Review: Harley Quinn “Till Death Do Us Part”

Overview (Spoilers Below)
Despite it being obvious to everyone around her, Harley refuses to leave her disgrace of a boyfriend, the Joker. However, with a little bit of prodding, Ivy intends to change that right around.

Our Take
My anticipation for this series has been nearly through the roof ever since its announcement. A comedy series involving Harley Quinn? Fantastic! Upon watching the series premiere, however, I’m not entirely sure what to think of it. It’s certainly enjoyable seeing our favorite Gotham-nites in extremely wacky situations. However, sometimes I feel the humor this series leans towards is a bit over the top.

My main concern is the overemphasis on “mature” elements. Gore and gross-out humor are present throughout the entirety of the episode, alongside a healthy dose of the f-word as well. However, I feel as though these elements are simply thrown in just to seem mature. None of it seems necessary in the slightest. It’s practically a schoolyard’s paradise. Other shows in the adult animation field tend to use this type of humor to add a bit of spice to its main dish. Here, it’s the main course. I’m honestly not a fanatic when it comes to adult-aimed animation passing off these elements as their main bread and butter. I’d rather see these elements be used sparingly, with more emphasis on humor that doesn’t rely on supposed mature humor. With these elements in tow though, it painfully shows just how immature its humor actually is.

I do, however, find its message to be quite empowering. It’s wonderful seeing Harley Quinn stick it to Joker and be rid of his non-existent love for good. It’s fun having the focal point being on a female villain wreaking havoc on Gotham this time. The dynamic between both Harley and Ivy is also more than worth its weight in gold. They’re an enjoyably destructive pair with excellent chemistry together.

The series being an advocate towards ending abusive relationships is a nice touch as well. I can’t think of too many series that dive into the subject, let alone a comedic one. That’s what makes it rather unique though. It takes the subject seriously but keeps things rather light-hearted. It feels more accessible this way, leaning towards humor rather than dramatics. Seeing Harley practically shove it to Joker at the end is a breath of fresh air. She’s taking charge of herself, not being tied down to someone who just uses her. It paints the message clear as day while allowing us to both feels for Harley and laugh as she gains retribution against the clown prince of crime.

I truly hope that the series continues to dive into showcasing additional subjects along these lines and reflect them upon the common viewer. This series and its messages are a step in the right direction to putting an end to all the horrific, indecent acts that happen within our everyday society.

Overall, not a terrible start to the series. I worry that the series will continue to head down a spiral of supposed mature-based humor, rather than sprinkling it in as a spice. Hopefully, the rest of the series will keep it on a tight leash. The series absolutely parts the clouds with its messages though, helping Harley Quinn to become a powerful force in the realm of adult animation. Harley’s not quitting without a fight, and it certainly shows here.