"Best Sidekick (Round 3)" Topic

I was amused by the Green Hornet TV series with Bruce Lee as Kato: at the episode's climax GH engaged in prolonged fisticuffs with the episode's villain, while Kato disabled 3 or 4 minions with Kung Fu.

Mrs. Peel isn't a sidekick; she's a lead character.
Alfred isn't a sidekick; he's an assisting secondary character, but only of significance on rare occasions.
Dr. McCoy isn't a sidekick; he's a prominent ensemble character bordering on lead, which he later becomes.
Spock is not a sidekick; he is a lead character in his own right.
Samwise Gamgee is borderline; he does pretty much begin as a sidekick, but by the end he is taking decisions and actions in his own right.

A sidekick is (almost) always subordinate to the decision of a lead character, typically offering very little in thought, decision, or action that is not already determined by a lead character. The lead initiates and moves the story forward; the sidekick merely facilitates, often in only minor ways.

Thus, Dr. Watson, Kato, Robin, Chewbacca, and Tonto are excellent examples of true sidekicks. They are almost always present with the hero, seldom present without the hero, the story is almost never initiated by or moved forward by them, and their actions are largely directed by if not ordered by the hero. Plus, their dialogue is almost always spoken in support of or in response to the hero's thoughts and deeds. This is the nature of a sidekick.

Thus, Dr. Watson, Kato, Robin, Chewbacca, and Tonto are excellent examples of true sidekicks.

Yup and those are the ones I voted for.