Introduction to character arcs
Life is full of changes. We grow, learn, and change as we develop as humans, and it should be the same for your characters.
When you first start writing your stories, one of the first things you need to consider is character arcs. A character arc is the transformation a character goes through over the course of a story. As much as we’d love it to be plain sailing, it shouldn’t be. Just as we experience highs and lows in life, so should the characters in our screenplays.
Characters should never be the same person they were when we first met them. We need to recognize how their desires and needs have been met (or haven’t met), as well as understand their flaws and what makes them who they are.
A well-developed arc can work wonders for audience engagement in our screenplays, turning them either into a fan-favorite or most-hated. Crafting relatable and interesting characters makes the stories they’re part of shine. Not all characters necessarily need to change, but when it comes to the protagonist, antagonist and other major characters, it’s vital to writing a killer story.
Most character arcs will include some sort of change, but not all arcs are built the same. Here are six character arcs that we can recognize in most films and TV shows:
- Transformative
- Maturation
- Growth
- Redemption
- Declining
- Flat
If you’d like to spend more time exploring these types of arcs, head on over to our article here, which goes into more detail. Just make sure you join us back here when you’re done!
In today’s article, we’ll explore what makes a character arc successful, and dissect some of the best (and worst!) examples from film and television.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into the world of character…
Successful arcs
Successful character arcs are everywhere. Loved characters in film and TV that audiences just can’t get enough of. All of these are relatable and have a strong growth journey from start to finish.
They overcome challenges, face their greatest fears, and ultimately become a different person. The changes they go through don’t always need to be positive, with some characters finishing in a worse position than when they started.
So, it’s time to take a look at some of the best character arcs in the film and television of recent years.
Daryl Dixon | The Walking Dead
Transformative Arc
When we first meet Daryl Dixon, he’s a recluse. Suspicious of those around him, he prefers to remain a lone wolf for the first season. He originally encounters Rick Grimes in Season 1, Episode 3 when hunting for food. Embodying the role of hunter and tracker, Daryl has his own struggles in the midst of the infected world around him. A turbulent relationship with his older brother, Merle, who raised him, caused Daryl to be untrusting and cold.
In Season 2, Daryl became a series regular, his rough edges starting to smooth out, and the group begins to trust him more. He becomes Rick’s right-hand man eventually, his bonds with the rest of the group strengthening.
Daryl’s slow-burning character arc made him especially popular with audiences who bought into his deepening relationships, and gradual change – it all seemed so natural, a lot like how we change and evolve day to day.
Audiences loved him so much, that Daryl earned his own spinoff show The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, which launched in 2023.
Nebula | Guardians of the Galaxy (Vol. 1-3)
Redemption Arc
Nebula’s evolution from seemingly cold-hearted protagonist to one of the trusted Guardians of the Galaxy, it’s safe to say her character arcs is one of the most impressive and intriguing in the MCU.
First introduced as one of Thanos’ adopted daughters alongside Gamora, Nebula’s life is full of trauma. She was taken from her birth parents as a young child and experimented on by the man she was meant to call father. During the first installment of the Guardians series, we see her hell-bent on revenge and filled with jealousy over Thanos favoring Gamora.
But when Nebula comes to take her revenge on Gamora in Vol. 2, she can’t face killing her, realizing she needs a family, and Gamora is part of that. She joins the Guardians, and we see her demeanor change in how she cares for others. She is a stalwart member of the group when she helps Peter Quill grieve and saves Rocket.
From doing everything she can to take revenge, to doing everything she can to help others, Nebula’s character arc is one of the best around.
Michael Scott | The Office
Redemption Arc
If you read our recent sitcom post, you’ll know that Michael Scott’s character evolution had a rocky start. Inspired by the original UK series, the writers of The Office made Scott’s character very similar to David Brent, his British counterpart, which did not land well with the US audience. He wasn’t just cringe-worthy, he was down-right obnoxious.
For Season 2, Michael’s character was toned down. He was no less awkward, but there was more of a sense of him just wanting to be liked. Constantly trying to impress his team and seeking validation, he came across a lot more endearing.
After several failed relationships, Michael finally settled down with Holly. The couple got married and had four children. A fitting end following years of struggle and awkward silences.
Jon Snow | Game of Thrones
Archetypal Arc
Introduced as the illegitimate child of one of the show’s most popular patriarchs (despite his untimely death), Ned Stark, Jon Snow is given one of the less grand starts in Game of Thrones. A skilled fighter with a strong heart, it is Jon’s parentage that ultimately pulls him down in the hierarchy of the show.
Despite leading with honesty and integrity, Jon comes up against more than most of the characters, uncovering corruption within the Night’s Watch, losing the woman he loves, narrowing avoiding execution, before becoming Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch and taking his place in Winterfell as King in the North.
It’s these trials and tribulations that allowed audiences to become attached to Jon Snow. If we do say so ourselves, his eventual victory in Kings Landing in the final episode was well deserved. The right man came out on top, despite what it took to get there.
Disappointing arcs
Sometimes character arcs don’t live up to an audience’s expectations, causing disappointment for a film or TV series. Sometimes the decisions characters make just don’t make sense based on what we already know about them. As writers, we don’t always get it right, and characters that began as some of the most popular can fall into the abyss.
Let’s flip over to the other side for a look at some of the most disappointing arcs.
Daenerys Targaryen | Game of Thrones
Tragic Arc
First, we’ll head back to Game of Thrones, and perhaps one of the most disappointing character arcs in recent TV history. Many would refer to it as a ‘character assassination’.
Like many of the Game of Thrones characters, Daenerys started the series in an unfavorable position, trying to escape the clutches of her power-hungry brother and living under the shadow of her now deceased father, the Mad King. Through sheer grit and careful power play, she managed to forge herself into a liberator of slaves, the powerful Mother of Dragons.
By the finale of season eight, Daenerys had arguably become that which she escaped right at the beginning of her journey. Audiences were in uproar as they watched a once beloved character turn murderous and tyrannical.
It wasn’t necessarily the change in character that called Daenerys’ final actions into question, but rather the speed in which this change occurred. Arguably, it would have made more sense to incite this change over a longer period, peppering moments of foreshadowing throughout earlier episodes and seasons to hint at what was to come.
However, this wasn’t the writers’ first rodeo when it came to shocking moments. From Ned Stark’s untimely death to the Red Wedding, Game of Thrones will always be known for giving the audience what they least expect – and that in itself is exciting.
Rory Gilmore | Gilmore Girls
Declining Arc
It’s probably deliberate that Rory’s character arc is the opposite of her mother, Lorelai’s. She begins as a keen academic whose dreams of attending Harvard drive all that she does. Naturally, the trials of growing up in terms of friendships, romance, and simply being a teenager help shape Rory into a responsible and mature university student.
However, audiences started to complain, as in later seasons, Rory’s decisions (decisions that would have raised her own eyebrows as a younger teen), such as getting back with a married ex and being selfish, just didn’t seem to make any sense.
Throughout the show, Rory didn’t face a whole lot of criticism from the other characters, being the apple of both Lorelai and her grandparents’ eyes. Conversely, it was Lorelai that received most of the flack. But when Rory was confronted, her reactions weren’t always what we’d expect as an audience. This continued into adulthood, and audiences weren’t pleased to see much had changed in the latest season, The Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.
The Utility of Flawed Arcs
This does not mean that flawed character arcs, such as Rory Gilmore and Daenerys Targaryen’s, don’t have a place in stories. Every human being has flaws, and to reflect that in film and TV is important. Like it or not, they make characters more relatable and interesting.
Flawed arcs pave the way for further conflict; just think, if Rory was completely selfless all the time, we wouldn’t have seen her and Lorelai butt heads.
Similarly, take Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries. Despite his beauty and strength, he causes problems and conflict and doesn’t consider the consequences of his actions. Without that, we’d be missing a huge chunk of the overall story.
Characters must be believable. Sometimes we act out of character or do something that doesn’t make sense pertaining to who we are. So, shouldn’t our characters do the same in theory? Not everyone can be or has to be a hero, and that’s okay.
Related Article: Developing your Characters
Lessons
In essence, there is a time and place for both of what we would deem as successful and disappointing character arcs. What’s important is that our characters have desires, motivations, and obstacles to overcome to get what they want. How will they change along the way as they pursue that goal, and how will those changes inform how they act going forward?
What the characters of Rory and Daenerys teach us is the value of consistency and planning logical steps. If you need your character to take a sudden U-turn, how are you going to slowly introduce this, so their growth is as believable as possible?
Conclusion
Character arcs are essential to creating compelling, believable stories that resonate with audiences. Whether a character undergoes a transformation, redemption, or decline, their journey must feel authentic and rooted in their desires, flaws, and growth. Strong arcs keep viewers invested, as we witness characters navigate challenges and emerge changed, for better or worse. On the other hand, rushed or inconsistent arcs can alienate audiences and detract from a story’s impact. By carefully crafting these arcs and maintaining consistency, you can create characters that feel real, memorable, and emotionally engaging, ensuring their stories leave a lasting impression.
Once you’ve got your screenplay planned out, you need to ensure it’s formatted to industry standard. Here at Celtx, we support you on every step of your writing journey, so make sure to check out our range of resources here.
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