Do we like Raya?
A character from Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)
Our score: 8 out of 10. Yes, we'd back her. She's brave, resourceful and driven by love for her father and her world, and her distrust of others is a flaw the story takes seriously.
Raya is the daughter of the guardian of a magical dragon gem in the land of Kumandra. Her world is split into five rival realms, and a threat called the Druun is spreading. She is a skilled fighter who travels with her giant, armadillo-like companion Tuk Tuk. Her quest is to find the last dragon, Sisu, and mend the broken world.
Her main flaw is trust. An early betrayal left her deeply guarded, so she assumes the worst of nearly everyone she meets. That makes her sharp and capable, but it also makes her prickly and sometimes unfair. She's still funny and warm underneath, and her loyalty to her father and her goal never wavers.
We score her an 8 because she's a determined, likeable hero whose biggest struggle is about learning to give people a chance. The story is largely about her facing that, and it makes her easy to root for even when she's wrong.