Zoe Washburne of Firefly
Why did I love Zoe? What's not to love?
First of all Gina Torres is playing her (that should be all the reason anyone needs.)
She's a big, tough, warrior woman but she can also be playful and soft with the people she trusts.
She's her own woman. She's faithful to Mal, but even though he was her superior in the army he does not get final say over her personal life. Just because he's romantically stunted and unable to hold down a healthy relationship, doesn't mean she has to be as well. And she'll tell him so in her own way.
She loves Wash and isn't afraid to show him affection.
I wish she had more moments with the other woman on the show. If the show had gone on a little longer we might have gotten that chance, but what little we were shown was lovely. Zoe took time to comfort Kaylee when she was worried about one of Mal's plans. She feels bad for River, but not enough to let her guard down around her. She teases Simon privately when he drops the ball with Kaylee.
I would say that I want more, but with Joss Whedon's rep, it's probably a small mercy that Firefly got canceled when it did. :\
It's almost perfect if you ignore the "using Asian culture with complete absence of Asian people" thing.
Oh wow rant!
Uh'm Zoe's awesome!