The Best Friend Trope, Explained

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Always the Best Friend, never the hero. Why do so many stories choose to sideline the BFF, who's only there to support the protagonist? What does this trope say about friendship? If you like this video, subscribe to our channel or support us on Patreon: / thetake
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[@thetake]

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[@trinaq]

Please do the Sassy Black Girl/Guy or the Bad Boy Trope!

[@xoseanaxo5538]

Trina Q yes!

[@Firegen1]

Bad Boy as a history would be interesting. I'd like to see the Mentor. As OSP mentioned they tend to die off once their wisdom has been passed to the protagonist.

[@sirenenoire4091]

Bad boy trope.

[@talkindurinthemovie]

Do one on the sassy black girl

[@queenemma5823]

Can we just talk about how Sandra Oh went from being the POC best friend to the white woman in “Under the Tuscan Sun,” to being the POC best friend to the white woman in “Grey’s Anatomy,” to finally getting to be the protagonist in “Killing Eve,” tho? Like, she finally got her due and I love that

[@wooof.]

And she is NAILINGit in killing eve. Comedic timing on point and her drama chops. please. I love her

[@nicoledenel]

Love her! She as Christina was everything

[@MissCaraMint]

She is great in that.

[@keiralucy5115]

Am I the only one who feels like after the first season Eve has been over shadowed by Villanelle?

[@Prettyfunnycoolnhot]

Ummm excuse me Christina was more than just meridith best friend she was her person her soulmate

[@bubbles4897]

I can’t tell you how done I am of the “black best friend” trope. That needs to be thrown out the whole window.

[@TheLeah2344]

That Being Said Thank you 🙌🏿

[@alaaye5237]

Amelia Sellers There isn’t really that much representation in written media either...

[@oof-wi7hp]

you know what is a win? the fact that sam wilson was one of these characters in mcu and is now captain america and is getting his own show 😌 i love that man so much and i am so happy akdkfk small victories!

[@powpowouchy5]

also annoying is there's a "white best friend" trope in a lot of shows with a predominately black cast. They always make the white character overly quirky and weird and that's their only personality

[@honeygirltru]

@@powpowouchy5 Agreed!

[@tariqthomas9090]

The Best Friend Trope", otherwise known as the fun, more interesting character that gets treated like crap by the protagonist. I would love to see a show or movie where the Main character is actually a *good friend* to their so-called Best Friend. It always seems like the main character is so self-involved and vain because they're dealing with the plot and the best friend just takes kind of takes it.

[@DusBeforeDawn2008]

Friends? Not that their perfect but I think Chandler is generally a good friend to Joey. Their are times all of the friends take each other for granted or mistreat each other, but they are generally there for each other when the chips are down

[@cathleenmoyle1476]

I think I know one movie where the main character treats his best friend well enough.

[@maitreyimittal3742]

Something Borrowed is literally that.

[@tariqthomas9090]

Mystique Dreamer Lol um...okay. I’ve seen most of those things and I love them for that reason. Most of The Take’s examples are completely different genres than the examples you’re mentioning, other than LOTR. And in that case, Frodo does treat Sam like crap a couple of times.

[@KamilaDalmate]

I’d love to see a show from the point of view of the beat friend.

[@gracew1034]

All movie childhood best friends: *”yOu”Ve ChAnGeD”*

[@bennyton2560]

plot twist: everybody changes

[@kiacosta9522]

I'm really loving this trope series. Can you do one explaining the "Final Girl" trope from horror/slasher movies?

[@Kiuraish]

They actually have a video just on the topic! You can look it up

[@annietta6620]

Nguyen Minh Anh Thao what’s it called? 😊

[@beverycarefuljohn586]

@@annietta6620 halloween tropes explained: final girl and death by sex

[@annietta6620]

@@beverycarefuljohn586 thank you

[@rebeccam732]

Šemsudin Dino Poplava thanks 😊 💕

[@ZeinaIan]

My bestfriend since I was 5 is a beautiful, kind, intelligent women who looks like Jessica Alba. She got the highest grades at her school was amazing at sports and is basically the prototype for perfect main character who everyone likes and is good at everything. I did have moments of jealously towards her when I was younger sure (not many). But now I am so happy for her and I want nothing but the best most joyous life for her. Also she works in a hospital and is helping fight corona right now, so she is truly selfless and a hero to me.

[@teatodd2]

That's so beautiful & honest 💛

[@ellencoleman4604]

This is lovely, I'm glad you've remained friends for so long :)

[@trinaq]

That's a wonderful tribute to your best friend. It just goes to show what a beautiful relationship you two have, as you want nothing but the best for each other.

[@legzfalloffgirl5148]

I always saw myself as a living Best Friend Trope, like I wasn't good enough to be the lead in my own story😌

[@alyssarose3880]

Wow, she sounds amazing!

[@juliannaflores125]

Samwise Gamgee did not carry the Ring of Power and Frodo Baggins into the heart of Mordor to be called "not a protagonist"!

[@trinaq]

I agree, I'd say that Samwise was one of the characters who experienced the most growth, and his unwavering loyalty to Frodo eventually earned him his own happy ending.

[@atm9266]

Steping into adulthood means you understand that sam was the real hero of the story. Protagonist or not he was the hero we love

[@MyssBlewm]

Samwise Gamgee was the real hero.

[@Laura-ck2hh]

Dont forget about defeating a fucking huge spider while being 2ft tall. Something that Frodo could not do.

[@sammykent5752]

@@Laura-ck2hh He also beat Gollum, invaded an Orc castle and killed several Orcs in order to save Frodo and carried Frodo for most of the rest of the story.

[@susanalopez5052]

I think it’s kinda sad and telling about the Hollywood industry when in these trope explaining videos we only ever see white characters, yet only when explaining the best friend “token” trope, we see the most diverse set of characters yet 😬

[@muhsinashardow998]

honestly

[@daffodil852]

That is literally one of the main points of the video

[@lavendertrees9515]

That's the point of the token characters, they're there for a lazy attempt at diversity

[@tibr835]

Susana Lopez true

[@Feliciatanktop]

It’s so sad that Hollywood considers this “representation”. POC, overweight people, and LGBT individuals never have their own stories told

[@hazellevesque692]

The Cool Girl: Male Fantasy The Nice Guy: Female Fantasy The Best Friend: All Heartbroken People's Fantasy

[@johnnybelle2686]

wait can u explain these? im a little confused lmao

[@ekakshd8058]

100% accurate

[@diya3087]

The nice guy isn't any woman's fantasy. I would hate being with someone who has a fixed image of me. It would be waaayyyy to mental draining for me. I think a bad boy or a ladies man would be a better fit.

[@ajanaya8055]

Nice guy = unattractive men

[@cerene11]

Nice guy is not a female fantasy, it's a trope for men who are bitter they get rejected by women who go after hot chads.

[@kimidanger1150]

this made me realize i need to prioritize my friendships more. but also we are in a quarantine so that isn't really going to work

[@semperfi818]

As long as cellular service and the Internet are available, your friends are likely within reach; keep reaching out now, more than ever, even if the hugs must be virtual now.

[@kaijahdowdie3589]

Kimi Danger this was funny 😂

[@justcallmeteacup4711]

Put the social in social distancing

[@sarahstardust]

Reach out! There's so much you can do together over the internet. As someone who has been homebound for years, I wish more people would realize this instead of the whole "out of sight, out of mind" mindset. Just because you can't be together physically doesn't mean you can't be there for each other, support each other and have fun together.

[@rubyhhh2715]

Sarah Stardust sorry to bother you but do you habe any tips on what to do together on the internet? besides facetiming? because i don’t really know what else to do with my friends

[@trinaq]

YES, I've been looking for them to deconstruct this trope! "Sex Education" defies this overdone cliche extremely well, by not defining Eric as solely the Black and Gay Best Friend to lead Otis, as he has his own problems, life and relationship dramas outside of Otis. All the more reason to adore this show!

[@gia3442]

Chris the entire show is about sex and relationships. eric is a gay man. obviously his problems are going to be gay relationship problems.

[@tariqthomas9090]

Eric's a great character but I wouldn't say that he's completely free of problematic tropes. Him falling for Adam (the closeted white homophobe who bullied him for years) and leaving his perfectly healthy loving relationship was pretty infuriating.

[@islasullivan3463]

So does the show Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. It becomes clear to the viewers that Paula is supporting Rebecca and her crazy and sometimes illegal schemes to get Josh back because she lives vicariously through her. Once she finds this out she realizes that she needs to figure out why her own life isn’t fulfilling her, even writes up a contract between her and Rebecca, and finds her own dream.

[@mikelaw9317]

@@tariqthomas9090 i wouldn't say him and rahim relationship was perfectly healthy. Eric was trying to impress and he was still hung up on Adam. That why i like sex education because it shows we are not just our labels or past. Adam may had been a bully but Eric show him that being gay and fabulous didn't mean that you are weak. When he confronted him at the prom show him he was ready to fight him. It also shows there more to the story then we think. Yes he was a bullied but also he had grown and learn

[@tylerbiso6872]

All American's Coop overcomes the cliche as well I feel, she is a sounding board for the Protagonist, but also has character growth and her own stories woven through episodes. She has her own dreams, friends, and issues in her life, and Spencer even spends some moments in the show supporting her and being her sounding board. I truly think shows are getting better at giving us dynamic 3 dimensional best friend characters.

[@sarahstardust]

I often feel like the "best friend" - I'm there when needed for advice, emotional support, helping with things, and maybe their personal character growth. Otherwise I'm fairly invisible.

[@EmyN]

Sarah Stardust Really? Girl you deserve better!

[@saya1720_]

same

[@allurajane4979]

s a m e

[@alaia-awakened]

I feel you Sarah! Give yourself that air time babe ❤️

[@allurajane4979]

@Ángela Sofía Jaime Moreno felt that

[@taylordanielle1232]

In Pride and Prejudice, Charlotte is described as being plain, and at the end of her marriageable years. She worries about being a burden on her family and makes the wise choice to face reality and make the most of the cards she was dealt. Lizzie on the other hand is pretty and young. Lizzie comes from a family that will become destitute once their father dies, and yet she acts only in her own self interest, prioritizing romantic love over her families safety. This works out for Lizzie in the end because P&P is fictional. Jane Austens own life didn't work out quite as well, though her personal circumstances mirrored those of the Benetts' in many ways. In the real world, sometimes it's better to be a Charlotte.

[@lemsip207]

I don't think Jane Austen really wanted to get married but to support herself through getting her novels published.

[@anonymouse29]

This is a really good analysis. It's a little sad, but certainly not wrong when considering the reality of the world the two girls, and Jane Austen herself, actually lived in. While I love Pride and Prejudice to pieces, it does send the message that it is better to be head strong and driven for your own goal than to be practical.

[@taylordanielle1232]

@@lemsip207 I agree!

[@anonymouse29]

@Hey McKay That's fair, Austen was absolutely critical of this system, and was right to be. It's just an interesting balance because, while there is a clear criticism of the system in that novel, the situation is set up such that Charlotte makes the only choice really available to her and is punished for it. Mr. Collins is the literal worst, as is his proposal, manners, decision to go for Charlotte after being turned down by Lizzie, pettiness, ...what was I talking about? In all seriousness, he is absolutely set up to show the horrible effects of a system that tied women's security to marriage, it's just unfortunate that Charlotte suffers as a result of being the representation of the opposite choice. The two women are setting up the comparison of working within the system versus working outside the system. In that dichotomy, Lizzie has the advantage, being both younger and prettier than Charlotte. For Charlotte, it really would not be an option to turn down a proposal. This means, in the end, she is being very practical but suffers because of that. However, this does speak to your point about how unfair that system was, because Charlotte has no choice.

[@manicpixiefangirl4189]

I do have to mention how Charlotte strategically ran the house to keep Mr. Collins away from her pretty much all day. Lizzy gave her credit there.

[@malcfoy]

WHY WASN'T RON IN THIS VIDEO?

[@synflwr]

Too busy in his weed room (if you get this reference I love you)

[@trinaq]

I concur! There's even a major subplot in "Goblet of Fire", where Ron always feels stuck in Harry's Shadow as the best friend of "The Boy who Lived", which causes them to have a huge falling out for quite some time.

[@BRouge]

Because he leave during the Horcrux Quest

[@ayal92]

I think the books made a good job showing the three of them were equals even if Harry was the chosen one. The movies on the other one treated Ron like garbage.

[@tylerfanell8212]

ayal92 And the movies made Ron sort of a nuisance

[@vinceatumac]

I'm waiting for the Avatar series, or even the Rebel/Blacksheep trope. Since they already made the child prodigy trope.

[@tonicaulfield294]

Vince Atumac the rebel/blacksheep trope sounds like something i'd be excited for! it's a little bit of the weird + cool.

[@nightwingman666]

In second this.

[@trinaq]

Yes, I'd definitely watch those videos! Any excuse to do any "Avatar" themed content.

[@naivenitara]

That'd be cool

[@c.d.dailey8013]

The Avatar ones are those I am looking forward to the most. The elements and philosophy is fascinating. There is only two more videos left. Come on now.

[@ellaforlin8160]

I think a lot of people like the “best friend” better than the main character because the main might seem perfect. A lot of main characters don’t seem like real people because it’s intimidating when someone has no flaws. For example: Harry Potter. I know that Harry has flaws, but his flaws were often pushes aside to focus on how he was the “chosen one.” Rowling spent so much time emphasizing how he was powerful and intelligent, she forgot to write an interesting character. That’s why a lot of people like Ron and Heromine better.

[@CairistionaO]

Ella Forlin yeah, she admitted that Radcliffe did a great job of capturing Harry’s “nebulous” qualities which I though was baffling. You’re the writer, if your protagonist is nebulous I don’t think you did a good job 🙄

[@princejohnneyfan]

Harry was so unlikeable starting around goblet of fire

[@slothbaby2104]

I like Ron because he punched malfoy in the face

[@mikelaw9317]

@@slothbaby2104 thats Hermione

[@natalyaporter5730]

Ella Forlin I personally liked Harry and I didn’t see it that way

[@kimidanger1150]

i saw this title and immediately thought of the hilarious and gorgeous Judy Greer.

[@trinaq]

Agreed, she could easily be a leading lady if she wanted to be, yet she seems content to stay as the quirky, party girl best friend who occasionally offers sage advice to our heroine.

[@PeopleStream]

I stop being a few girl’s friends because this. You have to be each other’s sidekicks.

[@mikahong]

Same, I cut off a few female friendships bc they only saw me as such. Not to mention the relationship in general was shallow and headed nowhere, and they weren't interested in going beyond how they saw me. I deserve way better.

[@sunshineforce]

People Stream how did you get over it? Mine left me at The beginning of this year. IT was almost on que, because I made a promise to myself on New Year eve that I will finally learn how to become my own Main character. And then in february she turned her back on me. In a very self centered, selfish as fuck, 'you dont understand what Im going through' kind of Way. Im not Hurt anymore, just utterly pissed off, I guess I dont get to have my Bestfriend in my story.

[@PeopleStream]

sunshineforce Honestly the way I got over it was I made new friends. When you remove negative people that no longer serve you, you make room for really good people. My new best friend I’ve never had a friendship like that before. And I wouldn’t change it for the world. I’m still not “cool” with them, but I am okay with the fact that we had a past. For real it’s okay to say fuck them.

[@sunshineforce]

@@PeopleStream so I guess I'm on the right track. I still have great friends around me. Just pisses me off that I miss her sometimes and think about her when I see things that I know she enjoys. I just can't wait to finally get over it. Thanks again.

[@92JazzQueen]

I think Best Friends are sometimes even better written than love interests and people often times forget how platonic relationships are as important as romantic ones. Also Princess and the Frog inverts the usual best friend set up with the underprivileged girl of color being the protagonist, while the privileged white girl is the best friend.

[@ioncekilledamanwithmyshoe]

I’ve always felt like I was “the best friend”. Do you guys ever feel like you aren’t the main character in your own life? You feel like the side character or the background character? That’s why I think I empathize with the side characters more than the main ones.

[@Rosemary-ex9py]

Your 'Trope, explained' series are some of the best analyses of pop culture characters I've ever seen! I get so excited whenever y'all post one of these.❤

[@naivenitara]

Yessssz!

[@thezoid.withfreaky6204]

If you like these series. Then you'll like 'pop culture detective'

[@jadesola9324]

Ayodele Opedare yesss omg

[@paccawacca4069]

theyre very very bad

[@kristianzacarias773]

Judy Greer is SO underrated, smh

[@naivenitara]

100% Have you read her autobiography "I Don't Know Where You Know Me From" It's a hoot!

[@phillconklin382]

Honestly she does not seem that interesting. I have never felt compelled to know more about her. So she fills her side character role well at least.

[@leilanidru7506]

Nitara Jones damn now I wanna read that

[@wooof.]

I know! I am DRAWN to her when she's on screen

[@elisecoenen1864]

Fun fact: i watch your take on movies i have never seen before. I just love your analyses and now i have a lot of knowledge and opinions on media i have never seen

[@trinaq]

Agreed, this is one of my favourite Analyses Channels, as they encourage their viewers to consider prevalent tropes in contemporary media.

[@Kiuraish]

Same! I'm not even a movie buff but sometimes I'm here for the life lessons they present too :)

[@KittySnicker]

I do that too! Especially if I know I won’t watch the movie

[@mariesdal1161]

This one I thought was very funny, because I am overweight, gay and has dyslexia and my best friends have always been these beautiful skinny smart people (that I love more than anything) but sometimes it’s hard not to take it personal when everyone else kinda ignores your for them. But that’s the thing isn’t it, they never ignore you or treat you badly it’s always someone else and to make matters worse it’s off in yourself that put your needs second

[@chillindj_]

i have dyslexia too.

[@elsethompson1957]

👍

[@jenniferray8569]

Nothing wrong being a side char fam, its alot less pressure haha

[@mariesdal1161]

veronica b I didn’t mean to complain about it, I honestly love my friends very much and it’s been a long time since I feel bad about it. And I didn’t choose my friends because I wanted to be like them. Me and my best friend became friends because we both like Batman

[@veronicab15]

@@mariesdal1161 I get it. And I am glad for you. In my case I gravitated towards people who didnt really care for me and I always ended up getting hurt, and that was the wake-up call, I saw my pattern and through my pattern I saw patterns in society as well. :)

[@BlackCampariBlue]

thats one of those things I love about "Skins": all are friends to each other with well defined backstories, lifes, problems and plots

[@steffis9806]

Sam from LOTR had his own complete arc and story. He was a fully fleshed out character, not just "Frodo's best friend". He arguably is the true hero and he gets his personal happy ending while Frodo does not. Just because Sam is being supportive and endlessly loyal does NOT mean he is a "Best Friend TM"! Imma fight people on this!

[@linamunar8795]

Weird request, but I think it would be interesting to see your analysis of The Most Popular Girls in School, despite being ridiculous I think it has very interesting character dynamics, friendships and even development

[@Alexandriafrancescakiel]

Lina Munar For some reason I thought they did that already

[@tanvi7532]

See the analysis of regina mean girls

[@craziestcat5767]

No i think Lina means "The Most Popular Girls in School" its a youtube series that went on for a while The creators of that series used barbie dolls as characters but dont be fooled, its more than barbie dolls You should look that up on youtube its a fun series

[@linamunar8795]

Craziest Cat Yeah, I meant the, how do you say, web series

[@DoodleDoo2]

Lina Munar THATS EXACTLY HOW YOU SAY IT

[@AlyssaJane]

I'm always really annoyed when a movie set in middle school or high school has kids talking about the social hierarchy. yes, the hierarchy exists but kids dont talk about it or necessarily dream about being at the top. Also, the group considered the "top" isnt always football players and cheerleaders as teen movies would have us believe. Please make a video on this!

[@squidwardtentacles7144]

Fr at times there isn't one. People just vibe with people. The jocks can hang out with the nerds. The cheerleaders can hang out with the anine nerds. The junky can hang out with student council. Just because you're a jock doesn't mean you're on top. Which is why HSM is the most unrealistic movie when it comes to teen life.

[@Blueocean881]

It's a way to reinforce a social hierarchy too. I don't think its natural for people to look at school as "The Animal Kingdom." People are just passing through to get to the "real world" anyway.

[@kayellejay9608]

I loved how Duff flipped the script on the best friend trope.

[@calieblanc6335]

That's me. I'm the best friend character.

[@naivenitara]

Will you be my friend? We can be sidekicks to each other 😄

[@anhnguyenngoc1283]

11:45 "can you ever just be whelmed?" so that's where that line comes from

[@ECL28E]

You missed Daria Morgendorffer and Jane Lane of the MTV animated series, "Daria". Both acid-tongued socially-distant hetero life-partners, but in very different ends of the spectrum. Daria is a bookish intellectual with an aptitude for literature, whose parents are workaholics; and Jane is an artist of varying media and also a fun-runner, whose parents are wholly neglectful and core-family are spread far-apart.

[@jamesmarhen]

Love Judy Greer, when I think of the most beautiful actresses she never comes to mind yet when she's onscreen she's the one I crush on regardless of who is standing next to her.

[@trinaq]

I know, she's very charismatic and talented, and she should headline her own project someday! She had a small supporting role as a suicidal file girl in "What Women Want", and her character was easily one of my favourite, even though she was largely in the background.

[@hollywoodshopaholic]

Yeah, she’s the kind of woman who’s overshadowed in Hollywood but you know would be snapped up immediately in real life

[@skyden24195]

I just left a comment, in the main comment section, saying how much I loved Judy Greer. I was (and wasn't) surprised to see another comment directly stating how wonderful Judy Greer is. Nice. (By the way, did you see her when she guest starred on "The Big Bang Theory"? That's the Judy Greer I want. lol)

[@skyden24195]

@@trinaq OMG, I just left a related comment in the main section. Damn, Judy Greer is that freakin' awesome. And I thought I was the only one. Silly me. ;-]

[@naivenitara]

Samesies

[@tylerbiso6872]

Certain "Token" best friends can be occasionally done right if they're given their own story and issues, which especially can be done well in serialized shows cause they have time to explore the character in moments without the protagonist. Sex Education's Eric, Euphoria's Jules, and All Americans Coop are best friends done right in my opinion, by having their own issues and character traits explored, while also giving them screen time and sometimes whole episodes without the protagonist being heavily involved.

[@deezxc]

couldnt have said it better. its not realistic to have 2 best friends protagonists in every movie if the story doesnt call for it. What hollywood could improve on is typecasting best friends e.g the sassy gay/black best friend, the fat best friend, the slapstick comedic best friend etc. Eric in Sex Education is such a profound example of best friend done right cus the witty black gay best friend could've easily been a one note character in the hands of uncultured writers.

[@bubbles4897]

Or maybe they could just hire more characters like the the token ones instead of having them alone.

[@ntmbly5210]

Sex éducation is différent because there is other black or lgbt important character like Jackson. He’s not the only one and at least, the main charcater is the most annoying. But why the main character is not one of this racialized ou lgbt people without it being the subject just a normal teenager. Sorry, for the grammar i’m french.

[@antonsummers_]

Wouldn’t Jules be more of a love interest than a best friend character, Lexi or Fez seemed the best friend

[@tylerbiso6872]

@@bubbles4897 I agree that that would be the best way forward, would love to see more representation of marginalized communities as protagonists. I would say Euphoria and All American do this really well, and I hope more shows start following example. Most of All Americans cast is black, including the protagonist; Euphoria has Zendaya as the lead and the actress that plays Jules is trans; and even sex education has 5+ gay or bi chracters characters with 3 of them being people of color. Not saying that's enough, but it's a good start imo.

[@apatheticclar_bear2278]

I really love the trope, can u do the 'fat girl trope'

[@alyssarose3880]

That might offend people. People get offended by everything these days.

[@apatheticclar_bear2278]

@@alyssarose3880 ur probably right, but I wanted to talk about it because usually this characters are very sterotypical and always the same written dialogue. But I do understand what u mean when u say some people get offended.

[@sadtitties222]

@@alyssarose3880 Um, I'm generally curious when asking this (definitely not trying to start a fight), but who exactly would be offended by the Take talking about the "Fat best friend" trope? I've watched several video essays on KZbin discussing this very topic and the general response was very positive. Most people, especially "fat" women themselves were the ones to give these videos essays overwhelming applause. Speaking as a woman of bigger body proportions, I am constantly seeking out people who talk about these issues because I truly believe we all benefit from critiquing these problematic tropes and striving to do better in terms of media representation. Overall, I'm sure the Take would do a pretty good job of taking on this trope that honestly needs to die already, lol.

[@MsPatrioteqc]

@@alyssarose3880 As an official fat girl, i agree. Their analysis of tropes are excellent and the 'fat person' stereotype is often underestimated. Usually, fat girls in movies are not very bright, obsessed with food, they 'compensate' with weird humor and are socially awkward. Its like, according to Hollywood, you cant be fat and defined by something else than that. So girl, i agree, gimme that fat person trope video !

[@noranjoku7651]

I also noticed with the black best friend thier almost always portrayed like their white female friends 'Hype girl' and are very one dimensional in character like they have only one personality trait. Thier also always stereotypically portrayed as 'Sassy or Trendy'. Just my thought

[@MsJubjubbird]

I don't think that is limited to race. The best friend is just one dimensional regardless. For example, emily Osment in Hannah Montana was very one dimensional and took so much shit The Wedding Planner just had a best friend who covered for her collage and could only be described as quirky. The best movies are at least where the best friend gets a b plot

[@360shadowmoon]

I'm currently binging Gilmore Girls on Netflix and am actually surprised by how well they characterized Sooki. I was intially afraid she would be a fat-friend stereotype, but she actually is a well-rounded, likeable character. She is the first out of the female characters to get into a loving, stable relationship, and Lorelai and Rory are supportive of her when she starts her new family. Of course, Lorelai is very demanding and demands a lot of support from Sooki, but she isn't just one-dimensional and has her own life. Lane also started out as a best friend trope but ended up getting a life outside of being Rory's friend.

[@isabellakim3426]

We need a margarey tyrell analysis ..... Also the femme fatale trope and rich bad boy .... Plz

[@siljabogensberger2738]

kylie Kardashian YES

[@tiny-grimes]

Charisma on Command made a great video setting Margary as an example

[@salviakasana8974]

perfect opportunity to put in blair and Serena's fight from gossip girl

[@luna-ichigo6539]

This made me cry. YES YES YES Friendships are important! And it is so important to not be jealous of their success, but to encourage them and yourself to be a better version of oneself and to aim for the stars! To lift each other up and be in the first row to applaud. You are not in their shadow, you are their light.

[@j.albuquerque9274]

I kind of hate how this trope is used for tokenism, as the video touches, the best friend is usually that black character in the story that is there just to be there.

[@PrincessofEllabur]

um did you miss the gay best friend?

[@j.albuquerque9274]

@@PrincessofEllabur I'll let the gay dudes complain about that.

[@j.albuquerque9274]

@@KrazyVideoChick Yeah, you can talk about other groups to support them, and that's it.

[@TheSongwritingCat]

A huge issue with this tokenism is the idea that the main character can't possibly be racist, homophobic, etc. because look at their best friend! Of course this barely papers over the fact that there are no other people from that marginalized group in the movie. Even if a character isn't hateful, having only one non-white friend means their world is pretty insular, especially since a lot of these characters are supposed to live in big cities with diverse populations.

[@archer1949]

Hey! Judy Greer doesn’t just play the “Best Friend”, she also plays “The Shrill Ex-Wife” and “Concerned Mom”! Get it right!

[@evanwessman9120]

I've been writing a movie called "Sidekick" for the past few months trying to talk about this exact thing. My character actually wants to be the best friend character more than anything, and her struggle is that her best friend refuses her attempts to help. It's not the story I thought I would write when I started, because I've always been frustrated with all the things this video is talking about with the way that the supporting characters are more interesting and never get enough attention. But really, I think the core of many best friend characters is that they define themselves by the person they are supporting. It's sometimes said that every hero needs a sidekick, but I think everything points to the opposite: that every sidekick needs a hero. So (spoilers for anyone who cares) my character leaves her "protagonist" at the end. In case this story never sees the light of day, I want to put what I've learned from writing it here because it has changed my life. Being a sidekick doesn't mean putting someone else before you, or putting your life on hold. A lot of it is about wanting to help your friend(s), but sometimes they won't want your help and THAT IS NOT YOUR FAULT. But most of it is about knowing that you are enough without your "hero". You don't need to have a hero to be a sidekick. If you can get to a place where you love yourself and you are willing to be a selfless friend, then you are a sidekick. And someday, you're going to meet someone who appreciates that. It might take a while, but it'll happen. Thanks for making this video. And especially for including Troy and Abed. I thought for a minute that you were gonna forget about the best on-screen friends ever, but you didn't.

[@Oliee-jf9lp]

Would love to see a character study on Christina Yang.

[@azrielcrews9068]

As a single 29 year old woman, living alone during this quarantine, with an amazing best friend 3000 miles away... I commend you for taking the time to acknowledge the importance of friendship. This hit home, and moved me to tears, while also being an excellent dissection of a common character trope. Bravo ❤️

[@All-Hail-Gayle]

The rom-com doesn't have much time for friends. It's not about them

[@alaaye5237]

꧁༒planning gaily༒꧂ Good writing should always have a decent amount of development for both main and secondary characters. Regardless of the genre, bad writing is still bad writing.

[@All-Hail-Gayle]

@@alaaye5237 I'd agree if it wasn't a movie. If It was a TV show, I'd understand

[@teethejedi3960]

Funny how romantic comedies aren't that funny. They're usually just guilty pleasures that a lot of people end up watching.

[@MsJubjubbird]

True. It is an hour and a half and we want to see a well developed story. However, it's nice when they have a b plot. Like Janis in Mean Girls, Jane and Charlotte in Pride and Prejudice, Lilly in the Princess Diaries

[@tramainens]

As a Type 2 on the Enneagram, a theatre nerd, and a person whose highest priority in life is people/friendship, this video is my absolute favorite one that y'all have done. The intersectionality, the self-awareness, the diversity, the solutions, all of it is just a chef kiss. Wow.

[@srijeetabhattacharyya3188]

"Best Friend isn't a person, it's a tier"- The Mindy Project

[@kbucket]

I always felt like the "best friend/sidekick" growing up, my best friend was prettier, outspoken, interesting, she decided everything and I was always unnoticed (I have a slew of stories where people with us forgot who I was but never her). Then I worked with a girl in high school and she had a similar friendship where she felt over shadowed and passive. We became close, ended up living together for our early 20's and now I'm her maid of honour, we went from being the "best friends" to having a healthy equal friendship with each other!

[@sirenenoire4091]

The bad boy trope please! I’ll keep commenting this until you do lol.

[@Senate300]

You can rest easy. It's up now. 😊

[@sirenenoire4091]

Senate300 yep! Saw it and they don’t disappoint.

[@AngusStewart01]

I was that character in high school.

[@Starburst514]

Me too, i felt like everyone's supporting character that was liked enough, but wasn't thought of unless I was onscreen

[@trinaq]

Thirded, we've possibly ALL felt that way in comparison to a more flashier friend!

[@diorchanelhermes]

I can relate 😭

[@Starburst514]

@@trinaq Jokes on them cause sometimes the supporting character becomes the fan favorite!....not me. But a lot of people after highschool do....

[@xoseanaxo5538]

TechNOGeek Reviews relate

[@t.r.s.5129]

This trope made me idealize friendship to the point where I spent most of my teenage years looking for that One Best Friend who doesn't exist. And when I thought I had found that best friend, I acted like the super loyal, encouraging, always-there-with-no-life-of-her-own Best Friend and it only broke my heart because, obviously, friendship doesn't work like that. Friendship is a two way street and you have to give and take in equal measure or you'll feel underappreciated and resentful towards that person. Now we still talk ocassionally but we have grown distant because we have different goals for our lives and That's OKAY. Friendships come and go. The romantization of Best Friends is just as harmful in my opinion to that of The One Romantic Interest as it sets wrong expectations on people which can end up hurting a lot more in the long run.

[@nurisakinasuharto1575]

Yes thank you! I felt the same way too. The older I get, the idea of bestfriend is similar to prince charming or "the one" when I was a teenager. May be that's way many people (including me) watch sitcom with strong friendship story line, like Friends, How I Met Your Mother, Sex and The City, etc. That stories are like fairy tale for adult Sorry for bad english :)

[@CrimsonCharan]

Could you make a video on representation of Tomboys in media? Would be nice 😊. Nice work as always.

[@trinaq]

Yes, that would be fantastic! Jo March would be an excellent Patron to this trope, especially in comparison to her more feminine sisters.

[@phillconklin382]

Check out their cool girl trope analysis, it is kind of in the same genre. One of the examples used is it is Robin from How I Met Your Mother who is classic tomboy.

[@javis88h]

"Best friends are usually the token" The MCU can make their own Avengers team with their token best friends

[@sunshine97443]

In crazy ex girlfriend Paula was written as the archetype of the the best friend, her whole life turns around Rebecca at a point where it’s toxic for the both of them. Paula put herself in that position cause she always felt like she wasn’t good enough to want things for herself but when she realize she is, she became her own person with her own goals and life and that was one of the most beautiful thing that happened in the show

[@bruttencourt]

When I think about the best friend trope i always remember lane kim, from gilmore girls. She was always an amazing friend to rory and rory was always "ok, nice, but let me tell you about dean, or jess, or harvard, or yale, or whatever... anything but you"

[@PrincessOfTheYew]

The whole basis of Judy Greer's career.

[@xoseanaxo5538]

You missed Paisley and Lexis relationship from “Ant farm” . 😂

[@Inurwalls02]

there are countless love stories but not enough friendship stories. Stories where the main focus is a friendship. some ppl will be like "but it's not as appealling" but it actually is.

[@purplemusiclover1597]

I know I’m dumb but this kinda made me tear up. I had a close friend for 10 years that I thought was my platonic true love and then after a big issue in my life I realized she was manipulative and abusive. It was hard to cut her off but I had to. since then I’ve wished for this deep friendship again. I just feel broken.

[@kkelseym]

I think Teen Wolf is a good example of how this can backfire sometimes. Stiles became the stand out favorite of the whole show and (as someone who watched from the first season) a lot of it was people so vehemently hating how the main character treated his best friend and abandoned him for a girl he just met. Stiles almost became the main character from Season 2 onward to the point where a whole season was about finding out what was wrong with him and saving him.

[@Jemmainadilemma]

They’re so often a POC so that the show can be like ‘look!!! Equality!! We’re so woke!!!’ But really it’s just they can’t put a POC as the protagonist because some white people will think that’s all there is to their character and won’t be able to ‘relate’ or something. It’s like having a disabled person or gay person as the protagonist: clearly that defines their entire personality! Every single time where I think oh maybe this film will have a POC as the protagonist or love interest even... NOPE just two white people trying to bang while the POC bff gets treated like crap the whole film despite being a really good friend. Shocking.

[@gallarinas]

omg like the elena diaries

[@sunshineforce]

this almost comes as a "cheer up, you got this" kind of video. I've always been plagued by the ''bestfriend' mindest. Ever since I was a kid and I learned from a young age that some of us were "main characters" while the rest were just"bestfriends" or "the comic relief". I've slowly been working on trying to become the main character of my story and so far it's been going like shit on a platter. So this video is really helpful and does a lot more than just painting a detailed picture of a recurring trope tht always haunted my life. Thank you a lot for it.

[@nightwingman666]

A well known but very underrated trope. Also I hope for a video of the Blood Knight Trope the character who is violent by nature but has a lot of character depth.

[@Jack-Steel]

You argue that the Best Friend is never the main character - when that's by definition since they are best friend to the protagonist You even mention the exception, Ferris Bueler, who is best friend to the protagonist Cameron, but complain that Cameron's the Best Friend who doesn't get to be the main character If you recentred the film around Cameron, you'd be complaining that whacky, charismatic Best Friend Ferris didn't get to be the main character Otherwise your usual grest video!

[@amelamoula1765]

Exactly , i mean a story just has to focus on some characters more than others , a story has to be about "someone" it can't be about everybody in it

[@marina_fe]

I agree, if the story focused on "the best friend" , then "the best friend" wouldn't be "the best friend" anymore. Stories will always focus on some characters more than others.

[@iellaterreur7865]

Well the problem isn't just that they aren't focusing on the best friend, it's more that the best friend is seen as an as jewellery, to the protagonist. It's not difficult to show that the best friend has life too, without taking all the protagonist space.

[@caoisekamay1175]

Thank you! Their complaint is kind of paradoxical. The Best friend can't be the main character because they're not supposed to be. And if they were, they would be the main character, and everyone else would be their best friend. It's not a matter of "priority" bias, it's a matter of good writing. Movies can't possibly balance all their characters with equal screen time and focus. Personally, if it's a matter of doing the best friend character justice or having a good, well-paced movie, I'd pick the latter.

[@msmilesftw]

19:46 I find it interesting that you use this quote where Oprah tells us what SHE thinks Gayle feels about the situation 😄 It’s definitely a pattern with Lady O

[@bs4e]

Lmao I thought it was too funny

[@ronxaviersantos3184]

"We all see ourselves as the main characters of our own lives, and there's a room in the frame for us and our friends to stand shoulder to shoulder, equally bright, reflecting each others glow" Thank you for this, The Take.

[@nottoday6485]

I think a great example of best friend is in Brooklyn 99 with Jake and Charles both have their story arcs and enough screentime I love that series

[@brandnewmob]

LMFAO, I surprised myself with how fast I clicked on this. I always look forward to your videos. Keep it up dude! (Before the video: I've seen black girls/boys as the "funny best friend" so much, and it DOES affect us. People always expect us to be funny or cool or sassy. It feeds into stereotypes. Also, as a member of the LGBT community, I can't tell you how many times I've heard "UgHhH I WANT A GAY BEST FRIEND :((" like our sexuality is our personality...wth)

[@trinaq]

Me too, the parody movie "Not Another Teen Movie" delivered a hilarious send up of this trope, with the Token Black Guy lampshading his role in the movie.

[@synflwr]

The only time the black protagonist has a white best friend is basically only in gang movies, which I see as slightly problematic.

[@brandnewmob]

@@synflwr Oh really?! I haven't really seen "gang movies" but the ones that I HAVE seen, the best friend is a white "drug dealer" or something of the sorts. Damn bruh

[@melancholygirl7793]

@@synflwr What about Static Shock? Our protagonist was black and had a white best friend and that's a superhero show.

[@cvillarec1977]

You missed to mention House's best friend Wilson. I feel like this relationship worth analisys.

[@zaritomaz975]

I want more shows like Friends where there is a bunch of characters with unique personalities and quirks and have so much friend group chemistry and all get equal screen time.

[@totesme14]

I’ve come to realize that seeing my friends succeed is just as important to me as seeing myself succeed-it’s exciting to see that highlighted by this video

[@louise4778]

Looks like I'm watching booksmart again😂

[@nicolemarie151]

You actually took our suggestions to do the token black best friend! Thank you!!

[@thegreatbambino4932]

The timing of this video is amazing. My best friend of 30 years committed suicide this week. She sent me a message telling me goodbye. My heart is broken in such a way that I'm not sure it'll ever heal back right. She was so kind and so smart. She had a light that is indescribable. I keep asking myself if I could have been a better friend to her. As adults we grow apart from the people that we grew up with. But if you have a friend that you love, reach out to them. Let them know you're there and be there if they need you. If you're a friend who is hurting, contact someone that you love and ask for help. I wouldn't wish this pain on anyone ever.

[@jaycievictory8461]

I am so, so sorry to hear this 🌻

[@marmotaaa]

I only now realized how much i love this "trope" series. Every new episode i just know that i am going to love.

[@bababooey2436]

I am that Introvert Bestfriend, who got adopted by this Popular Extroverted Girl at School. And guess what? Before we became bestfriends, we were enemies. Plus, she is so popular at school that she got tons of friends and guys liking her. And me? I am her quiet friend that always stay at the dark while she gets all the spotlight (I don't mind tho). But if she ever gets into trouble and needed someone to lay her head against? I will always and will be there. If she wanted someone to entrust her secrets to, I am there patiently waiting for her to open up. Story Time: I remember when I told her that I will not go to the school party last year, she barge into my door wearing her beautiful blue dress and said, "Dress up! We are going to a 1 week trip if you're not going to the school party!" We got lost in Japan XD

[@akshataharish2431]

That's rich.

[@slothbaby2104]

that sounds like a fun friendship comedy movie Introvert and Extroverted trouble in Tokyo

[@thetwilightzone2403]

Thats so cute, I would so watch this as a movie

[@ShainaCilimberg]

@@slothbaby2104 I wish they would make a movie like this

[@slothbaby2104]

@@ShainaCilimberg yeah maybe one day it will happen you or I can make it one day

[@rachelhansen2417]

Tolkien actually said that Sam is the true protagonist of Lord of the Rings.

[@lauraelizabethbrown]

This makes SO much sense.

[@aliciam2554]

Okay, I never comment but I looooooooove your videos. I watched most of them during lockdown while watching classics. I became so fancy now talking about movies and tropes with friends.

[@shaniagarrison5899]

I have literally been binge watching your videos. It is currently 5 in the morning lol. I love your views on how much film really plays a role on how we portray the world. Please keep doing what you're doing. It really makes me think

[@AnthonyWilliams_83]

Iron Man and War Machine is one of the best male BFF on screen throughout the MCU. Same can be said for Captain America and Falcon.

[@jasmin5257]

they literally both fit the harmful trope that the whole video was about, dude

[@AnthonyWilliams_83]

jasmin // yes I agree it fits within the trope and that sucks, but you can see by Avengers Endgame how much Falcon means to Captain America and the 3 most important people to Iron Man was War Machine, Pepper, and Spider-Man. In the beginning of their character arcs they start off as tropes but they evolve especially Falcon since he was picked to carry on with the shield.

[@sarahgray430]

I like it when the BFF suddenly becomes the hero, as in The Lord of the Rings.

[@miamckenzie6861]

This was the perfect video to include the friendship between Anne & Diana from ”Anne With An E”. It's such an amazing friendship that focuses on lifting each other and both characters go through such transformations!

[@bellamuerte2199]

I think the charm of the best friend character is that they're a mystery to us, unlike the protagonist, until we see their own struggles and start to relate to the,, that's when they become even more likeable

[@moonie3866]

I swear, I feel like the "married best friend of a single" trope when my friends look to me to solve all their relationship and hook up problems and help them get coupled up and in a long term thing. I still like beaches, bars, and food without my partner!

[@mhawang8204]

Thanks for this episode! In general, I wish friendship would get more attention in media than just romantic relationships. It can be just as precious and important (if not more ) when done right. This video also reminds me that Lord of the Rings did a really good job in its portrayal of friendship.

[@ioanaiordache4721]

A good example of true frienship is Cory and Shawn from boy meets world. Cory could always rely on Shawn and Shawn could always rely on Cory. And Cory never took Shawn s kindness for granted. Even though Cory is the protagonist Shawn is just as important as Cory. He stars like a sidekick and the we learn about his family about his chidhood about his dreams. Of all the characters on the show Shawn has grown the most. I just love boy meets world.

[@tamirahgrant2959]

This was a really wholesome watch and shows how great friendship really is. Sometimes we forget but friendship is unmatched

[@Ashesinferno28]

You guys are legendary.

[@nomine4027]

Judy Greer will always be two words to me - "Spring Break!!!" (obligatory flashing, of course.)

[@alliyahdraine1590]

The definition of a best friend is a person who you value above other friends in your life, someone you have fun with, someone you trust and someone in whom you confide. The first person you call when you get good news or want to go out for a bite to eat is an example of your best friend Friends won't give you advice when you really need it, but best friends will. Friends may take the time out to listen, but there is no guarantee they will be able to guide you. Your best friend will sit down and offer his or her advice and practical wisdom when things go pear shaped.

[@abigaelrarts2257]

i feel so lucky and appreciative to have a best friend. she means the world to me and the trust and support we give eachother gives my life so much meaning, guidance and positivity. i love her so much, and living 9 time zones away now makes it all the more important to keep in contact and share our lives w each other day to day. i love technology for that. remind your bestie you love them! your relationship is important to maintain

[@Elfos64]

The protagonost not being a very good friend back to the "best friend" character. Yes, that issue is even more glaring in Sitcoms. With film, you only see a highly edited couple hours of their relationship, whereas in TV shows, you see several seasons worth of a wider variety of what their lives consist of, and you see just how regular an occurrence the one-sidedness of their relationship is with much less room for speculation on the parts you don't see.

[@createplanwithelle]

The Take should watch Korean drama Extra-Ordinary You. They tackled these stereotypes then mock it.

[@nikiharris7]

Thank you so much for making these tripe videos they are so good!!!

[@birdpaladin9332]

Aw, Samwise Gamgee. I near cried with that clip around minute 1:00 where he said he'll carry Frodo. That's all it takes for me to feel his love...

[@emanovakovic561]

i love these videos!

[@C0smiccharm]

I keep thinking that The Take’s “T” logo in the corner is Telemundo

[@missbriteside6598]

Man, I feel this personally. Because I’m really empathetic and good at problem solving, I like to hear people out and try my best to life them up. I like helping others and putting a smile on their face. I know what it’s like to have a hard life so I like making others comfortable and happy while around me. This led to a lot of people using me for advice and when I needed to vent, they weren’t there. All I wanted was to be treated with the same kindness they liked to be treated with but I guess they only wanted to receive it.