Today, we’re talking about writing sidekick characters, using examples from both the Bible and fictional books and movies. Sidekicks are fun to write, but they aren’t just there to crack jokes… they can actually go much deeper.
Now, a sidekick character, like the other supporting characters we’ve talked about, can cover multiple roles in the story. They can act as anything from a mentor to a comic relief character to a contagonist to a love interest, or anything in between. However, at their heart, they will be the sidekick.
So, let’s take a look at some things that you should think about when you write a sidekick character:
- Truth vs. Lie
Your sidekick is going to believe one of two things—the Truth or the Lie. Just because you intend them to be “funny” doesn’t mean they should be objective to the internal conflict. And determining their moral compass will help define so many things, including their behavior towards the MC.
If you’re not sure if your sidekick should believe the Truth or the Lie, take a look at your MC. A lot of times, the sidekick’s belief will be the opposite of the protagonist’s. So if your MC believes the Truth, the sidekick might believe the Lie, and vice versa.
Your sidekick’s belief might also determine their relationship with the MC. If they believe the Lie, they could be more of a contagonist. If they believe the Truth, they might act as somewhat of a mentor at times. However, that doesn’t always have to be the case, so make sure to look at what your story needs.
In the Bible, we see an example of the Truth in Baruch, sidekick to Jeremiah. While virtually no one else listened to Jeremiah’s prophesies of the coming destruction, it appears that Baruch, Jeremiah’s scribe, was paying attention.
Another character who believed the Truth is Dory from “Finding Nemo.” Marlin, the main character, is quite uptight and anxious much of the time. But as he crosses the ocean with Dory, who is as happy-go-lucky as she is forgetful, he learns to lighten up and take risks once in a while.
An example of the Lie would be John Mark, who was Barnabas’ sidekick in the Bible. At first, John Mark seems very untrustworthy, as he deserted Barnabas and Paul when they needed him. However, he is definitely a Positive Change Arc, as he eventually becomes a reliable man.
In the movie “The BFG,” the giant is an example of the Lie. Trapped by his own fear after a traumatic event in the past, he acts on that fear for much of the movie. It takes a spunky girl named Sophie to show him how to be brave and stand up for himself.
- Conflict
Not every sidekick is going to get along perfectly with the MC. Now, sometimes, they will—sometimes, they’ll be best friends. But, other times, there will be conflict between them.
Depending on how much conflict there is, your sidekick might be more of a contagonist. However, there’s a fine line between the roles of many of these supporting characters, so choose whichever one fits your story.
Whether your MC and sidekick have a little argument or a full-blown fistfight, make sure to include the proper level of conflict between them. Remember, even friends have their disagreements once in a while. A story is built off of conflict, and the MC and the sidekick are no exception.
In the Bible, Paul was a sidekick to Barnabas for the first part of his ministry. During that time, it appears that they had a pretty good relationship. However, they ended up parting ways because of a disagreement over John Mark.
In the book “The Golden Dagger,” twins Dathan and Lanna help a young nobleman named Sterling escape from his enemies, and end up on the run from an entire army. But just because they’re running together doesn’t mean they always get along. There are several times when the twins and Sterling argue about various things, making their journey even more difficult.
- Loyalty
Now, depending on your sidekick’s relationship with the MC, their loyalty to him will vary. But, generally, he will have some level of loyalty toward the MC—after all, they wouldn’t be the sidekick if they didn’t.
The sidekick might even try to hide this loyalty, but it will always end up coming out. Try putting your MC in a tight spot… your sidekick will most likely be right there to help him get out of it. Despite their disagreements—even on matters as detrimental as the Truth and Lie—there should be an undeniable bond between the sidekick and the protagonist.
In the Bible, we see Jonathan as a great example of this in David’s story. If there ever was a motive to be disloyal, Jonathan would have had it. After all, God had promised David the kingdom—which rightfully should have been Jonathan’s. And, on top of that, Jonathan’s father, Saul, was out to kill David. But Jonathan never wavers in his loyalty to David, even helping him escape death.
Edmund in the book “The Boy Colonel” is another great example of loyalty. There were many times in the book when others had forsaken Colonel Nobody, but Edmund stayed. Even when death stared them in the face, Edmund volunteered to join Colonel Nobody in charging it head-on.
- Advice
Whether your sidekick believes the Truth when the MC believes the Lie, or they have some kind of skill the MC doesn’t, or they just look at things from a different angle than the MC, their advice will often be imperative to the story.
When your protagonist is struggling to make a decision or doesn’t know what to do, the sidekick can often be a great source of advice. Even if your sidekick is unlikely to give wise advice, they might surprise you with what they know.
In the Bible, when Joshua and the Israelites had conquered much of Canaan, Joshua’s sidekick, Caleb, came straight to him with a request for land. But instead of just asking for the land, he wisely outlined exactly why he should receive it—and Joshua gave it to him.
Another character with good advice is Dr. Watson. We all know Dr. Watson as Sherlock Holmes’ sidekick, and many think of him as kind of dim-witted when compared to Holmes. However, there are times when Dr. Watson’s more practical, down-to-earth approach proves invaluable to Holmes, who tends to get buried in his work.
- Humor
Not every sidekick has to be funny, but, let’s face it… a lot of them are. Often, the sidekick is the main source of humor in the story. He’s the one to crack jokes—perhaps even in the midst of danger—providing the audience with some laughs.
It’s important to note that this should not be the sidekick’s main purpose for being in the story. If he’s only in there for comedic relief, that’s not a very good reason. Also, he could end up without the ability to be serious, which probably isn’t a great idea. If your sidekick is going to be funny, make sure that he’s also serious when he needs to be. (This will actually make his humor and seriousness more effective.)
In the Bible, we see that John the Baptist is a type of sidekick to Jesus. They aren’t often seen together, but John does say of Jesus “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Though he does preach repentance in a serious manner, John also appears to use some sarcasm during his preaching, especially when dealing with the Pharisees.
Mike Wazowski in “Monsters Inc.” is another example of a sidekick with humor. Throughout the entire movie, he cracks jokes and sarcastic remarks—even when they’re in the middle of running for their lives. His witty humor keeps everyone laughing, but, at the same time, he’s serious when he needs to be.
- Skills
Just because your sidekick is a supporting character doesn’t mean he’s inferior to the MC. However, they are two different characters, which means that each has his own set of skills. Yes, your MC might be better at one thing than the sidekick. But maybe your sidekick is better at something else.
Make sure that neither the MC nor the sidekick are shown as stupid or incompetent. They might have very different skills, but they should have skills. And, often, when the MC and his sidekick have different skills, they work better together and complement each other.
In the Bible, we see that, while Moses was chosen by God to lead Israel out of Egypt, he wasn’t exactly a great public speaker. So, Moses’ sidekick (and brother), Aaron, steps in to do the talking for him.
In the movie, “Big Hero 6,” Hiro has a lot of skills—in fact, he’s a pretty bright kid. Using those abilities, he’s able to give his robot sidekick, Baymax, some skills of his own. However, there’s something that Baymax has that Hiro didn’t give him… compassion and forgiveness. Eventually, it’s Baymax that teaches Hiro that revenge is not the answer.
- Unexpected
Lastly, your sidekick character doesn’t always have to be the typical, funny, loyal best friend of the MC. There are plenty of times when this does work, but I would encourage you to look at all of the options before creating your sidekick.
Just like many of the other supporting characters, the sidekick can be pretty much anyone… a child, an old man, or an animal. Theirs and the MC’s personalities can differ as much as you’d like, making it an even more unlikely friendship. And, during the story, the sidekick can take on the role of anything from a mentor to a contagonist to a love interest.
In the Bible, Barak is an unlikely sidekick to Deborah. After all, he’s a leader in Israel’s army who has a somewhat cowardly disposition, and she’s a prophetess with a firm trust in God and a strong sense of bravery.
In the movie, “How to Train Your Dragon,” Hiccup is the chief’s son in a village of Vikings who regularly fight and kill dragons. And his sidekick? A Night Fury Dragon, one of the most dangerous dragons known to the Vikings.
Here are a few more sidekick characters in the Bible:
- Silas
- Timothy
- Elisha
And here are some sidekicks from fiction:
- Prince Selwyn (“The Terrestria Chronicles”)
- Brotus (“Pendragon”)
- Diana (“Anne of Green Gables”)
- Jonathan (“With Lee in Virginia”)
- Linguini (“Ratatouille”)
- Sancho Panza (“Don Quixote”)
- Barney Fife (“Andy Griffith”)
Comment below your favorite sidekick character!