Season two is in the bag Hyenas—what a great sophomore outing for this raunchy-ass animated series from DC Comics. Harley Quinn has excelled at positively highlighting a myriad of characters from DC’s backlog in the past two seasons. One thing those folks over at DC have down is their animated series. If I may humbly request that they create their own Pixar style studio and create big-budget animated features a la Toy Story or The Incredibles.
This week’s season finale wraps up the overarching Ivy/Harley will they won’t they storyline in a cute little bow. We all knew how that one would turn out. After all, love finds a way in all situations. Per usual in this series, we are treated to several background cameos, including Black Manta (my favorite), Maxie Zeus, Kite Man’s super parents, and many more. They all show up for Ivy’s wedding, and as you would guess, everything goes to shit immediately. But in the end, Ivy realizes she has been denying her feelings for Quinn and accepts she is in love with our hero. Cue Thelma and Louise moment.
Let’s end on Five THoughts for Season Two of Harley Quinn. Spoilers, obviously.
1. The Harley Crew
I complained all season that the crew was not featured or utilized as prominently as they should have been. I stand by that. King Shark and Clayface were vastly misused this season. I say this as a person who thoroughly enjoys Ron Funches and Alan Tudyk’s performances on the show. They were able to shine here and there, like King Shark’s marriage and Clayface’s closing song to Tim Burton. By the way, what a great animated Tim Burton. They nailed it.
Psycho, however, was elevated way above his station, back to top tier villain. His ascendance was a smart choice as he was the only one with viable powers. Of course, you need to hinder his character in some way so, make him a horrible misogynist. Dr. Psycho’s arch was a nice one, and his inevitable fall was satisfying.
2. Joker’s Transformation
There have been a lot of takes on the Joker. None were as out of leftfield as the one in Harley Quinn. The Joker as a family man? How do you pull that off? With the oldest trick in the book, amnesia. Would anyone have guessed The Clown Prince of Crime would end up with a strong Latin woman like Beth? I didn’t. Who else could tame the chaos that is the Joker? No one, that’s who. I do hope we get a glimpse into Joker’s stepdad life at some point. I foresee a lot of murder in the name of his stepkids coming down the pike. The Joker at a baseball game. The Joker at a bake sale. The Joker at a parent-teacher meeting. These are free ideas DC, call me for a consultation.
3. Gordon Watch 2020: A man reborn
Jim Gordon has come a long way from staying in his daughter’s dorm room at the beginning of this season. Barbara was able to drag her dad’s limp, broken ego out of the gutter and get him back to the protector of Gotham that he once was. Sadly, we don’t get Batgirl for the rest of the season. They had such a wonderful moment when Gordon found out she was Batgirl. The pride in his daughter was clear. From there, the Commissioner took on Para Demons, flew the Bat Plane, drove a tank, crashed a wedding, and saved Gotham. I do so love this version of Jim Gordon. He is the perfect encapsulation of what Gotham can do to even the best of people.
4. Kite Man, Hell Yeah
Charles “Kite Man” Brown has been through quite a lot this season. He’s painted as a loveable simpleton from the start, but he ended on a high note. Charles realized his worth and stood up for himself. We all knew he was playing third banana in Ivy’s life (plants and Harley came first and second), but he tried to make it work at every turn. He was even able to save folks with his stupid, useless kite on numerous occasions. I was pleased it was Kite Man that called off the wedding. After being emotionally dragged through the mud for quite some time, he took control of his life back and said, “I deserve to be happy.” Good for you, Kite Man. We may not see you again. Be well, you simple buffoon.
5. Harley and Ivy sitting in a tree…
K, I, S, S, I, N, G.We knew it was coming, and here it is. Harley and Ivy declare their love for one another as only they can; on the run from the cops in a stolen car. It was the inevitable end to season two. Even though we knew it was coming, it was still a sweet moment when we got there. In the comics, Ivy and Harley were lovers, but I don’t ever remember them professing love to one another. There is a big gap between hooking up and loving each other. Good for them. Who knows where this relationship ends up, if the crew is still intact, or if they are even villains anymore. So many things left unsaid and unclear. But one thing is for sure; those two love birds are in it together. Just change the name of the show to Harley and Ivy already.
The wrap-up
Another wonderfully packed season. It is rare that an animated series can deliver on so many fronts, but Harley Quinn consistently pushes boundaries, delivers on the action front, and applies layers of depth on their main characters. Every episode has something for someone, whether it’s Batman in a robe, Mr. Freeze as a sympathetic villain, or Darkseid as a do-nothing blowhard. Any adult DC nerd like myself can find some enjoyment in this series. I do hope it returns for a third season. And so do you, admit it.
Thanks for following along with me this season, Hyenas. Stay safe, and remember: Be Like Kite Man. Hell Yeah.
