Harley Quinn kicks May’s door down with a Bat-focused episode. No Quinn, Ivy, Kite-Man, or the plucky band of losers in sight. It was a nice departure from the status quo of the show. So many shows set in Gotham City neglect Batman, it was nice to have an episode centered around the Caped Crusader. All your favorites are here. Smug Alred, energetic Batgirl, everyone’s favorite version of Jim Gordan and Phil Lamaar as Lucius Fox! I am a huge Phil fan, so I will call him out whenever I hear his dulcet tones. This week’s episode dives into the state of our broken Batman, his astronomical ego, and his inability to ask for help. Minor spoilers ahead.
1. Maybe the most meta opening ever
Interesting way to start the show. The writers take some heavy shots at the more, let’s say, acerbic critics of the series. Let’s just call them trolls and move on. The level of meta-commentary in the opening and closing of the episode is enough for three series focused on female leads. Real-world references to Reddit, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the fabled Synder cut of Justice League and Xbox One seemingly place these cartoon dude sin our universe. Or at the very least a parallel cartoon universe. Since both the trolls and Harley Quinn are rendered in the same style, does that make Harley Quinn a live-action show in their universe? Such a strange, unconventional universe they are building. I love it.
2. Bane is the employee you wish realized their potential
Why doesn’t Bane just kill Two-Face? He takes so much crap from what is effectively just a regular ugly man. If The Dark Knight Rises has taught us anything, it’s that Bane is capable of great and terrible things. This Bane has the potential for the same but just lacks that extra bit of “it.” The special sauce that makes people great. He literally kicks the legs out from under a robotic Batman but then leaves him alive. That’s a failure, Bane. You didn’t cross the endzone. You just stopped running when you hit the five-yeard line. There is so much greatness in this version of Bane, and I hope he gets to shine some more. His victory over Batman was pretty conclusive. If it were a UFC fight, the judges would have called it early. Also, shout out to this line of dialogue: “That is a shadow, I was born there, but that’s not me.”
3. Is that version of Batman legal?
This is a legit question. DC just straight up pilfered the Iron Man suit from the MCU and put horns on it. From the on-board AI named Monica, the individual flying parts of the suit, to the holographic UI in the helmet. It’s Iron Man 3 from start to finish. I never ascribed to the thought that Batman and Iron Man were similar, but this version very much is a rip-off. So much so that it has to be intentional. I am writing about it, after all. They did it for this review. I have played right into their hand. Jokes on them, I liked it. More Iron Bat! And just to be clear, I called this at the start of the season. While I believed Jim Gordon would be in the suit, the suit still showed up, so I win. Also, put Gordon in the damn suit already. You know you want to!
4. Let’s talk about The Macaroni.
I think Alfred is one of the best support characters of all time. When you break him down, he is a man who loves his surrogate son but is also aware he is Bruce’s employee first and foremost. The balance between showing fatherly affection and serving as a butler is a delicate one, and Alfred walks that line like a gentleman. He is also a former Naval Officer and has been positioned in a few comics as a formidable fighter. This all makes Alfred’s alter ego, The Macaroni, all the sweeter. The posh, dandy outfit, the ridiculous powdered wig, and the Green Arrow-level gimmicks trapped within it. It’s all great. It’s a very 1960’s Batman level of amazing. There is one fatal flaw with the alter ego, and I can’t overlook it. He has no feather in his cap. 0/10.
Continued below5. Where is Robin?
This whole episode is focused on the Bat-family, but we get no Robin. Bruce doesn’t even ask about his son. The last time we saw the boy, he was playing dress-up in his father’s costume and taking on the mantle of the Bat. Since then, there has been no mention of Robin or his crusade on crime. I fear for the boy’s safety and find both Bruce’s and especially Alfred’s lack of caring disturbing. Damian should have been a factor in this episode. Why is he not at his father’s side? I need some information here, people! Someone find that boy! He’s dressed in the brightest clothes in Gotham, he can’t be hard to find. Also, where is Nightwing? If Damian is around, that means Nightwing is in full effect. I think I just need a Robin reunion on the show. But also, save Damian.
The wrap-up
Another great episode stuffed with fan service this week. These creative folks running this show know how to deliver the Bat goods. It is a testament to the quality of the show that I never thought I needed a Batman-focused episode. Then it was served to me on a silver platter, and I devoured it. The meta-commentary was a nice jab at the show’s trolls who spend their time watching the entire series then complaining that it isn’t up to their standards. I do hope we get more of the Bat-Family in the series if only to be a foil for Harley, Ivy, and the crew. A battle between Red Robin and King Shark is welcome. Till next time Hyenas!
