Smart Characters, Dumb Writers (Intelligence in Fiction)

Look sharp folks, it's time to smarten up, 'cause there is an influx of fake intellectuals on our screens every day. No, not your average news outlet, no one ever claimed those guys had anything going on between their ears. I, of course, am talking about the intelligent characters in our favorite movies and shows. Haven't you noticed that we seem to be saturated with so-called smart people, and yet, behind all the sci-fi jargon and fancy flying cars they build, they don't act any more clever than you or I? Well, as the smartest balloon you'll ever know, I feel I am especially equipped to answer this conundrum and determine both what intelligence is and how to spot it.