Cartoon Review: Season Two of "Harley Quinn" (SPOILER ALERT)
Denial. That is the theme that runs through season two of "Harley Quinn." Everyone's in denial. Harley is in denial over the fact that she acts rashly, and creates big messes because of it. Like goading the goons into staging a revolt against the A level villains, or swearing allegiance to Darkseid just to gain control over his army of parademons. Batman is in denial of the fact that he's physically incapable of fighting crime in Gotham. Shark King is in denial of his heritage. And Poison Ivy? Well, we'll get to her in a bit.
The theme of denial even makes it into a parody of some of the most toxic fan base as depicted in the opening to Episode Five, “Batman’s Back Man.” The scene begins with two adult male fans, apparently on a sofa in a basement, presumably in the basement of one of the fan’s parent’s house, decorated with a single poster of a sexy green alien with three breasts. These are obviously fan boys want women portrayed as sexual objects in their comic books. The two sport t-shirts that say “Release the Snyder Cut,” and “The Last Jedi Is Not Canon,” representing two of the most toxic fan base sets within the sci-fi/comic book genre.
One fan suggests they watch "Harley Quinn." The other spits out his soda, and answers with a firm “No!”
So, I may not have liked "Harley Quinn" and its mature themes that blaspheme the world of the Dark Knight. But I could see how other people, particularly the woke, social justice warriors among you, may find this show amusing. In fact, I may have to go back and watch it again, against my better judgment, just to make sure I have made a thorough list of why I hate it.The theme of denial even makes it into a parody of some of the most toxic fan base as depicted in the opening to Episode Five, “Batman’s Back Man.” The scene begins with two adult male fans, apparently on a sofa in a basement, presumably in the basement of one of the fan’s parent’s house, decorated with a single poster of a sexy green alien with three breasts. These are obviously fan boys want women portrayed as sexual objects in their comic books. The two sport t-shirts that say “Release the Snyder Cut,” and “The Last Jedi Is Not Canon,” representing two of the most toxic fan base sets within the sci-fi/comic book genre.
One fan suggests they watch "Harley Quinn." The other spits out his soda, and answers with a firm “No!”
Second Fan: “Have you seen the show?”
First Fan: “Oh God, No!
It’s just another heavy handed female empowerment story where the true
villain is the quote unquote patriarchy.
So basic. I hear Harley takes
down Joker at the end of season one. I’m
sorry, but ‘cucked’ isn’t a great color of the greatest villain of all time.”
Second Fan: “That’s what this review says. Hey, you wrote this one.”
First Fan: “I can’t believe you want to watch this show. You
know they just did a three-episode arc, where Harley defeats the Penguin,
Ridder and Mr. Freeze using nothing but her Mary Sue powers!”
Second Fan: “Are you sure you haven’t seen the show?”
First Fan: “Yeah. ‘Cause I’m not a twelve-year old girl.”
I think he doth protest
too much, because he seems to know an awful lot about the show, for someone who hasn’t
watched it. And that hilarious reference to “Mary Sue” powers, a critical label often placed on strong female characters by fragile ego-ed male fan boys. He certainly couldn’t admit to his
friends that he watches, let alone likes, “Harley Quinn,” the epitome of the strong feminist up-heaving the dominant male patriarchy.
Of course, assuming that every male villain acts to uphold that patriarchy is one of the flaws that Harley must learn to overcome. Thinking Mr. Freeze is just keeping his wife in frozen suspended animation because of some feeling of perverse male dominance, she thaws Nora out, only to learn that Mr. Freeze was not lying about her fatal blood condition. No matter. Ivy, a genius of biochemistry, comes up with a cure, but it will cost Mr. Freeze his life. And this is where Harley learns that true love mean caring about someone so much, that you would willingly sacrifice anything, even your own life, for their well-being.
This motif, of what true love is, and how our public faces, our denials of our inner selves, often interferes in our ability to find true love. This is exemplified by the Joker. When we last left the Joker, at the end of season one, Harley had pushed him into a vat of acid seemingly to his death. In season two, we learn that the Joker has survived, but that the acid has caused the Joker to become normal. Uninhibited by his public persona, the Joker falls in love with Bethany, the nurse who rescues him from the rubble of Gotham City. He even cherishes her two children as his own.
But, because Harley needs the fairy tale book where the Queen of Fables has trapped members of the Justice League to clean up the mess she created by bringing Darkseid's parademons to Gotham, and because the Joker is the only one with the knowledge of where that book is, Harley pushes the Joker into a vat acid, although this time reluctantly, where he once again becomes the Clown Prince of Crime. It is when the Joker has to retrieve the book from Bethany's house, that he realizes that once he was free of the mask he wore publicly, he was free to fall in love, for love's sake. And he inspires Harley to overcome her own denial, and pursue her own true love.
For you see, "Harley Quinn" is more than merely a story of strong woman trying to succeed in a male dominated world. It is a love story. Because not only has Harley been growing closer and closer to her best friend, Poison Ivy, she has been falling in love with her.
It is a love that is fittingly consummated on the Island of Themiscyra, the ancient home of the Amazons, a warrior race of women, who need no men. The home of Wonder Woman which, during Wonder Woman's period of exile in the aforementioned fairy tale book, has become a resort. It is a resort where Harley takes Ivy to celebrate her bachelorette party, in a seemingly fitting move. And it is during this ladies' weekend, that Harley and Ivy, uninhibited by societal expectations, and in the heat of the moment enjoy "mind-blowing orgasmic sex." As the two attempt to deny what has happened, and instead free Queen Hippolyta from the mind control of the goddess of discord, Eris, who has arranged to sell Themiscyra to Lex Luthor, the passion unleashed through accomplishing their goal lead once again to a night of debauchery between the two anti-heroines.
At first, Harley, inspired by the Joker's newfound love with Bethany, attempts to persuade Ivy that they were meant to be. But Ivy, in denial of the significance of their one night, well two night stand, presses ahead with her wedding to Kite Man. A wedding Commissioner Gordon intends to raid, initially craving the recognition of being awarded the key to the City, but then convinced by Two Face to attempt to seek the mayor's office for himself with Harvey Dent serving as Campaign Manager from his cell in Arkham Asylum. While attempting to escape from Gordon, Harley offers to marry the two, seeing as though she has been ordained. But this time, Kite Man refuses, himself lifting the cloud of denial, and realizing the Ivy's heart was just not in it when it come to the marriage. With the last obstacle gone, Ivy was able to overcome her own denial, and join Harley in a romantic partnership, while attempting to escape from the Gotham police, reminiscent of Thelma and Louise, except that Harley and Ivy don't choose to plunge into the Grand Canyon as a n act of refusal to sucomb to the male dominated patriarchy. Harley and Ivy ride off into the sunset, their love now free to blosom.
Like the first season, this season is filled with irreverent one-liners, making fun of the conventions of the DC comic universe. The show is more than merely a hilarious parody of Batman, or even an expression of feminist revolt against the male-dominated comic book genre. It is a carefully constructed story, with arcs from the first season, easily forgotten in the crush of events, weaving their way into the second season for a satisfactory resolution, at least for those who like to see the good guys prevail.
But once again, "Harley Quinn" has its flaws, the over-the-top plot devices, and the need of the writers to make this the most violent and profanity-laden parody of the D.C. Universe. Once again, you would be well-advised to keep your young, innocent eyes and ears away from this show, as it is most definitely not a cartoon for kids.
Of course, assuming that every male villain acts to uphold that patriarchy is one of the flaws that Harley must learn to overcome. Thinking Mr. Freeze is just keeping his wife in frozen suspended animation because of some feeling of perverse male dominance, she thaws Nora out, only to learn that Mr. Freeze was not lying about her fatal blood condition. No matter. Ivy, a genius of biochemistry, comes up with a cure, but it will cost Mr. Freeze his life. And this is where Harley learns that true love mean caring about someone so much, that you would willingly sacrifice anything, even your own life, for their well-being.
This motif, of what true love is, and how our public faces, our denials of our inner selves, often interferes in our ability to find true love. This is exemplified by the Joker. When we last left the Joker, at the end of season one, Harley had pushed him into a vat of acid seemingly to his death. In season two, we learn that the Joker has survived, but that the acid has caused the Joker to become normal. Uninhibited by his public persona, the Joker falls in love with Bethany, the nurse who rescues him from the rubble of Gotham City. He even cherishes her two children as his own.
But, because Harley needs the fairy tale book where the Queen of Fables has trapped members of the Justice League to clean up the mess she created by bringing Darkseid's parademons to Gotham, and because the Joker is the only one with the knowledge of where that book is, Harley pushes the Joker into a vat acid, although this time reluctantly, where he once again becomes the Clown Prince of Crime. It is when the Joker has to retrieve the book from Bethany's house, that he realizes that once he was free of the mask he wore publicly, he was free to fall in love, for love's sake. And he inspires Harley to overcome her own denial, and pursue her own true love.
For you see, "Harley Quinn" is more than merely a story of strong woman trying to succeed in a male dominated world. It is a love story. Because not only has Harley been growing closer and closer to her best friend, Poison Ivy, she has been falling in love with her.
It is a love that is fittingly consummated on the Island of Themiscyra, the ancient home of the Amazons, a warrior race of women, who need no men. The home of Wonder Woman which, during Wonder Woman's period of exile in the aforementioned fairy tale book, has become a resort. It is a resort where Harley takes Ivy to celebrate her bachelorette party, in a seemingly fitting move. And it is during this ladies' weekend, that Harley and Ivy, uninhibited by societal expectations, and in the heat of the moment enjoy "mind-blowing orgasmic sex." As the two attempt to deny what has happened, and instead free Queen Hippolyta from the mind control of the goddess of discord, Eris, who has arranged to sell Themiscyra to Lex Luthor, the passion unleashed through accomplishing their goal lead once again to a night of debauchery between the two anti-heroines.
At first, Harley, inspired by the Joker's newfound love with Bethany, attempts to persuade Ivy that they were meant to be. But Ivy, in denial of the significance of their one night, well two night stand, presses ahead with her wedding to Kite Man. A wedding Commissioner Gordon intends to raid, initially craving the recognition of being awarded the key to the City, but then convinced by Two Face to attempt to seek the mayor's office for himself with Harvey Dent serving as Campaign Manager from his cell in Arkham Asylum. While attempting to escape from Gordon, Harley offers to marry the two, seeing as though she has been ordained. But this time, Kite Man refuses, himself lifting the cloud of denial, and realizing the Ivy's heart was just not in it when it come to the marriage. With the last obstacle gone, Ivy was able to overcome her own denial, and join Harley in a romantic partnership, while attempting to escape from the Gotham police, reminiscent of Thelma and Louise, except that Harley and Ivy don't choose to plunge into the Grand Canyon as a n act of refusal to sucomb to the male dominated patriarchy. Harley and Ivy ride off into the sunset, their love now free to blosom.
Like the first season, this season is filled with irreverent one-liners, making fun of the conventions of the DC comic universe. The show is more than merely a hilarious parody of Batman, or even an expression of feminist revolt against the male-dominated comic book genre. It is a carefully constructed story, with arcs from the first season, easily forgotten in the crush of events, weaving their way into the second season for a satisfactory resolution, at least for those who like to see the good guys prevail.
But once again, "Harley Quinn" has its flaws, the over-the-top plot devices, and the need of the writers to make this the most violent and profanity-laden parody of the D.C. Universe. Once again, you would be well-advised to keep your young, innocent eyes and ears away from this show, as it is most definitely not a cartoon for kids.
No, I'm not in denial. Why do you ask?
By: William J. Kovatch, Jr.
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