It might go without saying that characters can make or break a story. In fact, for many of us, it’s why we read a book, watch a movie, or play a video game – the characters in it.
Surprisingly (or at this point, perhaps not surprisingly,) often it’s a side character or a villain who becomes a fan-favorite. The Minions in Despicable Me, Puss-in-Boots in Shrek 2, or K2SO in Rogue One. In my own Sword of Dragons series, Kailar was an instant fan-favorite!
In fact, there are plenty of cases out there where a side character ‘steals the show.’ But does that mean they should get their own standalone story? Can supporting characters carry their own narrative?
Ultimately, the answer may be “It depends on the character,” or perhaps even, “It depends on the writer.” But for the fun of it, let’s take a look at a couple of examples of both failures and successes. Be warned – these are mostly subjective, and what I think of as success or failure might not be the same as what you do, and that’s okay. Feel free to express your thoughts and opinions in the comments!
Those Who Fell Short
I’ll be the first to admit, when Shrek 2 came out and I first heard Antonio Banderas voicing Puss-in-Boots, I thought it was perfect! I saw it with a friend, and we instantly turned to one another and at the same time said his name in his accent, and then cackled in the theater (which earned us a few curious looks from other patrons.)
Naturally, when it was announced that Puss was getting his own movie, I was excited! And while I never saw it in theaters, I immediately bought the DVD, went home, watched it…and wished I’d rented it first.
I have no doubt there are many out there who are screaming, “Are you crazy?? That was a great movie!” And the box office and Rotten Tomatoes score would agree with you. But for me, it was…shallow. Uninteresting. The story was unengaging to me, and while the cliches that Puss played to in Shrek 2 worked for a side character, the writers did little to expand the character beyond cliches in the standalone.
Honestly I remember very little of the movie, mostly because of this. I have only watched it once, and based on reviews and fan ratings, maybe it’s worthy of a re-watch (I mean, I own it, so why not?) But for me, this is a side character who didn’t work on his own.
The Minions are another example of something that fell short, in my opinion. While Box Office tickets say one thing, reviews tend towards agreeing with me (with a 55% on Rotten Tomatoes.) These were hilarious characters, and for a while, I was honestly obsessed with them! I thought they were the best part of the Despicable Me movies (not to say those movies were bad without them, I really enjoy them!) and, again, was excited for their standalone.
Thankfully, I didn’t buy this one, and ended up watching it on Netflix. It suffered from a different syndrome – gag syndrome. Not gag as in sick, but gag as in one innane joke after another. And while those slapstick-esque jokes worked for side characters in Despicable Me….not so much in a movie that is nothing but that.
And for an honorable mention – Ghost Facers, of Supernatural fame. Just…no. Why anyone thought that would make a good show is beyond me…
Those That Worked
A slightly different source, Deadpool started as a villain in the Marvel comics, though he eventually grew to be a beloved antihero. It was, therefore, a massive disappointment when his character was horribly written in the Wolverine Origins live-action movie (though let’s face it, out of all of the X-Men movies, that one was just all around bad.)
Thankfully, Ryan Reynolds believed there was something to be had for the Merc with a Mouth, and DP got his standalone debut. Deadpool was such a popular movie that it inspired studios to try more rated R super hero movies (and thankfully, did Wolverine justice in Logan.)
Why did Deadpool work in a standalone? Because he was more than just a cliche (though he certainly uses those to great effect.) While the gags that DP employs are fantastic, and his breaking of the fourth wall is sometimes derided by viewers, the character himself has a deep and interesting backstory that takes everything beyond the apparent shallowness of the surface story.
There’s a slew of other Marvel-based IP recently where MCU side characters were given their own shows, and at least in my opinion, every single one of them has worked well so far. I chalk that up to superior writing – those running the show of the MCU certainly know their stuff. (Argue with me if you like, MCU has proven themselves through reviews and box office numbers.)
Another wildly popular spin-off is Torchwood, in which the side character Jack Harkness joins an ensemble cast ‘stuck’ on Earth in the same universe as Doctor Who. The show certainly had its bad episodes, but overall I enjoyed it, and to this day, there are many loyal fans (just go to any Doctor Who or Sci-Fi convention to see!)
What Do You Think?
What are your thoughts, readers? Do you agree or disagree? Are there other examples of ones that worked or didn’t work you’d like to share? I’ve no doubt I missed a lot!
And do you think Kailar from the Sword of Dragons should get her own story someday? (Not that I’m planning one, but I am curious what you all think.)
Thanks for reading!
-Jon Wasik
A Writer at Heart 