Dr. Robotnik has always been an evil genius, and his IQ has been calculated to be a whopping 300. Though very childish, temperamental, and immature, he is definitely one smart cookie. However, there are times when his true level of intelligence may be up for debate. On the Adventures series for example, he seems incapable of building machines that can perform a task without causing some sort of disaster. Well, the time may have come for Botsy to up his IQ a few digits, for you see, he has invented a computer program that will increase his intelligence ten times over, so instead of 300, it will be... 3,000! Damn. He could harness all the power of the entire universe with that kind of smarts. By making himself more intelligent, he might actually win and defeat Sonic once and for all. However, this isn't the final episode, so we know he won't accomplish that goal, but let's see him attempt it and make a mess of things anyway. So before Robotnik's program can finish downloading, he sends Scratch and Grounder to rig up trap #875 in the Wile E. Coyote handbook. It requires one over-sized mousetrap, and a pull-string Tails doll. I'm not kidding, they actually created a stuffed Tails doll that begs for Sonic to save him in a monotone voice. This might have worked, if Sonic were profoundly stupid, but of course we all know he isn't. When he sees the trap, he bursts out laughing, as anybody would. Oh, but wait a minute, he discovers stuffed versions of Scratch and Grounder, then narrowly avoids being caught in the large bear trap hidden under the ground. Deciding that since he became just a sliver closer to capturing his adversary, he and Tails think Robotnik must have some new form of super computer to concoct such an ingenious trap. To find out, Tails suggests they go and visit a local computer hacker, simply named Hacker who, right at that moment, was trying into hack to Robotnik's network. But what's that I hear? Sound effects from the Sonic the Hedgehog games?? So, DiC did have the rights to use them after all? Then why didn't they do it until now? That's very strange. Anyway, as Robotnik was gloating about his new smarts and berating his stupid robots for failing to capture Sonic- hey, since you have a super genius program at your disposal, why not make Scratch and Grounder smarter (guess he wants it all for himself) -he failed to realize that Hacker successfully lived up to his name and stole said program via his own special virus, downloaded it onto his own microchip, and wiped it from Robotnik's computer. Looks like someone didn't update his anti-virus software. He sends the two idiots to track down the perpetrator, and they successfully locate Hacker's not-very-well-hidden lab, laying waste to it, though as usual, Sonic was able to give the robots quite a workout. In the process, Grounder literally went to pieces, and in the process of self-reassembly, he accidentally places the super-genius chip into his head and suddenly becomes brilliant, even changing facial features, donning a robe and graduation cap and speaking in a haughty accent, so you know he's a genius. So, if the program increases your IQ ten times over, then Grounder's already 0 IQ would be raised to 10... not much of a genius. When Robotnik showed up to berate them again, Grounder showed off his super smarts by telling their master of a stratagem he came up with. Botsy likes the idea and appoints Scratch to be Grounder's new lackey.
Sonic, Tails, and Hacker are dismayed to find the genius chip gone, knowing Robotnik has it and will soon be the smartest being alive. Hacker suggests they track it down and replace with a "stupid" chip he just happened to have. Why bother with that? Just destroy the genius chip, then Botsy will have nothing. True, but it will be much funnier to seem him turn stupid...er. So, Sonic goes to infiltrate Robotnik's fortress where, get ready for this: he is outsmarted by Grounder. Yeah, the hedgehog tries his usual masquerade tricks, but the little green driller saw right through it and activated a ray that turns Sonic to stone. By my count, this is the third time in the series Sonic got stoned, er, I mean, turned to stone. So impressed was Robotnik by his own robot's superior intellect that he promotes him to Vice Tyrant, however Grounder insisted on being made a partner instead. Botsy not only vehemently rejects the proposal, but he attempts to shut Grounder down, and notice the animators goofed by making him press the on button instead of off. Grounder was one step ahead of him, having boobytrapped his off switch. He then reveals that he has the genius chip, then orders Scratch to imprison Robotnik in his own dungeon, even putting the petrified Sonic in there to keep him company. Oh man, with a genius Grounder at the controls, the bad guys might actually win in this episode. I mean, Sonic is turned to stone, Grounder is the smartest being... not alive, but activated, how can a stalwart Tails and his awkward hacker friend save the day? With some electromagnetic suction cups on his computer, Hacker grabs hold of the petrification gun Scratch absent-mindedly left by the door, and reversing its effects, manage to free Sonic from his stone imprisonment. They all book it, leaving Robotnik barricaded in the dungeon and go to try and take away Grounder's smarts, however the plucky robot was one step ahead of them, saying he anticipated their escape. Really? Then why didn't you try to stop it? Guess his ego is even bigger than his brain. Therefore, he introduces them to his latest invention: a lightning rod that creates lightning, which he uses to try and zap our heroes to dust. Meanwhile, Robotnik manages to escape because his cape caught in the door. Lucky he decided to randomly wear one in this episode, and as for Scratch, his goofy, clumsy hide trips and falls on Grounder, knocking his head off just moments after he said he thought of everything. Yeah, everything but properly re-attaching his head. Oh well, even evil genius robots aren't perfect. Robotnik picks up Grounder's head and removes the genius chip, but with Sonic pulling the old switcheroo, Robotnik ends up using the stupid chip. Hacker said this would only make him half as smart, so if his IQ is 300, it should only shrink down to 150, so he'd still be a genius. However, maybe he was just exaggerating, because now Botsy has been reduced to a bumbling idiot, so really, everything was back to normal. Our Sonic Says is on how to get smart without the aid of a super genius chip: go to school, do your homework, use your brain, and educate yourself. A very good lesson.
Grounder the Genius is actually a pretty good episode. There are a few silly moments and it contains the usual nonsense that the show is known for, but I think it pulls off the concept of Grounder becoming a genius quite nicely. Him becoming highly educated and Scratch being his lackey reminded me of Laurel and Hardy's feature film, A Chump at Oxford, in which Stan reverts back to his apparent highly-intelligent former self by way of hitting his head on a falling window, and Ollie becomes his lackey. His former friend finds himself being mistreated as much as Scratch, though at least Ollie wasn't transformed into a jackhammer and forced to dig himself into the ground. Like I said, the usual nonsense. The Hacker character was pretty interesting, and unfortunately Sonic and Tails never call upon him again, because if he can hack into Robotnik's computers that easily, you'd think he could find a way to bring him down for good. Now, I know I've been saying that Robotnik has an IQ of 300, which has been officially stated by Sega, and some versions of the character are worthy of that bit of trivia, but the Adventures series really depicts him as a bumbling idiot. I guess in a world like this, the bad guys have to be dumb or the hero would be defeated permanently. So in closing, if you want to see what would happen if one of Robotnik's henchbots was actually intelligent and came very close to defeating Sonic, then I recommend Grounder the Genius.
Sonic, Tails, and Hacker are dismayed to find the genius chip gone, knowing Robotnik has it and will soon be the smartest being alive. Hacker suggests they track it down and replace with a "stupid" chip he just happened to have. Why bother with that? Just destroy the genius chip, then Botsy will have nothing. True, but it will be much funnier to seem him turn stupid...er. So, Sonic goes to infiltrate Robotnik's fortress where, get ready for this: he is outsmarted by Grounder. Yeah, the hedgehog tries his usual masquerade tricks, but the little green driller saw right through it and activated a ray that turns Sonic to stone. By my count, this is the third time in the series Sonic got stoned, er, I mean, turned to stone. So impressed was Robotnik by his own robot's superior intellect that he promotes him to Vice Tyrant, however Grounder insisted on being made a partner instead. Botsy not only vehemently rejects the proposal, but he attempts to shut Grounder down, and notice the animators goofed by making him press the on button instead of off. Grounder was one step ahead of him, having boobytrapped his off switch. He then reveals that he has the genius chip, then orders Scratch to imprison Robotnik in his own dungeon, even putting the petrified Sonic in there to keep him company. Oh man, with a genius Grounder at the controls, the bad guys might actually win in this episode. I mean, Sonic is turned to stone, Grounder is the smartest being... not alive, but activated, how can a stalwart Tails and his awkward hacker friend save the day? With some electromagnetic suction cups on his computer, Hacker grabs hold of the petrification gun Scratch absent-mindedly left by the door, and reversing its effects, manage to free Sonic from his stone imprisonment. They all book it, leaving Robotnik barricaded in the dungeon and go to try and take away Grounder's smarts, however the plucky robot was one step ahead of them, saying he anticipated their escape. Really? Then why didn't you try to stop it? Guess his ego is even bigger than his brain. Therefore, he introduces them to his latest invention: a lightning rod that creates lightning, which he uses to try and zap our heroes to dust. Meanwhile, Robotnik manages to escape because his cape caught in the door. Lucky he decided to randomly wear one in this episode, and as for Scratch, his goofy, clumsy hide trips and falls on Grounder, knocking his head off just moments after he said he thought of everything. Yeah, everything but properly re-attaching his head. Oh well, even evil genius robots aren't perfect. Robotnik picks up Grounder's head and removes the genius chip, but with Sonic pulling the old switcheroo, Robotnik ends up using the stupid chip. Hacker said this would only make him half as smart, so if his IQ is 300, it should only shrink down to 150, so he'd still be a genius. However, maybe he was just exaggerating, because now Botsy has been reduced to a bumbling idiot, so really, everything was back to normal. Our Sonic Says is on how to get smart without the aid of a super genius chip: go to school, do your homework, use your brain, and educate yourself. A very good lesson.
Grounder the Genius is actually a pretty good episode. There are a few silly moments and it contains the usual nonsense that the show is known for, but I think it pulls off the concept of Grounder becoming a genius quite nicely. Him becoming highly educated and Scratch being his lackey reminded me of Laurel and Hardy's feature film, A Chump at Oxford, in which Stan reverts back to his apparent highly-intelligent former self by way of hitting his head on a falling window, and Ollie becomes his lackey. His former friend finds himself being mistreated as much as Scratch, though at least Ollie wasn't transformed into a jackhammer and forced to dig himself into the ground. Like I said, the usual nonsense. The Hacker character was pretty interesting, and unfortunately Sonic and Tails never call upon him again, because if he can hack into Robotnik's computers that easily, you'd think he could find a way to bring him down for good. Now, I know I've been saying that Robotnik has an IQ of 300, which has been officially stated by Sega, and some versions of the character are worthy of that bit of trivia, but the Adventures series really depicts him as a bumbling idiot. I guess in a world like this, the bad guys have to be dumb or the hero would be defeated permanently. So in closing, if you want to see what would happen if one of Robotnik's henchbots was actually intelligent and came very close to defeating Sonic, then I recommend Grounder the Genius.
