Harley Quinn continues the animated reclamation of her life. Of course, peppered with cartoon violence and the F word. Harley takes her first steps to become her own hero (villain?) in Episode 2 A High Bar. Minor spoilers ahead.
1. It’s a break-up story
The emancipation of Harley Quinn continues with episode 2. This is truly is a classic break up story. Harley is on a mission to define herself outside of her crappy relationship while Joker is hell-bent on making her feel so small she is unable to rise to her potential. You really root for Harley to win at every turn since Joker is a truly insufferable ass when it comes to his former partner. Also, they were a celebrity couple? Mr. J says their couple name was “Joker” but I heard “JokeHer” which is a way more biting dig at how he viewed their relationship. But I am not in the writer’s room, so what do I know?
2. Who gets to keep the friends?
Have you ever seen a couple who share all the same friends? What happens when that couple splits up? Who gets to keep the gang? Do they treat it like a custody battle and see their pals every other weekend. It’s been well worn by the likes of The Break Up, Anchorman and I bet Friends did an episode on it as well. You will excuse me if I don’t know the exact episode, that show went on forever. Harley Quinn takes it a step further and asks what happens when your friends are evil super villains? Who do you heist with when your abusive boyfriend also abuses..other abusers.
3. Gotham simply doesn’t care about villains
I don’t understand Gotham city. What a crap hole, right? Joker is able to hire a construction crew to build his evil layer? I have never built property, but I am sure there is crazy paperwork involved, signatures that need to be signed, LLC’s that need to be formed. So does the Joker have a legitimate company (Joker LLC?) and has gone through all the legal hurdles to have an above the board business? He’s just crazy enough to create a real S Corp. Or is there a fake company that has hired a construction crew to build a Joker themed evil lair in Gotham? Either way, the Mayor knows what’s going on and the city is doing nothing to stop it? Gotham is knowingly taking money from the Joker. The corruption runs deep folks.
4. Kite Man. Hell yeah…
Kite man (Hell Yea) makes his animated debut in this episode. Don’t know who Kite Man is? Go read Batman #27 by Tom King. Kite Man’s recent reinvention into a fan favorite was no doubt the impetus of his addition to the show. He fits right in with the oddball cast of characters, though we have yet to hear of his heart-wrenching origins in the show. His scenes with Poison Ivy are some of the best moments of the episode, leaving the character sympathetic (emphasis on pathetic) and endearing by the end. He is definitely faking it ‘til he makes it like so many of us. Who hasn’t feigned confidence to hide their crippling insecurities? Who hasn’t read the room completely wrong at some point? Well, he really drops the ball in that sense but you get my point.
5. The Legion of Doom would totally have a break room
Why would I think otherwise? Villains don’t like coffee? Of course, they do, everyone likes coffee (except me). Bane sharing a cup of joe with Scarecrow came off as weird to me at first. Upon further examination, it makes total sense. Just because we don’t see Two-Face writing their names on fresh and expired cartons of almond milk respectively, doesn’t mean they didn’t, or wouldn’t. The LoD would need a break room to unwind in after regularly being foiled. Who do you think would steal another person’s lunch from the break room fridge in the Legion of Doom? I bet that’s really taboo to them. My guess is Bizarro. He probably thinks he was doing a good thing.
