25 TV tropes you’ll definitely recognize but are super tired of seeing
By Sundi Rose
The sidekick and best friend
You know the one. The guy or girl who isn’t quite as good-looking as the main star, probably not as funny or smart, and is there to make the lead look good. They aren’t completely without their value and often become fan favorites in their own right. But they will never be able to outshine their friend.
A lead character can’t exist in a vacuum. It would be a super boring drag to watch them wander through life chatting to themselves. If they never had anybody to bail of out trouble, make the butt of the joke, or look good in comparison, we probably wouldn’t watch. The chemistry between the lead and sidekick has to be magical or it just doesn’t work. Think about Lucy and Ethel – you couldn’t have one without the other.
Don’t be mistaken, however. Sidekicks can come in many forms. They can be really competent, cowardly and bumbling, or maybe they aren’t even human. They come in all shapes and sizes and exist for the sole purpose of making the main character look good. It’s always fun when they work as a foil to the hero, demonstrating such drastically different personality traits.
Each person highlights the strengths and weakness of the other, showing the audience what we need to know about each of them. It’s a symbiotic relationship that functions as a way for viewers to learn about them both.
Examples: Batman, Family Guy, and Sherlock