You’re not the one with the tragic backstory, the indie soundtrack, or the dramatic rooftop monologue. You’re the one who sits next to the protagonist in math class. You make one sarcastic comment, everyone laughs, and the camera cuts away.
Welcome to side character energy.
You’re not the star, but you’re the reason the star makes sense
Being a side character is not about being unimportant, often, it’s about being underrated. For example, you might be the best friend who says one line that accidentally changes the plot, or the barista who offers exactly the wrong kind of advice at the right time. The weirdo with the raccoon as a pet with no explanation.
The main character has a destiny. You have free will.
You’re not performing with an identity, you get to live. Hobbies that don’t need to be monetized, outfits that don’t necessarily follow an aesthetic, you’re just you. That’s where the fun is.
You’re the world builder
Movies forget that someone makes the town feel real. There always has to be someone walking their dog awkwardly in the background, pretending not to hear anything while the couple fights. Someone has to decorate their locker with stickers. Someone has to start a random rumour that drives the sub-plot. You’re that someone.
You’re the person some would describe as “oddly unforgettable.” The one who shows up in every friend’s throwback photo, even if no one remembers inviting you. Not dramatic, but essential.
Side Character Perks
- You don’t have to explain your every move: No narration, no life lessons, you might disappear for two days and come back with a new piercing and a story no one needs to know.
- You work on your own schedule: You’re not bound by plot. Therefore, you can spend an entire Saturday reorganizing your playlists by colour or baking bread at 3 AM just because you wanted to.
- You avoid emotional catastrophes: You’re not throwing punches or delivering monologues. You’re just sipping your drink in the background, eyes wide, silently judging.
- You’re everyone’s favourite screenshot: The one dancing in the background. The one photobombing the drama. The one with the funniest facial reaction that becomes a meme.
Side characters don’t need to chase a glow-up. They’re out here being unserious and living off of vibes, snacks, and occasional chaos.
But also…sometimes you are the main character
Although you might be the side character in one story, every side character is a main character somewhere else. In your story, the one with the out-of-tune guitar and late-night 7-Eleven runs, you’re it. Finally, you’re the lead. The heartbeat.
But sometimes, it’s nice to forget that. To drift, observe, maybe narrate someone else’s chaos with a bag of chips in hand. Side characters don’t have to chase meaning. They (accidentally) create it.
So if lately you’ve felt like your life isn’t cinematic enough, like you’re watching everyone else have a big dramatic arc while you sit on the sidelines scrolling TikTok and trying not to flake on plans, then take a breath. There’s power on the sidelines. Magic in the minor moments. You don’t need a spotlight. You need a weird hat, an iced drink, and maybe a cryptic comment that makes someone rethink their whole life.
But then the camera pans away. And you keep walking.
Sources: