The friends and helpers of the main hero. They can be almost any type of hero playing a secondary role, a normal character observing the action, or Plucky Comic Relief—sometimes all three. Typically they are a Foil to the hero, and this is often underscored by their dramatically different appearance.
Sidekicks often get themselves into trouble, so the hero can rescue them. They also give the hero or Mr. Exposition someone to explain the plot to. In the finale, they may line up against the Evil Minions. (The reason why they are called sidekicks and not the Good Minions is part tradition and inertia, and part the differences between the two relationships—because the hero and sidekick both are heroic, reciprocal bonds of loyalty and friendship are far more likely than between the villain and his minions.)
Sidekicks are almost never older than the main hero.
In Comic Books, Sidekick Graduations Stick: the "graduation" of a former sidekick into an independent hero in their own right is one of the few categories of changes that tend to avoid being reversed in the long run. However, before that graduation you'll see them get stuck with a lot of dead ends, like Hero Harasses Helpers and the Sidekick Glass Ceiling, though they rarely gets hit with Never Be a Hero. But if the hero bites the dust or otherwise ends up out of action, they're the number one candidate for a Legacy Character. (if it sticks)
Contrast the Deuteragonist, a second character on equal footing with the protagonist. May overlap with Love Interest. See also Duo Tropes and Servant Tropes.
Subtropes:
- Ascended Fangirl — A hero's fan who becomes their sidekick.
- Bastard Understudy — A villain's sidekick secretly planning to betray their master.
- Battle Butler — A fighting sidekick who is also employed by the hero as a servant.
- Best Friend — Heroes often cite their loyal sidekicks as these.
- Brooding Boy, Gentle Girl — A kind and caring female character is the sidekick to a troubled male character.
- Bumbling Sidekick — An incompetent sidekick who makes the hero look better.
- The Caretaker — A sidekick who dedicates themself to taking care of someone else.
- The Champion — A sidekick who dedicates themself to getting the best for someone else.
- Chessmaster Sidekick — A sidekick who is actually manipulating events.
- The Confidant — A sidekick who is the only person the hero confides in.
- The Conscience — A sidekick who acts as the voice of reason to the hero.
- The Consigliere — The most trusted advisor to a powerful leader.
- Cowardly Sidekick — A sidekick who is cowardly, to make the hero seem braver.
- The Creon — A leader's sidekick who would not want to be in charge.
- Damsel in Distress — A secondary female character who exists to be rescued.
- Damsel Scrappy — A particularly disliked damsel.
- A Day in the Limelight — When a sidekick becomes the main focus of the story for an episode or two.
- Dead Sidekick — The sidekick dies, motivating the hero.
- The Dragon — A villain's sidekick.
- Girl Friday — The hypercompetent female sidekick working behind the scenes for a male hero.
- Housewife — A woman whose entire life revolves around her husband and the care of his house.
- Hypercompetent Sidekick — A sidekick who is better at what they do than the hero.
- The Jeeves — An immaculate butler sidekick.
- Kid Sidekick — A sidekick who is a child.
- The Lancer — The second-in-command foil to The Leader.
- Lancer vs. Dragon - When The Lancer fights The Dragon.
- Muggle Best Friend — The non-powered sidekick to a powerful hero.
- Non-Human Sidekick — A sidekick who is not human.
- Fairy Companion — A fairy who is a sidekick.
- Gratuitous Animal Sidekick — An animal sidekick.
- Robot Buddy — A robot sidekick.
- Snarky Non-Human Sidekick — A sarcastic sidekick who isn't human.
- Talking Appliance Sidekick — A sidekick who is a usually inanimate object.
- Virtual Sidekick: An AI (not a robot) serving as a sidekick.
- Non-Player Companion — A video game sidekick who is not controlled by the player.
- Number Two — The primary sidekick to a powerful leader.
- Older Sidekick — A sidekick who is older than the hero.
- Overshadowed by Awesome — A sidekick who looks weak in comparison with an overpowered hero.
- Platonic Life-Partners — Sidekicks often live closely with their heroes despite not being romantically involved with them.
- Psycho Sidekick — A less morally righteous sidekick who takes care of unpleasant business for the hero.
- Reckless Sidekick — A sidekick whose reckless tendencies get them into situations they must then be rescued from.
- The Reliable One — A secondary character who can always be relied upon to get things done.
- Romantic Wingman — A sidekick who helps out with courtship endeavors.
- Rude Hero, Nice Sidekick — When the sidekick is more polite than the hero.
- Sarcastic Devotee — A sidekick who mocks the hero despite being deeply loyal to them.
- Sassy Secretary — A mouthy and sarcastic secretary sidekick.
- Satellite Character — When a character is wholly defined by their relationship to someone else, common syndrome among sidekicks.
- Science Hero's Babe Assistant — A Science Hero has an attractive woman as an assistant.
- Secret-Keeper — A sidekick who knows a big secret about the hero.
- Silent Partner — A sidekick who doesn't say anything.
- The Squire — The sidekick to a knight.
- The Storyteller — A common role for sidekicks is to ensure the hero's story is passed on.
- Supporting Protagonist — A sidekick who is the POV character despite the story not being about them.
- Support Party Member — A non-fighting sidekick to adventurers.
- The Starscream — A villain's sidekick who makes no secret of their disdain for the villain and plans to usurp them.
- Deck of Wild Cards: All of the villain's sidekicks want to overthrow them.
- Sycophantic Servant — A sidekick who demeans themself to uplift the hero.
- Token Black Friend — A Black sidekick without their own character arc.
- Translator Buddy — A sidekick who has to explain what the hero means all the time.
- Undying Loyalty — A sidekick who is consummately loyal to their hero.
- Vile Villain, Laughable Lackey — Villain sidekicks tend to be goofy and less serious than their employers.
- The Watson — A sidekick who exists to ask questions on behalf of the audience.
- Yes-Man — A sidekick who never contradicts the hero.
