Season Review: Harley Quinn Season One

Despite being an incredibly popular character in her own right, Harley Quinn has had a surprisingly difficult time (outside of comics) finding a successful solo stint away from her ex-clown hubby, the Joker. We’ve seen her plenty of times in animation, though the recent “Batman and Harley Quinn” animated movie ended up being both a critical and financial flop. She’s had a couple live action outings as portrayed by Margot Robbie, though “Suicide Squad” was mostly reviled and the currently playing “Birds of Prey”, while creatively ambitious, seems to be only now be breaking even after nearly a month in theaters. But Ms. Quinzell has nonetheless maintained a consistent presence in DC properties, which led to WB taking another chance on her to run her own circus tent for their streaming service. And thankfully for them and us, it’s the greatest show!…on their service.

Making full use of the mature rating from the start (much like DC Universe’s other animated original, Young Justice: Outsiders), the series focuses on Harley (Big Bang Theory’s Kaley Cuoco, who also Executive Produces) coming to the long overdue realization that perhaps the legendary psychotic clown prince of crime is not the best in terms of fulfilling relationship and finally dumping his ass with the help of BFF Poison Ivy (Lake Bell) But with that bridge burning, she also finds herself on the bottom of the totem pole of supervillainy, leading her to put together a crew of C and D Lister baddies like King Shark, Clayface, and Doctor Psycho (excellently played by Ron Funches, Alan Tudyk, and Tony Hale) to rise the ranks of super crime and earn a spot in the Legion of Doom. Though along the way, Harley finds herself tested on what exactly it means to be a true villain, a good friend, and Harley Quinn, none of which are as obvious as one might think.

This is a show that makes use of every element of Harley’s character in its identity. It’s zany and kooky, it’s irreverent and crass, and it is also at times psychological. While the series’ style of humor comes at you a mile a minute of jokes that I dare you not to laugh at, it’s at its best when it deals with Harley’s issues. And if you are aware of the character in any way, you know she has a LOT of those. In addition to analyzing her complicated relationship with the Joker (also Alan Tudyk, who plays him as a deliciously shitty ex-boyfriend), there’s also time taken to dissect her shady history with her parents and how that translates to how she often mistreats those close to her, even when they’re helping her. It’s not every comic book show that’s willing to psychoanalyze its title character, and even less within its first season.

All this to say that aside from a bit of a stumble near the end of the season, the Harley Quinn show is off to a fantabulous start. It’s by far the best of DC Universe’s original line up that I’ve seen (I still haven’t found time to watch Doom Patrol, which incidentally also has Alan Tudyk as the antagonist, though I’ve heard good things), partly because it uses its versions of these iconic characters to service the story instead of simply hoping their reputations will work as personality (*coughTITANScough*) and partly because it is a tightly written and sharply hilarious thrill ride. With a second season only a month away, the ride on Harley Quinn Highway looks to be far from over.

Also, shoot, I just realized the title of the finale should have totally been called “The Punchline”.