By Lucie M. Winborne, ReMIND Magazine
If we’re honest, being a sidekick sometimes seems like a pretty thankless job. A lot of hardship and sacrifice with someone else always taking the glory. But where would our heroes be without those whose job it is to have their backs?
Although, being a sidekick sometimes involves challenging your boss. Cato Fong, Chinese manservant of Inspector Jacques Clouseau in The Pink Panther series, doesn’t stint when it comes to keeping his boss vigilant against the threat of enemy attack. While his efforts typically result in the large-scale destruction of Clouseau’s apartment, civility is always restored with the ring of a telephone. “Inspector Clouseau’s residence. For you. Chief Inspector Dreyfus.” Of course.
Eight-foot tall, hairy Wookiee Chewbacca, copilot of Star Wars’ Han Solo (who saved Chewbacca’s life by refusing an order to kill him), is said to have been inspired by producer George Lucas’ Alaskan malamute dog. His speech is unintelligible to humans, but he’s more than a “walking carpet,” as Princess Leia initially dubs him. Throughout the Star Wars books and movies, he is a proven warrior, technologically savvy, fearless, strong and unfailingly loyal — all attributes of a phenomenal sidekick.
A quieter but equal devotion is displayed by Tonto, the Native American partner of John Reid, a.k.a. The Lone Ranger (a nickname given to him by Tonto, who also provided Reid with his iconic mask). Their relationship dates to boyhood, when Reid saved Tonto’s life. Years later, Tonto returns the favor. Some critics have taken issue with what they consider racist representations in the character, but Tonto’s wisdom and courage in the pursuit of justice was imbued with consistent dignity in his TV incarnation by Jay Silverheels.
It wouldn’t be cool for a sidekick to outshine the hero (at least, not too often), but there seems to be little danger of Sherlock Holmes’ sidekick — Dr. John Watson — ever doing so. Yet let’s remember that Watson is intelligent and brave in his own right, a competent physician who served overseas in the Army, as well as an excellent recorder of adventure. His enjoyment of the normal relationships like friendship and marriage were shunned by Sherlock Holmes, but that helped make Watson the perfect foil to his partner’s icy-cool, aloof genius.
Then there’s the endearing element of surprise. Hobbit Samwise Gamgee of The Lord of the Rings is at first sight an unassuming gardener. His love of elves and poetry set him apart from his peers, and his potential for greatness stayed hidden until a “punishment” for eavesdropping put him on the path to awe-inspiring perseverance in the face of danger. As he tells his beloved master, Frodo, while he can’t carry Frodo’s burden, “I can carry you.”
And there’s the key to what makes great sidekicks tick. We root for them alongside our heroes not just for their ability to make those heroes more human, but because at heart they represent the best of humanity. Maybe playing second fiddle isn’t such a thankless job after all.
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Photo Caption: Chewbacca
