Protagonist vs. Antagonist: How to Pit Characters Against Each Other

At the center of many genres of movies and TV shows are two characters battling it out. It’s the core of conflict. It started at the dawn of storytelling, and it hasn’t really changed over time, we’ve just added wrinkles.

Today, I want to explore the idea of protagonists versus antagonists and dig into what it means, and how you can get the most out of your storytelling.

Let’s dive in.

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What is a Protagonist?

The word comes from the Ancient Greek, protagonistes. It literally means, “the one who plays the first part.” The opposite of a protagonist is an antagonist.

Many movies and TV shows have a sympathetic protagonist (or a false protagonist) but it doesn’t always have to be that way.

While the strict definition refers to the leading character in a story, we don’t always have a singular lead character. Sometimes, with ensemble movies, we have several leads we’re following.

Whatever the case, people are tuning in to see the fate of this character(s). The story should show us their strengths, weaknesses, and arcs.

What is an Antagonist?

The word antagonist comes from the Greek word, “antagonistes.” That roughly translates into “opponent, competitor, villain, enemy, rival.” It’s the opposite of the protagonist.

Consider how those words we used to describe them aren’t all unfriendly. A competitor or rival can simply push you to be better than you are.

For the most part, the antagonist is the person or obstacle standing in the way of the protagonist.

Protagonist vs. Antagonist

At the center of any kind of conflict is the battle between protagonist and antagonist. This dates all the way back to the idea of good versus evil. We want to see these two pillars of our world facing off.

they can do this in two different ways — internal and external.

• External Conflict: This involves direct confrontation or opposition. Examples include physical fights, arguments, or competition for resources.
• Internal Conflict: The antagonist can also embody the protagonist’s internal struggles. For example, the antagonist might represent the protagonist’s self-doubt, fear, or a past trauma they need to overcome.

So, how do you make these kinds of fights or struggles feel authentic? And what can you bring to the forefront?

I have some tips for you on that.

Establish Clear Goals and Motivations

Why is this fight happening what does each side want? We need to know clearly the desires of both parties involved, otherwise you’ll lose the audience.

The simpler the better. It has to be summed up in one sentence.

Let’s break it down by person.

• Protagonist: What does your main character want? This could be a concrete goal (e.g., finding a treasure, winning a competition) or an internal one (e.g., overcoming a fear, finding love). Their motivation should be relatable.
• Antagonist: The antagonist’s goals should directly clash with the protagonist’s. They are the obstacle standing in the protagonist’s way. Their motivations can be selfish, malicious, or even well-intentioned but misguided.

Create a Power Imbalance

One thing about movies and TV shows is that they only work if we know the consequences if our hero doesn’t achieve their goals.

What’s at stake in your story?

Who has the power at any given moment?

What will happen if the protagonist fails?

There should be some kind of imbalance between the protagonist and antagonist in your story at each moment, so we know why the characters are fighting. This doesn’t necessarily mean physical strength. It could be an imbalance of resources, social standing, knowledge, or psychological power.

Think about when the Joker gets captured in The Dark Knight…but then we realize he has power inside the prison in the form of a bomb in someone.

Those kinds of power switches are so exciting.

The imbalance creates tension and raises the stakes. The audience wonders how the protagonist can possibly overcome such a formidable opponent.

And vice versa.

Develop a Relationship

The most compelling antagonists are more than just obstacles. They have their own personalities, backstories, and even redeeming qualities.

We understand their goals because we understand who they are as people.

The same goes for protagonists.

Why do these two hate each other? Why are they in conflict at all? Do they have a backstory? Who wronged who? Are there moments of empathy or understanding between them?

Explore the relationship between the protagonist and antagonist. This adds depth and complexity to the conflict.

The more we know about these people the more we can connect.

Examples of Protagonist vs. Antagonist

In order to see all this in execution, let’s take a clear look at the conflict in movies and TV shows.

Here are some examples:

• Harry Potter vs. Voldemort: Classic good vs. evil, with the fate of the wizarding world at stake. One created the other through violence.
• Katniss Everdeen vs. President Snow: A fight against oppression and injustice, with the survival of a rebellion on the line. Katniss emerges from a world Snow created. But in the end, she sees he’s not a singular bad guy, but just a person who rose to power in a bad world.
• Luke Skywalker vs. Darth Vader: A battle between the light and dark sides of the Force, with family ties complicating the conflict. A father versus son story.
• Ahab vs. Moby Dick: Ahab’s pursuit of the white whale is a classic example of man vs. nature, where the antagonist is a force of nature itself. This also explores themes of revenge and the destructive nature of obsession.
• The Joker vs. Batman: In its many iterations, this explores the themes of chaos vs. order, with the Joker’s nihilistic worldview challenging Batman’s justice. Their conflict is also a psychological battle, with the Joker aiming to break Batman’s moral code.
• Walter White vs. Gus Fring: A complex power struggle between two ambitious and ruthless individuals in the criminal underworld. Neither is essentially a good person, but both want control. Their conflict is fueled by ambition, betrayal, and the desire to be the last man standing.

Summing Up Protagonist vs. Antagonist

When it’s all said and done, this is the cornerstone of all storytelling, and it describes most of the movies and TV I see people exploring.

I love seeing how two people can fight in these scenarios and how they can extrapolate what we understand about them. When you develop characters and work on arcs, this fight between the two is something that should be on the top of mind.

Hopefully, this post helps you sort out your next project.

Let me know what you think in the comments.