In The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, Yeine has little agency because she isn't meant to succeed.
Your hero doesn't have to save the day to make an impact.
What happens when there isn't enough plot for eight episodes.
Every story we tell sends a message.
Let's find the smallest edit that will get these protagonists contributing to the team.
The main character needs agency, but they don't need to be proactive.
While a proactive character probably has more agency, a reactive character can still have it.
If the hero doesn’t have agency, why is the story even about them?
If a character's choices don't affect anything, they might as well be furniture.
Do you have a protagonist that isn't making a difference? Here's some ideas.
If your story's frame is crowded, these five archetypes might be getting in your protagonist's way.
How your characters can drive the story even with their backs to the wall.
Xyder