Monday, October 10, 2011

The Art of the Sidekick

by Laura Bickle

Sidekicks serve some very useful functions in constructing a story. a sidekick can provide comic relief, prod a reluctant hero along the journey, and serve as an important element of world-building.

I think that a sidekick's chief value is to humanize the protagonist. The sidekick knows things about the protagonist that no one else does, and the protagonist can hold the sidekick in a great deal of affection that he or she is unable to express otherwise. It's an emotionally intimate landscape, one in which protagonist and sidekick have each others' back.

Think about Anakin Skywalker lovingly building C3PO from scrap metal because he didn't have any friends. This shows the boy's genius, and also his capacity for love. As a sidekick to Batman, the many Robins have been privy to all the secrets of Wayne Manor. And we get to see the cold Dark Knight in the role of a father. Samwise Gamgee kept reminding Frodo of his humanity (and second breakfast) in Lord of the Rings. The Lone Gunman showed us that Mulder and Scully were not the most tragic nerds on the block. And we can well imagine that Kitt hauled Michael Knight home safely after too many bullets, babes, or beers.

What about you? Do you have a favorite sidekick from a favorite book, movie, or television program? Why?

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14 comments:

  1. Sullivan McPigOctober 10, 2011 at 10:48 AM

    Well, there's this one salamander in a certain series..... ;-)

    The only other that comes to mind at the moment is the Demon duck from A Nameless Witch (about the only cool thing in the book.)

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  2. Jeffe KennedyOctober 10, 2011 at 10:56 AM

    Sparky!

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  3. Laura BickleOctober 10, 2011 at 11:28 AM

    *Hugs* to Sullivan and Jeffe!

    Hmmm...a Demon Duck sounds pretty darn cool. I may have to check that out to see how that works...

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  4. K.A. KrantzOctober 10, 2011 at 11:47 AM

    The grumpy unicorn in Lackey/Mallory's Obsidian Trilogy for being the curmudgeon to the TDTL protag. Joscelin, Phedre's BFF in Carey's Kushiel's series -- for exactly the reason you name: to humanize the protag.

    Though, most unique and entertaining sidekick definitely goes to Sparky.

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  5. Jeffe KennedyOctober 10, 2011 at 12:08 PM

    Interesting that you peg Joscelin as a sidekick, KAK, and not a hero. Really he's her partner and lover, not a BFF. Regardless of where she goes to satisfy her sexual nature.

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  6. Laura BickleOctober 10, 2011 at 12:39 PM

    You know, KAK, I haven't read those. I'm going to have to add those to my TBR list.

    And Sparky is wagging his tail to say "thank you." ;-)

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  7. K.A. KrantzOctober 10, 2011 at 12:58 PM

    I won't deconstruct Kushiel here for fear of ruining the fun for those who haven't read the series (Jeffe and I can debate this for hours in IM), but our different opinions raise an interesting question -- once a sidekick becomes physically intimate with the protag, are they no longer the sidekick?

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  8. Laura BickleOctober 10, 2011 at 2:21 PM

    Hrm. I don't know that I've ever considered that question, KAK. I suspect then that the sidekick moves into the role of "romantic lead"?

    I'm thinking of Jennifer Roberson's Tiger and Del. Tiger was pretty much the main character, and Del was the surly sidekick. But there was an inkling at the beginning that Tiger found Del to be irresistibly attractive, so I don't think that Del got "promoted" to romantic lead after they got together. But, then again, I'm not sure that she was ever a sidekick to begin with.

    Interesting question. I've argued myself out of my starting position, LOL.

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  9. Jeffe KennedyOctober 10, 2011 at 2:52 PM

    So, I think you simply confirmed the thesis, Laura, that physical attraction/intimacy rules out sidekick. Doesn't it seem the sidekick is always kind of a neuter or not sexually available for some reason?

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  10. phineasOctober 10, 2011 at 2:55 PM

    Speak for yourself, my dears. I am *always* sexually available. *brow waggle*

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  11. Laura BickleOctober 10, 2011 at 3:18 PM

    Hrrrrmmm. That could be, Jeffe. I never intended on Sparky ever having much sexual attraction. I believe that he's told Phin on Twitter that: "Feh. Sex is for *mammals.*" Sparky likes the ladies, but he only wants to cuddle and hog the bed.

    Phin, you might be the exception to *all* rules! LMAO. :-)

    However, the availability thing is an interesting plot point. In Sixteen Candles, Duckie is certainly available to Andie...but Andie doesn't reciprocate. So, Duckie...the would-be-romantic-lead...is relegated to sidekick status.

    I suspect that the key thing in determining whether a character is a sidekick or a romantic lead is the heroine's level of interest.

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  12. Laura BickleOctober 10, 2011 at 3:19 PM

    D'oh. I meant Pretty in Pink. Not Sixteen Candles. Jeez. My eighties movies are all running together in my head, LOL.

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  13. Jeffe KennedyOctober 10, 2011 at 7:48 PM

    I totally followed you. And I agree - it's the hero or heroine's level of sexual interest that defines the sidekick. Phineas is a good example - he's up for anything, but ... eyew.

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  14. Kerry SchaferOctober 11, 2011 at 10:20 AM

    Hmmm. I had thought of Sparky and the cats in Jeffe's novels as more 'familiars' than sidekicks. Phineas is a thing all unto himself, lol.

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