This week’s episode of Harley Quinn takes a detour into my hometown of Brooklyn, New York. Harley finds herself at a crossroads after alienating her friendly crew of misfits. Like many people who are lost, home is where you try to find yourself. I know I have found myself on my mother’s couch a few times in adulthood. Remember people, you can always go home. You just can’t stay there. The old adage “House guests are like fish” applies to you the moment you move out. Quinn learns this the extremely bloody hard way when she looks for solace at her childhood home in Bensonhurst. Today’s episode is all about family, so here are Five Thoughts on families. Strap in for fellow Harley Hyenas. Minor spoilers ahead.
1. Sitcom intros never get old
Utilizing a 90’s style sitcom introduction to Harley’s family is a welcome choice. It is an overused trope but one that I can fully appreciate. Harley Quinn does best to infuse its own brand of irreverence in the “credits.” Those old-style sitcoms usually had the show’s cast being ridiculous right before their credited freeze frame. Here, we get a pretty good look at the building blocks of Harley’s warped childhood. Her violent dad, dead brother, and seemingly food-addicted momma. The slow deterioration of the family is evident in the final time-lapse, which we literally see people growing further apart. We knew a lady who would fall in love with the Joker probably didn’t have a stable home life. Now, we get the confirmation.
2. The importance of a father to a daughter
I have a daughter. My greatest joy is when she runs up and says, “Daddy, are you going to hang out with me.” It melts the ice around my heart every time. But sometimes you just want to lay on the couch and not do things. Every time I make the decision not to get up to play with yet another Frozen doll, I think about how that will affect my baby girl down the road. Will she only remember the times I didn’t play with her? What moments will she latch on to? It stays fresh on my mind every day of her formative years. Dad really has to be there for their daughters. We learn how they should be treated by us. Slip up too many times, and your baby girl can end up with some clown you don’t approve of. Or perhaps she becomes part of an organization that doesn’t value women. Being a dad is not easy, and there is no manual to teach you how to be a good one. Which is evident by the complete asshat that is Nick, Harley’s “dad.” Damn, that guy sucks. Excuse me while I go play with my little girl.
3. What happened to Barry?
This episode makes a point to highlight Harley’s deceased brother more than once. We don’t get a glimpse into the time of Barry’s death, and every image we see of him or of his urn is a happy one. The Quinnzel family deals with death a lot better than many people I know. How do you watch your grandmother get her face shot off DOOM style and not really care? Not to mention a couple days later, having your grandfather’s chest explode outward Alien-style. Their only recourse is to stack more urns on the mantle. I am curious as to the circumstances of young Barry’s demise. If it is anything like the rest of the family, it was probably grizzly, slow, and no one cared when it happened. Or, Barry could be the catalyst for everyone’s sociopathic behavior. There is so much left to unpack.
4. You can, in fact, choose your family
Man, if your family sucks like the Quinzels, build yourself a new one. Forge strong relationships that will last a lifetime. If your mom and dad try to kill you, maybe look to your friends for love and support. Harley’s real family was the maniacal crew of evil-doers she betrayed. We have been saying this for weeks, folks. Episode 10 is here to drive that message home. But here is a message for you, if your home life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, build your own tight-knit family. Either with a romantic partner or just a bunch of like-minded friends. Go bowling, eat dinner together, save your surrogate sister from the clutches of evil. Avoid all the shooting and gore at home and find love out there in the world. Choose your own family.
5. “It’s us against him, we outnumber him 2-1…”
I heard a couple say that about their son. I laughed at that, but I understood where they were coming from. Some couples are together for a very long time before having children. Then all of a sudden, this new person shows up and tries to put a wedge between the two. Sure, you love this new human person, but you must always remember who your road dog was before this kid showed up. Who was there pulling your hair back while you yacked up your dinner? Who pretended to be a doctor and lied to your boss to get you that sick day you wanted? It’s sure as hell wasn’t that silly baby. What I am saying is I understand why Harley’s parents banded together against her. To be fair, she is an awful person. I mean, they all are, but she’s trained to kill particularly well. The parents are already at a disadvantage, being all old and one having negative thumbs. I don’t condone what they tried to do (murder), but I get their commitment to one another. I try and keep that in mind when my daughter tries to drive said wedge between her mother and I. Nah little sister, I watched that woman do unspeakable things and vice versa. We ride together. GO TO YOUR ROOM!
That’s another episode down with three more to go this season. Check back next week for a new set of Five Thoughts. Have a great week, Hyenas!
