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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 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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