The Muscle-Bound Tough Guy
This character always ends up losing their shirt, or getting it torn in combat, exposing chiseled arms and ripped abs. The tough guy usually has a mean streak, and may be unpredictable or a loose cannon at times, but in the end remains loyal. In many cases, they are trained in some sort of ritual combat, and have their own trademark weapon/fighting moves. It is not uncommon for the tough guy to have escaped from prison, have bounties on their head, and to have made powerful enemies who want revenge. Conversely, there is often someone who has wronged the tough guy, and they must deal out some serious payback.
Where to spot the MBTG: Running down long corridors evading weapons fire, on narrow bridges engaging battle, making sidelong glances at a superior, flying through the air during a dramatic explosion.
Examples: Teal'c (Stargate SG-1), Worf (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Jayne Cobb (Firefly), Ka D'argo (Farscape) The Smart-Alec Leader
This character is the ire of their enemies, as well as their commanding officers. Victory, defeat, and capture alike, the leader cracks jokes at his enemy's expense. Often, a witty retort and low blow to the ego of a villain will cause them to divulge far too much information and specifics of their plan that they otherwise would have kept secret. The leader is also often a ladies man (or gentlemen's woman), flirting with humans and aliens alike - the more dangerous, the better. The leader isn't perfect, and their flaws are often targeted and exposed, but they triumph nonetheless and do what needs to be done, even if self-sacrifice is necessary.
Where to spot the Leader: In the company of green women, sitting in the captains chair staring ahead stoically, engaging in suicidal rescue missions, arguing passionately against a bureaucratic villain.
Examples: Captain James T. Kirk (Star Trek), Quinn Mallory (Sliders), Captain Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds (Firefly), Jack O'Neill (Stargate SG-1) The Eye Candy
Thiss character gives a show its sex appeal, awakening the loins of many a nerd. They are often wear tight revealing clothing, such as jumpsuits, corsets, tank tops, backless dresses, and glorified lingerie. The eye candy is a vixen that uses her body and sexuality to further her goals and accomplish missions. Despite this, they often have a crush or secret love that is often out of reach. The roles and personalities of the eye candy can vary greatly - but they always fill one function: giving people another reason to watch.
Where to spot the Eye Candy: With hair and makeup looking good even during battle, using her flirtatious manner to disarm opponents, looking worried during tense situations, offering advice and reflecting on personal experience during tough times.
Examples: Number Six (Battlestar Gallactica), Inara Serra (Firefly), Seven of Nine (Star Trek: Voyager)
The Nerdy Specialist
Perhaps a scientist, doctor, archeologist, engineer, or philosopher - the specialist has an essential knowledge or ability that no one else possesses that comes in handy once every episode or so. They may not know how to handle a gun as well, which they often get flak for, but they try. The specialist has a stout moral compass, and often protests objectionable issues. When the leader doesn't take the role, the specialist can fill in as a capable negotiator.
Where to spot the Specialist: Spouting a befuddling lecture, hacking into a computer mainframe, deciphering a code or ancient language, “beaming” someone up, bypassing the circuitry on a jail cell door (which is conveniently inside the cell itself).
Examples: Dr. Daniel Jackson (Stargate SG-1), Prof. Maximilian Arturo (Sliders), Scotty (Star Trek) The Non-Human Sidekick
This character is the crux of one of sci-fi's most prominent themes: the exploration of what it means to be human. The non-human sidekick comes in many forms: an alien, genetic hybrid, ghost, robot, hologram, android, or mutant - but each one has an internal struggle between their human-like qualities and their separateness from the humans they spend time with. The non-human usually becomes more human-like over the course of the series, and other characters go to great lengths to remark on this. At times the fact that they are different can hurt them as well, and they are often outcast or suspected when something goes awry.
Where to spot the Non-Human: Engaging in practices such as recharging/meditating, discussing the philosophy of what makes one human, keeping pets or a garden.
Examples: Data (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Spock (Star Trek), Sharon Valerii (Battlestar Gallactica), Bender (Futurama)
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