Books/films where the main character contributes nothing to the plot

goose1 · 04-09-2015 02:01PM #1

Originally inspired from The Big Bang Theory where Amy ruins Raiders of the Lost Ark for Sheldon by pointing out that Indiana Jones has no actual bearing on the outcome of the plot.

Now while doing some extremely highbrow re-reading of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone I realised that Harry also has absolutely no bearing on the outcome of that book/film! Yeah, sure, Voldemort couldn't kill him as a baby but if he had never gone to Hogwarts, never found out about the Philosopher's Stone, never tried to track it down, Voldemort still couldn't have come back to power!

In fact, Harry actually made the situation MORE dangerous as without him finding Quirrell looking in the mirror of Erised, Quirrell/Voldemort never could have got the stone!

Rant over.

Any other films/books where the presence of the main character ultimately makes no difference to the outcome of the plot?

BoJack Horseman · 04-09-2015 02:03PM

Gloin.... From The Hobbit trilogy.

Eye candy, but adds nothing to the plot.

Akrasia · 04-09-2015 02:07PM

Titanic

Birneybau · 04-09-2015 02:07PM

The Bible.

The_Valeyard · 04-09-2015 02:18PM

Tom Cruise, War of the Worlds

The_Valeyard · 04-09-2015 02:20PM

Birneybau wrote: »

The Bible.

Well, the New Testament would be a lot shorter without that Jesus guy, he is kinda a main character.

Kazooie · 04-09-2015 02:20PM

Season 2 of true detective. None of the main characters mattered in the end. It was a tough watch I tells ya.

prettyrestless · 04-09-2015 02:24PM

All of the final destination films. They die anyway. And after the initial event, the protagonist trying to warn others of their impending doom normally gets them killed sooner.

bnt · 04-09-2015 05:16PM

Who says the the main character in a book must actively contribute to the plot? They can also act as the catalyst for events outside their control.

The first example that comes to mind is the titular character of Voltaire's Candide: he doesn't actually do much, but a helluva lot of stuff happens to him and the people he encounters on his journey.

Another one is Katniss in The Hunger Games books and movies. Yes, she's a good fighter, but after taking the decision to step in for her little sister at the very beginning, she's pretty much a figurehead who gets carried along on a wave of popular rebellion.

Until the very end of the series, that is, when she sees what's reallly happening and decides to stop it.

5rtytry56 · 04-09-2015 05:18PM

Sven Hassel himself in all Sven Hassel novels. He's immaterial to the outcome of the situation - he just survives until the next battle the nazis loose. In fact Josef Porta, "Tiny" Cruezfelt and the "Old Man" risk their own necks time and time again to save Sven's ass.

goose1 · 04-09-2015 05:44PM

I get your point but when their existence doesn't actually effect events of the plot in ANY way surely that's usually a plot hole?!

Junkyard Tom · 04-09-2015 05:46PM

Akrasia wrote: »

Titanic

Titanic strikes an iceberg and sinks!

:eek:

Mr. CooL ICE · 04-09-2015 05:58PM

Walter Mitty

Sheep Lover · 04-09-2015 05:59PM

Any Nicolas Cage film..

Banjo String · 04-09-2015 06:01PM

The wizard of Oz.

The wizard only had a five minute appearance ffs.

SEPT 23 1989 · 04-09-2015 06:14PM

Banjo String wrote: »

The wizard of Oz.

The wizard only had a five minute appearance ffs.

did he not tell that tramp to click her ruby slippers to get home?

Banjo String · 04-09-2015 06:17PM

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

did he not tell that tramp to click her ruby slippers to get home?

I don't think he even had that tiny part.

Wasn't that the good witch?

5rtytry56 · 04-09-2015 06:18PM

Anakin Skywalker as a child in Star Wars Episode 1.

The Backwards Man · 04-09-2015 06:48PM

Biographies aside, you could argue that all major characters have no effect on the plot. A story's a story, doesn't matter who's in it.

Conall Cernach · 04-09-2015 06:49PM

5rtytry56 wrote: »

Anakin Skywalker as a child in Star Wars Episode 1.

He destroyed the droid ship that ended up deactivating their army.

Greyfox · 04-09-2015 07:19PM

goose1 wrote: »

Now while doing some extremely highbrow re-reading of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone I realised that Harry also has absolutely no bearing on the outcome of that book/film! Yeah, sure, Voldemort couldn't kill him as a baby but if he had never gone to Hogwarts, never found out about the Philosopher's Stone, never tried to track it down, Voldemort still couldn't have come back to power!

In fact, Harry actually made the situation MORE dangerous as without him finding Quirrell looking in the mirror of Erised, Quirrell/Voldemort never could have got the stone!

This is a very bad example. If Harry wasn't in Hogwarts chances are Quirrel would of got his hands on the stone in a slightly different way and Voldemort would return. Also Voldemorts first attempt to return is only part of the plot, its more about Harrys journey of learning that he's not a weirdo, theirs actually people in the world that dont hate him and who he is and how his parents really died, its more of a setting the world up story. The fact is Voldemort was always going to return and once he did he was always going to try to kill Harry even if he didnt go to Hogwarts so Harry and voldemorts destinys were always tied to each other even in the first book

Turtyturd · 04-09-2015 07:30PM

Greyfox wrote: »

This is a very bad example. If Harry wasn't in Hogwarts chances are Quirrel would of got his hands on the stone in a slightly different way and Voldemort would return. Also Voldemorts first attempt to return is only part of the plot, its more about Harrys journey of learning that he's not a weirdo, theirs actually people in the world that dont hate him and who he is and how his parents really died, its more of a setting the world up story. The fact is Voldemort was always going to return and once he did he was always going to try to kill Harry even if he didnt go to Hogwarts so Harry and voldemorts destinys were always tied to each other even in the first book

It's also a bad example for listing several ways he contributed to the plot.

Conor Bourke · 04-09-2015 08:11PM

Trent

bnt · 04-09-2015 09:09PM

5rtytry56 wrote: »

Sven Hassel himself in all Sven Hassel novels. He's immaterial to the outcome of the situation - he just survives until the next battle the nazis loose. In fact Josef Porta, "Tiny" Cruezfelt and the "Old Man" risk their own necks time and time again to save Sven's ass.

Ah, but then Sven is the Narrator, but not a main character! I remember he was the best at throwing grenades, but in his telling he sometimes messed that up badly.

As for that comment about the Wizard of Oz: he wasn't a main character, either. The book and film were about the search for him, not about him. Ditto for the titluar whale in Moby Dick, while Shakespeare's Julius Caesar was about his assassins, not him: the name might be on the title, but that doesn't make him the main character.

goose1 · 05-09-2015 12:52AM

Oh yeah, the greater Harry-finding-himself plot isn't lost on me and of course I love it!

But ignore future books - in this book Harry DOES take it upon himself to track down the potential robber of the philosopher's stone...that's what the majority of the book centres around.

HOW could Quirrell get the stone without Harry, Dumbledore's enchantment in mind???

Le Surge Eyed Amant · 05-09-2015 01:05AM

The book is about Harry Potter, hint is in the name. Yeah, I'd say he contributed a fair bit alright.

05-09-2015 01:15AM

Humpty Dumpty.

That old Egg only got his own nursery rhyme in one of the worlds first spin offs

One eyed Jack · 05-09-2015 01:25AM

Macbeth.

He's nothing more than a puppet for Lady Macbeth and the three witches.

Yellowblackbird · 05-09-2015 01:25AM

If Indiana Jones wasn't there when they opened the arc then the americans wouldn't have got the arc.

Either there would have been other nazis on the island not present during the opening who would have taken it. Or it would have sat there. Probably redeemed by nazis sent to find out what happened.

Zaph · 05-09-2015 01:51AM

Alaskimo-cake wrote: »

Trent

You take that back! I will not tolerate any criticism of Trent. :mad:

05-09-2015 08:00AM

Yellowblackbird wrote: »

If Indiana Jones wasn't there when they opened the arc then the americans wouldn't have got the arc.

Either there would have been other nazis on the island not present during the opening who would have taken it. Or it would have sat there. Probably redeemed by nazis sent to find out what happened.

Marion would also likely be dead.

Books/films where the main character contributes nothing to the plot

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