5 Quick-Thinking Icons in Pop Culture

Kim Taylor-Foster
TV Movies
TV Movies Games
Presented by

Some of the most iconic characters in pop culture are those who think on their feet. They’re able to outsmart and out-maneuver their enemies because they’re prepared and they don’t hesitate. Here are five icons from film and TV who bowl us over with their impressive abilities.

Indiana Jones

When Steven Spielberg first introduced Indiana Jones to the world in 1981, he clearly knew that the character’s blend of intelligence, ego and swashbuckling style would be a winner. The success of his first adventure, Raiders of the Lost Ark, spawned two successful sequels in the same decade, followed by a fourth film – The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull – when the character was resurrected in 2008.

You could pick any number of scenes throughout the franchise to illustrate the archaeology professor’s derring-do and lightning-fast impulses, but it’s his acquisition of the Golden Idol at the start of Raiders that is perhaps the most memorable. It’s certainly one of the saga’s most seminal scenes.

Not only does Indy outfox the booby traps he manages to trigger, using a combination of physical agility and mental litheness, he also contends with a double-crossing cohort. All of the greatest screen icons have a little bit of luck on their side, too – although maybe it’s true to say they make their own luck.

Of course, as he escapes the rolling boulder to make his way out of the cave, he’s faced with an arguably more dangerous prospect – Paul Freeman’s Belloq and a tribe of men armed with spears, and bows and arrows.

He sees his tiny window of opportunity and makes a run for it, while Belloq sets his men after him. Knowing there’s an aircraft waiting for him on the other side of the forest, he makes a beeline for it, yelling for the pilot to start the engines. Swinging across on a vine, he lands in the water and swims for the plane, clinging on then climbing in just as it takes off.

John Wick

When we first see John Wick, he’s a grieving widower. The audience’s heartstrings are tugged when his wife sends him a puppy as a gift from beyond the grave – which arrives with a handwritten note from her explaining that the dog is because he needs something to love. She wills him to find his peace, as she has now found hers.

After the puppy is killed by Russian gangsters who break in to steal his car, it transpires that Wick is, in fact, a feared and dangerous man – a former assassin who gave it up to be with the woman he loved.

As the first film unfolds, we learn that Wick is a “man of focus, commitment, sheer will” – qualities that go some way to explaining why he’s survived to make it to the other side of his shady industry. Mobster Viggo Tarasov explains all this to his son Iosef by way of making him understand why stealing Wick’s car and killing his puppy was a grave mistake. “I once saw him kill three men in a bar with a pencil,” he says.

Wick is also a man who prepares. While Viggo talks, the film cuts to Wick breaking up concrete in his basement to reveal a cache of weapons.

Viggo consequently sends a team to kill him – but Wick proves he’s always one step ahead and is lying in wait. He dispatches them coldly, and with ease, easily second-guessing his attackers. A new action hero was born.

John Rambo

When John Rambo first appeared on screens, he made a massive impact. First Blood was not only notorious for its violence and body count but also the character’s lack of dialogue. There’s little doubt that Rambo’s reluctance to speak allowed him to sharpen his other senses; to size people up and judge situations without the small matter of conversation or thinking about what to say next getting in the way.

In the police station scene from First Blood, we get an early glimpse of Rambo’s capabilities. As three police officers manhandle and mistreat him, he draws on his past experiences – albeit traumatic ones – to get him out of the spot he’s currently in. Scenes of his time in Viet Nam are shown in flashback as a police officer prepares to shave him.

He’s clearly aware that if he stops giving them what they want – if he stops struggling – he’ll open up the small opportunity he needs to out-smart, over-power and out-maneuver these crooked cops to get away. Once the officer that’s restraining him drops his guard, John Rambo seizes his chance.

He doesn’t panic, he isn’t afraid, he doesn’t pause – he knows exactly how to react and he makes his escape.

Daryl Dixon

Daryl Dixon is one of the most popular – and most resourceful – characters in TV’s The Walking Dead. Having been imprisoned by the twisted Negan for the majority of the first half of Season 7, he’s occasionally shown us signs that he’s been biding his time, waiting for the right moment to make a break for it.

Despite the beatings he’s taken and the torture he’s endured, Daryl’s spirit has never been broken. He’s kept his wits about him and spent his time sizing up his environment, judging his captors and assessing the comings and goings of the people at the compound.

When he finally gets his chance to run, he’s clever. He changes his clothes so he’s not instantly recognisable as a prisoner and he gets some sustenance in his system – in the form of a jar of peanut butter he finds.

Once outside, he heads straight for his motorbike. He knows where he’s going. Fat Joey chances upon him and despite Joey pleading for his life, and saying he won’t try to stop him, Daryl has learned not to take chances. He promptly beats Joey to death with an iron bar. Perhaps Joey was trying to trick him, or perhaps Daryl has lost a part of his humanity – we’ll never know for sure. But it’s possible that had he not killed him, he would have lessened his chances of escape. Joey was certainly armed – an indication maybe that he was prepared to use it if he got the chance. Daryl takes Joey’s gun, and leaves with Jesus who has just turned up.

Daenerys Targaryen

Game of ThronesDaenerys Targaryen is another screen icon with a host of scenes to choose from to illustrate her prowess as a quick-thinking hero.

This badass queen’s integrity, strength and single-mindedness are never called into question. It’s her commitment to her cause and the loyalty that she inspires that get her out of a number of scrapes. She’s a great orator and knows what to do when the tide turns. With the right people on her side, nothing can stop her.

We first begin to see her as a force to be reckoned with when she tames the primal Khal Drogo, a man-beast twice her size, turning him from a rapist into a loving husband.

She never wavers in her belief in herself, taking control of civilisations as well as winning over the Dothraki. In the first episode of Season 6, she uses her silver tongue to talk her way out of captivity when she is handed over to Khal Moro. At an advantage because she knows the language, she uses her wiles to control her fear and drop in key information about her identity at the right moment. She is strong and steadfast, and proceeds to negotiate to get her way.

While on this occasion, things don’t go entirely to plan – she’s sent to live out her days with the other khal widows – she manages to get herself out of that situation too.

Apply the lessons of these quick-thinking icons to Halo Wars 2, the latest video game in the real-time strategy series launching on February 21 for Xbox One and Windows 10. Halo Wars 2 requires split-second decisions and constant shifts in battlefield plans in order to achieve victory.

Kim Taylor-Foster
Kim Taylor-Foster is Entertainment Editor for Fandom in the UK. She was raised on an unsteady diet of video nasties and violent action flicks.
The HBO Max Big Bang Theory Spinoff Has a Wild (and Fun!) Premise
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is the next new corner of the Big Bang TV-verse
Copied to clipboard
MobLand Season 2: Everything We Know So Far
Paramount+'s British gang drama killed a lot of people off in the Season 1 finale; here's what's next
Copied to clipboard
PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium Games For July 2025 Include Cyberpunk 2077
PS Plus subscribers are in for a treat this month with the new additions to the Game Catalog.
Copied to clipboard
e.l.f. Cosmetics and Honkai: Star Rail Give Anime Expo 2025 an Electric Makeover
Watch fans get the look of their favorite Honkai: Star Rail characters
Copied to clipboard
Magic: The Gathering - Edge Of Eternities First Look: Every Card Revealed So Far
Here's every card shown off during the first reveal of the next out-of-this-world MTG set.
Copied to clipboard
Mecha Break Review - Strike Fast
Mecha Break evokes classic mecha anime with its exciting multiplayer battles, but the game's free-to-play foibles, among other issues, sour things.
Copied to clipboard
Dune: Awakening Review - To Tame A Land
Funcom's survival MMO delivers on the fantasy of the Dune universe but stumbles in the endgame.
Copied to clipboard
The Most Ridiculous Mascots In College Football 26
Mascots are a major part of what makes college sports so fun to watch. Here are the top 10 most ridiculously fun mascots in College Football 26.
Copied to clipboard
X-Wing Ultimate Collector Series Lego Star Wars Set Gets Rare, Huge Discount
Walmart has a bunch of notable Lego discounts in its big sale running alongside Amazon Prime Day 2025.
Copied to clipboard
I Can't Wait To Reloot African Artifacts From Western Museums
In the heist-driven, action-platformer video game Relooted, of course.
Copied to clipboard
Sleuths Think Smash Bros., Donkey Kong 64, And More Are Headed To Switch Online
At least five more N64 additions may have been accidentally revealed (if you squint).
Copied to clipboard
Nintendo Addresses Concerns Over Switch 2's Price Keeping Kids From Getting It
The Switch 2 launched at a hefty $450, a price point that has some investors concerned over how that might affect younger players.
Copied to clipboard
Nintendo May Use "Shorter Development Periods" On Some Games To Offset Costs
The Mario maker is looking at numerous ways to deal with the continuous problem of higher development costs.
Copied to clipboard
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 Review - You Win Some, Lose Some
Though it trips up a bit in its Career mode, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 still manages to deliver a marvelous game of skate.
Copied to clipboard
Final Fantasy 9 Anniversary Video Refuels Rumors Of A Remake
100 out of 100 noble FFIX fans are clamoring for the rumored remake.
Copied to clipboard
Best Weapon Loadouts For Black Ops 6 Multiplayer - Season 4 Reloaded Update
Here are some recommended weapon loadouts for Call of Duty's midseason update.
Copied to clipboard
The Best Games Of 2025 (So Far)
2025 is off to a great start, thanks to games like Doom: The Dark Ages and Old Skies.
Copied to clipboard
The Best Players In College Football 26, According To EA
EA has released the official ratings for the top players at each position in College Football 26, so let's take a look at who made the final cut.
Copied to clipboard
Let's Rank What Matters Most In Mario Kart World: The Food
Playing Mario Kart World builds up quite the appetite, but fortunately it also has tons of tasty snacks
Copied to clipboard
Call Of Duty Beavis And Butt-Head Event - All Weapons, Skins, And All Rewards
Here are all the new rewards you can unlock in Black Ops 6 And Warzone for the Beavis and Butt-Head crossover event.
Copied to clipboard
PlayStation's Helldivers 2 Is Coming To Xbox In August
More Helldivers will join the galactic conflict next month.
Copied to clipboard
Mr. Robot Is Now on Netflix and More Relevant Than Ever
The USA Network hacker thriller, which ran from 2015-2019, is still great and still timely. All four seasons are now streaming on Netflix.
Copied to clipboard
The Old Guard 2 Review: An Underwhelming Return for Netflix's Action Franchise
Charlize Theron and Uma Thurman face off in a sequel that feels oddly unfinished
Copied to clipboard
More Xbox Layoffs Announced, Phil Spencer Claims They Were Necessary
"Our platform, hardware, and game roadmap have never looked stronger," Phil Spencer says.
Copied to clipboard
After A Decade, Rare's Everwild Canceled As Part Of Xbox Layoffs
As part of layoffs at the company, the plug has been pulled on this original IP from Rare.
Copied to clipboard
CoD Season 4 Reloaded Patch Notes Add Attachment Changes And Goofy Verdansk LTM
Here are the major changes included in the Black Ops 6 And Warzone Season 4 Reloaded update.
Copied to clipboard
Amazon Prime Members Get These 7 Free Games In July
From culinary adventures to the endless depths of space, here's what Prime subscribers can get for free this month.
Copied to clipboard
Game Pass Adds 9 More Games In July, Including Tony Hawk Pro Skater Remasters
Tony Hawk headlines the first wave of games headed to Game Pass in July.
Copied to clipboard
Donkey Kong Bananza Looks Like The Mario Odyssey Successor No One Expected
Sporting a goofy sense of humor and mechanics that reward curiosity and experimentation, this is the most ambitious DK has been in years.
Copied to clipboard
You Can't Spoil The Bear
The fervor around The Bear's fourth season took the concept of 'spoiler alerts' to an untenable place
Copied to clipboard
Switch 2's Zelda Notes Feature Misses The Point Of The Games
The new companion app for Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom offers some helpful functions, but also diminishes the thrill of discovery.
Copied to clipboard
Honkai Star Rail x e.l.f Cosmetics Collab Kicks Off with Exclusive Sweepstakes
Enter to win an exclusive Honkai: Star Rail PS5 controller from e.l.f. Cosmetics!
Copied to clipboard
The Biggest Game Releases Of July 2025
From more Switch 2 exclusives to living your best life in Middle-earth, here’s a closer look at what July has in store.
Copied to clipboard
Blue Prince Doesn't Have A Satisfying Ending, But That's The Point
It increasingly seems like Blue Prince contains puzzles that will never be solved, an incredibly gutsy way to convey a powerful emotional impact.
Copied to clipboard
The Hidden Tech Making Assassin's Creed Shadows Feel More Alive And Not Need 2TB
An Assassin's Creed developer sheds some light on how new, often hidden technology, is making games better for developers and gamers alike.
Copied to clipboard
The Bear Season 4 Is on the Clock
The passing of time is the glue that holds this return to form together
Copied to clipboard
Squid Game's Evil VIPs Are Still the Show's Worst Characters
The Netflix hit spends too much of its final season with these hollow, wealthy voyeurs
Copied to clipboard
Fortnite Squid Game Map - All Map Changes In Fortnite Reload
Get ready to play Red Light, Green Light on Fortnite's Squid Grounds.
Copied to clipboard
CoD Season 4 Reloaded Adds Beavis and Butt-Head, Cel-Shaded Maps
Cartoon-themed content is coming to Season 4 Reloaded in BO6 and Warzone.
Copied to clipboard
20 Things You Need To Know Before You Play Death Stranding 2
Survive every harrowing ordeal as Sam Porter Bridges with these Death Stranding 2: On the Beach tips.
Copied to clipboard
Best Games Under $10 In The 2025 Steam Summer Sale
Do you like video games? Do you have ten bucks? Good news.
Copied to clipboard
Best Steam Summer Sale 2025 Game Deals
The Steam Summer Sale is now live, and there are some great bargains to find here.
Copied to clipboard
Sinners Leads HBO Max's New Releases in July
You can finally watch Sinners at home
Copied to clipboard
PlayStation Plus Free Games For July 2025 Revealed
Here's what PS Plus subscribers can look forward to in July.
Copied to clipboard
Destiny 2 Edge Of Fate Livestream - All New Exotics, Weapons, And Artifact Mods
Bungie's next Destiny 2 expansion will rework its build system, kick off Armor 3.0, and add a bunch of new gear.
Copied to clipboard
Here's Why Your Nintendo Switch 2 Display Looks So Blurry
Testing on the Nintendo Switch 2 display has determined why you might be seeing some incredibly blurry gameplay.
Copied to clipboard
Death Stranding Timeline: Full Story Recap To Prepare You For On The Beach
From the Big Bang to the end of all things, here's the entire story of Death Stranding.
Copied to clipboard
Netflix Will Remove All Of These Games In July 2025
Your last chance to play these games will be July 14.
Copied to clipboard
Rematch Review - Unbelievable Tekkers
Rematch takes a refreshing, skill-based approach to football games that can be just as frustrating as it is thrilling
Copied to clipboard
How One Deus Ex Designer Created The Game's Best Level
Steve Powers' version of Hong Kong feels as generous and extravagant as it did 25 years ago.
Copied to clipboard
10 Years Ago, Batman: Arkham Knight Solved The Video Game Trilogy Problem
Rocksteady pushed its Dark Knight threequel to the extreme to create the definitive Batman video game.
Copied to clipboard
Death Stranding 2 Review - Tied Up
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is fixated on revisiting past ideas, which limits its impact to being a good but not great sequel
Copied to clipboard
Death Stranding 2 Release Times For All Regions
While Sony hasn't provided an official map of the Death Stranding 2 launch times, we've got them all here for you.
Copied to clipboard
Cyberpunk 2077's Big New 2.3 Update Delayed
The highly anticipated 2.3 update needs more time to cook.
Copied to clipboard
Here's When Netflix's Sakamoto Days Returns for More Action and Comedy
The Netflix action-comedy anime following a retired assassin is a hit
Copied to clipboard
There's an Actual, Legitimate Chance Mindhunter Will Come Back
Star Holt McCallany has been talking to David Fincher about it
Copied to clipboard
Here's What Book You Should Read Based On Your Favorite Game
Looking to shave down your screentime? Here are some books that pack the same punch as your favorite games.
Copied to clipboard
Mario Kart World's Vibes-Based Free Roam Is Perfect
Mario Kart World isn't an open-world racing game and I love that it isn't.
Copied to clipboard
Here's Why HDR Might Look Worse On Your Switch 2
There are a few issues with the way Nintendo has implemented HDR on the Switch 2.
Copied to clipboard
Donkey Kong: Bananza - Everything We Just Learned About The Switch 2 Exclusive
From the surprise appearance of a fan-favorite Super Mario character to powerful transformations, here's everything we just learned about Bananza.
Copied to clipboard
Donkey Kong Bananza Raises The Possibility Of A DK Multiverse
Hear me out: Cranky Kong and young Pauline should not coexist.
Copied to clipboard
Borderlands 4 Adds Long Requested Features, Like Mission Replay, Seamless World
Being able to heal whenever you want is a game-changer for longer boss battles.
Copied to clipboard
Here's What Book Reacher Season 4 Will Be Based On
Star Alan Ritchson confirmed where we're headed next
Copied to clipboard
NCIS: Tony & Ziva Has a Premiere Date!
The spin-off featuring the franchise's most famous couple is coming to Paramount+
Copied to clipboard
Here's Why The Witcher 4 Is Being Developed With A Console-First Approach
CD Projekt Red has explained why it is focusing on developing The Witcher 4 for consoles first instead of PC.
Copied to clipboard
Red Dead Redemption's John Marston Actor Teases "Exciting News" Coming Soon
Rob Wiethoff is teasing news amid reports of RDR 2 coming to Switch 2, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Copied to clipboard
Mario Kart World Tips And Tricks To Help You Cross The Finish Line
The first brand-new Mario Kart game in over a decade changes up the formula in exciting ways.
Copied to clipboard
MindsEye Review - Not Like This
MindsEye is a stringent and relentlessly dull video game, wasting its impressive world on formulaic mission design that's both archaic and uninspired.
Copied to clipboard
Nintendo Switch 2 Review - It's A Switch, Too
The successor to one of Nintendo's most popular pieces of hardware is a refined, premium version of what lots of gamers already loved.
Copied to clipboard
Dandadan Season 2: Release Date, Movie, How to Watch, and More
Momo and Okarun are back for more adventures with the occult
Copied to clipboard
FX's Alien: Earth Gets Its First Extended Trailer
'We don't lock them down, it will be too late'
Copied to clipboard
Steam Next Fest June 2025: 25 Of The Best Demos You Can Download Right Now
From literal walking simulators to paranoia-fueled mysteries, here's a look at some of the best demos we've seen in the June Steam Next Fest.
Copied to clipboard
Splatoon Raiders Spin-Off Game Announced For Nintendo Switch 2
A Switch 2-exclusive Splatoon spin-off has players in the role of a mechanic exploring a mysterious set of islands with the members of Deep Cut.
Copied to clipboard
Mario Kart World Review - A Worthy Marquee Launch Game
Mario Kart World expands on almost everything that made Mario Kart 8 such an enduring success, laying the foundation for years of raucous racing.
Copied to clipboard
Xbox Games Showcase Was Missing All These Major Games
Microsoft's showcased packed in a lot of announcements, but a lot of previously announced games were totally absent.
Copied to clipboard
Xbox Games Showcase 2025: All The Biggest Announcements
Here's a closer look at everything announced during this year's big annual Xbox Games Showcase.
Copied to clipboard
The Expanse Returns And All The Cool New Games Just Revealed At This Showcase
Here's a closer look at the biggest game reveals from the Future Games Show Summer Showcase.
Copied to clipboard
After Silent Hill 2, Cronos Might Complete Bloober Team's Redemption Arc
The team's follow-up to the Silent Hill 2 remake is looking impressive in its own right.
Copied to clipboard
Xbox Games Have Started Appearing On The Xbox App On PC, And No One Knows Why
After branding for Xbox PC started appearing, several Xbox games have started popping up on the Xbox app for PC.
Copied to clipboard
Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3 Battle Pass: All Skins And Rewards
It's the first battle pass with DC Comics characters in four years.
Copied to clipboard
Everything New In Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3: Super
It's the first time DC Comics has been on the battle pass in four years.
Copied to clipboard
Resident Evil 9 Announced At Summer Game Fest With Trailer And Release Date
After teasing fans earlier in the show, Capcom dropped a bombshell with a trailer announcing Resident Evil Requiem.
Copied to clipboard