How Do You Write a GREAT Sidekick Character?

Writing a sidekick character can come with a lot of creative freedom. Where your protagonist or hero may have a rigid characterisation, a sidekick can complement them in many different ways. Are they a life-long friend, a reluctant ally, or even an animal?

As the name suggests, their main role is to assist the protagonist (or perhaps antagonist). As such, a sidekick can be equally as crucial to story development as those that they accompany.

Despite not being at the center of the story, they often have an important role that can’t be filled by the hero. This could be as much as having a power that the protagonist doesn’t. Or it could simply be bringing some comedy and lightheartedness to the script. A sidekick can exist in any genre as long as they are a close companion to the protagonist.

So let’s discuss the key aspects to consider when writing a sidekick character. We’ll also look at some traditional examples seen in cinema.

Why Have a Sidekick Character?

A sidekick is a specific role different to a secondary character. They can be another protagonist or a supporting character. Either way, they are easily identifiable through their relationship with a particular character. 

The key question to first ask yourself is does your story need a sidekick? Make sure it’s appropriate, justified, and clearly adds something to your film.

A common reason to have a sidekick is to have someone for the protagonist to voice their thoughts to. This way, there is no need for monologues or internal dialogue.

This allows them to be a link between the audience and the main character as they supply information that allows the audience to understand the nuances of the protagonist and the plot.

• For example, Dr John Watson brings the audience into Sherlock Holmes’ world and questions all his deductions on the audience’s behalf.

Of course, it’s not justified to have a sidekick purely asking questions and rambling off exposition. They are also there to elevate the protagonist. This could be by helping them or acting as their foil. 

So think carefully about whether your protagonist needs someone to play off of or if they work better alone. The sidekick character must be something that adds to the story itself and not just smooths its execution.