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Misused: Breakout Character

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Spyspotter Master Spy from Spying on you Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Dancing with myself
Master Spy
#1: Aug 4th 2015 at 9:23:13 PM

Many examples on this page seem to be popular main characters that started out as main characters. That is not this trope, this trope is for a minor character whose popularity gave him or her a bigger role. The worst section has to be the Animated Films section. Especially the Kung Fu Panda example, which uses the character's prominence in FANWORK to justify their entry here.

Rjinswand Since: Apr, 2015
#2: Aug 5th 2015 at 4:29:40 AM

I have a possibly heretical idea.

How about we merge Breakout Character and Ensemble Dark Horse? The reason is that the main symptom of being an Ensemble Dark Horse is... becoming a Breakout Character. That's because the companies and creators usually listen to their audience, and if a character becomes unexpectedly popular, they usually try to cash in on that. So why not just merge the two? Thoughts?

edited 5th Aug '15 4:31:06 AM by Rjinswand

RavenWilder Since: Apr, 2009
#3: Aug 5th 2015 at 7:02:44 PM

That page lists way too many alternate versions of the same idea.

When a character gets a larger- but still supporting- role because of the fanbase, that is simply an Ensemble Dark Horse (which they also are even if they don't get any increased role). Ascended Extra is when a character gains any sort of increased role regardless of the character's popularity (or lack thereof). When a character simply takes over the existing show, see Spotlight-Stealing Squad.

I think Ensemble Dark Horse should be kept seperate, since it's a fan reaction trope that won't necessarily be mirrored by the story's creators, but it does feel like there must be a way to streamline all of this.

Rjinswand Since: Apr, 2015
#4: Aug 7th 2015 at 6:30:12 AM

That page lists way too many alternate versions of the same idea.
Wow, thanks for bringing that to my attention. Actually, Spotlight-Stealing Squad is a bit different ("a specific character hogging the spotlight when the story is supposed to be about a group of equally important characters"). But Ascended Extra is scarily similar.

I feel that we have Ascended Extra ("background character gets bigger role over time") and we have Ensemble Dark Horse ("background character gets more love from fans than can be expected") — and then we have Breakout Character which is essentially "Ensemble Dark Horse becomes Ascended Extra". I'm not sure if it counts as a duplicate trope or not, though.

I think Ensemble Dark Horse should be kept seperate, since it's a fan reaction trope that won't necessarily be mirrored by the story's creators, but it does feel like there must be a way to streamline all of this.
Hm, you got a point. Then I'd suggest to limit Ensemble Dark Horse only to those examples that don't become Breakout Character/Ascended Extra.

edited 7th Aug '15 6:30:39 AM by Rjinswand

RavenWilder Since: Apr, 2009
#5: Aug 7th 2015 at 9:44:11 AM

That is a good point. If the fans' love for them translates into more focus from the creators, then they're no longer an Ensemble Dark Horse.

Jokubas Since: Jan, 2010
#6: Aug 7th 2015 at 10:49:25 PM

[up][up] Hmmm, "Ensemble Dark Horse becomes Ascended Extra" actually sounds like a really good way to sum this thing up to me. It makes it sound a bit redundant, but it also gives it a space to sit in.

edited 7th Aug '15 10:50:27 PM by Jokubas

shimaspawn from Here and Now Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: In your bunk
#7: Jan 1st 2016 at 1:26:03 PM

Locking as part of New Years Purge.

Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick
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