10 TV Sidekicks Who Were Way Better Than Their Stars

4. Shawn Hunter - Boy Meets World

No disrespect to Cory Matthews, but he's probably the most average person who has ever existed. He's nice, loyal, and decent-looking, and has a variety of other positive but unremarkable traits. Is it any wonder that his best friend Shawn Hunter would end up outshining him? Shawn is the embodiment of the bad boy with a heart cliche that all shows aimed at a certain youthful demographic must have. But there's something about the fact that audiences saw him grow from a 12-year-old boy to a college student that gives him a certain depth of personality lacking in many others of his ilk. Viewers know why he is the way he is, and there is an internal logic to all of his thoughts and actions that's particularly refreshing to watch. But perhaps the more obvious reason for his success is the charm and personality of Rider Strong, who brings equal weight to the light-hearted side of Shawn as well as the more emotionally wounded aspects of his character. Also...that perfect nineties hair is an important factor that shouldn't be overlooked.