I remember this episode very well. What person who was ever a fan of this classic show doesn't? I'd say this was one of everyone's favourite episodes as a kid. Everyone remembers the cool cryptic clues of the life-size video game replica maze, the golden fire-breathing griffin robots, the minotaur, and the thing that most stuck in my mind over the years was the big scary Hand of Fate!!!(Batman, you cheater!) It's not quite as awesome as I had remembered, but it remains a great suspenseful and very interestingly-titled episode, as well as a very good introduction to the seldom seen intellectual menace of the Riddler. Now the people behind the series have stated that the reason they ended up using the Riddler a couple of times was because it was so hard for them to come up with riddles for him to use against Batman, which I personally find to be a rather pathetic reason.. But on the other hand maybe it was better that way, as sometimes in this show a villain was more interesting and effective the more sparingly they were used. If he were to show up as often as Mark Hamill's brilliant Joker it probably wouldn't have been nearly as special an occasion. I loved John Glover's voicing, he excellently brought the villain to life and had just the right tone of megalomania superiority complex, but dignified and eloquent at the same time. He nailed it, and the second you hear him as the character you'll never want to hear anyone else doing the voice again. The villain's origin was one they went with quite a few times, the big industrial tycoon jerk steps on and cheats some mostly regular innocent guy which is what drives them crazy and into a life of crime. I thought his former boss totally had it coming.. And the Riddler gets away with it too at the end, which is a nice unexpected turn of events. And the final scene is surprisingly creepy with Nygma's ex-boss escaping justice and getting away with his fortune, but being so terrified of the Riddler's possible retribution that he's unable to get a good night's sleep - which is priceless by the way! Hey please like my review, I might even bye you ice-cream! But only if you're good..
Batman: The Animated Series (TV Series)
If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich? (1992)
User Reviews
Review this title6 Reviews
Naughty gatecrashers must match wits with the dastardly Riddler!
Foreverisacastironmess12328 July 2014
Warning: Spoilers
'The Riddler' Makes His Debut In Series
ccthemovieman-118 April 2008
Warning: Spoilers
We get our first look at "The Riddler," who is really Edward Ngyma (e.nigma - get it?), a toy company employee who invented a very financially-successful puzzle but was canned by the company owner. He comes back with his green outfit and question marks on his clothes to get his revenge on his former boss, Dan Mockridge. That boss was just about ready to sell his company to Bruce Wayne, so having The Riddler do away with the company president would not be beneficial to the city of Gotham. That company Wayne wants to buy from Mockridge will create a lot of jobs for the city.
The Riddler captures Mockridge, so Batman and Robin go after him and have to solve riddles, mazes, a giant robot-minotaur, a "flying hand of fate" and assorted other deadly instruments in this action-packed episode. This riddles aren't as clever as they could have been, but they weren't bad and the show was very entertaining. We will see more of this villain.
John Glover, by the way, voices "The Riddler." If I recall, Jim Carrey played this role in the 1995 "Batman Forever" film and Frank Gorshin played the role at least a half dozen times in the mid 1960s TV series.
The Riddler captures Mockridge, so Batman and Robin go after him and have to solve riddles, mazes, a giant robot-minotaur, a "flying hand of fate" and assorted other deadly instruments in this action-packed episode. This riddles aren't as clever as they could have been, but they weren't bad and the show was very entertaining. We will see more of this villain.
John Glover, by the way, voices "The Riddler." If I recall, Jim Carrey played this role in the 1995 "Batman Forever" film and Frank Gorshin played the role at least a half dozen times in the mid 1960s TV series.
A wicked battle of wits
Mr-Fusion13 January 2017
'If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich?' is an excellent title for the intro of the Riddler, another sap who turns to villainy under the thumb of corporate douchebaggery. Far less dramatic than say, Clayface or Mr. Freeze, John Glover's voice acting is what makes this character stand out; but this episode is memorable for the big Minotaur Maze. It's an extravagant trap coming from a bad guy who's all about the puzzles. The imaginative execution keeps things exciting, especially when things could easily become brainy and convoluted. Maybe it's just because I remember playing the Minotaur level on the Genesis game back in the '90s, but I do enjoy that sequence.
7/10
7/10
Battle of Wits
hellraiser718 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This is another honorable mention in my book, not much to say this was a solid into piece to Edward Nigma/the Riddler. John Glover is great in the role as he conveys the character both comical but menacing at the same time; you really don't want to be the one to play Nigma's game because one wrong answer or one unsolved riddle could remain just like your fate unsolved forever. Batman and Riddler pitted against each other is always fun because it's always a battle of wits between the two.
I kinda like how at the beginning Edward Nigma is a bit sympathetic and we see a partial motive for what drove him to become the Riddler; which make us a little on his side (I said a little); which kinda makes this episode a bit of a revenge story Mockridge in a way is kinda the real villain in the episode, as we see he embezzled and copyright infringed on Edwards idea; which isn't fair Ed should be the one running things not this dirt bag whom probably hasn't lifted a finger most of his life. He is also practically mocking Ed about it acting like he's the smartest person in the room, hence his name; yeah the guy is full of it and it's not money. Yeah, Mockridge got rich alright but he's no genius, he got richer but he didn't get smarter and that of course proves to be fatal.
What makes this episode truly unique is how thought provoking this is; despite little to no battles (well there is one fight but it's static) it's thrilling all the same because of that element.
The highlight of the entire episode in fact what all of us are really in it for is the maze which is awesome. I rarely see mazes used in the visual medium except in films like "Hellraiser 2" and "Labryth" (obviously). Mazes were always my favorite kind of puzzle because they always present a number of possibilities. I remember being on the edge of my seat as we see Batman and Robin traverse the maze afraid the next turn or the next pathway they run toward could be a death trap waiting for them. But also both literally have to think on their feet along with ourselves, I remember listening to each of those riddles and watching for the catches and hidden clues within them.
I really like the ending which I feel was poetic justice for Mockridge, lets just say there's nothing worse than an insoluble riddle.
Rating: 3 and a half stars
I kinda like how at the beginning Edward Nigma is a bit sympathetic and we see a partial motive for what drove him to become the Riddler; which make us a little on his side (I said a little); which kinda makes this episode a bit of a revenge story Mockridge in a way is kinda the real villain in the episode, as we see he embezzled and copyright infringed on Edwards idea; which isn't fair Ed should be the one running things not this dirt bag whom probably hasn't lifted a finger most of his life. He is also practically mocking Ed about it acting like he's the smartest person in the room, hence his name; yeah the guy is full of it and it's not money. Yeah, Mockridge got rich alright but he's no genius, he got richer but he didn't get smarter and that of course proves to be fatal.
What makes this episode truly unique is how thought provoking this is; despite little to no battles (well there is one fight but it's static) it's thrilling all the same because of that element.
The highlight of the entire episode in fact what all of us are really in it for is the maze which is awesome. I rarely see mazes used in the visual medium except in films like "Hellraiser 2" and "Labryth" (obviously). Mazes were always my favorite kind of puzzle because they always present a number of possibilities. I remember being on the edge of my seat as we see Batman and Robin traverse the maze afraid the next turn or the next pathway they run toward could be a death trap waiting for them. But also both literally have to think on their feet along with ourselves, I remember listening to each of those riddles and watching for the catches and hidden clues within them.
I really like the ending which I feel was poetic justice for Mockridge, lets just say there's nothing worse than an insoluble riddle.
Rating: 3 and a half stars
"I don't believe in fate!"
thomasgouldsbrough1 March 2022
This is quite a good episode of the series, and serves as a fantastic origin episode for the Riddler. This episode continues the running theme for the series to criticise corporate greed over the welfare of the employee, as seen previously in Eternal Youth, and does it in a clever way that breaks a character and drives him to madness, and a deep desire to be recognised for their work.
A good episode.
A good episode.
Something's not right
iizjfkt16 March 2022
Well, If You're So Smart is a fun episode, definitely worth seeing.
But the vibe of this episode was off, the animation is strangely noodly, and Batman's voice performance and overall personality is oddly cheeky and hammy compared to his usual behavior. It feels like this may have been an early episode before they had a mood nailed down for the show.
In terms of animation you can see it's oddly expressive when Lucius looks up at the riddle on the ticker tape outside the window. There are a lot of other moments where you'll see the animation "dances" in an off-putting manner. At least relative to the show's usual art deco, minimal-necessary-gesturing for the sake of maintaining that classic Animated Batman regality. The intro that plays before every episode exemplifies what I'm talking about. Characters in this show just don't move that much, the animation is very reserved.
And when it comes to mood, the tone is kind of inconsistent and the ending especially leaves with a weird message. Mockridge fired a guy for selfish reasons and the ending is saying that all is right with the world because now he lives every night unable to sleep, in fear of his life. I don't see how that's reasonable justice for something like that, seems very heavy handed, and Bruce delivers the point like it's the end of A Christmas Carol.
But the vibe of this episode was off, the animation is strangely noodly, and Batman's voice performance and overall personality is oddly cheeky and hammy compared to his usual behavior. It feels like this may have been an early episode before they had a mood nailed down for the show.
In terms of animation you can see it's oddly expressive when Lucius looks up at the riddle on the ticker tape outside the window. There are a lot of other moments where you'll see the animation "dances" in an off-putting manner. At least relative to the show's usual art deco, minimal-necessary-gesturing for the sake of maintaining that classic Animated Batman regality. The intro that plays before every episode exemplifies what I'm talking about. Characters in this show just don't move that much, the animation is very reserved.
And when it comes to mood, the tone is kind of inconsistent and the ending especially leaves with a weird message. Mockridge fired a guy for selfish reasons and the ending is saying that all is right with the world because now he lives every night unable to sleep, in fear of his life. I don't see how that's reasonable justice for something like that, seems very heavy handed, and Bruce delivers the point like it's the end of A Christmas Carol.
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