Wedge-type character

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In science fiction and fantasy fandom, the term Wedge has been unofficially adopted to describe minor background characters that survive an entire saga or series without being killed (i.e. having character shields). However, they tend to suffer notoriously from little to no character development. Yet, for all the lack of attention they get, they usually carry the reputation of being reliable, dependable, and competent. The term comes from the character Wedge Antilles who appeared in the three original Star Wars movies, and managed to survive all three major battles of the trilogy, even directly helping to destroy the second Death Star in the third movie. Insiders referred to him as the "token survivor".

[edit] Examples

Other examples of Wedge type characters are:

• Cabaji & Mohji, Johnny & Yosaku (One Piece)
• Lt. (later Commander) Kyle and Lt. Leslie (played by actor Eddie Paskey) from Star Trek.
• Lt. Nanbu and Lt. Ohta (Space Battleship Yamato) called Dash and Eager in Star Blazers
• Johnny Sasaki (Metal Gear Solid)
• Chief Petty Officers Oscar Dublin and Mark Kran (Mobile Suit Gundam)
• Ernest Mecklinger (Legend of the Galactic Heroes)
• 2nd Lt. Shigeru Aoba, though he is killed in End of Evangelion (along with everyone else). (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
• Lance Corporal Vince Pellegrino and Ramon Longfeather (Exosquad)
• Dr. Peter Silberman (Though it's probable that he died at the end of Terminator 3 in the nuclear attacks) (Terminator series)
• Maria Ross, Denny Brosh, Kain Fuery, Heymans Breda, Vato Falman, and Jean Havoc (military characters, Fullmetal Alchemist)
• Mr. Gaddes and the crew of the Crusade, Vision of Escaflowne
• Al Neri, a footsoldier turned head bodyguard for Michael Corleone appearing in all 3 movies of The Godfather trilogy.
• Jim Bravura, a police detective chasing the protagonist in Max Payne and the protanonist's superior officer in Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne.
• Ace Levy, Starship Troopers (film)
• Peter Mullan and David McKay, appear at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in Braveheart, and then again at the end of the movie at the Battle of Bannockburn, suggesting they have survived all major battles up to this point. David McKay is memorable as the soldier Mel Gibson berates after suggesting that William Wallace is over 7 feet tall.
• Admiral Piett in The Empire Strikes Back is perhaps an example of a villainous Wedge-type character, as he is the only Imperial officer whose failures don't lead to Darth Vader killing him.
• Vi the Potential Slayer from Season 7 of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer".
• HUNK, a mercenary working for the Umbrella Corporation in the Resident Evil series.

Sometimes Wedge-type characters manage to progress slightly, possessing the attributes of reliability, dependability and competence, but being also accorded a minor degree of development. An example is Doctor Who's Sergeant Benton.

• 24 (TV series)'s Secret Service Agent Aaron Pierce (played by Glenn Morshower) and CTU Agent Tom Baker (played by and Daniel Dae Kim)
• Babylon 5's Lt. David Corwin (played by Joshua Cox)
• The RPG Final Fantasy VIII has two enemy characters, named Biggs and Wedge, who, despite fighting the protagonists on several occasions, manage to survive all the way to the end of the game. They're seen guarding the door to the Boss Chamber, but as the characters approach, they suddenly decide to quit their jobs and leave. This is particularly unusual since both of the two previous Final Fantasy games have featured two character named Biggs and Wedge who died off very early (Biggs and Wedge return in later Final Fantasy games, but do not die.) The names Biggs and Wedge may have been taken from Star Wars, as Biggs Darklighter and Wedge Antilles were Luke Skywalker's wingmen in the attack on the Death Star in A New Hope (though Biggs died in the battle).
• Stargate SG-1's Walter Harriman and Siler

[edit] References