A while ago, I did a post explaining the different character types and roles. Now, I want to hone in on my personal favorite role. This character never fails to lighten my mood, give me a little smile, and put the story in a new perspective for me. As someone who is constantly trying to be as productive as possible and accomplish as much as possible, I constantly feel like I need someone like this who reminds me that there is a little fun in the world. These characters are a breath of fresh air and a reminder that any situation could always be worse. Yes, I desperately need a comedic sidekick.
What is a comedic sidekick?
This character does not have the main role but supports the protagonist. They typically aid them in any quest that they have and offer help and encouragement along the way. They typically serve as a close friend or some other familiar attachment to the main character. They will be supportive of the friend’s needs. My favorite part, however, is the comedic relief they offer. They are able to crack jokes and tease their friend even during the toughest of trials. They help distract their friends from whatever dangers they are facing, lighten their mood, and give them perspective about the actual severity of what they are experiencing.
Can these characters be dynamic? While they are not always, they absolutely can be. They can sometimes lose their legendary confidence or begin to doubt. They can start to feel serious feelings of love, nobility, anger, sorrow, or sacrifice. This simply moves to enhance the value of their humor and lightheartedness because they know true deepness. These are my favorite sidekicks: the ones who know both sides of the fence. They are capable of powerful sympathy as well as the comfort of a smile.
Some Favorite Examples
One of the earliest experiences I had with this type of character was Fred and George Weasley from the Harry Potter series. This set of mischievous identical twins is constantly making quips, playing pranks, and breaking the rules as creatively as possible. While not as close to Harry as many sidekicks, they always remain on his side no matter the conspiracies against him and one of them even dies in battle for him in the end. They are capable of hard tasks as well as fun ones.
Another example that I always enjoyed was Puck from The Sisters Grimm. The main characters, two sisters, have to battle many evil fairy tale creatures and survive many adventures. Along the way, Puck, a living fairy from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, becomes a friend and even ends up living with their family. While he drives them absolutely crazy, he kept me entertained and engaged with his hilarious pranks and endless need to taunt the two girls. He kept the books real and fun for me.
My final example is Keefe from The Keeper of the Lost Cities. From the get-go, he is spunky, teasing, and lovable, not to mention ruggedly handsome. We learn to feel relieved when he lightens up the heavy experiences Sophie endures. But that is not to say that he is a shallow character. As the series develops and his mom becomes his country’s greatest enemy, he battles some incredibly intense emotions. He runs away several times with misguided feelings about keeping others safe. Just like everyone else, he needs a friend to keep him from losing hope.
Why I chose it
Humor is something that speaks to me in ways other things do not. I have always maintained the belief that in every joke there is an element of truth. I love comedies. So naturally, this type of character appeals to me. They will always place the same old facts in front of you with a new perspective. They make you realize why something is unexpected or how important something is. In the words of The Dead Poet’s Society, “We must constantly look at things in a different way.” These characters provide that.
In addition, when I am following a story filled with heavy emotions or challenging circumstances, someone who gives me a little bit of a laugh is extremely welcome. They make the book feel more inviting and keep me from focusing just on the pain in the story. It is also a great way to keep readers engaged, especially younger ones. I see great value in these characters to change the mood and break up the story in a way that overall makes it more enjoyable for the reader.
In conclusion, my favorite character role would have to be the comedic sidekick. They offer fresh perspective, lighten the mood, and keep me engaged. They are also lovable characters who I attach to and often relate to. Next time you find one of them, pay special attention to how they influence the story and see where their value lies.