Season Review: Harley Quinn Season Two

Not even four months past the end of its first season and we already back talking about Harley Quinn’s sophomore installment. The second half of the twenty six episode order starring the now emancipated ex of the Joker continued its strong opening act with all of the same sharp comedy and character work that the first one brought. So basically it’s just about the same as the first season. Really, more could be said about how the state of the world has changed in between these seasons than the seasons themselves, mostly because, as it turns out, they were both written entirely before the first episode aired. That means that these two seasons have been written essentially as one long undisturbed arc, not influenced by fan reception and part of the creators’ own vision for this series. And I bring this up because you could be forgiven for thinking that maybe some of this was given notes between seasons or was tweaked due to fan demand. And honestly, it could be argued that one of this season’s most noticeable flaws is that it tries to cram in a bit too much at once.

What do I mean by that? Well, let’s look at the plot. In the wake of Joker’s supposed death, the disappearance of the Justice League, and the utter devastation of Gotham City, the US Government has made it NO MAN’S LAND, you might say. As such, the remaining villains vie for control by forming the INjustice League, but Harley decides to strike out on her own and, when the league turns on her, vows revenge in order to kill them all. Sounds like enough to fill a whole season, right? Well, not really since there were only five main bad guys so that couldn’t fill out thirteen episodes anyway. But either way, that’s only HALF the story. After more or less defeating the league, the longtime friendship between Harley and Poison Ivy starts to develop another level, forcing the two of them to take long hard looks at what either of them want out of their lives and whether or not they want each other in them.

There’s a theme about change that works as an undercurrent throughout the season, which actually compliments Harley’s first season arc pretty well. There, her goal was solely to make a name for herself as a villain outside of Joker. Now, with Joker gone and villainy as she was used to basically over, it becomes a journey to become the only one on top and then, to wonder if she really is best as a bad guy. Heck, throughout the season, she is constantly fighting other bad guys and preventing the destruction of Gotham and the earth, despite some of those times being caused by her. I wouldn’t be surprised if next season (hopefully we’ll get one) has her trying to be a hero since she hasn’t really taken to being a villain very well.

We also HAVE to talk about her budding romance with Poison Ivy as it develops. As said, I’m glad that they gave it the other half of the season to breathe and grow naturally on both ends, since I have seen worse shows not bother with even that much. Unfortunately, the loveable idiot Kite Man gets caught up as a casualty of that. Thankfully, because he is developed into a character in his own right, it’s easy to sympathize with him when things end up going without him, as well as proud of him for making his own choices. Although I do think that wedding episode might have been better as a two parter. As for Harley and Ivy, the season ends with them finally embracing their feelings and choosing each other, though a possible third season will dig into the exponentially more interesting part of that process: actually learning what being in a relationship like that means for the both of them. And the writers have said they have that all planned out too, so a renewal seems like a no brainer, right? RIGHT?!

Being on DC Universe, it’s hard to say where the show will be heading with that streaming platform having the smell of death about it. DC Daily just ended, Stargirl hasn’t been renewed, Doom Patrol is on HBO Max, and so many other reasons that the DC Universe app might be facing its own Crisis. But I cannot stress enough how much this show hits so many marks in a way that only it could. It would be beyond a shame to let it die now. Let’s hope that Harley Quinn can escape the end of its initial streaming service and carry on for a few more years to come. I HAVE to see where this story goes, even if I have to jump into acid for it.