Role added by connieblackwood on March 25, 2023
This contrast exists to emphasize both characters by comparison, showing how cool the popular kid is and how dorky their best friend is. Often this trope serves the primary purpose of making the popular kid likeable and sympathetic to the audience because they're risking social judgement and a drop in the Popularity Food Chain by continuing their friendship. This relies on the idea that the less popular character has nothing to lose from the friendship (socially) and only benefits from it.
Fan Casting
Cool Kid and Loser Friendship
Jennifer Check
Anita "Needy" Lesnicki
Jackie Taylor
Shauna Shipman
Harry Potter
Carly Shay
Neville Longbottom
Luna Lovegood
Harry Osborn (Raimiverse)
Spider-Man (Raimiverse)
Freddie Benson
Willow Park
Hanna Marin
Amity Blight
Sasha Waybright
Anne Boonchuy
Courtney Gripling
Ginger Foutley
Cordelia Chase
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