Donkey, annoying sidekick to Shrek, has nothing on me. Yeah, he talks too much, is stubborn as a mule, and breaks out in song without warning. I can have all those same attributes on a good day.
From childhood, I’ve always considered myself a “sidekick personality.” Not the leading lady, not the babe. Maybe just bec I’ve always been at least a little rotund… and funny. I’m a natural-born problem solver with way too many ideas, and I’m just indulgent enough to let my protagonist take off on a stupid, unwinnable adventure. I’m always all in. I never stood a chance… I’m a sidekick through and through.
“Here, hold my purse!” says the protagonist.
In this month of love, I thought I’d look at the friendships at the center of a Main Character/Sidekick relationship, and think about the heavy lifting the sidekick can do in terms of plot and character. What traits does a sidekick need to have on their resume to get the gig?
I don’t usually teach actual writing – but since I’m a writer myself, I explore writing techniques, and as a rule share everything little thing I learn with you. Not unlike Donkey.
Sidekick Traits
#1 Be a friend or become a friend of the MC.
They should MATTER to each other. No matter how much goes wrong, or how bad things get, there must be a real and believable friendship.
- Lillian (Maya Rudolph), the bride and best friend to Annie (Kristen Wiig)(Bridesmaids)
Lillian (Maya Rudolph) is there for Annie (Kristen Wiig) in Bridesmaids
- Donkey & Shrek
- Piglet & Pooh
Piglet helps Pooh understand how important he is, at the end of the day
#2 Contrast the MC
Sidekicks are meant to highlight the MC strengths and weaknesses by being opposite of the MC. There are lots of combinations that might work: chatty/quiet, confident/insecure, jaded/optimistic, etc. The choice is not made simply to put the MC in relief, but to put the operative character trait – the trait that is driving the story/the conflict – into relief. If it is your character’s naivete that drives her choices, make sure her sidekick is cynical, worldly, sophisticated.
Buzz Lightyear needs “reality” explained to him. We learn as he learns
- Buzz Lightyear (Toy Story) was clueless to Woody’s down-to-earth leadership
- Bender (Futurama) is cynical, irresponsible and a hard drinking robot to Fry’s naivete and natural “followership”
- Lane Kim is a rebel, lives for pop-culture, and is the hometown girl to Rory’s bookishness & ultimately her wordliness (Gilmore Girls)
Gilmore Girls’ Lane Kim makes Rory seem cool and approachable
#3 Be an Ally
Above all, the sidekick supports the MC. She can go to battle for the MC or be the cheerleader – encourage her to overcome fears or doubts – or help the MC solve problems.
As long as the sidekick doesn’t overshadow the MC – i.e. steal the plotline – he or she can also be on the team, taking orders from the MC.
Spock’s logic can make Captain Kirk feel more human, warm, even animalistic.
- Spock
- Lane Kim (Gilmore Girls)
#4 Further the plot
The main reason to have a sidekick is bec the MC has to have SOMEONE to talk to so we know what they’re thinking and planning. Another role… the sidekick’s own talents and ideas can further the plot – directly, as in, they help the MC, and indirectly, as in they get into trouble and the MC must rescue them.
Genie furthers the plot, explains the world rules, and in the end makes Aladin a truly selfless hero, when Aladin chooses to rescue Genie
- Genie in Alladin
- Wilson in Cast Away
#5 Give Perspective
Help the MC see the world in different way and thereby grow and become a better person. If the MC wears the white hat, then the sidekick could be more of a “gray hat” i.e. be more nuanced, shadowy or doubtful.
Scandal’s Huck gives Olivia (Kerry Washington) perspective on morality. Do the ends justify the means? Can violence and power be used against evil people?
- Huck in Scandal
- Piglet’s “Silly bear” in Winnie the Pooh.
If the hero/heroine is an antihero, the sidekick will often be good, pure, unassailable, in order to encourage the protagonist to become an improved version of themselves.
#6 Make expository dialogue less obvious
Thank god Hermione Granger is a know-it-all Muggle, or we’d all have to study the History of Magic, Potions manuals and Witches & Wizards trading cards to know all that we need to know to enter into the wiazrding world of Hogwarts, and understand its rules and characters enough to understand the plot. We’re all muggles, and Hermione is our loveable – fly below the radar – expositional tour guide.
Hermone is our muggle tour guide of the magical world and ways
- Hermione Granger
- Donkey
#7 Be interesting, weird, comic relief, background without outshining
All of the above. Think how varied, interesting, funny, memorable and loveable these characters are. They can, and must, shine… just not outshine.
Create your sidekicks precisely – to serve the protagonist in all ways. Mix in a bit of each: dimensionalize the MC’s greatest flaw and characters traits, someone to kick ass and defend when needed, to cheer and coach the MC. To problem solve. To illuminate and further the plot. To carry us muggles into the magical world. They have a big job to do, so let them be fun and fantastic!
See you in the FB group! Join us, if you haven’t already.
Dwayne tries to outshine everyone. His true value is in his inability to rise above his own shortcomings.