Do we like Xena?
A character from Xena: Warrior Princess (1995–2001)
Our score: 8 out of 10. Yes, we'd back her. She's a flawed, hard-hitting hero who keeps trying to make up for her past, and her friendship with Gabrielle is the best part of the show.
Xena first shows up as a villain on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, where she is a ruthless warlord leading armies across ancient Greece. Fans liked her so much that she got her own spin-off. The series follows an infamous warrior who wants to be redeemed for her past sins against the innocent. She travels the mythic world with her chakram, her battle cry and her loyal friend, the bard Gabrielle.
Her appeal is that redemption is never easy for her. Old enemies, old allies and old habits keep turning up, and she doesn't always handle them well. She is tough, sharp-tongued and very capable, but she is also loyal, funny and openly caring. Her bond with Gabrielle keeps her grounded, and the show is as much about their friendship as about the fights.
We score her an 8 because her good deeds clearly outweigh her harm, and she is honest about the harm she has done. She loses a couple of points because her methods can be violent and she sometimes falls back on her darker instincts. She is still someone you'd want next to you in a tight spot.
Her redemption arc comes at a cost. In the end she sacrifices her own life to atone for her past, which gives the series its emotional finish.