One of the surprise television delights of 2021 so far is Disney+'s new series follow-up to The Mighty Ducks trilogy from the 1990s, The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers. The conceit of the series is similar to Cobra Kai, where the Mighty Ducks are now the antagonists against the upstart, inexperienced Don't Bothers team, which is formed after a passionate mother sees how down her son is to be kicked off the Ducks.
However, Game Changers also has the meritable, Ted Lasso-branded optimism and cheer that helps the show feel like a victory lap each week. Most of the characters are highly likable to a degree and while some are truly hate-worthy, these ten are quite easy to cheer for.
Maya
Keep in mind, being the least likable character in The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers is like being the least talented player on the 2017 Golden State Warriors; they're still pretty talented and, as such, still pretty likable.
That being said, Maya is currently one of the players with the most growth to do. She is still holding onto things like social status and cliques. That popularity obsession keeps her from fully committing to the Don't Bothers, but she'll evolve past it surely.
Lauren
While Maya is a bit clique-minded, Lauren is not much better. She's initially presented as more open-minded, which is why she's bumped up the likability list slightly. However, she still adheres too strongly to her LARP friends.
It works both ways, after all. It's not just the popular kids who can be superficial and cliquey. Lauren shows that she can also be slightly two-faced, which makes her a bit of a challenge to be fully likable at the moment.
Gordon Bombay
If Emilio Estevez's Gordon Bombay was not a character fans were already familiar with from the first trilogy of films, he'd probably be last in the ranking. But everyone knows Gordon and his true spirit. They know he's hardly the curmudgeon he pretends to be.
He is a hockey savant with a real passion for guiding and teaching children about the love of the game, each other, and themselves. He just wants what's best for people, even if he doesn't act like it. The standoffish nature knocks him down a couple points, but the audience knows he's a true treasure.
Sam
At the current moment of Game Changers, Sam isn't as developed as some characters. But he will definitely get more characterization soon. For now, his charming demeanor carries him and fans enjoy seeing him when he's featured on the show.
Sam is a perfectly pleasant kid who will hopefully have more development to engage with soon.
Koob
Koob is a bit tricky when it comes to likability at first. He is very aloof and keeps to himself, preferring to stare at his phone or a video game for hours, as opposed to making connections with his teammates.
However, at the sleepover with Evan and Nick, Koob really comes out of his shell, displaying himself as a character who just wants to do the best he can for his friends. He could let up seventy goals in a game and he would still be endearing.
Evan
Speaking of Evan, he is essentially the main character of the show, from the perspective of the children on the team. As the leader of the Don't Bothers, audiences intrinsically root for Evan because it's his story they were introduced to first.
Granted, Evan can be a bit pushy and selfish at times. But he's also twelve years old. Overall, he's an awesome kid and no one can hold any sort of growing paints against him.
Sofi
In the first half of the first season of Game Changers, Sofi is probably the character with the biggest arc, sans Gordon Bombay. Initially a Duck, she proves that she wants to be a Don't Bother because winning isn't the most important thing to her.
The fact that Sofi stands up to an aggressive team environment from the Ducks really endears her to the audience. It shows that her values are in the right place. However, she also goes about her goals in an honest way. Sofi will be a fun character to watch develop.
Logan
In terms of likability on the endearing side of the scale, Logan has to be at the top. He just moved to town when the show begins, coming all the way from Canada. That heritage would honestly be enough to make him one of the show's more likable characters.
However, he's also terrible at ice skating and ice hockey. But he tries his best and doesn't hesitate to make new friends with his other teammates. Logan is the exact kind of kid who would be one of those friends a person meets in middle school and is friendly for life.
Nick
Nick is essentially Evan's best friend. A great supporter in the early goings of the series, Nick has become a truly fun and funny character. He has a big, open heart and a dry sense of humor that can occasionally be used to inspire his friends.
Nick has the demeanor of Sean Astin with the pleasantness of beloved podcasters like Katie Nolan or David Sims. Really, he is one of the ideal new television characters of the year and the most likable kid in the cast.
Alex
Lastly, there is no denying that Lauren Graham's Alex is the most likable character in the series. A character like Nick took time to get to know. On the other hand, Alex comes with the audience's preconceived notions of Lauren Graham, so a ton of goodwill comes from her time in Stars Hollow and Berkeley, California.
However, the character of Alex also earns this position by fighting for what is right and fighting for the people she loves, namely her son. It's an inspiring act that she does to start a hockey team without knowing anything about the sport. But it's what makes Alex the ace of Game Changers so far.