Side Characters: Unsung Heroes of Storytelling

 This time around I had a few ideas of what to write about. And the one I landed on involves "Side Characters". Not to be confused with Supporting Characters, who are more involved with the main cast and overall story. So, why have I decided on something like this? Well, I thought it would be fun to talk about specific cases from varying genres. This also gives me a reason to talk about an unlikely candidate. 

But to ease into the topic, I am going to use One Piece as a springboard. And the perfect character for this, is none other than Curly Dadan. The mountain bandit turned surrogate parent, is without a doubt one of the most slept on characters in the whole series. There's an argument for a more in-depth look at the character, but for now, I am going to focus on what makes her so great. (Disclaimer: If it wasn't already apparent, spoilers for everything in this post.) 

Prior to Dadan's physical debut in the Anime and Manga proper, she is casually mentioned by Woop Slap, the Mayor of Windmill Village (Luffy's Hometown), after the events of Enies Lobby. So, nearly 200 episodes go by before actually meeting her. I had to rewatch the episode section just to make sure because I definitely missed that when I first watched years ago. And it adds to the number of times that Eiichiro Oda has managed to pull a fast one on me. Like, why would I remember a name I have never seen before over the passage of about 200 episodes. One Piece has always been the notebook series, because you can't possibly remember all of the tiny drops of information. 

But to get back on track, Dadan debuts as this goofy bandit leader alongside her sidekicks, Dogra and Magra. What transpires over the course of this backstory arc focused on Luffy, Ace, and eventually Sabo (Luffy's Other Brother) is something that establishes the people that helped make them. And at the forefront of that conversation is Curly Dadan. A character that feigns this reluctance to take care of these troublesome kids, when in actuality, she cares immensely. So, the Found Family theme that is so heavily entrenched in One Piece's DNA emerges from this unlikely grouping. 

When Ace and Luffy depart on their pirate journeys, they make an effort to thank Dadan and the rest of the bandits for raising them over the span of 10+ years before leaving. This says a lot about Dadan and her crew. It showcases that they were reliable and responsible enough to make sure the two developed into people good enough to leave the island. But this aspect does not make Dadan a powerhouse. It's what happens after Ace dies. 

Chaos ensued with the loss of Whitebeard, and this made Garp, Luffy's Grandfather, return to Windmill Village as a way to dissuade pirates from ransacking the area. But right before Garp lands, we see Dadan drinking heavily at Makino's Bar. So, when news of his arrival reaches her, she gets up to go confront him. And this confrontation is character defining for me. It shows love, humility, and some of the rawest passion in the series. 

It's one of those moments that really hurts the perception of Garp. The Great "Hero of the Navy"  can save many, but not his own. Even though he does get upset at Akainu post-killing. Garp continually battles with himself over job vs family. A conundrum that is complicated, yet not at the same time. He either chooses to demoralize the Marines or he can choose to keep his family safe. As we already know, he chooses the job over his family. 

It makes you look at his presence as well. The absenteeness, and finding a new family amongst the Marines is what defines Garp. But when you leave that circle, then you might as well be the enemy. And that's what I feel when Dadan berates him. While Garp chooses to take it on the chin, it ultimately feels like his sentence. Meanwhile, Dadan exclaims exactly what anyone else should be saying. "Why?! Why?! Why?! Why?! Why?!" He was there, and decided that doing nothing was better than something. While Garp was conflicted about what he should do for himself. He never thought about what he should do for Luffy. A sentiment that Dadan shouts through her tears. 

So, it's a shame that there isn't more praise for a character like Dadan. She exemplifies the heart and soul of the series so well in so little time. Not to mention, how heartbreaking it is for a Mom to not only see that her one of her kids has died, but to also be aware of the mental anguish of her other son. Much more than the Grandfather who couldn't be bothered to take responsibility. Rewatching the scene made me bawl because of those swirling emotions. It hits like a truck, and it showcases the importance of these side characters.  So, I've talked enough about the great Curly Dadan, Let's shift gears to my unlikely candidate, Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning (Directed by Danny Steinmann).

An odd pick to place against something like One Piece, yet there is a good reason. So, while Friday Part V is not considered a very good film in pretty much any aspect. I think that it excels at having some of the most fun side characters. And one of the reasons for that is how dull the core group feels by comparison. It almost feels like they were given a golden opportunity to show up for around five minutes at a time and give all of the needed information before meeting their unfortunate demises. 

First, I'll start off with Pete (played by Corey Parker) and Vinnie (played by Anthony Barrile) . The "Totally Not Gay Greasers" are a fun duo. They're having car trouble and getting pissy with each other over fixing it. The dynamic is in line with how some of the others interact in this film. But the key to success here is that toxic married couple vibe. They're at each other's throats while being sassy and creative. They may be in and out of the film in minutes, yet they operate on the same level as Crazy Ralph (played by Walt Gorney) did in the first two films. Come in, be memorable, and then leave. Alive or dead doesn't matter, however it skews dead more times than not. 

It's one of those things where I can recite the Pete and Vinnie lines randomly without having to watch the film. Just a couple of dudes at night that are definitely going to rough some people up after they fix the car. But the fun doesn't stop there. As my next tribute involves the characters Billy (played by Bob DeSimone) and Lana (played by Rebecca Wood-Sharkey). 

Another couple that does more on-screen than they have any need for. And Billy actually has a bit more screen time as we are introduced to him in the beginning when dropping off Tommy Jarvis at the halfway house. And that is more than enough time needed in order to understand Billy. His sleazy, crude behavior is shown as soon as Pam and Tommy leave. Giving the audience a real good sense of how Billy is all the time. And this doesn't change when he's reintroduced with his waitress girlfriend, Lana. Billy just happens to be a bit more open than when he's on the clock. 

What really stands out for me is that cartoonishness that Bob DeSimone brings to the character. Sticking his tongue out, and making goofy noises when he snorts coke ends up adding a lot of personality. It's the thing that makes him so memorable. While Lana isn't as silly as Billy, her playfulness and concerns match the same energy. Especially, when she's getting ready for night on the town with Billy. So much bubbliness and whimsy. They're two peas in a pod that give a nice break before getting axed.

But wait there's one more couple left. And that would be Demon (played by Miguel A. Núñez Jr.) and Anita (played by Jere Fields). Demon is the brother of Reggie the Reckless (played by Shavar Ross), one of the heroes of Friday Part V. And What Demon adds to the film trends along with what Pete, Vinnie, Billy, and Lana were also bringing. A bright and colorful dynamic that eases the tension before ripping them from the fabric of the film. However, what I like about Demon the most, is the vibe. He's living out of his van in a trailer park with his girlfriend. Yet, when he sees Reggie. You don't see a sketchy, or even unfortunate person, you see a man that loves his little brother. 

Núñez's elation at the sight of his on-screen brother, and the actions that follow give enough information for the audience to attach themselves. Demon accommodates as best as he can, even offering a gift for Reggie to take back. You get the sense that they are family that deeply care for each other. And then you have the aspect with Anita. Their dynamic is also playful with a chill vibe. I mean, they are smoking weed. I'd hope the vibes would match. This sequence is one of the points in the movie where Part V excels the most. It's one of those things where I wish Demon and Anita were in more of the film. Trim out some of the other characters, and I think the movie improves a bit more. Especially when you consider that Reggie is the best part of the movie. 

That's all for today. I did have some thoughts for other series to bring up. But I feel like this is more than enough. Side Characters are great, but they are not Supporting Cast. That difference is important because your Supporting Characters need to be relevant, but not in the core group. Whereas side characters can exist in these outside realms, yet still be affected by the events surrounding the mains and supports. Like, Curly Dadan will never be more relevant than Garp. But she is impactful regardless. 

I think many pieces of media disregard this notion too much. When cooking a meal, every ingredient is important. Skimping out on the recipe can change it. Making the dish lack the flavor that it could have always had. Strive for wanting the best out of the media that you love. Never settle, because then you're just gonna get the bare minimum. But also remember that you are at the whims of the crews and circumstances behind these projects. So, tempering expectations also becomes part of it. At the end of the day, Side Characters can elevate everything. Just gotta put the work in. 

And remember to Free Palestine, Free Congo, Free Sudan, Free Venezuela and to Free Lebanon from the onslaught of their oppressors. Never stop talking about them. They think that we don't care, but we see everything. Never forget that. They are trying to suppress our voices because they matter, remember that. There may have been a ceasefire in Gaza, but Palestine still needs to be completely free.