Does Every Story Need a Sidekick?
Deconstructing the Archetype of the Companion Character
Written by April Martin
Sidekicks are often cast in the light of loyalty, comic relief, or quiet support, but do they need to be there? And more importantly, do they deserve to be more than just narrative furniture?
Let’s explore the archetype of the sidekick through a more cerebral, symbolic lens, and ask whether this figure serves a deeper function in modern myth-making and storytelling.
The Classic Role of a Sidekick
Traditionally, a sidekick assists the protagonist. They:
Provide emotional grounding
Offer contrasting traits (humor to seriousness, impulsiveness to calculation)
Fill in exposition or reflect the hero’s growth
Think: Samwise to Frodo, Dr. Watson to Sherlock, Robin to Batman.
But not every hero needs one. And not every narrative supports one.
Beyond Utility: The Sidekick as Mirror, Ghost, or Anchor
In layered storytelling, a sidekick isn’t just helpful. They serve symbolic and emotional functions:
The Mirror – reveals the main character’s blind spots
The Anchor – keeps the hero tethered to humanity
The Ghost – reminds the hero of who they once were or could become
The Sacrifice – becomes the price of progress
If your story explores identity, trauma, or redemption, the sidekick can become the soul at risk.
When a Story Doesn’t Need a Sidekick
Sometimes, a character’s solitude is the point.
A traumatized lone hunter who refuses connection
A villain’s journey into madness, where companionship would undermine the tension
A protagonist who must learn to trust themselves rather than rely on others
In these cases, sidekicks can feel forced, or worse, emotionally hollow.
If the sidekick is only there to ask “What now?” after every plot point… they’re not a sidekick. They’re a crutch.
Choosing the Right Companion Archetype (If You Need One)
If your story does benefit from a companion figure, consider deepening their role by aligning them with archetypal energy:
The Seer – intuitive, mystical, holds symbolic insight, the protagonist ignores
The Innocent – reveals the stakes of violence or corruption
The Shadow-Twin – mirrors the hero’s darker potential
The Redeemer – their presence offers healing or forgiveness that the protagonist can't give themselves
This elevates the sidekick from a device to a force of change.
Reflection Prompts for Writers
What would your protagonist lose or gain without a sidekick?
Does the sidekick serve a purpose beyond plot progression?
Who is emotionally at risk in the hero-sidekick dynamic?
Could the sidekick’s evolution be the true arc of the story?
What does your sidekick reveal about the hero that no one else can?
Final Thought
Not every story needs a sidekick.
But if your story calls for one, make sure they are more than a narrative prop. Let them be flawed, independent, and necessary. Let them live their own arc. Let them reflect something in the hero that the hero can’t yet face.
And if they disappear… let it matter.