Writing Character Arcs for a Series (Writing Advice)

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Күн бұрын

Learn how to write character arcs for a series, trilogy, or sequels. Examples from Breaking Bad, Terminator, Lord of the Rings, and Rocky.
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Пікірлер: 198

@silverharloe 4 ай бұрын

I haven't seen the episode yet, but just responding to the title, I feel like this is a video JJ Abrams really needed to see 20 years ago.

@WriterBrandonMcNulty 4 ай бұрын

Hahahah!

@julietardos5044 4 ай бұрын

LOL!

@talanodea 4 ай бұрын

yeah, and the fact that he’s something like over fifty years old, the era that should have all the real brain knowledge in experience, is just lazy or unaware instead. That’s why when it comes to kids who are basically in their mid or late 10s or early 20s, THEY’RE the ones actually trying to learn to continuously make great films or shows in the future!

@smorsnbread1002 4 ай бұрын

I enjoy Sokka's development over the course of the Avatar the Last Airbender series. He begins as an ungrateful child, and grows into the best version of his father. What I love about Sokka's arc specifically, is how he still possesses and maintains elements of the child he used to be (his humor and vulnerability) , while still being able to fill his father's role of leader and protecter of the tribe. Thanks for the very insightful lesson! My biggest take away: Knowing the ending of a character's arc is essential for getting them there properly.

@blokvader8283 4 ай бұрын

And then I've heard that the live action completely removes Sokka's sexism, which I do agree sexism sucks, but it's so important to his character and showing him grow. It's like one of the biggest reasons him and Suki meet

@wynautwarrior2161 4 ай бұрын

I'm glad you mention Sokka. Everyone talks about Zuko all the time (for good reason) but I want to see people talk about other characters in ATLA like Sokka.

@DisturbedFlyer7 4 ай бұрын

I would not at all say Sokka is ungrateful. He's insecure and sexist. Through the course of the show he encounters many very capable female warriors and quickly learns women are just as good at fighting. That's the arc he goes through through part of season 1. His main arc is learning he is a capable leader and warrior. That was the point of his growth culminating with Piandao.

@DisturbedFlyer7 4 ай бұрын

@@smorsnbread1002 Hardly.

@smorsnbread1002 3 ай бұрын

@@DisturbedFlyer7 I respect and appreciate your opinion! Keep on writing! :)

@MisterSynonym 4 ай бұрын

Arrogant Playboy to Hero. Dealing with the negative consequences of his own technology he's introduced into the world (twice). Becoming a team player. Dealing with PTSD. Tackling a complicated and controversial legal precedent designed to avoid future dangers. Becoming a mentor. A leader. A father. And lastly, the most selfless act of them all, paying the ultimate price for the greater good. - Regardless of your genre preferences, Tony Stark is one hell of an arc.

@quantumchaos 4 ай бұрын

And following basically the exact same arc, Oliver on Arrow. Arrogant billionaire Playboy gets stranded on an island for 5 years, has to become a hero to escape, comes home and starts off as a grounded city level hero fighting the demons of his own company's and family's past. Befriends some superheroes, builds up a team, suddenly aliens and other dimensions. Big bad shows up and kills everyone. Dies to undo the everyone killing. Man they really did rip off MCU. They even have a GOTG ripoff with Legends of Tomorrow. Group of misfits with a spaceship go around getting into hijinks.

@jesusromanpadro3853 4 ай бұрын

And you don't see this arc coming from just his first movie.

@autumnblueberry 4 ай бұрын

Only a minute and a half in, and I already had to pause because I got a burst of inspiration that lasted for like 15 minutes. This happens quite a lot while watching your videos, sometimes I have to pause multiple times because I get so inspired; thank you!

@WriterBrandonMcNulty 4 ай бұрын

That's awesome--glad to hear the videos are helping!

@warlawds7007 4 ай бұрын

How about the Rey storyline from the Star Wars sequels? She starts off as a benevolent, strong woman who lives alone in the desert and is confused by her actual identity and turns into a benevolent, strong woman who lives alone in a desert and is confused by her actual identity. Oh wait, I thought you said Character Dot.

@kellywilliams1332 4 ай бұрын

yikes...facts tho. still love star wars but this is a good example of a nonstory arc

@jfgrenier972 4 ай бұрын

well to be fair, she starts off as Mary Sue Rey, but she goes into a major tranformation. She ends as Mary Sue Rey Skywalker. That's 9 more letters in her name!

@DisturbedFlyer7 4 ай бұрын

This is hilarious. There's a lot of "strong female characters" that are super poorly written because they don't actually learn anything or change or struggle. They start off badass and perfect and end badass and perfect and that's just BAD storytelling.

@CamilaCastilhosM Ай бұрын

Rian Johnson tried, but JJ said NO

@mystbunnygaming1449 4 ай бұрын

Prince Zuko in the Avatar series had a hell of a memorable arc, flaws such as defining himself only by where he stands with his evil father, subtle hints that he might be a powerful ally to the protagonist if circumstances were different, as well as multiple setbacks away from where he ended up. His growth came very slowly through the lessons he learned from his experiences among foreign cultures and with the people he met along the way (not to mention getting a nudge here and there from his wise uncle, one of the most pleasant characters in any series, who had his own arc slowly revealed over the series. We're introduced to him after his redemption arc had already resolved long ago). Slow, but to a satisfying resolution near the end of the series. That's the first that comes to mind.

@gkoymnbxykfb 4 ай бұрын

And Zuko hasn't a linear progression which makes it even more awesome. There's this moment in season 2 when you'd think he's heading in the right direction, but he chooses wrong. I think uncle Iroh is still in the middle of his redemption arc in the beginning of the series. He's still working with the fire nation, more or less.

@mystbunnygaming1449 4 ай бұрын

@@gkoymnbxykfb There are several such moments in season 2, but yeah, eventually it seems like his transformation was complete, and then suddenly he's tempted to regress substantially. As for Iroh, I kinda disagree. From the beginning, he was warning Zuko that "My brother is not the understanding type" and can you imagine even for a second that if Zuko had decided to leave the fire nation near the beginning that Iroh wouldn't have happily accepted and supported it?

@AnotherDuck 3 ай бұрын

Came here looking for Zuko comments, found it on top, wasn't disappointed. Also highlighted by how Azula doesn't change (in that way), though she has less pull in that direction to begin with.

@truthspreader1996 3 ай бұрын

I knew a Zuko comment would be here.

@mystbunnygaming1449 3 ай бұрын

@@truthspreader1996 It appears I'm not the only one who thinks Zuko when I hear of redemption arcs. Memorable indeed.

@errantwinds-up8uu 4 ай бұрын

I literally don't think I can watch the "my brother, my captain, my king" moment ever without deep emotion. Such good writing and such good acting.

@timothygilmore3053 4 ай бұрын

I would have to say, I like Guts the best in Berserk. He always carries a huge sword, but is at first this monster of a warrior who later becomes a defender while he searches for a way to bring Casca's mind back.

@to819 4 ай бұрын

Favorite series arc has to be Will Graham on Hannibal, because he remained legitimately unpredictable down to the very last nanosecond. Absolute masterclass of writing and acting.

@WriterBrandonMcNulty 4 ай бұрын

Adding this to my list--thanks!

@ellie7252 4 ай бұрын

I love Gon from Hunter x Hunter's character arc. a little boy who's dad abandoned him when he was a baby, and his thought isn't "I hate him!" it's "wow, being a 'Hunter' must be so great, that it was worth leaving his own kid!!" ..there's alot to unpack in such a self-depreciative mentality, especially for such an outwardly cheery kid. I love how he changes as the story goes on. especially during 'that' story arc.

@gkoymnbxykfb 4 ай бұрын

Isn't Gon essentially the same character throughout the series? He wants to find his dad and he cares for his friends. What story arc are you referring to?

@ellie7252 4 ай бұрын

@@gkoymnbxykfb if that's what you think, you didn't read/watch it, lol

@kemonogane6091 4 ай бұрын

@@gkoymnbxykfb You might wanna rewatch, Gon changed quite a bit from the first arc to the last.

@xever61 4 ай бұрын

Reigen from Mob Psycho 100. Maybe not as 'grand' of an arc as many others, but that plays perfectly into the show's themes.

@BoScotty 4 ай бұрын

Another Banger, Brandon. My favorite arc is probably one of the examples in your video, Breaking Bad with Walter White, lol. But I also really really, like Zuko's transformation in Avatar: The Last air bender.

@JathenJacksonr2d2 4 ай бұрын

It took me exactly 16 seconds to find this comment

@WilliamReginaldLucas 4 ай бұрын

Jaime Lannister in the ASOIAF books has one of my favourite character arcs, really hope the last two books do it justice 🤞

@DisturbedFlyer7 4 ай бұрын

And then the show absolutely imploded all his character development. Ergh...

@WilliamReginaldLucas 4 ай бұрын

@@DisturbedFlyer7 yep pretty much, I try and forget seasons 5-8 exist

@glentz716 Ай бұрын

Agreed. Didn't see liking the character from the first book ever, but that's one case where the author got it right. Unfortunately, he commits the sin of not knowing where his story is going which is why it'll never be completed and he's already written himself into several corners.

@WilliamReginaldLucas Ай бұрын

@@glentz716 Yeah George has admitted the problem he’s facing is it’s not like he’s trying to finish one story, he’s trying to finish about 20 stories and make sure every loose end is tied up as he is a natural perfectionist. He will go down in history as one of the most inspirational writers of all time but as much as it discomforts me to say it unless scientists invent immortality I don’t think we will see the full seven books released :( I just hope Winds answers as many questions as possible, there’s so many theories but book Euron being an Eldritch agent of the apocalypse is something I cannot wait to read more of (as opposed to, y’know… show Euron)

@gabrielvermund 4 ай бұрын

My favorite character arc is Zuko's in ATLA. Super profound

@DisturbedFlyer7 4 ай бұрын

Best redemption arc ever.

@PhoenixCrown 4 ай бұрын

I mean, just for you Brandon, I'll say Luke Skywalker =) At the end of A New Hope, he's not only become a rebel fighter, but he's directly defeated the empire in their most important battle. And he believes in the Force. At the end of The Empire Strikes Back, he's learned there are consequences to overestimating his power as well as assuming good vs. evil as black and white. At the end of Return of the Jedi, he understands that obsession with power will always end in darkness, and he refuses to fight, inspiring his father back to the light and resulting in peace. I bet others can do a better job than me on this one--let me know what you think!

@WriterBrandonMcNulty 4 ай бұрын

Hahah thanks--I had to restrain myself from talking about Star Wars in this video

@AnotherDuck 3 ай бұрын

I think his father has a more impressive arc, though both are good.

@glentz716 Ай бұрын

@@AnotherDuck I would argue that his father actually has an unearned arc that's not quite believable, but to each his own

@xionxiv9293 4 ай бұрын

Puss from Puss in Boots - The last wish ^^ In general there are quite a few nice arcs.- even though his is the best written and portrayed - incl. Kitty Softpaw(s?) and Goldilocks 😊

@LittleWriterSquirrel 4 ай бұрын

For the series I’m reading now (cause there’s too many favorites to count😂) I’d say Mara Jade’s arc across “heir to the empire” “dark force rising” and “the last command” :) it’s so much fun to watch play out!!

@cosmic_star7745 4 ай бұрын

One of my favorites is Ceaser from Rise, Dawn, and War for the planet of the apes. (I’m kinda bad at explaining it but) In rise, he goes from a regular ape who was smart and living with his owner doing things almost like a pet and changes into a leader of the apes and stands up to the bad humans and gains freedom. In Dawn he thinks that only humans can do bad things but realizes throughout the movie that apes are also capable of doing bad things and learns to accept that. In War, he wants to not only protect his apes from bad humans, but the actions that koba did in dawn so that no ape can be like koba. But then he starts to act like Koba due to swearing revenge on the colonel for killing his wife and older son, and then at the end of the movie ceaser defeats his inner demons, shows mercy to the colonel, and finally brings the apes to a place where he knows that they will be safe and live happily.

@codenamelarry6518 4 ай бұрын

My favorite character arc is definitely Ron Weasley’s in the Harry Potter movies. Goes from bumbling sidekick to badass, and I love it.

@johnnyrico707 3 ай бұрын

Really?? Thats hilariously awesome. I gave up after the first one. But that good to know. I really liked him in part 1

@leolightfellow 4 ай бұрын

It's hard to pick just one. Michael Corleone (Godfather) comes to mind. I also love Chon Wang (Shanghai Noon/Knights). You covered some of the best TV ones already. :) I also love it when a character doesn't change, and the audience is like "Yeah, that makes sense," like with Roy O'Bannon (Shanghai Noon/Knights).

@shounny 4 ай бұрын

Don Draper! From a man who completely lives a lie to total self acceptance. Brilliant and touching.

@sarahlamoureux1454 4 ай бұрын

One of my favorite arcs is that of Aoshi Shinomori from Rurouni Kenshin. He starts as a mysterious villain, then becomes sympathetic. However, his determination to be the strongest drives him to ever darker places. In a rematch with Kenshin, the main character, Aoshi comes back to himself and thereafter becomes an ally to our heroes.

@jkta97 3 ай бұрын

I remember really enjoying Lionel Fusco's arc on "Person of Interest" from corrupt cop to trusted ally/hero. Redemption arcs are always nice to watch. And "Succession" has some really interesting arcs in it, but I think that Roman Roy's is the most profound. He starts the show as a glib, but clueless, smart-ass and by the end of the show he has become a vulnerable, deeply feeling man who has gained some self-awareness.

@DadCanInJapan 4 ай бұрын

In the TV show, Babylon 5, there are many good character arcs but 2 that stand out are: Londo descending and G'kar ascending

@errantwinds-up8uu 4 ай бұрын

I really need to watch that sometime!

@camilorios7821 4 ай бұрын

This video is pure gold, no second wasted, no bs... thank you for the masterclass Brandon!

@silverharloe 4 ай бұрын

My favorite character arcs over a series were Londo and G'Kar in Babylon 5. They start as comedy and end in tragedy which was so tightly scripted that their death scene in season 5 was a reshoot of their death scene as shown in a prophetic vision in season 1.

@pitchforker3304 4 ай бұрын

Babylon 5 was amazing.

@racheltheradiant4675 4 ай бұрын

I agree, to me Londo and G'Kar were the best part of the series. The tragedy of the Centurions still gets to me every time I rewatch it.

@marcellorenatto 4 ай бұрын

I think the character of Superman from the 1978 movie has a great arch. He has a major checkpoint when his surrogate father dies and he needs to understand his role on planet Earth. After 12 years of studying with Jor-El in the Fortress of Solitude he understands he needs to protect the people from his adoptive world. However, there is a price to pay, he can't interfere with the natural history of the planet. By the end of the movie Lois Lane dies and he sees himself in the same situation when his father died. He has all the powers, but he can't save one single person he loves. So he decides to go against Jor-El and changes the timeline. After that he finds out he's not bound by ghosts of the past, he can make his own decisions and use his powers the way he wants to, not what other people expect of him.

@WriterBrandonMcNulty 4 ай бұрын

Absolutely. He takes the Rocky sequels to a higher level

@glentz716 Ай бұрын

The original Superman movie is the measuring stick for all superhero movies that came after it and very few have matched or surpassed it. Unfortunately, the fate that befell the sequels show what happens when greed and ego interfere with a good story.

@marcellorenatto Ай бұрын

@@glentz716 true

@kenstermcnine071 4 ай бұрын

would love to see you talk about more video game stories on the channel!

@leolightfellow 4 ай бұрын

I second this. :)

@WriterBrandonMcNulty 4 ай бұрын

Favorite series arc? Let us know!

@mattt9278 4 ай бұрын

G'Kar and Londo from Babylon 5 have, without a doubt, the best arcs in television. Both are unrecognizable by the last season, they developed and changed so much

@brianedwards7142 4 ай бұрын

Yep, Londo and G'Kar.

@brianedwards7142 4 ай бұрын

Not a favourite as such but I was sucked into the character arc of Gwen in the recent BBC adaptation of Mallory Towers from spoiled, Machiavellian whiner to loyal and thoughtful friend. Officially though, I hate Enid Blyton.

@MadHax-wt5tl 4 ай бұрын

Sarah Conner is one of my favourite female leads. How she starts weak and finds her strength in impossible odds & suffers tragedy that pushes her to victory. And then in the second film, she's too strong and has to re-discover her humanity.

@xionxiv9293 4 ай бұрын

I've seen Sokka and Zuko from Avatar already mentioned, so: Azula! :D Absolutely amazingly executed arc and I get goosebumps only thinking about the master piece her last fight of the series is. ❤ Her arc is truly tragic (but she seems to get better in the comics... but I only read the one about Zukos and Azulas mother) Avatar is also great with characters that stay pretty much the same such as Toph or stay similar to how they were/keep to their beliefs due to their determination such as Aang. Spoiler?: (When even the former "air" avatar tells you to kill the bad guy... 😅😂)

@AnotherDuck 3 ай бұрын

Yeah, Azula's also great. My favourite character from the series. She did get better in the comics, but not all the way, and she's still a bit messed up. From what I read, anyway, which I'm not sure how much. Was too long ago.

@glentz716 Ай бұрын

The former airbender Avatar was right, but they gave him a Deus Ex Machina solution that we forgave because the last battle is so epic

@catascopic9542 3 ай бұрын

Brandon McNulty: the only person on earth who says "hope this helps" sincerely

@cutwir3317 4 ай бұрын

I’m looking for Sarah Conna🤖

@juliegolick 4 ай бұрын

While I haven't liked the most recent few books, Harry Dresden's arc in the Dresden Files (at least up through Changes) was really good. I couldn't stand him in the first few books, but he grew and changed over the course of the series.

@DavidRay39 3 ай бұрын

The best character arc I can think of is none other than Prince Zuko in Avatar: The Last Airbender.

@jfgrenier972 4 ай бұрын

Really loved Richard Blackthorne in Shogun. Hope a lot of you will enjoy the remake, and better yet, pick the book up. It's a long one, but really worth it.

@eldarrai 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for this great episode. One of my favorite books is the Dragonlance Chronicles, especially the original trilogy, which I think is full of brilliant character arcs. For example, Tanis the half-elf who struggles with his introverted personality as a leader. Raistlin the mage transforms in an impressive way from the beginning to the end. But all the other protagonists also have interesting characters.

@adeptusjoker7176 3 ай бұрын

Very good video. Tight and to the point

@maxpowervideos5150 4 ай бұрын

Ahsoka Tano in the Clone Wars series

@jesusromanpadro3853 4 ай бұрын

She's a curious case since most people hated her as a character at the beginning.

@RYDERBENABOUD 3 ай бұрын

Great video Brandon! These are very useful tips.

@Nuh_uh696 4 ай бұрын

I say this every video but i truly do love your videos, they help me write out better stories and i had no idea i had these type of flaws in my stories until i started watching your vids so thank you!!

@insectostrich4407 4 ай бұрын

Hey, have you thought of doing a video on how to start a story off as humorous, but then reveal it’s actually very deep and dark? Like the show The Legend of Vox Machina.

@robertbengel2689 3 ай бұрын

I was blown away when, in the movie Dredd, Anderson's actions prompt Judge Dredd's change in heart to become more merciful

@Villain2007 4 ай бұрын

Willow's arc in BtVS is pretty remarkable across the 7 years.

@christophercafiero6510 18 күн бұрын

My favorite character arc over the course of a series is Jackson and Sons of Anarchy. Kurt Sutter is an absolute fucking genius with that show in particular

@shikishinobi 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for these. The mystery series Im writing has checkpoints and I can better grasp how to grow my character through these. A few series of book I was reading I gave up on because the characters didn’t grow or change or stick to their decisions, or changes had little impact. I will name and shame upon request. A more positive arc I finished recently were characters in the Disney+ series “The Owl House”. While I feel some points for character conflict get washed over too quickly, many of the main characters go through significant arcs to become better in who they are. Overcoming self doubt, over-enthusiastic mistakes, self reliance as a means of self defence. There is plenty there. I know where I want my main arc to end, now I just need to work out how to get my character there. Thanks again for your tips and pointers.

@mattbrix1644 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for this video! I am in high school and I have an idea for a novel series, best way to describe it is superhero’s but like way darker and a lot of times your videos make me realize how less thought out this series is but this video helped me realize my main characters character Ark and I think it will improve my writing. Thank you so much!

@djgrizzly9353 4 ай бұрын

I think my favorite character arc would go to Kratos from the God of War series. He starts as a ruthless killing machine driven only by anger and revenge on the Gods of Olympus only for him to achieve his goal, and grow disgusted by himself and his actions. He moves to a new region of the world and quarrels with the Gods there. He learns from his new wife and son, and grows to be the God he chooses to be, not who he was. He brings about Ragnarok and ends the tyranny of the evil gods and becomes a figure of order for the people of the new realm.

@railzombie 4 ай бұрын

Philip and Elizabeth in The Americans go through some crazy transformations.

@AkodoGarou 4 ай бұрын

Zuko and Sokka in Avatar: the Last Airbender, Jaime Lannister in ASOIAF, and Bruce Wayne in the Dark Knight trilogy.

@MovieTalker21 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for this video. I needed this kind of video for my book series on Wattpad. Gonna have to do some big rewrites.

@WriterBrandonMcNulty 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching. Best of luck!

@marcellorenatto 4 ай бұрын

I would like to read it.

@deckardcanine 4 ай бұрын

Honestly, I never noticed Aragorn's arc. He seemed perfect from the start.

@rebel1717 4 ай бұрын

My favorite character arc is Jaime Lannister from the Song of Ice and Fire books. Went from being the scummiest knight in the realm to an honorable man who wants to do the right thing, even if it negatively affects his House and remaining family.

@LoudWaffle 4 ай бұрын

Part of the beauty of Jaime is that he actually ends (or is heading to) where he was implied to have started. His story really starts before the books do, when he kills the Mad King. That was a purely honourable, morals-driven action with the goal of saving the citizens, but it’s precisely because everyone reacts to that by shunning and mocking him that he turns into the very bitter, sardonic, and selfish man he is at the beginning of the proper story. His arc is basically rediscovering the value of that chivalry in the face of a society which doesn’t reward it. And if speculation is right and it does lead him to killing Cersei for the same reasons - he’ll be reviled even worse, this time as a kin-slayer as well.

@briantrafford4871 4 ай бұрын

The development of Michael Corleone in all three Godfather movies is truly epic. The tragedy is almost unparalleled in modern cinema.

@FisherBros 3 ай бұрын

Here's a quick recommendation for a future video: Bad vs. Good Villain archetypes. maybe it can explain the most notable types of villains like Redeemed villains, Fallen Heroes, Pure Evils, Minions, and so on, and how they've been done poorly/amazingly over the years.

@WriterBrandonMcNulty 3 ай бұрын

Adding this to my list. Thanks!

@FisherBros 3 ай бұрын

You're welcome, @@WriterBrandonMcNulty

@KutWrite 4 ай бұрын

Thanks! A tip for all the tips!

@WriterBrandonMcNulty 17 күн бұрын

Haha thank you so much! Please excuse my late reply

@TheRoom117 4 ай бұрын

I really like your style. I also act out scary stories

@firehead3138 6 күн бұрын

I think ahsoka's arc is phenomenal

@mahletalemayehu9869 3 ай бұрын

I would love to see an episode of character relationships!

@WriterBrandonMcNulty 3 ай бұрын

Here's one I did a while back on non-romantic relationships: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rM-qnN2BtMiycWw.html I'll add your request to my list. Thanks for the idea!

@titanfreestylept736 3 ай бұрын

Great video

@WriterBrandonMcNulty 3 ай бұрын

Thanks!

@thatguy5358 4 ай бұрын

ada shelby in peaky blinders was a really good one to watch continuing to change season after season.

@claytonrumley 3 ай бұрын

This might be a bit of an outlier, but I really liked the story arc of Jonathan Archer in Star Trek: Enterprise. He starts off headstrong, with all sorts of prejudices against the Vulcans, a smug sense of human moral superiority, and dashing headlong into his mission of peaceful exploration with the expectation that everyone else in the universe will be happy to meet people from Earth. As the episodes and seasons progress however, he has to do a lot of self reflection and growth. He realizes the way the Vulcans handled their first century of contact with humans was probably the right way, he discovers that his cultural standards are not shared by everyone, and he's had to swallow his pride on more than one occasion. Through the series he becomes battle scarred and battle hardened, and discovers inherent abilities as a diplomat. I like him because he embodied the start of the transition of humanity from people like us present day 21st-century people, to the humans we see in series set in the future like TNG.

4 ай бұрын

I love Antoin Doinel's character arc in François Trufffaut's films starting with "400 Blows". Also, Apu's story in Satyajit Ray's trilogy. Both are prime examples of the alternative method of writing character acts, namely not by knowing the end but by following your character and finding out how they evolve. With Doinel, he is evolving over decades parallel to his author's life, while with Apu that process had already happened with the writing of the novels.

@NeoStoneWriter 3 ай бұрын

My favorite character arks are within my book. ...............Unveiling Shadows of the Past Part 1 Her Past and Your First Choice. I am publishing it now until end of March start of April, it will be listed in Amazon, Kindle and many more online and physical stores. But MOST importantly, I have FOUR arks within it that believe it or not, they are according to this video, great. And I was just writing and writing whatever my hand wanted. Nothing more. What can I do to get a review from you Brandon?

@ryandugan2062 4 ай бұрын

Dalinar Kholin from the Stomlight Archive

@ludovico6890 4 ай бұрын

I will mention The Godfather again, but Michael turning into, well, the Godfather in 1 and 2 is maybe my favourite character arch. From black sheep of the family to leader, from committed son to cold blooded killer not shy of fratricide. In tv series, there's a few characters archs in The Wire I particularly love (Jimmy McNulty's, Prezbo's). Oh and Claudius in I, Claudius.

@Achieme 4 ай бұрын

I usually figure the elements were the characters wants, needs, the lie and ghost. But often times I figure it was goals and motivation and have them grow as characters regardless of positive or negative outcomes

@racheltheradiant4675 4 ай бұрын

I have a few favorites from Star Trek Voyager. Tom Paris: Starts as a careless and flirtatious flyboy, ends as a dedicated family man and father. The Doctor: Starts as a curmudgeonly holographic program and ends as a multilayered being that's nearly as human as the people he tends to. Seven of Nine: Starts as a scared child, becomes a rigid Borg, then returns to a place of being human and emotional again. Harry: Starts naive and eager to please and ends as a confident member of the bridge crew willing to make hard choices. B'lana: Starts as a hot headed rebel who dislikes Starfleet and ends as a mother and valued Starfleet engineer. I could go on.....

@errantwinds-up8uu 4 ай бұрын

Getting a bit old here but I think my favourite is Taran in Llyod Alaxander's classic Prydain chronicles. Yes it's a straight up hero's journey story, but he really does learn and do the work and become a deeper version of himself. I loved it as a child but even re-reading it as an adult, it holds up. And I should mention that every other character has a growth arc too, which makes it better.

@TheDukeofMadness 4 ай бұрын

Advice to writers with this in mind. Read Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces.

@WriterBrandonMcNulty 26 күн бұрын

Good call. I'm actually reading Chris Vogler's book The Writer's Journey right now, which breaks down THWATF

@Audioman45 4 ай бұрын

My favorite character arc is Rand from Wheel of Time, the timid farm boy who has to become savior of the world. Beyond learning powers and skills, he thinks he needs to be hard to be strong, but that doesn't work for him, and he needs to figure out who he is.

@quantumchaos 4 ай бұрын

Well, I think we can all agree that nobody has a better story than Bran the Broken.

@jfgrenier972 4 ай бұрын

Yes, thankfully the show told us, cuz otherwise i would have been too stupid to realize LOL

@eduardoyamaha7279 4 ай бұрын

Walter White and Steve from stranger things are two of my favorite.

@mauriciofernandez5062 4 ай бұрын

Good video Brandon, as always. Although I always had a slight doubt, when a character has a simple "change of mind" does it count as a character arc or is it part of the arc itself? Can a character have several "mentality changes" in the same arc?

@WriterBrandonMcNulty 4 ай бұрын

Hmm it would depend on how things are setup. If the “change of mind” feels reasonable (like when Han Solo sticks around for the Death Star battle) then I would count it as part of the arc. If a change of mind just randomly happens, it might be more of a character quirk (or bad writing)

@rickp4356 4 ай бұрын

Not a series but Sydney Carton is hard to beat.

@WriterBrandonMcNulty 4 ай бұрын

I read it back in 8th grade, but I still clearly remember him (and that ending) pretty clearly

@errantwinds-up8uu 4 ай бұрын

One of the best.

@Tacom4ster Ай бұрын

Bojack Horseman has great series long character arcs. Cool essay, I hope to write 5 years of plot for 5 main characters

@LordBaktor 4 ай бұрын

I love Edward Elric's evolution throughout the Fullmetal Alchemist manga and the Brotherhood version of the anime. All the philosophical lessons, the realizations, the growth. All while sticking to the original resolution of fixing the mistake that took his brother's body without causing harm to innocents.

@PurpleSun8933 4 ай бұрын

Favorite arc in TV series - both Ted and Judge Big Fudge from How I met your mother. In the movie series - Nolan's Batman.

@axelwulf6220 2 ай бұрын

I like the way the Underdog, the least likely to be a Somebody Nobody, rises up through it all and shows the world that status and titles don't mean dick

@scruffypupper 4 ай бұрын

Always great advice but I'd watch just to listen to you talk. Succinct. Great diction. I'm not sure you slow down for a breath once you start. :)

@masonreed5982 4 ай бұрын

I recently created my comic's arc. Now to figure out the establishing scene....

@wadegolden3589 4 ай бұрын

My pick would be Rachel from Friends. She begins the series as someone who can't even be a competent server and doesn't know how to do laundry. She ends the show as a single mother (we'll just ignore that last scene with the psychopath known as Ross) and as an executive in the fashion industry where multiple companies will keep paying more to employ her. For a network sitcom, that's as good as it gets.

@oceaninks 4 ай бұрын

I am currently rewatching Battlestar Galactica and I personally love Starbucks arch throughout the series. I would enjoy hearing your thoughts on why the final Cylon, Ellen tigh, is just so underwhelming. For me, her character is a lush, tramp and super dishonest and I dont recall any growth moments. Im rewatchong it though so I may see that. But from a writing standpoint I'd love to hear your thoughts

@darktitan4906 4 ай бұрын

One of my favorite character arcs is Miyamoto Musashi’s character arc in the manga Vagabond. In the beginning of the story he wanted to make a name for himself as a famous swordsman and he wanted to be invincible under the sun. He was very rash, reckless, and also arrogant and ruthless. He thought true strength was killing people without a second thought and using brute force. But after getting humbled a couple of times and going through a spiritual journey of self discovery he matured a lot and he understood the value of true strength which is to protect. I liked how the author of the manga reflected it in the character design of him bc he looked reckless and immature in earlier chapters but in later chapters he looked wiser and more experienced.

@ihavespoken9871 4 ай бұрын

One of my favorite character arcs is probably The Spy from the video game Team Fortress 2. I know it’s a multiplayer game with no campaign, but in the official comic book series he has this really compelling character arc. Everyone knows The Spy as a prideful French assassin psychopath, but as you read you realize there’s more to him underneath that mask and suit. Throughout the series he slowly open up to others, revealing a more emotional side to him. I wish Valve could finish and release the last TF2 comic because I would love to see his character arc finally come full circle.

@changed9084 3 ай бұрын

How specific should the ending of a character be? Like the more specific, the better it is? Also, Brandon, new book coming out soon? I've already read both books (entry wounds and bad parts), so I'm just waiting or wondering if there's a next. Your writing had really bettered mines as a result along with your advices. Can't thank you enough tbh.

@WriterBrandonMcNulty 3 ай бұрын

Ending depends on the character and story. But usually a specific ending works. New book next month btw! It’s called The Half Murders. I’ll be talking about it closer to release. And thanks for reading BP and EW! Thrilled to hear you enjoyed them. Please leave Amazon reviews if you don’t mind

@changed9084 3 ай бұрын

@@WriterBrandonMcNulty Hell yeah. I gotchu with the reviews

@adamhenrysears3288 2 ай бұрын

How about Ellen Ripley from the Alien franchise? Or Jack Sheppard or Sawyer from the Lost series? Clarke from The 100 is a great arc too. One of my favourites though, is Clark Kent's arc from Smallville.

@strangemitten655 3 ай бұрын

ya really described apollos character arc in the most morbid way possible brandon geez… great video nonetheless and i think its already helped me

@Revotur 4 ай бұрын

I would love to watch a regular series in which you take one whole film and break it down into parts, saying what worked well and what didn't.

@WriterBrandonMcNulty 4 ай бұрын

That would be interesting. I wonder what movie would be the best choice for that. Something good yet flawed?

@wadegolden3589 4 ай бұрын

@@WriterBrandonMcNulty My vote would be for a Tarantino film. While he's obviously a talented writer and director, I find his films too long in general. Breaking down what's great but also what should be cut would make for a fantastic video.

@Revotur 4 ай бұрын

@@WriterBrandonMcNulty It's very easy. The last one you watched. You can also do the same with a book. What is missing on this channel is a permanent series that can last practically forever. The topics you discuss on this channel are important, but the amount of knowledge is limited.

@glentz716 Ай бұрын

@@wadegolden3589 I just watched Inglorious Basterds and think it's a perfect example. It has a great villain and some good scenes, but even the good scenes are too long and a lot of the movie is just flat out boring and nonsense.

@Xandycane 4 ай бұрын

A fantasy romance, but Anna from the Alpha and Omega series by Patricia Briggs (older werewolf series) She starts off basically stolen and abused, turned against her will and derided for being an Omega (the series is not the alpha/omega trope we know). She gets the courage to call help. Learns Omegas are basically peace makers, but her trauma is so slow to get through over multiple books as she learns bring Omega means power. It's super sweet and the love interest just remains a partner and encourages her confidence.

@johnmaynard7786 Ай бұрын

Favorite character arch: Data, Star Trek: The Next Generation.

@user-ui2ek6ln6d 4 ай бұрын

You should check out The Frankenstein Chronicles 2015 ‧ Drama ‧ 2 seasons The writing is pretty good. Filters and Topics

@blankface_ 4 ай бұрын

Do you have one for story arcs as well?

@bobothy4903 4 ай бұрын

Can you do a video about how to kill of characters

@MyMy-tv7fd 4 ай бұрын

the character arc of them all in LOTR is Frodo

@johncenter4858 4 ай бұрын

The only lesson that Aragon is learning is that you have to ask the help to a bunch of ghosts warriors.

@johnjim6793 4 ай бұрын

Character arcs are often a problem within long running series, especially when they main reason for adding season after season is to keep milking the cash cow - instead of putting the story and the characters first and then see how long the show can last. The Big Bang Theory comes to mind. Danger one: you keep characters in the show without anything meaningful to do just because, well, they are part of the cast. In TBBT, Leonard's and Penny's story arch is finished after season five, and after that the writers don't really know what to do with the Leonard character in particular. Likewise, Raj's character arc goes absolutely nowhere and remains unresolved at the end of the show. (Btw, one of Breaking Bad's very, very few flaws is that in the middle seasons the writers didn't really seem to have a plan what to do with Jesse Pinkman.) Danger two: you have a character, like Sheldon Cooper, who has become an absolute fan favorite. Now on the one hand, when the show progresses, you are expected to give the character some development. On the other hand, the character is perfect the way he is. So how do develop something that is already perfect? In TBBT, there is an obvious plan to let Sheldon work on his character flaws and become less egocentric and less quirky. However, being egocentric and quirky is what makes him so funny in the first place.

@jfgrenier972 4 ай бұрын

I think sit-coms are a bit of an exception. Why would you make Charlie grow a conscience in Two and a Half Men? Why would you make his brother Alan become self sufficient? Their major flaws NEED to stay for the show to keep being funny. If they grew out of it, then it'd be time to close it down. And sit-coms are typically short, they are meant to be consumed casually, where the viewer can miss several episodes, then catches a new one, and is never lost as to the overall setting of the places and characters. The perfect example is The Simpsons. 22 years later, the kids haven't aged one day because that would destroy the show.

@johnjim6793 4 ай бұрын

@@jfgrenier972I totally agree. The other perfect example is Seinfeld, famously a show whose characters were meant to never learn out of their experience. Unfortunately, it is not what they did in The Big Bang Theory. In the first five seasons, the "learning" effect was restricted to a few things that made sense: Penny became more nerdy, Leonard more self-confident, Howard less obnoxious. In the second half of the series, there are still some episodes that are pure gold, but also several episodes who either try to turn Sheldon into boyfriend material or have other persons act totally out of character.

@glentz716 Ай бұрын

Basically, having them all get girlfriends killed the show

@lukesmith1818 4 ай бұрын

Sulla in the masters of rome series has a great multi series arc. He begins thirsting for wealth and by the second book he loses his son then becomes obsessed with respect. His friendship with gauis marius sours and other factors make him feel slighted. He uses a crisis as an excuse to seize the power he believes is his by right at the expense of the men who made him

@le_fancy_squid 3 ай бұрын

Walter White truly had one of the best character arcs I have ever seen. He went from writing a pros and cons list of killing a man and doing it in the end only when he was completely threatened, to having all of those men murdered in prison without even batting an eye; all while happening seamlessly and progressively and not feeling forced or like it 'came out of nowhere'. I found in the early episodes I was cheering him on a bit, sure he was doing illegal things but that was part of the fun. As the series progressed I just hated him more and more though to the point where I found myself completely despising him and every stupid choice he would make in the name of his ego. When he says, "Stay out of my territory.", it felt awesome, but when he says, "Say my name.", he just felt like an egotistical piece of shit. Both are such memorable moments, but what you feel for him completely changes. It's not my quote, but I read someone say it best, "The first episode puts you on his side, then it lets you ride with him as long as you want until you eventually hate him." Even the scene where he lets Jane die was early enough to still have him in tears, but when he tells Jesse that he watched Jane die he did so with so much spite you could tell he didn't even have second thoughts about it anymore.