History Main / SmarterThanYouLook

* Aloy from ''VideoGame/HorizonZeroDawn'' is a brave and beautiful huntress who also happens to be a GeniusBruiser. At one point in the story she is able to impress a scholar by deducing that the world is round because that is the shape of the shadow the Earth leaves on the Moon during an eclipse. [[spoiler:She inherited her intelligence from her [[CloningBlues "mother"]], the long-dead scientist and mastermind behind the Zero Dawn Project, Dr. Elisabet Sobeck.]]

* One would be forgiven for being surprised that Tsuruno Yui from ''VideoGame/MagiaRecordPuellaMagiMadokaMagicaSideStory'' isn't that intelligent. [[TheHero Iroha]] was caught off guard by the revelation she was the top of her class, and the girl repeatedly showed it isn't just her being book smart throughout the game with several showings of deductive reasoning, good planning, and people reading. It's just ''very'' easy to not expect intelligence from a girl who spends most of her time [[MotorMouth speaking really fast]], shouting loudly that she is the [[Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica mightiest magical girl]], and otherwise being a GenkiGirl. [[spoiler: The fact that a lot of that enthusiasm is a front for her own worries about her family isn't apparent at first glance after all.]]

* One would be forgiven for being surprised that Tsuruno Yui from ''VideoGame/MagiaRecordPuellaMagiMadokaMagicaSideStory'' isn't that intelligent. [[TheHero Iroha]] was caught off guard by the revelation she was the top of her class, and the girl repeatedly showed it isn't just her being book smart throughout the game with several showings of deductive reasoning, good planning, and people reading. It's just ''very'' easy to not expect intelligence from a girl who spends most of her time [[MotorMouth speaking really fast]], shouting loudly that she is the [[Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica mightiest magical girl]], and otherwise being a GenkiGirl. [[spoiler: The fact that a lot of that enthusiasm is a front for her own worries about her family isn't apparent at first glance after all.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'': Bob's HeroicBuild, LanternJawOfJustice, and SuperStrength are stereotypical of DumbMuscle, but in reality he's anything but. As Mr. Incredible, he demonstrates a quick wit and tactical acumen, at work he learns the loopholes in Insuricare's bureaucracy to help his clients, and at home he learns the concepts of "new math" in a single night so he can teach it to his son (though he's not happy about it). He also adapts rapidly when fighting the Omnidroid (v9 and v10), finding ways to penetrate its armor and put it down for good.

** Harley Quinn is one of the biggest {{Perky Female Minion}}s in fiction, and is usually portrayed as [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} a ditzy oddball]] in whatever criminal antics she gets in, so it's easy to forget the big fact in her backstory that she was a graduated psychologist (or psychiatrist, DependingOnTheWriter) before she became a supervillain. [[GeniusDitz How intelligent and]] [[DumbBlonde capable she is as one]] [[ObfuscatingStupidity varies between continuity]], but it's almost a RunningGag between writers across all media to periodically remind the audience that [[HiddenDepths she has a PhD and at least some expertise on dealing with mental health]], [[PsychopathicManchild even if her own is in serious question]].

* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'': Bob's HeroicBuild, LanternJawOfJustice, and SuperStrength are stereotypical of DumbMuscle, but in reality he's anything but. As Mr. Incredible, he demonstrates a quick wit and tactical acumen, at work he learns the loopholes in Insuricare's bureaucracy to help his clients, and at home he learns the concepts of "new math" in a single night so he can teach it to his son (though he's not happy about it).

* In ''VideoGame/EarthBound'', Apple Kind comes off as a bit of a slob, so you may assume that investing in his inventions is a waste of money. It turns out that you'll need his help to finish the game, from removing pencil and eraser-shaped barriers to traveling to the past.

* This is a standard warning at the beginning of all [[{{Kaiju}} Endbringer]] fights in ''Literature/{{Worm}}'': "The Endbringers may look like giant monsters, but they ''are not stupid''". They still frequently get underestimated. Leviathan and Behemoth both appear to just be giant beasts, but they're capable of strategy and tactics, using the terrain to devastating advantage, and even faking being hurt in order to draw their opponents in and lower their guards. It even applies to the Simurgh, who looks pretty smart to begin with and is notorious for brilliant long-term plans that nobody even realizes are in play. [[spoiler:It's part of their general strategy for lowering human morale: they hold back their greatest abilities and intelligence in their fights, then every time humanity looks like they might have gained a small advantage, they do something different that invalidates humanity's tactics.]]

* This is a standard warning at the beginning of all [[{{Kaiju}} Endbringer]] fights in ''Literature/{{Worm}}'': "The Endbringers may look like giant monsters, but they ''are not stupid''". They still frequently get underestimated. While Leviathan is already a HeroKiller by virtue of consistently slaughtering a full fourth of the army of superheroes and villains that show up to fight him every time he appears to destroy entire cities, and is strong, faster than a superspeedster, and has large-scale hydrokinesis that completely averts SoftWater, the Extermination (8) arc also reveals that he possesses a kind of brute cunning, inventing new tactics to defeat [[GadgeteerGenius Armsmaster]]'s [[AwesomenessByAnalysis prediction software]] on the fly. [[spoiler:Behemoth]] displays much the same cruel intelligence in Crushed (24) during [[spoiler:the attack on New Delhi]]. It even applies to the Simurgh, who looks pretty smart to begin with and is notorious for brilliant long-term plans that nobody even realizes are in play.

* This is a standard warning at the beginning of all [[{{Kaiju}} Endbringer]] fights in ''Literature/{{Worm}}''. They still get underestimated. While Leviathan is already a HeroKiller by virtue of consistently slaughtering a full fourth of the army of superheroes and villains that show up to fight him every time he appears to destroy entire cities, and is strong, faster than a superspeedster, and has large-scale hydrokinesis that completely averts SoftWater, the Extermination (8) arc also reveals that he possesses a kind of brute cunning, inventing new tactics to defeat [[GadgeteerGenius Armsmaster]]'s [[AwesomenessByAnalysis prediction software]] on the fly. [[spoiler:Behemoth]] displays much the same cruel intelligence in Crushed (24) during [[spoiler:the attack on New Delhi]]. It even applies to the Simurgh, who looks pretty smart to begin with and is notorious for brilliant long-term plans that nobody even realizes are in play.

-->-- '''Beastlord Grakkle''', translated from the Beast Tongue, ''TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasyRoleplay: Old World Bestiary -- A Compendium of Creatures Fair and Foul''.

** Harry Dresden is a tall, dorky PopCulturedBadass who usually speaks quietly, never meets anyone's eyes for too long, and wears some strange jewellery. However, when danger looms, it turns out that he's as much badass as he is pop-cultured, his voice rises to a BadassBaritone, that height gives him an edge in a hand-to-hand fight, and that jewellery has some pretty useful magical functions. Oh, and while he seems (mostly to himself) to be a bit slow, his ex-girlfriend (a top-quality journalist and eventually skilled guerrilla fighter/espionage agent) points out that he's only slow in the short term and figures everything out eventually -- this includes the plans of high-end schemers like Mab. This difference between behaviour and capacity is even lampshaded by one of his friends, who plays this trope pretty straight herself:

** Samuel Vimes doesn't consider ''himself'' very bright, and he looks the part of a DirtyCop ([[ScrewTheMoneyIHaveRules which he isn't]]) from the WrongSideOfTheTracks (which he is). While not especially educated (and, as one character observes, sensitive about it), his StreetSmarts, eclectic and surprisingly extensive knowledge base, and thorough understanding of human nature make him a dangerously cunning opponent.

Sometimes, the appearance of stupidity or ditziness is compounded by the presence of UnfortunateImplications, particularly racial or gender-related stereotypes (this can be particularly true for those who are PrettySmartForAHottie, where beauty can belie a character's knowledge).

* Nanase-sensei of ''LightNovel/LoveChunibyoAndOtherDelusions'' is a bit of a SenseiChan, but Yuuta notes that she can be quite cunning, as shown when she plays along with [[MsImagination Rikka]]'s delusions while the latter submits her club formation form for her "[[StartMyOwn Far Eastern Magical Nap Association]]".

* In ''LightNovel/RollOverAndDie'', it is easy to dismiss Milkit due to her being a slave with no education, but she quickly proves to be quite adept at learning after Flum gives her some lessons in reading and writing.

** In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS8E18HomerVsTheEighteenthAmendment Homer vs. the Eighteenth Amendment]]", Springfield passes a prohibition law, which Homer defies by bootlegging liquor to Moe's. When Marge finds out, she's horrified until she hears how intricate Homer's bootlegging operation is, and she's so impressed by how well-thought it is that she starts supporting him.

* Nugget from ''VideoGame/{{Kindergarten}}'' is a {{Cloudcuckoolander}} who looks the part, with FishEyes and a bit of drool coming out of his mouth. However, he's one of the characters who can read and write (which is more impressive than it sounds, given that he and his classmates are kindergarteners), and he knows how to make poison and control its potency.

* Used for a gag in ''WebComic/GRRLPower'', where an extremely DumbBlonde-looking porn actress squees at [[https://grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-770-reactions-are-mixed/ the thought of alien hunks watching her work]]. And then gives a summary of how the substantial increase in audience will impact the industry.

** Buffy herself is not only in the same AP classes as Willow, despite filling most of the ValleyGirl stereotype to a tee, as well as the impact that slaying has on her schoolwork. However, she's a highly capable tactician, strategist, and, when not cracking under pressure or depression (a.k.a. part of Season 6 and part of Season 7), leader. More to the point, she gets 1430 on her SATs on what is presumed to be a possible 1600. That puts her in the 97th percentile nationwide.

* Nugget from ''VideoGame/{{Kindergarten}}'' is a {{Cloudcuckoolander}} who looks the part, with FishEyes and a bit of drool coming out of his mouth. However, he's one of the characters who can read and write (which is more impressive than it sounds, given that he and his classmates are kindergarteners), and he knows how to make poison and control its potency.

** Super Buu is probably the best example, as he [[ObfuscatingStupidity deliberately acts like a simple-minded thug]] to get others to get overconfident with him, even managing to fake his fight with Gotenks as serious when in reality he's waiting for Gohan.

** Orihime Inoue may be a {{Cloudcuckoolander}}, but she also gets the third-highest grades in her class. She's also perceptive enough to notice that Ichigo, whom she's only met recently through their mutual friend Tatsuki, [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness isn't acting like himself]] on the days leading up to the anniversary of his mother's death, something that takes Tatsuki a while to notice.

* Clam of ''WesternAnimation/CampLazlo'' is a [[SimpletonVoice dopey-sounding and monosyllabic]] on a good day... on a bad day, he'll only mirror other characters' dialogue. Despite that, he's the GeniusBruiser of the camp who often bails his friends out with his quick thinking, strong grasp of physics, and [[StrongerThanYouLook surprising strength]]. That's not even getting into his various artistic pursuits.