By Emma Shipley Posted on October 15th, 2023
The found family trope has always been a popular trope. It’s primarily seen when a group of friends, comrades, or nobodies come together and form tight bonds, it doesn’t matter if none of them are blood-related.
The beauty of a found family is that it’s such a relatable trope in nonfiction and fiction– like Avatar: The Last Airbender, Friends, and The Big Bang Theory.
It’s one of those bonds that transcends lifetimes if nurtured correctly.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
The show that dominated Nickelodeon in the early 2000s. Avatar: The Last Airbender followed Avatar Aang as he raced against time to harness all four elements. This show introduces Aang to a complex world full of people who wanted him dead and others who had no idea he was alive.
Strength in Friendship
Aang and his friends Katara, Sokka, Toph, and Zuko come from four different nations: Air, water, earth, and fire, respectively. Their friendship is unique which allows them to learn from each other in difficult situations. Each step of the journey to dethrone Fire Lord Ozai is a learning curve for the “Gaang”.
Over the course of season 1, Aang, Sokka, and Katara grow into their own unique little family. Sokka acts as a big brother to Aang, defending him when he needs it but also letting him fight his own battles. Katara acts as a mentor to Aang. Whenever he feels upset, he can count on her to be there for him and vice versa. Aang has a heart of gold and he relies on his teachings from the ancient Airbenders to guide him on his journey to defeat the Fire Lord.
In season 2, the “Gaang” gains Toph, a sassy, blind twelve-year-old who adds an interesting dynamic. Toph’s upbringing caused her to become headstrong and confident. Her attitude conflicts with Aang’s, resulting in her teaching skills only bringing up conflict. However, Toph becomes an integral part of the team. She helps bring Aang’s confidence up and helps him begin to achieve his full potential.
Season 3 saw the induction of exiled Prince Zuko into the tight-knit group. Zuko, being the antagonist to Aang for the past season and a half, was barely welcomed in the group at first. Aang saw it as an opportunity to learn from him to gain firebending abilities despite his protests. Zuko became pivotal. Not only did he teach Aang firebending, but he was able to grow as a character and help the Avatar defeat the malicious Firelord.
Why it works
Due to their differences, they each bring a new piece of insight to the table. Aang is forgiving but powerful, Katara is stubborn but has a deep love for the world, Sokka is brilliant but childish, Zuko is passionate but broken, and Toph is blunt but caring.
With each of these skills, it’s no wonder they feed off each other. They have a bond unlike any other that powers Aang during his journey. Throughout each episode, there is a conflict the protagonists run into. While it may seem repetitive, the episodes highlight deep and heavy topics that impact each character. This leads to heartfelt moments where we get to see how much each one grows over the span of 3 seasons.
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory is known for its interesting comedy and portrayal of nerds trying to fit in. While some episodes may seem controversial, it also has shown some growth when it comes to the portrayal of the main characters Sheldon Cooper, Leonard Hofstadter, and their neighbor, Penny.
Nerds of a feather
We’re introduced early on to our protagonists. Sheldon and his roommate, Leonard, meet a beautiful woman who moves in across the hall from them. Immediately we see how Sheldon and Leonard have a pretty well-established relationship from years prior that carries into the show. They’ve lived together for several years and have a critical ritual that shows just how awkward these two truly are.
Sheldon is very blunt and inexperienced socially while Leonard is just socially awkward. Combined with Penny’s perkiness, they have an interesting character dynamic. For a while, the show focuses on Leonard’s crush on Penny while also focusing on the trials of being a nerd in today’s world.
While the show focuses on Leonard and Penny from the get-go, we’re also introduced to two fellow nerds, Howard Wolowitz and Raj Koothrapali. These two add more comedy to the show and help build Leonard’s friendship with Penny. They’re not necessarily “wingmen” but they provide Leonard with examples of how not to get the girl.
Over the course of 12 seasons, we see them grow from introverted nerds who had no idea how to hold conversations with anyone besides themselves to being successful in their fields. Their dynamic differences in every character is what allows them to grow a strong bond. They all hang out together, they fight with each other, go through various levels of growth and development and soon come to rely on each other and see each one as family.
Why it works
The most compelling part about this show is it shows how even those with dramatically different careers and capabilities can find bliss in the awkward.
If it wasn’t for the introduction of Penny, some of the aspects of the show wouldn’t exist. For one, Penny brings out Leonard’s confidence and allows him to change himself for the better. We see him grow from a nervous pushover to a confident scientist who knows his strengths.
With Sheldon, because of Penny’s influence, he is able to win over a girl who eventually (SPOILERS) becomes his wife. He may still have his bouts of selfishness, but we do see growth from being self-absorbed to actually thanking his friends for putting up with him for twelve years.
We also see that Leonard, Sheldon, Howard, and Raj’s friendship is able to span anything that comes their way. While there are some questionable moments, overall Team Nerd comes out on top. They all have known what it’s like to be bullied, pushed around, and unappreciated so they find solace in making up for that together.
Friends
Six best friends in Manhattan trying to make their way through jobs, significant others, and just life in general. From 1994 to 2004, this show had a huge following and was widely popular.
More than just Friends
This show has reached the hearts of millions for its cast of characters and overall comfort appeal. It follows Monica and Ross Gellar, Rachel Green, Joey Tribbiani, Phoebe Buffay, and Chandler Bing as they go through the trials of life. Each episode lets the characters shine in their own way. It could be that they found out Monica and Chandler were secretly dating or that someone had been dumped by a potential love interest.
There are small everyday conflicts that they work through and that make them more relatable to the audience as well. We can’t fight a dragon to save the world or travel across land and sea to fulfill a quest but we can survive through what life throws at us alongside others who have been there too.
Why it works
Friends relies heavily on the normal in order to be relatable. There’s no “out of this world” feats like other protagonists in different shows, they live their lives as best they can.
What Friends does is highlight how different circumstances can lead you to different roads but that doesn’t mean you have to walk that road alone.
These people all became friends because of happenstance:
- Ross and Monica are siblings
- Monica and Rachel were best friends in high school
- Ross had a huge crush on Rachel
- Chandler was Ross’ college roommate
- Phoebe was Monica’s old roommate
- Joey and Chandler were roommates for the majority of the show.
What, I think, makes them a unique family is that they’re still living their lives but finding time to be together. Whether that’s eating Monica’s food or dealing with a love crisis at Chandler’s, they don’t take each other for granted.
These connections allow them to feel close to each other. It’s almost like a puzzle, each member fitting into the puzzle to the point where if one gets taken away, the dynamic shifts.
Conclusion
This trope romanticizes the idea that “the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.
While some parts of this trope use direct family ties (such as Sokka and Katara and Ross and Monica), there are some plain examples of best friends becoming members of their own family.
In real life and in the fictional world, you have the ability to choose your family– and that family can be whatever you want it to look like.
This trope– these bonds characters form– inspires people. It lets them know that you don’t have to be blood to be a family. It allows for deeper friendships, intimate moments, and a more fulfilling life.
