Audience Surrogate Newcomer: Difference between revisions
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m (Labster moved page Trope Workshop:Audience Surrogate Protagonist to Trope Workshop:Audience Surrogate Newcomer without leaving a redirect: They're not "The Protagonist" so this is probably a less confusing title) |
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In short, [[Supporting Protagonist]] [[X Meets Y|meets]] [[Audience Surrogate]]. |
In short, [[Supporting Protagonist]] [[X Meets Y|meets]] [[Audience Surrogate]]. |
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There's some world that is already happening, and this character gets thrown in, ''[[In Medias Res|in medias res]]'', which is an awful lot like [[Real Life]] can be. The important thing is that they are not the [[Protagonist]], and are definitely not [[The Chosen One]]. They are just an ordinary character, and often appear in [[Ensemble Cast]] works. |
There's some world that is already happening, and this character gets thrown in, ''[[In Medias Res|in medias res]]'', which is an awful lot like [[Real Life]] can be. The important thing is that they are not the [[Protagonist]], and are definitely not [[The Chosen One]] -- like 99.9% of the audience. They are just an ordinary character, and often appear in [[Ensemble Cast]] works. |
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The purpose of these characters is to provide a |
The purpose of these characters is to provide a viewpoint to the audience. At first, they give the audience someone to follow who they can identify with, as they enter an unfamiliar world. The newcomer reasonably ask questions so the audience can get its exposition, too. As such, they must appear at the beginning of a work -- often in the very first scene, and probably in a [[Welcome Episode]]. The character may decrease in importance as the series goes on, once the audience becomes acclimated to the setting. But they still provide a subtle anchor that reminds the audience of their own journey along with that character. |
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They are often, but not always, a [[Naive Newcomer]] -- the naivete is optional here. [[Fish Out of Water]] tropes are common. They may be [[The Watson]]. Closely related to [[Deuteragonist]]. |
They are often, but not always, a [[Naive Newcomer]] -- the naivete is optional here. [[Fish Out of Water]] tropes are common. They may be [[The Watson]]. Closely related to [[Deuteragonist]]. Contrast [[Chosen One]] and [[Coming of Age Story]], where the newcomer grows into the lead role. For shows that start off like this, then veer off towards two lead characters fulfilling this role to each other's milleu, see instead [[Wunza Plot]]. |
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{{examples}} |
{{examples}} |
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== [[Advertising]] == |
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== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] == |
== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] == |
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* Kagome in ''[[Inuyasha]]'' is perhaps the [[Deuteragonist]], but as an [[Ordinary High School Student]] in the mythical [[Jidai Geki]], she provides someone for the audience to relate to. |
* Kagome in ''[[Inuyasha]]'' is perhaps the [[Deuteragonist]], but as an [[Ordinary High School Student]] in the mythical [[Jidai Geki]], she provides someone for the audience to relate to. |
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* Togusa in ''[[Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex]]'' is the newest member of Public Security Section 9, and an unaugmented human to boot. |
* Togusa in ''[[Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex]]'' is the newest member of Public Security Section 9, and an unaugmented human to boot. |
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* Averted in ''[[Super GALS!]]'', where it looks like Aya is going to be in the shadow of gregarious Ran the entire time. And indeed, the story revolves around Ran -- but |
* Averted in ''[[Super GALS!]]'', where it looks like Aya is going to be in the shadow of gregarious Ran the entire time. And indeed, the story revolves around Ran -- but Ran comes out at the end exactly the same person as she was in the beginning. It turns out Aya was the [[Protagonist]] all along, as she [[Coming of Age Story|comes of age]]. |
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== [[Comic Books]] == |
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== [[Fan Works]] == |
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== [[Film]] == |
== [[Film]] == |
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* [[Buzz Lightyear of Star Command|Buzz Lightyear]] plays this role in the first ''[[Toy Story]]'' film. He's not even aware he's a toy at first, so he learns the world of the bedroom toybox at the same time as the audience. |
* [[Buzz Lightyear of Star Command|Buzz Lightyear]] plays this role in the first ''[[Toy Story]]'' film. He's not even aware he's a toy at first, so he learns the world of the bedroom toybox at the same time as the audience. |
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== [[Literature]] == |
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== [[Live-Action TV]] == |
== [[Live-Action TV]] == |
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* Harry Kim in ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'' transfers to the USS Voyager right before she's sucked in to the Delta Quadrant, and for the first year of the series tries to work his way into the existing crew relationships. Although with the Maquis present, there are two factions of crew, but Harry doesn't yet belong to either group at first. |
* Harry Kim in ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'' transfers to the USS Voyager right before she's sucked in to the Delta Quadrant, and for the first year of the series tries to work his way into the existing crew relationships. Although with the Maquis present, there are two factions of crew, but Harry doesn't yet belong to either group at first. |
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* Joel Fleischman in ''[[Northern Exposure]]'' is the new doctor paying off his student loans through practicing in the [[Quirky Town]] of Cicely, Alaska. |
* Joel Fleischman in ''[[Northern Exposure]]'' is the new doctor paying off his student loans through practicing in the [[Quirky Town]] of Cicely, Alaska. |
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== [[Music]] == |
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== [[New Media]] == |
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== [[Newspaper Comics]] == |
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== [[Oral Tradition]], Myths and Legends == |
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== [[Pinball]] == |
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== [[Podcast]]s == |
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== [[Professional Wrestling]] == |
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== [[Puppet Shows]] == |
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== [[Radio]] == |
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== [[Recorded and Stand Up Comedy]] == |
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== [[Tabletop Games]] == |
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== [[Theatre]] == |
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== [[Video Games]] == |
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== [[Visual Novel]]s == |
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== [[Web Animation]] == |
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== [[Web Comics]] == |
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== [[Web Original]] == |
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== [[Western Animation]] == |
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== Other Media == |
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== [[Real Life]] == |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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[[Category:Beginning Tropes]] |
[[Category:Beginning Tropes]] |
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[[Category:Characters As Device]] |
[[Category:Characters As Device]] |
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Latest revision as of 12:37, 22 July 2019
In short, Supporting Protagonist meets Audience Surrogate.
There's some world that is already happening, and this character gets thrown in, in medias res, which is an awful lot like Real Life can be. The important thing is that they are not the Protagonist, and are definitely not The Chosen One -- like 99.9% of the audience. They are just an ordinary character, and often appear in Ensemble Cast works.
The purpose of these characters is to provide a viewpoint to the audience. At first, they give the audience someone to follow who they can identify with, as they enter an unfamiliar world. The newcomer reasonably ask questions so the audience can get its exposition, too. As such, they must appear at the beginning of a work -- often in the very first scene, and probably in a Welcome Episode. The character may decrease in importance as the series goes on, once the audience becomes acclimated to the setting. But they still provide a subtle anchor that reminds the audience of their own journey along with that character.
They are often, but not always, a Naive Newcomer -- the naivete is optional here. Fish Out of Water tropes are common. They may be The Watson. Closely related to Deuteragonist. Contrast Chosen One and Coming of Age Story, where the newcomer grows into the lead role. For shows that start off like this, then veer off towards two lead characters fulfilling this role to each other's milleu, see instead Wunza Plot.
Examples of Audience Surrogate Newcomer include:
Anime and Manga
- Kagome in Inuyasha is perhaps the Deuteragonist, but as an Ordinary High School Student in the mythical Jidai Geki, she provides someone for the audience to relate to.
- Togusa in Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is the newest member of Public Security Section 9, and an unaugmented human to boot.
- Averted in Super GALS!, where it looks like Aya is going to be in the shadow of gregarious Ran the entire time. And indeed, the story revolves around Ran -- but Ran comes out at the end exactly the same person as she was in the beginning. It turns out Aya was the Protagonist all along, as she comes of age.
Film
- Buzz Lightyear plays this role in the first Toy Story film. He's not even aware he's a toy at first, so he learns the world of the bedroom toybox at the same time as the audience.
Live-Action TV
- Noah Wylie's Dr. John Carter in ER is a first-year resident in the hospital, getting thrown in the deep end.
- Sheriff Jack Carter in Eureka has to keep the peace in a town full of science experiments he doesn't understand, but the show quickly settles into an Ensemble Cast
- Harry Kim in Star Trek: Voyager transfers to the USS Voyager right before she's sucked in to the Delta Quadrant, and for the first year of the series tries to work his way into the existing crew relationships. Although with the Maquis present, there are two factions of crew, but Harry doesn't yet belong to either group at first.
- Joel Fleischman in Northern Exposure is the new doctor paying off his student loans through practicing in the Quirky Town of Cicely, Alaska.