rdfs:comment
| - This is when, just before the third act and when things are at their worst, the protagonist is abandoned by their best friend. Here's how it normally plays out: It's been a long, hard road for the protagonist. They've fought their way through rising complications, twists and turns, and unexpected outcomes, yet are the furthest from achieving their goal since the story began. Good thing they have their best buddy to help them when all other lights have failed. Expect a change of heart and a last minute save by the best buddy in the climax, thus reinforcing The Power of Friendship.
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abstract
| - This is when, just before the third act and when things are at their worst, the protagonist is abandoned by their best friend. Here's how it normally plays out: It's been a long, hard road for the protagonist. They've fought their way through rising complications, twists and turns, and unexpected outcomes, yet are the furthest from achieving their goal since the story began. Good thing they have their best buddy to help them when all other lights have failed. Or not. Apparently the stresses involved with The Quest have taken their toll on the relationship, stretching it to the point of breaking. And then one last thing, one straw to break the camel's back, perturbs the protagonist, and in a moment of rashness, he lets loose a barrage of atomic Jerkassness on his best buddy. Unfortunately the best buddy, the calm head and stalwart that promised to stick by the hero through thick and thin, he's got his breaking point, too, and the protagonist's last action just crossed the line. The best buddy abandons the protagonist, leaving them with nothing by way of support--and just at the worst possible time to boot. That is because the Plot-Mandated Friendship Failure is always set to go off right before the protagonist has to face his biggest challenge in The Climax. Expect a change of heart and a last minute save by the best buddy in the climax, thus reinforcing The Power of Friendship. A staple of buddy pictures, where the friendship drives the plot. Compare Second Act Breakup, in which the relationship in question is a romantic one. Examples of this trope are found in the following works:
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