# Who is the smarter, stronger, or more clever character? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 2, 2025, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516 "2025-04-02T12:54:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/1 "2025-04-02T12:54:53Z")
I know the title doesn’t convey what I have in mind, so I’ll try to explain. Take the main characters of two separate but similar movies/TV shows/books and have them face off. Which one could thwart the other? I’ve heard discussions regarding superheroes in head-to-head showdowns, but what about other match-ups? For example, could Samantha (_Bewitched_) cast a spell that would defeat or entrap Jeannie (_I Dream of Jeannie)_? Could _Columbo_ commit a crime that _McMillan and Wife_ couldn’t solve? Could _Sherlock_ engineer a heist that would totally baffle _Poirot_? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/2 "2025-04-02T13:52:00Z")
I’ve mentioned in a few places that I’ve been doing a lot of rewatching of full old series lately. _Bewitched_ and _I Dream of Jeannie_ are among ones I’ve finished. As I noticed at the time, Jeannie appears to be able to do much larger reality warps much more easily than Samantha. I think Jeannie would likely crush Samantha like a bug. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/3 "2025-04-02T13:54:49Z")
Jeannie would just make Samantha’s nose (or rather her upper lip) disappear. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/4 "2025-04-02T13:55:42Z")
Herman has brute strength over Gomez, but Gomez has intelligence, agility, and swordsmanship and would probably win. However Eddie would tear Pugsley to shreds. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/5 "2025-04-02T14:00:02Z")
Unfortunately for Eddie, Wednesday would always be there for Pugsley. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/6 "2025-04-02T14:01:56Z")
One classic such confrontation is Reacher vs Travis McGee. I’d put my money on Reacher. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/7 "2025-04-02T14:07:03Z")
On that note, > [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > As I noticed at the time, Jeannie appears to be able to do much larger reality warps much more easily than Samantha. I think Jeannie would likely crush Samantha like a bug. I have to agree Jeannie appears more powerful, but Endora is another level yet and would rescue her daughter while bottling Jeannie semi-permanently. * * * * * * As to Columbo, I’m sure he could solve most of the crimes the other detectives committed, but I’m not sure if he could commit a perfect crime. His specialty in finding a single lose thread and unraveling everything from there while playing to their genius as a simpleton. He knows a perfect plan is almost impossible to execute. Tiny things get missed. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/8 "2025-04-02T14:08:45Z")
If Samantha survives Jeannie’s first strike (or if Sam strikes first) Sam’s advantage in brains leads to victory. But yeah, in terms of raw power, Jeannie has the advantage ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/9 "2025-04-02T14:12:03Z")
I think Classic Wednesday (Lisa Loring) would not be much help in a direct fight, but would plan a revenge/assassination to avenge Pugsley. Possibly, concluding with a guillotine. The older Christina Ricci & Jenna Ortega Wednesdays may be able to help Pugsley immediately and would absolutely win the revenge battle. Eddie would never see it coming. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/10 "2025-04-02T14:13:13Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Eddie would never see it coming. Even his notary public powers wouldn’t save him ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/11 "2025-04-02T14:16:44Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > As to Columbo, I’m sure he could solve most of the crimes the other detectives committed, but I’m not sure if he could commit a perfect crime. His specialty in finding a single lose thread and unravel everything from there while playing to their genius as a simpleton. He knows a perfect plan is almost impossible to execute. Tiny things get missed. This was my first reaction. Columbo would never commit a crime, at least not something that is technically a crime. McMillan and Wife, mainly Wife, would have figured out what he did, but would have been unable to find a criminal charge which would stick. Jeannie and Samantha is something of a toss up based on circumstances. Both did a poor job sticking to the rules of the mortals so such a contest could easily result in Armageddon for those without supernatural powers. However, Samantha was able to come out ahead against her evil cousin as did Jeannie with her evil twin sister. It does appear that Samantha had a wider group of relatives and magical associates on her side. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/12 "2025-04-02T14:22:21Z")
**Matlock** is just a small town Southern lawyer that would get his ass handed to him by **LA Law**. Matlock has lost cases and LA Law will just bury him in discovery. For the purposes of this thread LA Law could definitely pull off some legal shenanigans touching illegal and Matlock would get no where. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/13 "2025-04-02T14:23:40Z")
How about Littlefinger from GoT vs Blackadder? Id say Littlefinger would have it. Though you could probably claim either Tyrion or Varys were Blackadder equivalents (or even Tommen if he’d lived longer, could be a Blackadder I). Did Martin admit to Blackadder as an influence? ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/14 "2025-04-02T14:24:51Z")
Where do we stand on a Darren Stevens-Major Nelson showdown? Sure, Tony has all that astronaut survival training, but there are two Derwoods. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/15 "2025-04-02T14:27:14Z")
In a fight, Tony can probably take both Darrens at once. One has a really bad back and the other doesn’t look like fighter at all. Astronaut Survival Training for the win! But as this is not just suppose to be fights, I think Astronaut wins on the Life Success and Fame ratings over Ad Man. I’m sure Tony’s math & science skills are better. He generally seemed smarter. The only thing I can find for sure is Captain Nelson graduated from Georgia Tech and then joined the Air Force. A fair chance he has an Engineering Degree. ETA: I went digging, Darren has degree in advertising from the University of Missouri. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/16 "2025-04-02T14:34:23Z")
Since it isn’t Lupis I like **House** ’s chances again Captain Trips. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/17 "2025-04-02T14:43:42Z")
Who would have a better chance of helping Monk, [Robert Hartley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bob_Newhart_Show) or [Jason Seaver](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Growing_Pains)? ---
**Author:** ![We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/We_re_wolves_not_werewolves)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/18 "2025-04-02T14:47:12Z")
Transformers would wipe the floor with the GoBots in a fight ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/19 "2025-04-02T14:48:06Z")
Major Sidney Freeman (M_A_S\*H) would be better then that pair. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/20 "2025-04-02T14:48:34Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > The only thing I can find for sure is Captain Nelson graduated from Georgia Tech and then joined the Air Force. A fair chance he has an Engineering Degree. He is often shown working on designs for rockets/capsules, he wasn’t just spam in a can. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516.md?page=2)