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Harley Quinn Season 3, Episode 3 Review

You know who one of my favorite characters in Harley Quinn is? Poison Ivy. She’s stood by Harley when she needed it the most, and believed in her when no one else would. Ivy’s been Harley’s rock, but at the expense of her own development. That is, until this episode, where their roles are reversed, to my enjoyment.

Catwoman is Joker to Poison Ivy

Having killed Penguin and trapped Riddler in a hamster wheel, Harley’s next target is Mr. Freeze. He’s the one who literally put her on ice for months, so she wants payback. However, when she can’t melt her way into his fortress, she decides to steal Firefly’s plasma flamethrower from Dr. Trap. He’s this trap-based villain who’s got a museum of villain artifacts, and Harley and Poison Ivy can’t get inside. So Harley calls in a professional: Catwoman.

Personally, I don’t like this version of Catwoman very well. She has the whole femme fatale thing going for her, that’s for sure. However, I think she lacks the playfulness we expect from Catwoman. She looks down on others because she knows she’s good at what she does, especially Poison Ivy, who has a love/hate relationship with her. On the one hand, Ivy knows that Selina only cares about herself. On the other hand, she thinks that Selina’s so cool, even when she’s leaving her hanging.

From my viewpoint, Poison Ivy and Catwoman’s relationship mirrors what Harley had with Joker in the first season. Harley knew Joker was bad for her, but couldn’t help but fawn over the guy. Ivy helped her see that, so now it’s her turn to look after her friend.

Ivy Rediscovers Her Roots

In the end, Harley and Ivy’s boyfriend, Kite Man, help her realize that she shouldn’t try to emulate what Catwoman’s got going on. She’s got her own life that makes her happy, and she shouldn’t get rid of that. However, Catwoman does help the eco-terrorist realize that she’s spent so much time helping Harley that she’s neglected her own growth. As a result, she makes time to do what she loves: killing people who hurt the environment.

This leads to a moment where Harley and Poison Ivy have a heart-to-heart as the latter melts the board of directors of Ace Chemicals with their own toxic chemicals. Harley basically gives her friend the same support she offered her in season one, and Ivy admits that she’s happy with how her life’s turned out. It’s a heartwarming and morbidly hilarious scene that fits with the show’s writing, and I couldn’t help but smile at it.

I’m personally glad Ivy’s recognized that she needs time to focus on herself. She’s a great character that’s neglected a lot of development by spending time helping others. Having seen Steven Universe: Future, I know the consequences of what happens when a person helps everyone but themselves.

Dr. Psycho’s Insecurity

Meanwhile, Dr. Psycho’s going through his own issues in the B-Plot. He used to be an A-List villain until he couldn’t keep his mouth shut. Now he’s working for Harley and his ego’s hurt. As a result, Riddler messes with Psycho to escape. Then he willingly goes back into captivity, having only done it to show that he could. It’s a fun little side plot that shows some cracks in the crew, but time will tell if this ends up mattering.

What’s most concerning is how so easy it was for Riddler to escape. He’s only staying there because he wants to. He’s got great exercise, good food, and front-row seats to the drama the Crew goes through. Odds are, he’ll escape when he’s bored with messing with Harley’s Crew.

Okay Filler Episode

This wasn’t my favorite episode of the show, but even a great show can have a few bad eggs, I guess. What it does do, though, is set us up for some potential plot threads as the series progresses over the spring and summer. I’d love to see it focus on Ivy as much as it does on Harley and the others. As long as the comedy keeps on coming, though, I can’t complain.

I Give “Trapped” a 3/5

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Harley Quinn Season 2, Episode 2 Review

Harley Quinn’s back in the game and she’s on a warpath! After season two opened with the villains carving up Gotham and putting her on ice (literally), the clown princess vows to take them all down and rule the city. She’s off to a great start, having killed Penguin. Now she’s going after Riddler’s new school, Riddler U! It’s back to college for Harley Quinn

Welcome to Riddler U

So, despite Gotham being cut off from the outside world, somehow Riddler has access to electricity and clean water. Neither of which Harley’s Crew have. So Harley and Ivy sneak into Riddler U to figure out how he has that. Too bad they stick out like sore thumbs since they haven’t been to college in years.

Ironically, the member of Harley’s Crew that helps the most this episode is Clayface, who Alan Tudyk is killing it as! His hammy nature and dedication to acting helps him fit right in at Riddler U. Nobody questions him as “Stephanie” as they chalk his/her mannerisms to college drama. He’s actually the one who learns how Riddler’s got power:

TRUST ME, THIS IS A VERY ACCURATE IMAGE REGARDING RIDDLER’S POWER PLAN

Meanwhile, Psycho and King Shark try to get a water purifier for the hideout. However, they run afoul of Two-Face and Bane’s men. As a result, they get chased across Gotham in a Mad Max inspired vehicle. There’s not much to it, but it’s still funny

Out With the Old Gordon, In with the New Gordon

Last episode we saw Gordon hit rock bottom as he lost everything he knows. Batman’s missing, the GCPD’s joined up with the villains, and his wife divorced him. As a result, he’s now sponging off his daughter Barbara at Riddler U and eating chips out his chest hair. Gross.

That’s right! Barbara Gordon makes her big debut this episode as a student at Riddler U. While she’s every bit as capable as she is in most media, the show makes it how her worldview contrasts with those around her. Whereas her Dad’s a cynic who’s given up all hope, Babs is this wide-eyed idealist who still wants to make a difference in the world. So even though they supervillains, she jumps at the chance to help Harley and Ivy take down Riddler.

I personally like this version of Barbara Gordon. She’s sunny and optimistic in a world where everyone seems to be acting like a jerk. She doesn’t even swear. However, she’s also naive, as she lets the Gotham Girls take Riddler. Still, as Harley notes, the whole experience lit a fire in her. As a result, she becomes Batgirl and sets out to clean up Gotham.

I can’t wait to see if she can save the city or if Gotham breaks her. Either way, this is going to be fun!

I Love This Show

So, Harley’s now taken down Penguin and the Riddler and has clean water and electricity. It’s only the second episode, though, so I can imagine plenty of ways for things to go wrong for her. However, if the episodes remain as strong as they are here, then I think that I’m going to be entertained for quite some time. Plus, this episode sets up a future dynamic between Batgirl, Harley, and Ivy and I can’t wait to see it pay off!

I Give “Riddler U” A 4.5/5

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Harley Quinn Season 2, Episode 1 Review

In hindsight, I really wish that I had reviewed the first season of DC Universe’s R-rated show, Harley Quinn. I wound up binge-watching this weeks ago and fell in love. I love the zany characters. The over-the-top violence is hilarious without feeling gratuitous. Most of all, though, I love how the show self-parodies the hero-villain dynamic in comic books. It’s like The Venture Bros crossed with South Park. So when Season Two came out on DC Universe earlier today, I vowed to review the whole season. Buckle up, buttercup, because this is going to be amazing.

Welcome to New Gotham

At the end of last season, Gotham laid in ruins and anarchy ruled. The Justice League’s trapped in a book, the Legion of Doom’s gone, Joker’s an amnesiac nobody, and Batman’s missing. Taking a page from the No Man’s Land story of the 90s, the President decides to bail on Gotham and throws it out of the USA.

Meanwhile, Harley wants to revel in all she’s accomplished: she took down the Joker and became the top hyena in the New Gotham. She just goofs around and has fun, thinking she can rest on her laurels as everyone knows she’s on top. Which is a rookie mistake!

What Harley fails to realize is that order and chaos are cyclical. Once the anarchy wears off, new players will rise and start to restore order. Harley doesn’t realize this, though, because of one key problem. She learned how to be a criminal from the Joker, and without even realizing it, she’s emulating his “agent of chaos” style of villainy. Even her solution to shutting down the other major villains in Gotham is very Joker-esque. Convincing all the henchmen to become their own villains causes more chaos, but it doesn’t last long.

Harley’s failure to take charge comes back to bite her when the other villains freeze her in a block of ice for two months. As a result, Penguin, Two-Face, Mr. Freeze, Bane, and the Riddler divy up New Gotham. Once Ivy and Harley’s Crew bust her out, she’s back to square one. Well, not entirely. She kills Penguin in a very over-the-top manner. Now she’s gunning for all the other villains.

Poor, Poor Gordon

Meanwhile, we get a hilarious subplot involving the show’s haggard version of Jim Gordon. He’s trying to hold out hope that Batman will come and save them, but everyone around him is jumping ship. The police join the villains, Robin’s no help, and his wife divorces him. It’s sad to see, but also hilarious at the same time. As for whether Gordon actually gives up in this New Gotham remains to be seen. As we see in the trailer, this season will see the introduction of Batgirl. Maybe Gordon’s daughter will be what lights a fire in her dad again. Or not.

Oh, and Batman’s still alive.

Welcome to New New Gotham

In short, the new season of Harley Quinn manages to hit the ground running and doesn’t stop. And if the Penguin’s brutal death is anything to go by, then no one in this season will be safe! Though, to be fair, the finale to last season saw Joker kill Scarecrow, so I’m not surprised Penguin bit it. Here’s hoping even more people die in the most insane manners possible.

Speaking of which, I enjoyed watching the violence going on in the background of the show as everyone in New Gotham fends for themselves. Two dogs were fighting over one man’s arm, while two thugs were fighting over the other one. It’s morbid and dark, but also hilarious and I hope to see more of it.

With everything that’s going on in the world, I think that we need a good laugh. Hopefully this season of Harley Quinn will give us just that while we wait for COVID-19 to die. Fingers crossed!

I Give “New Gotham” A 4/5

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My Top Ten Favorite Movies of 2019

It feels fitting that the final year of the 2010s gave us some of the biggest films of the decade. I’m working on a list of my favorite movies of the decade, and a lot came of them came out in 2019. Thus, in the spirit of the New Year, I decided to look at my favorite films of the year. Without further ado, here are my picks for my favorite movies of 2019.

However, let it be noted that some of my picks are films I reviewed in the past. As such, I will keep my writing as brief as possible. In addition, I won’t be counting entries like the Invader Zim and Rocko specials.

Dragon Ball Super: Broly (Jan.)

Since his debut in the DBZ films, Broly’s been the enemy fans wanted to see join the canon. In other words, seeing him join the canon story felt like a dream come true. However, the film got marred by controversy when Broly’s VA Vic Mignogna got fired over sexual harassment allegations. Given that most of Broly’s lines consist of screaming, though, and that they got Johnny Yong Bosch to replace Vic, I don’t see it as a big loss.

Captain Marvel (March)

In my review of this film, I called Captain Marvel the final piece of the MCU’s puzzle for the Infinity Saga. After all, I had a feeling that Captain Marvel would play a major role in the final battle against Thanos. As such, I was eager to learn her MCU origins and the origins of Nick Fury. While I wish they had included more references to 90s culture, I think this movie did a solid job of getting us pumped for Endgame.

Shazam! (April)

The next entry the DC Extended Universe, Shazam! tells the story of Billy Batson, an orphaned teenager who only wants to find his long-lost mom. However, he ends up being tapped by an ancient wizard with magic superpowers that turn him into a full-grown man. As a result, he has to save the world from an evil bald guy obsessed with that same power due to his childhood insecurities.

The plot of Shazam! seems cliche and unoriginal, but I wound up enjoying it. It’s lighthearted, yet knows when to be serious. More importantly, though, it moved away from Zack Snyder’s terrible taste in colors and attempts to overly serious. If DC had done this since the start, then maybe they wouldn’t be playing catch up to Marvel. That’s right, I said it; not sorry.

Avengers: Endgame (April)

This film was the big one for 2019; the box office records say so! Considering how it was the culmination of eleven years of films, Endgame had a lot riding on it. Thankfully, Marvel knew what it was doing and gave the fans a story for the ages. While the three hour run-time can be a little much for some, it’s justified with how much story they pack into it. In addition, the climax of the film ends up being one of the greatest moments in cinema history. I still remember how every cheered in the theater.

Detective Pikachu (May)

Welcome to Ryme City, a place where humans and Pokemon live together in harmony. Everyone except for Tim Goodman, who comes to town after learning his Detective dad disappeared. Depsite not wanting anything to do with Pokemon, he ends up teaming up with his Dad’s Pikachu, who he can somehow understand. Together, the two uncover a conspiracy that threatens all of Ryme city.

I’m pretty sure that I wasn’t the only one who got worried about a live action Pokemon film. After all, films based on video games have bad track records. However, to my delight, I discovered that Detective Pikachu knock it out of the park. They faithfully adapt the beloved world of Pokemon into live-action. In addition, Ryan Reynolds owns it as Pikachu!

Toy Story 4 (June)

When I heard that there would be a Toy Story 4, I got worried it was a cash grab by Disney and Pixar. Thankfully, I was happy to learn that it wasn’t. While the ending’s bittersweet, as many good stories are, and I felt many of the veteran castmembers got neglected, I still liked this film. It felt good to say that Pixar could do more with the franchise that gave them their big break.

Spider-Man: Far From Home (July)

After the whirlwind of events in Avengers: Endgame, I got worried about the future of the MCU. What could they do that could top the Infinity. Fortunately, Marvel showed us the future in Spider-Man: Far from Home, and its bright. The entire film centers on passing the torch from the original actors to the next generation as the MCU prepares for its future. As long as Disney and Sony keep their acts together, I think the MCU will be seeing a future led

Steven Universe: The Movie (September)

I know this was a TV-based movie, but if you read both of my reviews for the film, then you know I don’t care. Set after the events of the original show, Steven Universe: The Movie shows an older Steven dealing with a new threat. At the same time, he tries to come to terms with the fact that no matter how good things get, there may always be problems to solve. In my opinion, Rebecca Sugar gave us an animated Broadway Musical, and it is glorious.

Joker (October)

After all these years, we finally have another actor worthy of playing the Clown Prince of Crime. In this standalone DC film, Joaquin Phoenix plays Arthur Fleck, a mistreated soul with mental issues in a city that doesn’t care about him. With one tragic act, Arthur’s life spirals out of control until he transforms into one of the greatest villains mankind’s ever dreamt up.

This film’s rightfully deserving of his status as the highest-grossing R-rated film in history. While it’s a slow burn, Joker gives us a very realistic look at how a real life version of the Clown Prince could be created. As dark and depressing as it was, I loved the movie. In addition, I now consider Joaquin Phoenix as one of the rare few worthy of playing the Joker. He deserves all the praise in the world.

Klaus (November)

This film came out on Netflix less than a month ago, yet it’s one of the best Christmas movies I’ve seen in years. Set on an Arctic island in the 18th century, Klaus tells the story of Jesper, a lazy and unmotivated postman tasked with setting up an office in the most unfriendly town on Earth. Then one day, he runs into a reclusive toymaker named Klaus, and offers to help deliver the toys he makes to the children in town. As a result, this unlikely pair gives birth to the legend of the jolly man himself, Santa Claus.

The brainchild of Depsicable Me creator Sergio Pablos, Klaus gives us a return to the traditionally animation style of old. The result is a breath-taking, colorful, and heartwarming story about how an act of kindness can change the world for the better. It’s honestly one of the best Christmas films I’ve seen in years, and I hope it goes down as holiday classic.

Happy New Year

Agree with my picks? What movies were your favorite in 2019? Let me know in the comments below.

Click here to see more stuff recapping past years.

Click here to see my reviews for various films.

*The following was originally published on FANDOM. Due to the FANDOM Contributor Program being shut down, it has been copied and moved to my blog. Thank you!

Can you remember the last time a DC film was good? Of course not. Aside from Wonder Woman, they haven’t made a good film since The Dark Knight Rises. With so many bad films lately, the last thing you’d expect to succeed would be DC’s latest film, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies. Yet, it manages to do just that.

Teen Titans Go! gets a lot of hate from the original show’s fans for being immature and childish. Still, its movie has a 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, compared to Justice League’s 40% rating. So, how is that possible, and what can the DCEU learn from the success of Teen Titans Go! To the Movies? They can learn a lot.

BETTER PLOT, SHORTER MOVIES

The DCEU’s films are long, each running more than two hours. When films are that long, pacing can be an issue. While good writing can make a movie worth the length, this was not the case with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Fans would have forgiven the two-and-a-half-hour runtime if the titular fight was worth it. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.

The premise for their fight in the film is flimsy at best. Batman’s tricked into thinking Superman’s a threat, while Superman’s blackmailed. It lacks the sheer excitement fans would expect from this clash of titans. Worse still, the whole fight gets overshadowed by the battle with Doomsday.

In contrast, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies is far shorter, at less than 90 minutes with a more focused plot. Since the whole movie is about the Titans learning to be themselves, each scene builds on that lesson. This culminates in the final fight where Robin admits that the Titans may be goofs, yet they’re still heroes. Combine that lesson with the Titans kicking Slade’s butt, and the audience enjoys a more significant payoff.

What the DCEU can learn from the plot and length of Teen Titans Go! To the Movies is that they can tell a good story in less time and with less content. Batman v Supermantried adding too much material, and it left fans with a confusing story. By the time the actual fight between Batman and Superman comes around, you wish the movie was over! Compared to that, Batman and Robin feels like an Oscar-winner.

STOP TRYING TO WORLDBUILD

DC had wanted to do Justice League so badly that it made the DCEU run before it knew how to walk. They crammed a gang of characters into each film but didn’t take the time to develop them. Zack Snyder thought that adding a bunch of famous heroes would be enough, and it backfired on him. The result? The DCEU is an unsatisfying mess.

Unlike Justice League or Batman vs. Superman, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies doesn’t try to worldbuild because it knows that it would be a waste of time. Fitting into a larger universe means conforming to pre-existing plots, which limits creative freedom. Not having to worry about that means Teen Titans Go! To the Movies has more time to focus on making sure the film entertains the audience. The result is a standalone film that is fun to watch.

Teen Titans Go! To the Movies is a wake-up call to DC: they need to stop trying to force together a shared universe. Instead, they should focus on ensuring their films can stand on their own at the box office and with critics. If enough standalone films are a success, then DC can consider more crossover films down the road.

DON’T BE AFRAID TO LIGHTEN UP

A big problem with the DCEU thus far is how it is so dark — almost depressing — in its tone. It feels like DC injected Batman’s darkness into its other films in the hopes of recreating that success. Instead of success, though, audiences watched overly-edgy, complex stories with bad ratings.

The DC films don’t need to be as dark and as heavy as an ordinary Batman film, and Teen Titans Go! To the Movies shows what they can do instead. Even if it’s at their own expense or makes them look like goofs, the Titans aren’t afraid of making viewers laugh. Besides, if they like prank calling Superman or pooping in a prop toilet, that doesn’t make them any less of heroes.

The DC films have tried being dark and gritty, and that hasn’t worked out as well as they hoped. So instead of doing that, DC should try to inject some humor into their films. It doesn’t have to be to the extent of Teen Titans Go! To the Movies, but throwing in some snappy comebacks and one-liners can take the edge off a tense scene. Finding the balance between the Titans and Batman is what DC needs right now.

Despite how goofy it can be, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies has enough charm, humor, and self-confidence to work as a stand-alone film. DC should take note of this animated film’s success and see what its fans are looking for in a movie.