History Main / EnsembleDarkhorse

By extension, an Ensemble Dark Horse is a [[EnsembleCast 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.

If the dark horse ''does'' become an important character, they're a BreakoutCharacter. If they have a fanbase despite only appearing in one or two scenes in the entire work, they're also a OneSceneWonder. See also AdaptationalBadass, AscendedExtra, 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.

Part of the SlidingScaleOfCharacterAppreciation

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 the kind of character). 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]].

When the dark horse ''becomes'' an important character, they're a BreakoutCharacter. If they have a fanbase despite only appearing in one or two scenes in the entire work, they're also a OneSceneWonder. See also AdaptationalBadass, AscendedExtra, 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.