Three Truths to Every Story
I had received so many “What Makes for a Good - STORY” that
I decided to look at this question from all sides a bit closer. (Don’t Panic!
There will be more.) What I had realized is that most noteworthy written
stories, TV shows, Cartoons, and Movies have three basic elements. They are the
fool (or comic relief /clown), the realist (our own flawed point of view), and
the intellectual (or can be explained by science or logical means.). Unlike the
three truths of a two person conversation, these three truths are present in
most (if not more than most) aspects of good storytelling. If you think about
it, most stories have these same three basic elements. Take for instance these
four examples. TV shows like Chuck, Arrow, and Stargate SG1. Cartoons/Anime we
have Naruto, Batman (all forms), and Superman (all forms). Lastly we have
Movies like Harry Potter, and the original Star Trek and Star Wars (to keep
this short). Let’s get down to this (very) short list.
TV Shows:
Chuck
Chuck Bartowski the comic relief, Sarah Walker the intellectual, and John Casey the realist. Chuck is a bumbling computer nerd with all the worlds secrets implanted in his brain, but still has trouble telling the girl he is in love with how he feels. Although, at the moment, he shows flashes of brilliance, it is Sarah Walker, who make things happen and is always thinking three steps head. As far as the John Casey character, he’s reaction is what most of us believes is the correct course to sail. Shoot first and have a sandwich with two fingers of scotch.
Chuck Bartowski the comic relief, Sarah Walker the intellectual, and John Casey the realist. Chuck is a bumbling computer nerd with all the worlds secrets implanted in his brain, but still has trouble telling the girl he is in love with how he feels. Although, at the moment, he shows flashes of brilliance, it is Sarah Walker, who make things happen and is always thinking three steps head. As far as the John Casey character, he’s reaction is what most of us believes is the correct course to sail. Shoot first and have a sandwich with two fingers of scotch.
Arrow
On this TV show we have Oliver Queen/The Arrow or Green Arrow the fool (doesn’t rely on his friends), John Diggle the realist, and Felicity Smoke the intellectual. The Oliver Queen character is a different kind of fool, but he is a fool never the less. I guess that is what makes for good drama. As with the lawyer who represent themselves has a fool for a client, the Oliver Queen character brings his own comedy and tragedy as soon as he opens his mouth, or doesn’t open it. The other two legs of this three legged stool are equal in their own support. John Diggle is (for the most part) the voice of reason and the Felicity Smoke character does the impossible with technology and totally does it looking sexy wearing glasses and a ponytail.
On this TV show we have Oliver Queen/The Arrow or Green Arrow the fool (doesn’t rely on his friends), John Diggle the realist, and Felicity Smoke the intellectual. The Oliver Queen character is a different kind of fool, but he is a fool never the less. I guess that is what makes for good drama. As with the lawyer who represent themselves has a fool for a client, the Oliver Queen character brings his own comedy and tragedy as soon as he opens his mouth, or doesn’t open it. The other two legs of this three legged stool are equal in their own support. John Diggle is (for the most part) the voice of reason and the Felicity Smoke character does the impossible with technology and totally does it looking sexy wearing glasses and a ponytail.
Stargate SG1
This Sci-Fi gem we have captain Jack O'Neill the comic relief, Samantha Carter the realist, and Daniel Jackson the realist. For anyone who has seen the original movie or the TV show, these three characters fill these three rolls clearly. And, after one episode (pick one) there is no question who fills these three basic characters. I know, Teal'c is involved as well, but floats to all three rolls as a filler.
This Sci-Fi gem we have captain Jack O'Neill the comic relief, Samantha Carter the realist, and Daniel Jackson the realist. For anyone who has seen the original movie or the TV show, these three characters fill these three rolls clearly. And, after one episode (pick one) there is no question who fills these three basic characters. I know, Teal'c is involved as well, but floats to all three rolls as a filler.
Also honorable mention: Fire Fly, Farscape, and Jake 2.0
Cartoons/Anime:
Naruto
Naruto Uzumaki the comic relief ninja, Sasuke Uchiha the realist ninja, and Sakura Haruno the intellectual ninja. Like all the previous mentioned, this three legged stool also points out the theory of the three sided love triangle as well and characters that fit the three level model of fool, realist, and intellectual perfections.
Naruto Uzumaki the comic relief ninja, Sasuke Uchiha the realist ninja, and Sakura Haruno the intellectual ninja. Like all the previous mentioned, this three legged stool also points out the theory of the three sided love triangle as well and characters that fit the three level model of fool, realist, and intellectual perfections.
Batman (all forms)
Bruce Wayne/Batman the Intellectual, Dick Grayson/Robin the comic relief, and Alfred Thaddeus Crane Pennyworth the realist. Batman is also known as the Great Detective because he uses his intellect even when he is demonstrating his brawn. The Dick Grayson character is an adolescent in more ways than one, and that alone is always a cause for humor. As for the Honorable Alfred Thaddeus Crane Pennyworth, he holds his boys down from getting too out of hand with passive aggression and simplifies the complicated.
Bruce Wayne/Batman the Intellectual, Dick Grayson/Robin the comic relief, and Alfred Thaddeus Crane Pennyworth the realist. Batman is also known as the Great Detective because he uses his intellect even when he is demonstrating his brawn. The Dick Grayson character is an adolescent in more ways than one, and that alone is always a cause for humor. As for the Honorable Alfred Thaddeus Crane Pennyworth, he holds his boys down from getting too out of hand with passive aggression and simplifies the complicated.
Superman (all forms)
Kal-El/ Clark Jerome Kent/Superman the intellectual, Lois Lane the realist, and Jimmy Olsen the comic relief.
Kal-El/ Clark Jerome Kent/Superman the intellectual, Lois Lane the realist, and Jimmy Olsen the comic relief.
Movies: All of these are self-explanatory (except for the
last on this list).
Harry Potter
Harry Potter the realist, Ron Weasley the fool, and Hermione Granger the intellectual.
Harry Potter the realist, Ron Weasley the fool, and Hermione Granger the intellectual.
Twilight
Edward Cullen intellectual, Bella Swan fool, and Jacob Black the realist.
Edward Cullen intellectual, Bella Swan fool, and Jacob Black the realist.
Star Trek
Captain James Tiberius "Jim" Kirk the comic relief, Doctor Leonard McCoy the realist, and Mr. Spock the scientific and logical point of view.
Captain James Tiberius "Jim" Kirk the comic relief, Doctor Leonard McCoy the realist, and Mr. Spock the scientific and logical point of view.
Star Wars
This one is a bit harder because it has two droids (R2-D2 and C-3PO) that are also chief characters, but we will leave them on the side because they are clearly both the comic relief and the intellectual point of view. For the most part the Luke Skywalker & Princess Leia Organa are the realist, Han Solo is the comic relief, and Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda are the intellectuals.
This one is a bit harder because it has two droids (R2-D2 and C-3PO) that are also chief characters, but we will leave them on the side because they are clearly both the comic relief and the intellectual point of view. For the most part the Luke Skywalker & Princess Leia Organa are the realist, Han Solo is the comic relief, and Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda are the intellectuals.
Of course you
can make an argument that some of these characters can fall into one or more of
the three categories at times, but for the most part they main characteristics
are listed. The point I’m trying to make is that there are three sides to each
of these examples regardless of the supporting characters’ appearances. Their
appearance is to amplify the main characters particular representation of one
of the three basic characteristics of the fool or comic relief, the voice of
reason or a realist, and the logical or scientific person who truly believes
that there is an explanation for whatever the event they are dealing with. I
know this is simplistic and there are more shades of gray between these three
characters’ characteristics, but I’ll put this question to you. How many TV
Shows, Animation, Movies, or books have you seen with one of these
characteristics missing or two characters displaying the same characteristics
at the same time throughout any given scene, event, or chapter. I can only
think of one and that is Doctor Who (at times or between doctors). Character
development is always important, but the ease in which characters complimenting one
another is just as important, if not more so. As the old saying goes, like a
magnet, opposites attract and similar repels and compete with one another for the girl (or guy). SD
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