave that Tristan Milligan will be playing "Jules" in the musical as Romeo's romantic interest. When Dave is having trouble pretending to be in love with Tristan, Eli tells him to think of Alli when acting. Later during rehearsals, Eli and Alli are sitting next to one another and smile at each other when Dave nails it.
In Got Your Money (2), when Dave is at the dance upset with being called gay by the homophobic jocks, he tells Eli that him and Alli were planning on having sex for the first time that night. Eli tells him to go have sex with her instead of worrying about what other people think.
Eli and Alli listen as Clare talks about Asher.
In Waterfalls (1), Alli, Clare, and Eli are walking together to school. Alli and Eli tease Clare about her admiration for her boss, Asher. When Eli tells Clare that everything will be alright with Asher, Alli says that she agrees with him that she is overreacting. The two find it strange that Asher wants to meet with Clare at a restaurant, but they are supportive of Clare.
In Waterfalls (2), Eli finds Alli and Clare hugging each other, saying "Awh, besties," before noticing that Clare is crying. He asks what's wrong. The two make up conflicting excuses, saying that they were talking about "The Notebook" and "Alli leaving." Alli says the convo was too much and she has to go, leaving Eli and Clare alone.
In Sabotage (1), after ending a conversation with Alli, Clare turns and almost slams into Eli. Later, after Clare meets with Jennifer, Clare says she's trapped and Alli asks about talking to Eli. Clare replies that he's one week from opening night of Romeo and Jules and it would just upset him. Alli tells her that he'll be more upset when he finds out she's lied. Alli walks away.
Alli says Clare needs him right now.
In Sabotage (2), Eli enlists Alli's help with planning Clare's birthday party. Alli comments that she is surprised at how cool Eli is about knowing about Asher, but then figures out that Clare hasn't told him that he sexually harassed her yet. Later, Alli pretends to take Clare to a spa, but instead takes her to her secret birthday party. When Mike Dallas crashes the party and makes a comment about Asher, Eli figures out that something happened with him, but Clare refuses to talk. Upset, Eli almost leaves, but Alli stops him, saying that Clare is messed up and that she needs him. He says that she isn't even talking to him, but Alli implores him that he should make her tell him then. Later they are both involved in a fight against the Ice Hounds.
Alli is grossed out by seeing Eli naked.
In Ray of Light (2), Alli and Clare find Eli showering in the girl's locker room with his clothes on, while he is high on MDMA. Eli begins to strip, and Alli comments, "That is more of Eli, then I ever wanted to see!" before throwing him a towel. When Eli points his non-damaged penis to Clare, Alli closes her eyes to avoid looking. Eli runs out of the locker room naked. Clare starts to chase after him and shouts to Alli who looks confused but follows her. Alli and Clare follow him down the halls until he collides with Principal Simpson and hugs him, leading Clare and Alli to freeze and watch with horror. As Eli watches the video yearbook with classmates, Alli can be heard saying Romeo and Jules "was absolutely amazing" and they "did such a good job," and Eli smiles.
Alli receives flowers that are supposedly from Eli.
In Zombie (1), Alli is gossiping about Eli and Clare's relationship with Jenna, recounting what Clare told her Eli said. Alli says Eli "'needed space'" and Jenna asks if he's allergic to happiness and what he needs space from, "the love of your life?" Alli says he needs to get over himself. Connor clears his throat and says he is annoyed that Alli is taking away from his Jenna time. Later, Alli barges in on Connor and Jenna's date at The Dot to tell Jenna that Eli sent her flowers, which she thinks he did to mess with Clare through Eli. They both gasp and Alli says "Oh my God" when Eli then also shows up, saying he went to Alli's house and her parents said she was at The Dot. Alli asks if he's stalking her and Eli denies it, and asks her to explain his identical flowers and note on them which he reads out loud "Would you be my boyfriend? XOXO Alli." Alli says she did not send those to him. Jenna thinks for a moment and figures out that Connor sent the flowers to both Alli and Eli. Connor admits he did and when Alli asks why, he says that they are both sad and lonely. Eli and Alli both share a surprised glance as Connor says they're a perfect match. Eli says he has to get back to his movie because he's on a deadline. Alli puts her flowers on Jenna and Connor's table and gets up to leave without a word while Eli gives his flowers to an elderly woman and heads out.
In Zombie (2), Connor apologizes to Alli for setting her up with Eli and Alli tells him that she really doesn't want to talk about it. He brings lattes for them all and says he is ready to gossip with them. Alli and Jenna say they're all dried up of Eli and Clare gossip but Connor tells them he has some of his own and they get excited.
Alli hugs Eli goodbye.
In The Time of My Life, Alli and Jenna look for dresses in town with Clare. Alli holds up a purple dress and asks if Clare likes it. Clare rolls her eyes and reminds her she's not going to prom. Jenna starts to ask "But what about..." before Clare sternly says "Don't you dare say..." only for the question to be completed by Alli saying "Eli?" Clare purses her lips while Alli clarifies that Eli has send her like a dozen voicemails. Clare confirms but adds that since he wanted space, she's giving him lots. Alli holds up the purple dress and tells her the best way to get revenge is by looking great. Minutes later, Jenna continues their conversation about Eli by asking "What about all the people that want you two together?" Clare responds "What people?" Jenna reminds her that she and Eli are finalists for prom king and queen. Alli crosses her arms and raises her eyebrows at Clare. Clare says "For the last time, Eli and I are done." Alli playfully responds "And for the last time, I don't buy it," before turning back to Jenna.
When Clare's date arrives, she asks how she looks and Alli and Jenna squeal. Clare opens the door and is surprised to find Eli instead of Cliff, dressed in a prince charming outfit, standing in a horse drawn carriage. Alli and Jenna step out onto Clare's balcony and watch in surprise. He clears his throat and tells her, "You said we weren't a fairytale... I'm here to prove you wrong." Alli and Jenna giggle to each other and Clare looks up and rolls her eyes.
At prom, Clare reveals she and Eli are back together when Jenna says she saw them dancing. They high-five. Clare asks Alli and Jenna for sex advice since her and Eli were planning to have sex. Alli says that it might be weird and fast, which worries Clare. When Eli comes over and asks if Clare's ready, Alli playfully says, "Have fun you two!" while her and Jenna do provocative dances. Eli's eyes go wide and as they leave he asks Clare if she told them, and Clare says that she regrets it. The next day, Clare asks Alli to convince her she doesn't have cancer and Alli asks if she has told Eli yet to which Clare responds no. Then at graduation, Eli walks over to Alli and Clare and playfully asks what they were gossiping about. Alli then wishes him to have a safe journey to New York, and hugs him goodbye.
Season 13[]
In Young Forever, Alli excitedly tries to hug Clare when she shows up to Adam's bonfire, but Eli won't let her in case Clare catches something, so he hugs Alli for Clare. Alli comments that is weird.
In The World I Know, Alli asks Clare if she would do anything for Eli, but Clare says it is different for Alli since her and Leo have only been together six months.
In Black Or White, Clare reveals to Jenna and Alli that she has organized a romantic date for Eli, and Clare gushes about how he is coming home for a week, to which Alli comments that's all she's been talking about the past few days. Clare reveals her and Eli haven't been talking as much lately, which is why she wants the date to go so well.
In Spiderwebs, Alli shows up at Clare's house with two coffees. Alli tells Clare that everything will be okay with her relationship with Eli, and convinces Clare to talk to him.
In What It's Like, when Jenna mentions that Eli and Clare won prom king and queen the year before as a reason that it's not far-fetched that she is nominating herself and Connor, Alli says Eli and Clare won because Eli "fixed" it.
Season 14[]
In Can't Stop This Thing We Started, Alli hugs Eli when he comes to visit Clare.
In Firestarter (2), Alli jokes with Clare at the popcorn stand about Eli finding out about the baby being his and suggests he may come through the doors with a dramatic gesture. A couple hours later, Eli runs in and Clare asks what he can do for him, shocked. Alli watches on as Eli repeats the question to her. Clare pulls Eli away from the popcorn stand for a conversation.
In Ready or Not, in The Dot, Eli brings Alli and Clare a large nonfat latte and a cappuccino on the house. Alli remarks excitedly that she can get used to this perk, smiling between Clare and Eli as she says it. Before Eli leaves to check on a customer, he and Clare high five, ready to meet up later this afternoon. Alli turns to Clare and says that they have always been the weirdest couple, high-fiving over a date. Clare corrects her and says it's not a date, it's birthing class, and they high-fived because that's what strictly platonic co-parents do. Alli says she loves Clare but she's delusional: she and Eli will never be friends because it's not possible. Clare sarcastically thanks her for her support and Alli adds that "if history is any indication, you two are like magnets." Clare turns away, frustrated, but Alli continues with "you get in each other's orbits and-" yet is cut off when Clare almost collides into Eli. Alli finishes her sentence saying, "smash... it's inevitable." Eli ducks out of the way, not having heard the conversation while Clare looks annoyed at Alli and responds "not this time" to Alli's claim. Alli rolls her eyes and they walk out. The next day in class, Alli asks Clare how the birthing class went with her "totally platonic co-parent" and Clare mentions how Eli told her that he will always be there for her. When Alli asks why that's a problem, Clare says that because when he said that she wanted to kiss him. Alli smiles and says she doesn't want to tell her she told her so. Clare says it's really bad because they can't get back together. Alli questions this and Clare says it's not just going to be them in the picture anymore. Alli reminds Clare she loves Eli and she can't just take that out of the equation. She reminds Clare that this is coming from someone who doesn't even like the guy that much. Clare is determined to set some boundaries so she and Eli don't slip into old habits. Alli asks if Clare is going to tell Eli not to do anything that makes her want to kiss him and Clare replies that she will if she has to.
In I Wanna Be Adored, Alli takes Dallas, Connor, Jenna, and Drew through a proposed prom idea based on Van Gogh's Starry Night. Alli says her and Clare have planned this prom idea since they were in grade 9. Drew says she obviously doesn't care enough to show her support. Jenna also asks "where is Mama Clare." Drew makes a snarky comment that she's probably off somewhere making out with her baby daddy. Alli tells him he doesn't know that. At the Dot, Alli finds Dallas with his celebration cake since he has got a job playing hockey for the Nippon Paper Cranes in Japan. He notices that she isn't super excited and guesses she's worried about long distance. Alli tells Dallas she knows they can make it work and she's excited for him but her problem isn't with that. He guesses that her heart-to-heart with Clare didn't go so well. She says that she asked her to help with prom but you'd think she invited her to her own execution. Eli overhears as he cleans up a nearby table and makes a confused face. Alli adds that she thinks Clare's moved on. Dallas asks if it's from high school but Alli thinks it's from her. She asks if Dallas knew she ditched her this morning to hang with her boyfriend. She adds that Clare and Eli should just get married and move to some deserted island where they could read each other pretentious poetry. Eli, hearing this conversation, turns around and tells Alli he thought she'd be a bit more understanding. Alli asks if this is about the baby and adds that Clare isn't the first girl in the world to get pregnant. Eli says she isn't Alli asks what and Dallas looks at Eli. Eli pauses and says they lost the baby. Alli is shocked and Dallas says "woah dude. I'm so sorry." Eli says he can't believe Clare didn't tell Alli and walks off. Alli quietly adds her either.
In the cafeteria, Alli and the rest of the prom committee watch Becky and Jonah audition to play at prom. Jenna asks where Clare is. Just after she asks, Clare shows up with five coffees in a cup holder, apologizing for being late because of a long line at The Dot. She comments that being the barista’s girlfriend, you’d think she could skip ahead. Alli bolts up and grabs the coffees from Clare. She tells her to not feel the need to stay because she’s got everything under control. Clare looks at her confused and asks if she doesn’t want her involved because she missed a couple meetings. Alli dismisses that and says she is only trying to be an understanding friend before giving Clare a sweet smile. Clare understands now and asks if Eli told her. Alli’s smile drops and she admits that Eli thought she knew. Clare says she didn’t tell anyone because she didn’t want to be treated differently. After a brief argument about the status of their friendship, Clare angrily walks out of the cafeteria, leaving Alli upset.
In Finally (1), Alli watches with horror as Eli gets down on one knee right after they take prom pictures. She is relieved it isn't a proposal.
In Finally (2), Clare and Eli are with Jenna, Connor, and Alli, sadly sitting on a bench, eating burgers and fries, and talking about how their prom is ruined. Alli is upset that Dallas messed up the boat booking. Jenna says it's not the end of the world, but Alli says it's the end of their world because it's the last night their class will ever be together. Clare says that's not necessarily true and turns to Eli and asks if he still sees his class. Eli says not really because if you aren't in the same place it's hard to stay close. Alli and Eli, along with Dallas, Clare, Drew, Connor, and Jenna, attend prom together. Later, Jenna and Alli talk to Clare about her future with Eli. They tell her that Eli is right behind her and she better figure out what to say. Eli is in the crowd as Alli graduates and he claps for her. After the ceremony, on the steps of Degrassi, Eli tells Clare to join her friends in a conga line, bidding Degrassi farewell, and Clare hops in line next to Alli.
Trivia[]
- Eli is the only boyfriend of Clare's that Alli didn't kiss.
- They both have an interesting relationship in regards to one another. Eli easily hugs Alli, but Alli finds these hugs awkward. They have bonded while teasing Clare about Asher. In many cases, Alli gives Clare advice on her relationship with Eli and though most tend to be encouraging or positive, sometimes Alli has a negative response toward Clare's relationship with Eli. Overall, she supports the two of them together because they are "inevitable," according to Alli.
- They are both friends/on good terms with Clare Edwards, Dave Turner, Jake Martin, Katie Matlin, Connor DeLaurier, Jenna Middleton, Tristan Milligan and Mike Dallas, and were good friends with Adam Torres.
- Eli had a conflict with Alli's ex-boyfriend Drew Torres.
- Eli also used to have a conflict with Alli's boyfriend Mike Dallas.
- They are the two people closest to Clare Edwards.
- Both have fought a member of the Ice Hounds.
- Both took part in the fight that took place in Fiona's loft.
- They were once set up together by Connor so that they would both stop being sad as a result of their recent break ups/failed relationships. Connor also didn't want Alli's newfound free time to eat up at his Jenna time.
- They both know what Asher did to Clare.
- Alli has seen Eli naked in Ray of Light (2).
- Both had a dislike of Luke Baker and Marisol Lewis.
- Both were affected by the deaths of Campbell Saunders and Adam Torres.
- They were both members of the French Club.
- They both made their last appearances in Finally (2).
- They both appeared in 100 or more episodes: Alli (162) and Eli (113).
