This week: Creating Unforgettable Sidekicks Edited by: Kit  
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Who is your favourite fictional sidekick or ally? What do you like about them?
A good sidekick or ally can be of great value, both to the hero and to you, as a writer.
This week's Action/Adventure Newsletter is all about those important secondary characters. |
Who is your favourite sidekick or ally? Some heroes fare best on their own. Some have no choice about their solitude. They may have to go on a mission to rescue their loved ones, or find themselves in a post-apocalyptic landscape, with everyone else gone.
For every lone hero, though, there is a Batman who needs their Alfred, a Frodo who’d be lost without their Sam. Sidekicks and allies have a crucial role to play – and they aren’t just there to back up the hero, they often have their own unique place in the narrative.
Sidekicks can offer comic relief. They can balance the hero’s strengths and weaknesses. They provide emotional support. They may challenge the hero’s beliefs. They help the main character grow by offering an outside perspective or contrasting personality.
So what makes a memorable sidekick? Well, first of all, you want to avoid creating someone one-dimensional. A sidekick or ally should be more than just ‘the funny one', or ‘the loyal one’. It is helpful if they have skills or traits that complement those of our hero, sure. In the DragonLance novels the powerful warrior Caramon makes a formidable team with his twin brother Raistlin, who is physically weak, but a powerful mage. They are not the usual ‘brains and brawn’ set of characters – Caramon is loyal but not stupid, and Raistlin is physically weak, but probably the most accomplished mage who ever lived in that fantasy world. But magic comes at a high cost, and Raistlin benefits greatly from Caramon’s care. And Caramon needs to be needed.
In order to make your readers care about your sidekick, then, give them their own backstory and motivation. Make them more than just a plot device. What are their personal stakes?
What are their flaws? Do they have any quirks? What makes them relatable? Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings is brave despite his fear. People can see themselves in that.
Chemistry between the hero and their sidekick is essential. Contrasting personalities can create tension, or humour, or both. Good dialogue is essential here – it should feel natural and easy, making it clear who these characters are and what is the nature of their bond (either existing, or new and growing).
Sidekicks can provide the emotional depth the hero might lack. They can be the moral centre or offer wisdom the hero has overlooked. They can challenge the hero’s worldview. For example, if your hero is focused solely on defeating a villain, the sidekick might prioritize saving innocent lives, forcing the hero to rethink their approach.
The best sidekicks evolve in their own right. They might become more independent over time, proving that they can stand on their own. They face their own challenges, separate from the hero’s. They may contribute in unexpected ways, proving the value of their own skills.
They don’t always have to be the hero’s best friend, either. They can be a reluctant ally, who initially disagrees with the hero but later comes around. They can be a morally gray character who has their own agenda, creating an interesting tension throughout the story. They can even be a non-human or fantastical creature. Depending on your setting, the opportunities are endless.
Whenever you write action sequences, make sure the sidekick is actively involved, not just a passive observer. Let the sidekick’s unique skills (or weaknesses) impact how the action unfolds. Depending on how the story is written, you can even use the sidekick’s perspective to add variation to action scenes. Maybe they’re the one who saves the hero, or discovers an important clue during the chaos.
Not every sidekick stays for the whole story. Their departure or sacrifice can elevate the stakes or emotional payoff. When done right, a sidekick’s exit can serve as a major turning point. I personally don’t tend to have the heart to do this, and feel that it shouldn’t be done just for the sake of it, or for the shock value, but there are times when it can work. It just has to make sense for your story.
All in all, a good sidekick or ally can be of great value, both to the hero and to you, as a writer. They can help you shape your main character. And they can also be plain good fun to write.
Wishing you a week filled with inspiration,
Kit
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Wishing you a week filled with inspiration,
The Action/Adventure Newsletter Team
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Action/Adventure: September 10, 2025 Issue [#13339]
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