It seemed like only yesterday when our emancipated hero Harley Quinn and her band of outsiders stood triumphantly over a ruined Gotham city. And just like that, Season 2 is released, and we are back in the saddle with our favorite gang of super goons. I have to say, I am excited about this season. Not only is it here in a flash (pun), it’s bringing us a new Gotham to explore, new character dynamics to dig into, and of course the show is delivering its own brand of decadent off-color hilarity we were spoon-fed last season. Penguin gets his nose bitten off for Christmas sake. Harley Quinn is back folks, let’s have some fun.
It’s a new beginning for our heroes and favorite support characters. These maniacs are all trying to cope and survive in the new Gotham landscape, which is admittedly dire. Even Robin is stepping up and donning the ill-fitting cape and cowl while his dad is M.I.A. The old normal is out the window folks, time for a brand new status quo. How oddly prescient. Let’s dig into all the new of season two. Mild spoilers ahead.
1. It’s about time Gotham got the boot
Gotham sucks. This is a fact we are all aware of. The city is a crap hole festering from the inside out. It seems to be the only place on earth where deranged people in costumes literally run the city. The United States’ decision to disown the entire city is long overdue. How was Gotham not a demilitarized zone already? Is it because they had an active police force? Those boobs were doing nothing but drinking and getting shot in the testicles. Gotham needed a shot in the arm.
2. The meek shall inherit the earth
A Goon Rebellion was another longtime coming event. They do all the hard work and get none of the credit. The Legion of Doom stuck them in the doldrums of their affluent base, and for what? Less than minimum wage and a red shirt? I say nay! Good for them for rising up and showing their bosses they have skills too. Granted, a lot of the henchmen shown had less than creative solutions for their newfound careers, but every journey starts with a single step. You miss all the shots you don’t take after all. Point being, the henchmen and women (I didn’t actually see any henchwomen) used the new Gotham as a way to start their own small business. That is admirable. Whether it’s villainy or photography, take control of your own life. Now, more than ever.
3. Some supervillains never learn
OK, Harley. I am getting pretty sick of you not listening to Poison Ivy. It’s become ridiculous. She obviously knows more about the business than you do. Just take her advice, literally every time. Worst case scenario, you don’t end up a block of ice for two months. Best case? You become Gotham’s big boss. Don’t listen to the green lady, you become a trophy for a deformed aristocrat with a parasol fetish. I understand Harley’s selfish thought process as a character flaw, but with no growth, Harley is going to be stuck in first gear the entire series. Gotham turned over a new leaf, time for Harley to rethink her leadership methods.
Also, there is no way the Harley crew was in chaos while Harley was gone. What leadership has she ever shown? This isn’t poop on the hero day, I legitimately want to know. Ivy is more than capable of running that gang smoothly. Then again, Ivy’s apathy gets in the way.
4. Is Gordon primed to become the new Batman?
If you followed my reviews of season 1, you know that I love this version of Commissioner Gordon. He’s so sad and broken you can’t help but want him to succeed. His unhealthy obsession with Batman is equal parts endearing and creepy as hell. The man just wants a friend. Why not befriend the most anti-social person in your city.
The season two premiere does the man zero favors by systematically dismantling his world from start to finish. By the end, Gordon is no longer Commissioner, his officers are Bane Boys, Batman is nowhere to be found, Gordon’s badge is at the bottom of Gotham harbor, and his wife is leaving him. This could be Jim’s rock bottom. There is only one direction to head in now. Could a Batman 2.0 be on the way with Gordon donning the mechanical Batsuit? If there is a Santa in heaven, we will see our paunchy Gordon kicking the crap out of Two-Face as Batman. Is Jim up to the task?
Continued belowWhy do we fall Master Gordon?
5. New New Gotham is dope
We have finally reached the Gotham we all know and love. The hyper-colorful, video game level style hellhole. The new supervillain conglomerate has carved up the remnants of Gotham into violent theme parks. Mr. Freeze (voiced by Doc Oc himself, Alfred Molina) even build his iconic arctic snowglobe hideaway. Harley’s speech at the end suggests we will see our heroes progress through boss levels as they attempt to claim New New Gotham for themselves. We are in open-world territory now people. Time to reclaim the map (fans of Grand Theft Auto, Assassin’s Creed, or literally any other open-world game in the past 20 years will understand this).
The wrap-up
Harley season 2 is a welcome addition to our collective streaming lists. No steps were lost in the creation of this new story arch. If you were a fan of season 1, this aims to be more of what you loved. So to old and new loyal Hyenas, let’s take back New New Gotham alongside Harley.
