Do we like them?

Do we like Captain James T. Kirk?

A character from Star Trek (1966–1969)

Our score: 9 out of 10. Yes, we'd back him. He's a brave, loyal captain who protects his crew and won't accept a no-win scenario. He also breaks a few rules along the way.

James Tiberius Kirk is one of Starfleet's youngest starship captains. He commands the USS Enterprise on a five-year mission to seek out new life and new civilizations. Each week brings a new planet, a new alien problem and a hard moral choice. Kirk faces them with a mix of quick thinking, a stubborn streak and a lot of charm. He leads alongside his logical first officer Spock and his grumpy, big-hearted ship's doctor McCoy.

What makes him easy to back is his loyalty. He treats his crew like family and will risk his career, and sometimes his life, rather than leave anyone behind. He also has a real talent for refusing to accept a rigged game. That attitude is famously tied to the no-win Kobayashi Maru test in the reboot films. He'd rather change the rules than lose a friend. He's far from perfect, though. He can be reckless, cocky and a little too fond of flirting with aliens. Those flaws are part of the fun, and they keep him from being a stuffy hero.

Over the films he faces old enemies like Khan, grows older and loses people he loves. Some of those losses are the price of his choices. He ends up as a legend who passes on hard-won advice about what a captain is for. His story ends in Star Trek Generations, where he is lost and presumed dead. His final act is to help another captain make a difference one more time.