We all love and recognize the protagonist of a show. They may come in superhero form to one’s everyday paper salesperson. But we always disregard the great #2. Let’s examine a few iconic sidekicks.

Sidekicks have personalities that are usually strikingly different than the main counterpart. Nevertheless, sidekicks are always loyal to the main character. This loyalty comes in varying degrees depending on the personalities of the characters, but there’s always that short but sentimental conversation between the two after a harsh obstacle that reminds the audience of why this duo is so dynamic.

Of course, there’s always the quirky but very loyal one. These are the Dwight Schrutes of the show. They are clumsy, have weird habits, and are always the victim to pranks done by the main character. They are always the most picked on and can be pitied at times. One of my favorite sidekicks of these characters is Charles Boyle from “Brooklyn 99”. He is the more aloof, clumsier version of Jake, yet they have such a sibling-like bond. Boyle seems like the younger brother who always looks up to Jake, the older brother, no matter what difficult situations they find themselves in. I love these types of characters because of their undying loyalty to the main character, which is something many should value in a friend. 

There’s also the confident sidekick. These are the Brooke Davises of “One Tree Hill” and Kourtneys from “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” sidekicks. They are often more outgoing than the main character and can pull the main character out of their shell. When the main character gets in a slump (as they always do), the great #2 brings them back up again. Similar to the aloof sidekicks, they will always defend their best friend. A branch of this category is probably the Cristina Yang type characters- smart, stoic, but gives the best advice. They may not be as confident as the teenage sidekicks but they are definitely the mom friend in any situation. For cartoon lovers, Brian from “Family Guy” offers a sarcastic twist to a great #2.

There are many more types of sidekicks, but these are the two most found in teen TV. Although the main character is always the center of the show, it would be incomplete without their trusty sidekick.