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Harley Quinn Season 3 Review

You know, when the new season of Harley Quinn came out, I debated whether I wanted to cover it or not. After all, thanks to COVID-19, it had been two years since Season 2. That, and I’ve been busy with other stuff. And I’m semi-boycotting HBO Max for how it’s treated cartoons. However, no matter how much I wanted to, I couldn’t say away from the crazy for long. And Harley Quinn is as crazy as ever.

So, here we are, with Season 3 over, trying to reflect on what can only be described as The Venture Bros. meets a DC Universe high on acid. And while it’s still hilarious, it also has some unexpected moments.

Harley and Ivy are Back, Baby!

After becoming an official couple at the end of Season 2, Harley and Ivy go on a globe-trotting “Eat, Bang, Kill” tour before returning to Gotham. Harley wants to be the best girlfriend Ivy could ever ask for, but it’s easier said than done. Especially considering how Ivy’s the one going through her own problems.

Until now, Ivy’s role has been that of the rock in Harley’s life, providing the emotional support she needs. Yeah, there was her thing with Kiteman, but that was secondary to Harley’s needs. And with Harley more stable than ever, Ivy can’t help but feel like…her life’s been a total failure. This leads to her deciding to get back to basics with her biggest plan ever: terraforming Gotham City into a new Garden of Eden, now concrete-free.

Except for their favorite pizza-place, LOL. 

Role-Reversal at its Funniest

In a nutshell, Harley and Ivy’s roles are reversed, with Ivy being the one dealing with her problems and Harley being there for her like she was for her. As the season progresses, Ivy’s plan hits a huge snag when someone kidnaps Frank, her talking plant key to all of this. The rest of the season involves her trying to get him back without freaking out.

Ivy’s not the only one who’s going through stuff, though.

Mayor Joker, and That’s Not the Craziest Thing

At the end of the last season, Jim Gordon, fed up with being unappreciated by Gotham, let’s Two-Face talk him into running for Mayor. It’s obvious that the attention-starved Jim’s being used as a puppet by the power-hungry Two-Face. As a result, Jim’s willing to stoop to the gutter to win, even if the Mayor gets a pole shoved in his chest from a freak accident…and dies in the hospital several episodes later.

Meanwhile, the Joker’s committed to his new life as a semi-retired villain and stepdad to his girlfriend’s kids. And despite being THE JOKER, this version is actually a good parent. So much so that he decided to run for mayor just to get them a better education. And whereas other versions would use this as a chance to outlaw Batman, Joker just taxes the one percent. 

It almost makes you think that he’s trying to say something about how America’s run. Oh, and he fires Gordon. 

Batman Needs Some Therapy

Lastly, the person that goes through the most change is none other than Batman himself. Until now, Batman’s been more of a side character in Harley Quinn. However, season three changes all of that, as the show does something that few incarnations of the Caped Crusader do. Harley Quinn…has Batman deal with his emotional trauma. 

No, I’m not joking. A lot of incarnations of the Dark Knight either downplay the trauma of his parents’ deaths or don’t do much beyond using it as the motivation to his unstoppable will. This Batman, or rather, Bruce Wayne isn’t able to do that as well anymore. Having gone through a breakup with Selina, though, the loneliness gets to him like never before. So, he kidnaps Frank, modifies his powers, and uses him in a crazed attempt to bring back his parents. 

If there’s ever been an argument that Batman needs genuine therapy, then this show is making it. Bruce Wayne needs therapy! I know it, the fans know it, everyone knows it. This version of Bruce blames himself for his parents deaths by making them walk through Crime Alley. He was just a kid; how was he supposed to know that they would actually get shot at? 

A New Leaf for Harley Quinn

Thankfully, Harley’s character growth makes her realize how important Batman is, and that he needs professional help. So, after stopping his plans, she becomes his therapist, a position that seems to stick as the season ends. Not only that, but her role in saving Gotham makes everyone see her as a hero.

By season’s end, the status quo’s been changed once more. Joker’s the legal mayor of Gotham, Bruce gets arrested for tax evasion (and the plant zombie thing), Ivy’s been tapped to lead the Legion of Doom in Gotham…and Harley’s now part of the Bat Family.

I knew that this would happen since the end of Season Two when Harley realized that she didn’t want to be a villain. She made a great villain, but things changed for her, which seems to be the theme of this whole season. Despite this, though, Harley and Ivy decide to commit to their relationship, regardless of what side of the law they’re now on. Only time will tell if that actually sticks.

Overall, Harley Quinn remains absolutely hilarious. It’s one of the raunchiest adult-animated shows out there, and nothing can change my mind about that. Not even my current disdain for HBO Max. 

Also, this hits differently since Queen Elizabeth’s now dead.

I Give Season 3 of Harley Quinn a 4/5. But Warner Bros Discovery Gets a 1/5

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Harley Quinn Season 2, Episode 12 Review

So, after getting some actually helpful advice from the Joker of all people, Harley Quinn made up her mind about Ivy. She’s not going to give up on her love for Ivy or their friendship. However, Dr. Psycho continued to be a royal pain as he manages to mind-control Ivy and orders her to fight Harley to the death in a deadly lover’s quarrel. Man, that is evil.

Lover’s Quarrel Does Heavy Lifting

Some people think that the season finale to a show is going to have to carry the most weight. However, in my experience, it’s the second-to-last episode that’s most important. It’s the one that has to tie together all the plot threads together for a clean finale. And “Lover’s Quarrel” delivers in the most epic, and hilarious, fashion.

Firstly, there’s the fact that this episode sees the DC Trinity of Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman fighting as one. Whenever they’re all on screen, things are going to be badass. The Parademons and Harley’s friends are no match for them. At least, until Psycho sics Ivy’s love potion on them. After that, they’re useless.

Do you know who’s not useless in this episode, though? Syrus Borgman! In a surprise twist, it turns out Sy survived as a digital program. And after transferring himself onto the Internet (I think), he teaches Kiteman how to build a device that will cancel out Psycho’s powers. If he’s now a computer program, then that could make him a way bigger help to Harley in future seasons.

The Heart of the Show

Speaking of Harley, it’s her relationship with Ivy that remains the heart of the episode. I daresay, it’s the heart of the show as a whole. Despite Psycho’s mind-control forcing Harley to fight her best friend, she chooses to gamble on their love for each other. Which leads us to the next big kiss of the season!

It’s a common cliche in fiction: an act of true love to save the person you care the most about. I’ve seen it done to death in countless stories. And yet, I never seem to get tired of it in the end. What makes this moment even more important is that Kiteman already tried this tactic on Ivy, only for it to fail. The evidence is clear: Ivy doesn’t love Kiteman as much as she thinks she does. And after kicking Psycho’s butt and sending Darkseid home (impressed with her ruthlessness), Harley makes her offer a second time.

But then, just to be a jerk, Psycho reveals what Harley and Ivy did at her bachelorette party. To everyone in Gotham!

Whatever happens in the finale next week, it’s going to be crazy. I can’t wait to see it. And then, I’m cancelling my subscription to DC Universe and switching to HBO Max. That’s where its at!

I Give “Lover’s Quarrel” a 4/5

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