Line #78 Main/EnsembleDarkhorse


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2	%% NOTICE
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4	%% The correct capitalization for this trope is "Ensemble Dark Horse", not "Ensemble Darkhorse", as was determined by this ATT thread:
5	%% https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/query.php?parent_id=99601&type=att
6	%% Please do not modify it through a custom title.
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19	[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ensembleluna.png]]]]
20	[[caption-width-right:350:[[VisualPun The one on the left.]]]]
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22
23	->'''Character creator:''' If we play our cards right, we could have a whole fandom on their knees producing a mountain of content for a character that has less than five lines of dialogue!\
24	'''Intern:''' Maybe even less?\
25	'''Character creator:''' Oh! I like you!
26	-->-- WebVideo/ColeyDoesThings, [[https://youtu.be/6L3vJg3JMno "how popular characters are made"]]
27
28	When a relatively minor or undeveloped character gains a fanbase all out of proportion to their role in the work.
29
30	In horse racing, a "dark horse" is one with little or no racing history, i.e. an unknown quantity. Because gamblers would be "in the dark" about its chances to win, they would be less likely to place a bet on it. The phrase entered mainstream culture largely though politics, where a "DarkHorseVictory" describes a situation where a lesser-known candidate does much better than expected in an election.
31
32	By extension, an Ensemble Dark Horse is a member of the cast (anything from a non-lead secondary character to a OneShotCharacter), who becomes [[PopularityPower unexpectedly popular]] with the {{fandom}}. Contributing factors include [[PeripheryDemographic who]] and [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff where]] the work's fanbase is, as well as what the other characters are like in comparison. For example, a quirky one-shot can shine when the protagonist is TheEveryman, while TheTeamNormal is more relatable when everyone else can fly and shoot lasers from their hands. At times, relative character flatness actually ''helps'' win the base: fans can more easily project themselves into the work through that person if they have no strong characterization to get in the way.
33
34	The writers or producers may be tempted to {{Retool}} the work's premise to [[BreakoutCharacter make the Ensemble Dark Horse]] [[SpotlightStealingSquad more prominent]]. Sometimes this works, but it usually doesn't: moving a supporting character into TheProtagonist's position is hard to do well. If the writers "adjust" the character to fit into a conventionally heroic role, this often [[BadassDecay removes the unconventional traits]] that gained the character a following in the first place. However, if they ''don't'' do this, the traits that were appealing in a secondary character become grating and unpleasant when showcased by the protagonist.
35
36	However, it's still good business for a work to feature its popular characters, even if they weren't intended to stick around. Thus these characters are prone to becoming a RecurringExtra or getting ADayInTheLimelight (depending on how important they were before). If the dark horse is an antagonist, the writers may decide to have them perform a HeelFaceTurn in situations where the only other option is being killed by the protagonists. However, if the series doesn't have an end planned, it's more likely that they'll just [[ExitVillainStageLeft escape]].
37
38	If the dark horse ''does'' become an important character, they're a BreakoutCharacter. If a character gets an increased role but still stays a supporting character, then they're an AscendedExtra. If they have a fanbase despite only appearing in one or two scenes in the entire work, they're both a dark horse and a OneSceneWonder. See also AdaptationalBadass, MemeticBystander, LowerDeckEpisode, ADayInTheLimelight, and UnpopularPopularCharacter. Contrast TheScrappy, a minor character who gains an unexpected ''hatedom'', and the CreatorsPet (the writers like the character, but the viewers do not). Can lead to the DracoInLeatherPants version of MisaimedFandom, where the minor character's fanbase is doubly unexpected because the author wrote them to be unlikeable. The natural extension of this is the SpotlightStealingSquad.
39
40	Compare CultClassic, for ''works'' whose fanbase is significantly larger than the work's quality, budget, or influence would suggest; compare ''and'' contrast BaseBreakingCharacter, where the fanbase splits between those who love the character and those who despise them.
41
42	Part of the SlidingScaleOfCharacterAppreciation.
43
44	Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease The real world isn't a story with characters that could potentially make it better.
45
46	''Although this applies to individual characters, as a YMMV item, it should not be listed on character pages. This seems counter-intuitive, but character pages are meant to list tropes audience members can see in the work in question, not fan opinion expressed outside of the work. Also, please do not list characters until [[Administrivia/NoRecentExamplesPlease a month]] after their introduction. This is to ensure that the character remains popular in the long run.''
47
48	[[noreallife]]
49
50	----
51	!!Examples:
52
53	[[index]]
54	* EnsembleDarkHorse/AnimeAndManga
55	* EnsembleDarkHorse/ComicBooks
56	* EnsembleDarkHorse/ComicStrips
57	* EnsembleDarkHorse/FanWorks
58	* [[EnsembleDarkHorse/AnimatedFilms Films — Animation]]
59	* [[EnsembleDarkHorse/LiveActionFilms Films — Live-Action]]
60	* EnsembleDarkHorse/{{Literature}}
61	* EnsembleDarkHorse/LiveActionTV
62	* EnsembleDarkHorse/{{Music}}
63	* EnsembleDarkHorse/MythsAndReligion
64	* EnsembleDarkHorse/ProWrestling
65	* EnsembleDarkHorse/{{Theatre}}
66	* EnsembleDarkHorse/TabletopGames
67	* EnsembleDarkHorse/{{Toys}}
68	* EnsembleDarkHorse/VideoGames
69	* EnsembleDarkHorse/VisualNovels
70	* EnsembleDarkHorse/WebAnimation
71	* EnsembleDarkHorse/{{Webcomics}}
72	* EnsembleDarkHorse/WebOriginal
73	* EnsembleDarkHorse/WebVideos
74	* EnsembleDarkHorse/WesternAnimation
75	* EnsembleDarkHorse/OtherMedia
76	[[/index]]

Context Main / EnsembleDarkhorse