Do we like Joxer the Mighty?
A character from Xena: Warrior Princess (1995–2001)
Our score: 7 out of 10. Yes, we'd back him. He's a walking disaster with a sword, but he's loyal, sweet-natured and braver than he looks. Just don't let him guard the door.
Joxer first shows up in Xena's world as a self-proclaimed warrior of fearsome reputation. He offers his services to Xena, a reformed warlord, and her friend Gabrielle. His boasts are loud, his skills are poor, and Xena tells him to get lost almost at once. The series follows Xena and Gabrielle as they travel ancient Greece righting wrongs. Joxer keeps turning up, a lovable pest who won't be talked out of being a hero.
He is a running gag: the theme song he sings about himself, the botched rescues, the wild overconfidence. He is also one of only a handful of characters to appear in every season. His devotion to Gabrielle and his refusal to stay down are what make him endearing. Xena and Gabrielle call him annoying, but over time he becomes a real friend.
We score him a 7. He is no great force for good because he is too inept, but he is kind and loyal and he never gives up. He is also the friend you'd want around when things go wrong, as long as you keep the swords out of his hands.
His story ends in sacrifice. In the late episodes he dies trying to protect Gabrielle, killed by Xena's daughter Livia. It's the moment the joke turns into the hero he always claimed to be.