Remember that time Jack outsmarted the Deadpool Dragon?

Every time this riddle format comes up in fiction, people misunderstand the purpose. Jack isn't trying to figure out which one tells the truth and which one lies, he's trying to figure out which one is the magic worm when he knows one of them is a liar. In the classic riddle, the traveler doesn't need to know which brother lies, he needs to know which path to take. So everyone saying you should just ask an obvious or observatioonal question, like "what's 2+2" is missing the point entirely. The person in the riddle gets *one* question. Knowing which one is the liar doesn't help you find the right path or the magic worm, because you don't get to follow it up with any more questions so you don't know what the truth teller or liar would say. So you ask what the other person would say. Take the path riddle. Fork in the road, west or east, and two brothers, one liar, one truthful, to ask one question. Let's say west is the correct path. If you ask Liar what his brother would say, he would lie. Truther would tell you west, because that's the correct path, so Liar would lie and say, "My brother would say go east!" If you ask Truther what his brother would say, he would tell the truth. Liar would tell you east, because that's the wrong path, so Truther would tell the truth and say, "My brother would say go east!" Now you know that the liar would tell you east, and the opposite of what the truther would tell you is east, so that proves west is the correct path. If you just asked them, "What's 2+2?" One would say "4!" and one would say "38!", so you would know which one speaks truth and which one tells lies. But you just blew your only question, so you can't use this new information to find the correct path.

When someone says "I'm about to pull a big brain move" It doesn't come close to this

First time i saw this i wasnt shocked at Jack's intelligence. I was shocked that he was actually willing to explain it in such detail. The amount of dialogue in the explanation was more than the amount of dialogue he had in many episodes

I love how they both ended up as Liars with a clear agenda to eat Jack, it's a good moral lesson about how it's better to look at the motive of people rather than the cold logic of an old riddle.

"One of us tells only lies" "But the other tells only truths" So, they're both liars then?

That was the time when Jack pulled a 9000 iQ move on the worms

Blessed to have seen this as a young man. Easily one of the most effective primers for formal logic / analytic philosophy I've ever encountered in popular media.

Worms: What is your name? Jack: I am Jack. Worms: What is your quest? Jack: To go back to my own time and defeat Aku. Worms: What is the average velocity of a swallow. Jack: What do you mean? The African or European Swallow? Worms: W-We don't know- (die)

Even if jack was wrong, he can still effortlessly murder these two

Ten seconds later: "When does the magic start? ...There is no magic, is there?"

I love how all three parties know that it's going to end in a fight, but they play the game anyway because the worms want a justification and Jack doesn't want to fight.

The irony is that Jack is smart enough to create a question where he knows the answer both give him will be a lie because they both agree, but he didn't think about it enough to realize that them both agreeing on the premise of one of them being a liar was equally suspect.

It's not Deadpool you goddamn nerds.

I thought about this for like 8 minutes until I fully understood, Jack is a genius

A neat hint in this situation is that they're conjoined, and therefore technically the same worm. They're "both" liars.

If you've grown up watching Samurai Jack, then you probably had a golden childhood

Therapist: Deadpool Ghidorah isn't real, he can't hurt you. Deadpool Ghidorah:

"TOO LATE!"after Jack tries to change his favourite colour is one of my favourite lines.

This just unlocked an ancient childhood memory

Can we add intelligence to this man's abilities list? Actually, looking back on all of the opportunities he's had to go back and kill Aku that he gave up to save people in this timeline he destroyed anyway, let's not.

He really did have to resort to this questioning. They asked him which was the magic worm, not which was the truth teller or liar. Asking any other question could help him figure out the liar but not which one was the magic worm.

Man I miss shows like this so much, Samurai Jack, Courage the Cowardly dog they were by far my most favorite to watch. Favorite episode has to be the one with the Haunted House that one was so freaky!

How many people can say they outsmarted a hydra cosplaying as Deadpool?

best part is always the self-satisfied grin at the end. he is proud of himself. king

What Jack meant to say was, in the simplest explanation I can give, is that regardless of whoever answers it- it will always be a LIE. And thus Jack needs to choose the opposite of which ever worm answers. So how'd he do it? Jack said, "If you asked the other worm which of you is magical, what would he say?" So let's tag each worm as LIE and TRUTH. -----SPEAKING TO TRUTH---- If you asked TRUTH on what his brother would say, he would tell Jack LIE's answer which is: TRUTH: "He's the magic worm" TRUTH answered honestly. But by context of the answer, it is a false because it would come from the other worm that is LIE. -----SPEAKING TO LIE---- On the other hand, if you asked LIE on what his brother would say then he'd simply be dishonest. LIE: "I'm the magic worm" This is also false, because he can't let that be the answer. That's why Jack said "it does not matter" when the worms asked to which one Jack was speaking to. Because he knew that BOTH would yield a lie and therefore whoever answers him- he'd simply take the opposite of that. HONEST: He's magic Jack: Then it's you. ----------------------------------- LIAR: I'm magic Jack: Then it's the other one. If either worm answered these: HONEST: He's not magic Or LIAR: I'm not magic Then both contradicted themselves. HONEST would've been lying because he said what LIAR wouldn't say and vice versa. But we are in the state of either telling the truth or lie as ABSOLUTE. So yeah, that's it.

"Which one are you asking?" "The real magic worm."

I love how proud he looks for coming up with the answer.

"If you were your brother, which path would he say is the correct path?" The logic REALLY DOES MAKE SENSE! For example: if the correct path is on the right: 1) The lying brother would state the incorrect path, since he knows that his truthful brother would say the correct path. If the correct path is on the right, then the liar say "MY BROTHER WOULD PICK THE LEFT!" 2) The truthful brother, who knows that his lying brother would state the incorrect path, would TRUTHFULLY say that the lying brother would say the incorrect path. Again, if the correct path is on the right, then the truthful guy would lay "MY BROTHER WOULD PICK THE LEFT!" In other words, in a situation like this, both brothers should end up saying THE EXACT SAME ANSWER, and what the decision maker should do is PICK THE OPPOSITE PATH.

10 minutes trying to understand the logic behind his question, finally managed... did I just gained +5 intelligence?

*Camera forgets to edit out the part where Jack is looking up what the answer to the riddle is on his phone*

For those who still can't get the explanation of how jack knew the answer from two lies: Basically "the truth worm" would answer jacks question truthfully... If he was his brother, he'd say "he is the magic worm" Because his brother would lie and tell you the wrong one (so he answered with a truth) However the "lie worm" would answer jacks question with a lie He knows that his brother is the "magic worm". but he can only lie and say "I'm the magic worm" (he answered with a lie) To make it clear the liar would only tell the lie (to keep jack away from the magic worm) however the truth would tell the truth (knowing that the lie is the truth to the question)

Jotaro: "Do you... *understand?"*

I love how long he takes just thinking while dramatic music and editing happens. It's pretty great, really gets you into the 'oh jeez this riddle' mindset.

That power I felt watching this when Jack confidently says "It doesn't matter." Amazing how well he had them trapped.

I'm gonna keep coming back here for the next few years to remember the answer again.

Another lie the Lie worm has created was he said "Of course!" because he doesn't understand the explanation, I guess.

I understand the logic... but it still makes my head hurt a little

God the Suspense the Art Style this show is Timeless!!!

While Jack did a good job figuring out a loophole to the riddle, he overlooked the fact that the second worm was lying when he said that one of them only tells truths. It was the first worm that said that one of them only tells lies that was telling the truth and the second worm that said that one of them only tells truth that was lying. Unfortunately, Jack failed to see that.

In basic summarry: The answer to the Riddle is not to ask which one is telling the truth...but to get one of the serpents to spell out the liar's answer. Because both lie no matter what you tell them, but the truth teller is still obligated to say it. So if you ask it what the other would say, you basically do the opposite.

I like how jack has this happy look on him at the end while the viewers and the worms are getting a migraine trying to wrap there head around the answer

His smile at the end, LMAO.

The cinematography is INCREDIBLE

Hey, everybody analyzing Jack's answer, I got a newsflash for you: Jack's answer is correct, if we assume the worms are being 100% truthful up until the riddle begins. But, if you actually watched the episode, you'd know that they are both lying shit bags (which is kind of obvious); Jack couldn't have properly chosen which one is the magic worm, because there is no magic worm. This episode illustrates Jack's occasional naivety, willingness to trust others and desperation to get back to the past. Elements that I think will be flipped on their head via a time skip in the upcoming final season.

that smile at the end😊

I like that Jack was smart enough to realize which one is which, but didn't take into the idea that a giant snake monster didn't have any knowledge of magic

I got asked a version of this question in an interview and was able to answer it thanks to this show

To those that still don't understand the answer, this is a very old fork in the road riddle. the riddle goes like this, you reach a fork in the road, one path will lead to your destination and the other leads to your doom. Each path will guarded by a person, one will only speak lies and the other only truth, and you may ask one question. Jack gave the right answer here, what would the OTHER brother say the right path is? Now, let's say the right path is on the left. If you ask the question to the liar, he will say the right path is on the right, because truth-er will tell you it's the left and the liar will lie. If you ask this to the truth-er, he will tell you the right path is on the right, because the liar will lie about the correct path. So it doesn't matter who you ask the question to, because both will give you the wrong path, and so you pick the opposite path- as Jack did. Hope this helps.

my question is: "What's 1 plus 1?" That should clear it up pretty quick.

Dang. Only now, like 20 years later, did I realize the 2 hydras from Samurai jack could be found out to be liars from the start. They both say one tells only truth and the other tells only lies. So the liar would have to speak the truth, which hints at them being full of shit.

Samurai Jack: fluent in over 1000 ways of kicking your ass both physically and mentally

Logic level: *BATMAN*

The point is both of them would be lying. So all you have to do is chose opposite of what they tell you.

Jack is so smart he got them to answer *_three_* questions.

I love how proud of himself he looks.

Jack: So when does the magic begin! 8D*Turns and sees he's inside the worms stomache along with a group of strangers*Jack: ...There is no magic, is there? 8C

If you guys actually watched the episode the point of the riddle is not find out which is a liar but which one is magic (They're both liars and eat him) so shut it.

“How many questions can I ask” They actually give themselves away when they both say Jack could ask one question

Our childhood was amazing we've seen all kinds of monsters and never were afraid of anything growing up sucks

Short explanation: no matter which one of them he asked they’d both give him the same answer. That answer would be a lie.

1:45 everyone’s reaction when they first hear samurai Jack’s answer.

In fact he did not know which one is lying but by methods of deduction his answers to which one is lying is always correct. because if one is truthful and the other one is lying and we don't know which one is which each answer is correct if it was me, I would have pointed towards their body emphasizing on the paradoxical nature of the question.

This reminds me 24 editing. Split screens with Jack Bauer screaming BOMB !

The best conclusion. "One tell the truth. The other tell the lies." This may be straightforward line but come to think of it. If one of them gonna tell the lie then it'll be 2 separated way. 1st : if "one tell the truths" is a lie. Then the worm who say "one tell the lies" is a liar and so both will be conflict by themselves so they both are liars. 2nd : if "one tell the truths" is a truth. It can mean that the worm who said "one tell the lies" is a lie so they will mean there's no liar or both of them are liars. It can't be no liar because it'll conflict the sentence "one tell the truths" so this mean both of them are liars 1st and 2nd conclusion mean both are liars and you can just ask which one is magic worm. The both answer will be lies and you will know exactly which one is magic worm.

I swear this almost made me bust a gut from laughing so hard at how easy jack made it seem with the explaination. This also reminds me of Joey and yugi’s duel against the paradox brothers

Man, this riddle always gets me!

The ending of this episode was actually really sad, he went through all that crap, just to end up in another monster stomach and have to cut his way out.

Smart of Jack but unfortunately they're both liars.

1:27 this hurt my brain even now after all these years

"In Patricks voice"- Makes sense to me

This is the oldest scene I remember about Samurai Jack, recently it comed to my mind and seeing it right know is good

I find it funny how the brothers were not only surprised that he found the right answer but were completely confused during his explanation.

I know its not deadpool but it looks like if venom came from the ocean and fused with deadpool

Damn, Jack pulled off a whole-ass IELTS task 2 essay there sdfsdf

Listening to Jack's reasoning you can't but hear the Wallace Shawn explaining why he was going to chose that chalice that he did in the poison duel from The Princess Bride

WHEN DOES THE MAGIC HAPPEN!? :D

My favorite version of this riddle is from Order of the Stick. She shoots one in the foot, and asks: "Did that hurt?" "Oh gods! No it doesn't hurt at all!" They were happy to answer both that, AND a second question. 😆 What made it even funnier was that the _second_ time she encountered the pair, the truth-telling one immediately started screaming which direction she should go, while the lying one desperately covered its own mouth (he was the one she shot last time).

I read some of the comments explaining this and my nose began to bleed.

This is an old clip and many people are explaining how it works so imma take a crack at it too Basically jack is asking that if the worms were to switch roles, who would they say is the magic one The truth worm can only say the truth. The truth worm is also the magic one in this case so his normal reply would technically be "I am the magic worm" (true) But because he has to take the role of the liar he knows he has to say "He is the magic worm" On the other hand liar has to say what truth would say. Liar not being the magic worm would normally say "I am the magic worm" (lie) But because he has to take the role of truth he has to say "He is the magic worm" BUT because liar has to lie no matter what, giving the correct answer that truth would say wouldn't make him a liar so he has to say "I am the magic worm" Directly quoting truth's answer would be truthful so he has to say the opposite To rephrase. If liar knows what truth's answer is he isn't allowed to say it even if he is quoting it because he would truthfully be giving truth's answer So because truth will always truthfully say the lie and the liar will always falsely give the truth by his nature, the answer is the opposite of whatever they say as jack pointed out. Truth tells the lie because he was asked to Liar tells the lie because it's in his nature even if he was asked to be truthful Sorry if that was confusing still 😅

Wow the fact that this has sparked several deep philosophical conversations, shows how deep this scene is.😂 Props to the writers.

That smile at the end was heartwarming

solved an almost exact riddle in high school in 10 seconds to the horror of my math prof that was really big on riddles and gloated a lot about watching the class squirm for a solution

Over fifteen years later and I still have no idea how Jack figured this out.

Ah, the Labyrinth riddle. Classic.

I love the face Jack makes at the end.

bro just deadass used elements of discrete math on them

Hes so proud of himself

I love Jack xD he’s so monotone but at the same time can be an absolute dork

Essentially, -1 * 1 = -1, so you multiply by -1 to get 1, a truth.

Well done Jack! Classic riddle.

“If you were the truth telling worm, then what you’ve said would be a lie because you will answer truthfully what to your lying brother would say. Therefore, I can safely say the answer would be opposite of what you say. On the other other hand, if you were the lying worm, then you will tell me what your truth telling brother would say, but it would be a lie. Therefore, the answer will also be the opposite of what you say.”

Tldr: Deadpool snakes quiz Jack, then Deadpool snakes get confused.

Im grown up and I realized the worm's design speaks "Deadpool" to me

Dude i love this show

A pure memory of my childhood

I'm kind of confused on why so many in the comments are treating the explanation of the game's rules as part of the game itself.

The worm on the right's voice is reminding me of Takahata101's impression of Alucard in Hellsing Abridged.

I love how the lying worm still lies about understanding what jacks question is.

I like how Jack just big-brains the frickin' worms