We’d all like to imagine that we’re the protagonist of our own life story, the misunderstood complex hero on our tumultuous journey, the daring lead on the quest for greatness.
I’d been living my life under this impression for some time until I looked in the mirror one day and realized…
I am the Sidekick in my own life story.
Shocking, I know. Confusing? Let me explain. Perhaps you will recognize yourself in this article.
Protagonists and, it’s no coincidence, the people I usually befriend, tend to be complicated people, effortlessly brilliant, understatedly beautiful, the subject of many romantic poems and desires, that sort of thing. Everything I wanted to be, of course, but could never accomplish the way they did. So I settled on being loud and hilarious to attract attention and, thus, the Sidekick in me emerged.
To further clarify, I don’t identify with the brilliant, extremely competent female sidekicks that are largely overshadowed by less competent male heroes (a handy dandy explanation to make your blood boil.) The Sidekicks I identify with are the much more classic Plucky Comic Relief Sidekicks, who have a number of other strong qualities and characteristics that are pretty easily recognizable. We are, more often than not:
- Funny (generally sarcastic, quick-witted, and goofy)
- Cocky to mask our crippling low self esteem
- Jealous of the protagonist but a loyal, good friend
- Prone to comedic meltdowns and freakouts
- Virgins
I’ve come to terms with my own sidekickness, although it definitely takes some getting used to, especially as a woman. Most of your classic, plucky sidekicks (Ron Weasley, Robin, Pippin and Merry) are men, probably because society expects women to be Damsels in Distress (although Scrappy Damsels are getting more popular) and being a Sidekick deliberately rejects that.
It can be hard being a non-male Sidekick, especially if you suffer in the romance department because you suspect boys aren’t attracted to sidekicks. Fear not, however, for many Sidekicks have risen to greatness and beyond, changing lives and rising to fan favorite status! Our time will come.
