Line #17 Main/OneShotCharacter


1	A one-shot or one-off character is a character who appears in only one episode of a series, after which they are never seen again. Very common in WalkingTheEarth and various [[IndexOfTheWeek Of The Week]] shows. LongLostUncleAesop from a VerySpecialEpisode is one example, as is the GirlOfTheWeek for any hero who suffers the CartwrightCurse. In a movie, the one-shot can be anything from a SpearCarrier to a OneSceneWonder.
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3	Line numbers and importance to the story don't matter: A one-shot character can be the focus of an entire episode, or just be a BitCharacter. The defining trait is that they show up once and disappear afterward.
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5	Sometimes a one-shot becomes [[EnsembleDarkhorse so popular]] they get TheCameo later in the series, or they become a [[AscendedExtra recurring extra]], or even a [[BreakoutCharacter full-blown cast member]]. Infrequently, what seems like a one-shot may actually be a [[ChekhovsGunman Chekhov's Gunman]].
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7	The opposite would be RegularCharacter. See also RecurringCharacter. The video game equivalent is the UniqueEnemy, which is an enemy that only appears once in a game. [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused]] with OneHitpointWonder.
8	%% Please do NOT add examples; we don't need any, since this is such a universal concept.
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10	!!Types of character that are frequently one-shots:
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12	[[index]]
13	* ArcHero: A prominent co-lead for an episode or series installment, then dropped afterwards.
14	* TheCameo: A character's only role is making a brief appearance.
15	* CameoCluster: A whole bunch of one-shot characters in a particular segment or episode of a work.
16	* CelebrityCameo
17	* ContinuityCameo
18	* CrossoverCameo
19	* DroppedAfterThePilot: Characters introduced in a show's pilot who are [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome forgotten about]], [[PutOnABus phased out]], or even killed off for the rest of the series.
20	* EnsembleDarkhorse: Minor characters that are beloved by the audience.
21	* GirlOfTheWeek: One of the main characters gets a one-shot love interest.
22	* LongLostUncleAesop: A one-shot character appears solely to provide the episode's moral.
23	* MonsterOfTheWeek: The series frequently or exclusively uses antagonists who only appear in one episode.
24	* OneSceneWonder: The character only has one brief scene, but becomes one of the most memorable aspects of the work.
25	* RedShirt: A character is killed shortly after being introduced, solely to highlight the danger to the main characters. Very rarely missed.
26	* SpearCarrier: A character shows up only to say a line and then disappear.
27	* TragicOneShotCharacter: The one-shot character gets killed off in their single appearance and their demise affects the protagonist.
28	* VictimOfTheWeek: Every episode deals with a different person being killed or suffering a misfortune
29	** VillainPossessedBystander: The person suffering also becomes the antagonist for the episode.
30	* WoobieOfTheWeek: Each episode has the main characters help a new person into turning their luck around.
31	[[/index]]

Context Main / OneShotCharacter