RJ Writing Ink

Harley Quinn Season 4 Review

When you’re the Clown Princess of chaos, there’s no such thing as a normal and stable life. At the end of last season of Harley Quinn, Harley went through a major shift in her life. Her girlfriend stepped up her villain game and ended up getting tapped to lead a new-and-improved Legion of Doom by Lex Luthor. Meanwhile, Harley broke good and got invited to join the Bat Family. At the time, I fully thought that this would lead to a major rift before the dust settles. It seems I was only partially right, because at the end of the day, Harley Quinn isn’t a hero or a villain. She’s freaking Harley Quinn, and she does what she wants!

Fall of the Batfamily

With Batman in prison for creating a plant zombie apocalypse, Harley steps up to take his place in the Bat Family. However, besides Batgirl, none of them trust her. Less so when Harley’s first outing leads to her killing a villain! 

Things go downhill from there. Nightwing’s edgy nature leads to him getting killed by, spoiler alert, a sleepwalking Harley. Damien’s taken back by his evil business mom, Talia. Alfred goes to jail to be with Bruce (and fails). And Batgirl goes from being a chipper crime fighter to her famous, wheelchair phase before the season’s out. The Bat Family falls apart on Harley’s watch.

Despite everything, though, Harley ends the season with a greater grasp on who she is. She’s not a hero or a villain; she’s a chaotic neutral anti-hero. She does whatever she wants or thinks is right no matter if it’s good or bad. She’s like her ex, the Joker, but without the pure malice in him!

Arleen Sorkin would be proud of her.

Ivy Bombs at Being a She-E-O

The other big plot point of the season is Ivy trying to make her mark as the CEO of the Legion of Doom. At first, it looked like Lex put her in charge because of how she let loose with her plant powers. However, it soon becomes apparent that he intended for her to be a puppet with little to no power. Worse, none of her new employees refuse to respect her, while her “assistants” want to make her a shallow vanity project.

At first, Ivy tries to play by the rules and use her new power to perform “socially conscious evil.” I.E., replacing every male tree in Gotham with female ones to prevent pollen, creating a space laser to help the Ozone, etc. But the more successful she gets, the more she realizes that one cares about what she’s trying to do. Not even her fellow evil female CEO’s like Talia, who only cares more about her profits. 

All of this puts a good amount of tension on Harley and Ivy’s relationship, and it takes going to the future and finding out they wrecked it to realize how bad things have gotten. So, by the end of the season, what does Ivy do? She takes a page from Harley’s book and burns everything down. Legion of Doom? Gone. Wayne Enterprises? Done. Lexcorp is likely gone, as well. 

So, by the end of the season, the show’s reverted to as close to the status quo of season three as possible. Batman’s out of jail, but the Bat Family’s broken up. Harley, Ivy, Catwoman, and Batgirl form the Gotham City Sirens. And Harley has embraced the fact that she’s a chaotic anti-hero. Those are all the positives.

Now for the negatives.

The Initial Supporting Cast out of Focus

By this point in time, much of the initial supporting cast from the first season has largely lost its importance. Clayface’s working as a successful actor while King Shark focuses more on being a King and father. Dr. Psycho gets it hardest, though, focusing more on his podcast at Arkham. It’s a little disappointing seeing the initial cast losing focus, but the process started in the prior season. 

One side-plot that could’ve gotten more focus, though, was the one involving the Joker. Despite now being mayor of Gotham City and having a girlfriend and stepkids, Joker looked like he reformed. However, he’s still the Joker, and once he gets fed up with his semi-normal life, he tries to go back to villainy, with mixed results.

Considering his status as one of the greatest DC villains and his importance in Harley’s life, one would the show would put a little more focus on Joker’s return to crime. It feels like it’s a big deal. However, it’s relegated to a secondary plot until it becomes relevant. It’s a missed opportunity, if you ask me.

Regardless of whether or not this season hit the same highs as previous ones, this show’s still about Harley Quinn. Her character is immensely interesting, and the fact that she has her own show is a testament to how popular she is. Which only makes it harder to know that the woman who first inspired and voiced her is no longer with us.

In Memory of Arleen Sorkin, the OG Harley Quinn

During the airing of Season Four of Harley Quinn, Arleen Sorkin, famous for voicing Harley in Batman: The Animated Series and the DCAU, passed away. Her importance to Harley’s success cannot be understated. Series Producer Paul Dini, Arleen’s longtime friend, got the inspiration for Harley after seeing her play a jester on Days of our Lives. She was Harley, and Harley was her.

While other talented people would go on to play Harley Quinn, such as Tara Strong and, in the series proper, Kaley Cuoco, it was Arleen Sorkin who made Harley Quinn the icon she is today. She will be missed, but she got to see her character become a success that can live beyond her. It’s her legacy. Her crazy blonde, mallet-wielding, baseball bat-bashing legacy.

I Give Season 4 of Harley Quinn a 3.8/5.

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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 10 Review

Well, after last week’s lackluster episode, I’m happy to say that Harley Quinn is finally getting back on its feet. With less than three episodes left in the season, now’s the time to start tying the show’s plot threads together. And man, does Harley do it in style! Grab your best clothes, because it’s time for Harley to do Die Hard. Or in this case, Dye Hard.

I think the joke comes from the fact that Harley dyes part of her hair.

So, last week saw Harley confess to Ivy, only to get turned down. Considering how the Joker turned her against the idea of romance until she realized she loved Ivy, it makes the rejection even worse. So she decides to hit the town and drink away her sorrows. Only for it to bring her right back to the guy she started with, the Joker.

Yeah, Joker (or Joe Kurr, as I’m calling him) is now working at a bar in Wayne Tower, that then gets held hostage by some thugs, forcing Harley to drag Joe as she tries to escape in the air ducts. Hence why it’s called Dye Hard.

As much fun as it’s been seeing Harley find her place in a world without Mistah J, viewers knew it wouldn’t last. Ever since we saw him resurface, we knew that Joker would return one day. As much as Harley tries, she’ll never truly be rid of the Joker. And as this episode makes very clear, Joker is clawing to get to the surface of Joe Kurr’s mind. Memories of his past keep coming to the surface, and Harley has to deal with the consequences.

In fact, Dye Hard ties together the whole theme of the season: Harley having to deal with the consequences of her actions. And there are a lot of consequences that she has to deal with in Dye Hard.

Dr. Psycho and Riddler: Evil Dream Team

I would like to say for the record that I knew Riddler would escape from his hamster wheel before the season was out. That’s one big consequence that Harley has to deal with. And I also knew that Dr. Psycho would take control of the Parademons to conquer Gotham after he rage-quit the Crew. What I didn’t expect was for them to team up.

Dr. Psycho’s been one of my favorite characters on the show. Yeah, he’s an evil, sexist maniac, but the writers make him so much fun to watch. And this episode sees him give voice to the fact that he’s been side-lined all season. In addition, he calls out Harley for having a moral compass and wasting the best chance she had of taking control of Gotham. She could have had it all, but she wasted it. Why? Because deep down, Harley’s not evil.

In fact, given everything she’s done this season, Dye Hard hammers home this one question: why is Harley still trying to be evil anyway? I can imagine that by the end of the season, we’ll see Harley have to choose to cross the threshold into being a hero. First, though, she’s got to deal with her past.

Return of the Joker

After Sy Borg sacrifices himself to help Harley escape, she realizes that the only ones who can stop Psycho are the Justice League, still trapped in the Book of Fables. And Joker’s the only one who knows where it is. So, we know where this is going. Back in the Acid for Joe Kurr.

I have to admit, seeing Joe Kurr get dumped in acid has a dose of irony and tragedy. Irony, because now it’s Harley who’s doing it to him. And tragedy because this means Harley has to bring back the man she hates so much into her life. That, and it ruins Mistah J’ chance at a normal life.

I don’t know how this season will end, but I do know this: it’s going to be crazy! It almost makes the price for DC Universe worth the money. But I’m still not keeping it after its done.

I Give “Dye Hard” a 4.5/5. Best episode of the Season so far.

Bonus points for reference to Heath Ledger’s “Pencil Trick.”

Also, a cancer ray. Really, Bruce?

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Harley Quinn, Season 2, Episode 6 Review

One of the best things to come out of the DC Animated Universe was that it gave us Harley Quinn and her amazing origin story. “Mad Love” remains a DC classic that reminds us all that the Joker is the biggest jerk in fiction. At least he was in Harley Quinn, until Harley and Ivy dropped him in a vat of acid that wiped his memories and made him a normal Joe. However, when the two girls discover the now normal Joker at a bar, the two debate on whether or not they should kill him. Harley says they shouldn’t because she thinks people can change and recounts how she first met Joker and Ivy.

Rather than be just a rehash of “Mad Love” and it showing how toxic Joker was for Harley, this episode subverts this. Yes, Joker is in it (rocking the Heath Ledger look, no less,) and we see hints of how Harley’s relationship with him will turn out. However, the main plot point is how Harley and Ivy became friends. Seeing how Harley was probably the first person to treat Ivy with any form of respect is genuinely sweet to watch. As a result, it looks like Harley proved her point.

I understand that Harley doesn’t want to hurt Joker if he’s now normal, but this is still Joker. Now that we know he’s back, we know it’s only a matter of time before he remembers everything and goes back to being the Clown Prince of Crime. It’s his idea of fun, which is why he won’t change. Ivy even proves it by poking some holes in Harley’s story. Firstly, she gave up on humanity because humanity treated her like garbage; a lot of people would do that. Secondly, a sob story Joker told Harley in the past was something he stole from Ivy.

So, afterward the episode ends with Harley and Ivy being captured by Two-Face, and Mr. J’s repressed memories leaking to the surface. I’m betting that by the time the season ends, Joker will be back causing chaos. 

I Give “All the Best Inmates have Daddy Issues” a 4.5/5

Stray Observations

• It was fun seeing what everyone looked like in the past. Riddler had all his hair, Gordon was in good shape, and Joker looked he did in The Dark Knight. 

• Harley’s the one who coined the name “Two-Face”, but can she get royalties for that? 

• This isn’t the first time Joker’s gone normal. When it looked like Batman died, he went sane. As soon as he came back, he went crazy again. 
• Also, Jason Todd existed in this universe, but Joker killed him years ago. No word if he comes back.

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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.