The Flat Character Arc | How does it work?

This video covers the components of the flat arc, how it works, and character interactions.

[EllenBrock]

I finally finished the first flat arc video! It was a comedy of errors trying to get this video out, but a power outage, camera glitch, and new monitor later, it is finally ready! Please let me know if the additional graphics worked for you. Was it better, worse, or the same? Thanks! I truly hope this video helps. Let me know if anything is unclear so that I can address it in the next video. Hope you're all doing great!

[chris.awilliams]

I think you hit the nail on the head here, that the 'flat character arc' is about how the characters around the 'flat character' change, as the world learns the moral lesson they embody. The character's lowest-point/apparent-defeat will usually be them doubting themself and or their ability to change the world around them. Also note that while these stories may not alwyas be tonally light, they are never 'grimdark' or 'gritty realistic', largely because such inflexible people rarley exist and even more rarely are able to achieve anything (arguably, a negative-flat charatcer may seem realistic as the protagonist of such a story, where there negative trait provides them with some, ruthless advantage for which they are consistantly able to avoid punishment.)

Another commenter mentioned that the super-hero genre makes a lot of use of this type of character (think superman), but I'd argue that this character type is most common in the murder-mystery genre up until the 2010s. Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, Jessica Fletcher, Morse, Maigret, Columbo, Dr Sloane, Inspector Barnaby; the list goes on... any one of these characters, after dozens or of hours of screen-time barely changes. As examples, they don't stop being proud or grumpy, don't stop taking drugs or don't start habits or adopt personality traits which go over episode-to-episode (they also don't tend to have [living] marital partners or children, but that's another discussion).
They learn 'things' which tend to be the facts that they need to solve the case, while the people around them (and the audience) learn about the wicked things other people can do to each-other and how this benefits no-one, they also learn the value of uncovering truth and often the value of methodological/scientific investigation (especially for Holmes).
Most episodes will involve them sitting down and looking tired/desperate and saying that they will take a brief rest from investigating which serves as the apparent-defeat, they may even go so far as to say they know who did it but believe they can't prove it.

[Iwasonceanonionwithnolayers]

You have no idea how much the added graphics help. Not only do they help me focus, but being able to read a summary of what you're talking about helps me understand and retain the information.

[augustodenkirk]

Valuable information as always from the #1 youtube channel for aspiring authors. The pictures really help as well. Nice touch. Looking forward to the second video!

[VinnyTheory]

Idk if this would stress you out too much Ellen but with longer videos I think a lot of viewers like the timestamp sections so that they can click over to what they specifically need. I was a YouTuber myself so I know it kinda sucks having to scroll through your own video and type the timestamps but I noticed viewership always goes way up because if someone gets bored they just scroll to the next section instead of clicking off if that makes sense. Anyway hope this helps I owe you my life!

[RandomJayne]

When I think of Flat Arcs I immediately think of superhero comics because, outside of origin stories or storylines that are meant to change a hero into a villain or an anti-hero or an anti-hero or villain into a hero, most of the stories are going to be about the hero acting as a role model and being challenged on their beliefs but holding to them. Superman or Batman might be challenged on their no-kill rules or not using their power to take over the world to enforce their values, but they always come out reaffirming why they stick to those beliefs and don't cross those lines.

Another good example would be episodic comedy series where the humor is largely derived from characters having flaws and opportunities for self-reflection and personal growth but never being able to overcome those flaws or learn those lessons in order to maintain the status quo. Seinfeld's characters can never make a relationship work because they cannot be sincere or emotionally open or overcome their shallowness and selfishness. Every time they approach an epiphany and consider changing their behavior, they always end up sliding back into their old habits. In Invader Zim, Zim and Dib can never get over their core belief that they need to prove themselves to other people. So even when Zim finds out his mission is fake in the movie he still pursues it in an attempt to impress his leaders while Dib is told outright that he doesn't need to prove anything to his father, but we see in comics following the movie that he still feels that he needs to make his dad come around and admit that he's right and impress him with his accomplishments. In Arrested Development, Michael Bluth can never escape his toxic family because every time he tries to cut and run, he gets roped into coming back.

[pamelaabdou]

Dear Ellen, I consider your channel as my creative writing class. One day when I am good enough I will mail you my work. Thank you so much for just being here. I wish if we can see you more often, or communicate our inquiries.

[asteven]

Thank you for this! I've become deeply fascinated by flat arc characters as of late. I think sometimes they can be overlooked and underappreciated (by some) especially as a main protagonist.

[gsimon]

Interview With A Vampire is a good example of a great flat character - Tom Cruise's character is the same character in the final scene as he was the whole movie. He's just updated with the times. Or The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly. That's a great example of THREE characters who essentially are ALL flat characters - but they reached the inevitable conclusion of all their stories overlapping.

[Wayfarer]

You are such a fantastic teacher. Thank you for sharing your gifts, despite the setbacks you face.❤

[AlbaPoulzen]

I would love a video about direct and indirect dialogue and how to use them. 🌺

[ibgh]

You alive!! So long since I’ve seen you posting new videos!

[Petch]

I really like "talking about story telling" on this channel. It is like watching music theory videos (another hobby of mine). So thank you for making them.
I have seen a lot of movies and tv shows both blokbusters, bollywood, french, anime and nordic. And I like watching something that is a little out there and many not for everyone. I like fast dum action movies and slow philosophic talking movies. Don't missunderstand me I don't love all stories, in fact I will consider myself very picky and videos like yours helps me understand why I like Harry Potter (or LOTR) and not Fantastic Beasts (The Hobbit), but even after seeing plenty of videos about storytelling and movie making it is still hard for me to make a coherent argument for or against a movie, thus most of the time I stick to "don't waste your time", "it is ok" and "I love it" when asked. When recommending something I usually just name other movies that I think are similar enough, and if they like them, then I recommend it. But that also means that for some movies and series I don't recommend them to people that have not watched a lot of movies, even though I loved the show/movie. Like I am not going to recommend Neon Genesis Evangelion to someone that has only seen Pokémon as there only Anime, even if they loved The Matrix and 2001: a space odyssey. I would probably try a "gait way drog" like psycho-pass first (It is also a master peace [It is not without faults, but season 1 is really good], but much easier to enjoy, I think).

Thus I am always trying to improve my understanding of story telling, just to understand my own taste in stories better the same way as I am trying to understand my taste in music better. It might just help me find something new to love.
Lately I been thinking about "Frieren: beyond journey's end". I love that show, but I don't understand why I love it so much. I like the philosophy about life and time, and how we spend out time. I think the dub is well made, the drawings are great (or good enough for the story to shine through). The show is both very compact, fast and slow at the same time. I find the correctors are interesting and well written, but it does not feel like something I have seen before. Although I could name plenty af anime series that basically doe the same thing, no of them feels quiet the same. It feels a little like LOTR mixed with studio ghibli (think something like My Neighbor Totoro). I would love a video about the storytelling methods used in Frieren, maybe it is very simple and just well done, but it honestly feels new to me. I would recommend everyone to watch the first 3 episodes, it is only one hour (maybe 4 if you want more plot setup, but I think the first 3 are the most important episodes to understand the series.) It is an easy watch, very wholesome, maybe a little sad but it does not feel like work watching is 😂. It is not for children, not that there is extreme violence or sex or anything, I just think you need to be an adult or an young adult to be interested in the story. But forsure some kids will probably also love it. Just as some kids love LOTR, even though I would say the story is best for adults.

Sorry that got way too long. You video must have made me thing a little too much. 😂

[stainshen]

I've been waiting for this video so much!
Under the influence of chinese novels, like Heaven Officials Blessings and other MXTX works, I have become very interested in this character type
Even though in the flashbacks the characters there do have a positive or negative arc, in the main timeline the arc is flat
Have not watched the video yet, but am sure that I'm going to play it multiple times, as almost everything on this channel ❤

[laurenbernstein]

This was a really useful video - I like character driven stories and talking about how different characters, not just the protagonist, have arcs and how those arcs interact was really insightful

[VinnyTheory]

I’m honored to watch a new video of Ellen’s. Got here like a month or 2 ago. I think I’ve watched every video

[thehomelessteddycomics]

Very informative. You should look for author Stacy James Meadows. Great video and interesting insights. ❤

[TheGinnyhp]

Loved the video. You always make me smile.

[WahresIchTV]

You inspire me to frame my teachings as a life-coach in a new way now. The character arcs and how they play out in films, plays and novels can be so helpful for my clients to look at their own lives through that particular lense offered through fiction. I already included bits and pieces, but now I see I can do a much better job at this. Thank you from Germany, Ellen.

[jamessherrell]

Thank you so much for this! It really helps me understand and describe my love for characters who are sometimes dismissed as Mary Sues. So insightful.