SPOILER ALERT: The next comprises spoilers from the season finale of Harley Quinn. Watch it earlier than you learn any additional…in any other case, you haven’t any one however your self guilty, kiddo.
I’m actually glad that Harley Quinn has been renewed for a fourth season as a result of this week’s season three finale arrange a lot. Harley is now a member of the Bat-Household, preventing alongside Nightwing, Robin and Batgirl. Bruce Wayne has been arrested for tax fraud. Poison Ivy is main the Legion of Doom. The Joker is mayor of Gotham. There’s a lot taking place!
Ever because the pilot episode, Harley Quinn has been a present about progress. Harley needed to develop as an individual to go away her abusive relationship with the Joker. She needed to learn to be a greater pal to Ivy and understand that her purpose of becoming a member of the Legion of Doom wasn’t wholesome. That theme of progress continued this season, with a give attention to how relationships develop.
The season started with Ivy and Harley having fun with their early days a pair, however everybody who has been in a romantic relationship is aware of that issues are by no means so easy. It doesn’t matter how a lot you’re keen on somebody, there are nonetheless incompatibilities that you must work by way of. All through the season, we noticed Harley and Ivy overcome these variations and learn to be a pair. For instance, Ivy discovered talk with Harley about habits that irritated her.
It is refreshing that the issues they confronted weren’t typical cleaning soap opera fare. We by no means obtained an episode the place Harley and Ivy fought as a result of they thought one in all them was dishonest on the opposite. Their issues had been actual and relatable. The episode the place Ivy is irritated as a result of Harley is distracting her whereas she’s working is one thing that I’d think about all {couples} have gone by way of, and it occurred on a present with a mud monster that makes a dwelling by pretending to be Billy Bob Thornton.
Now it seems to be like #Harlivy will face its greatest problem but. Harley Quinn might be a crimefighter working alongside the Bat-Household, whereas Ivy might be main the Legion of Doom. How is that this going to work? Their careers are in direct opposition to 1 one other. This isn’t a case of 1 associate liking seafood whereas one other hates it—that is Ivy main a staff of criminals, whereas Harley is working to cease crime. We’re speaking George and Kellyanne Conway instances about 1,000,000 right here and it’s one of many many causes I’m psyched for season 4.
Little doubt it’s a bizarre recipe for a relationship, however I place confidence in Harley and Ivy. They’re on significantly better floor than they had been in the beginning of the season and so they appear to be going into this new association with wholesome expectations. They’re going to compartmentalize, separating their home-lives from their work-lives. Don’t get me incorrect, I’m positive there might be pace bumps, however they will work by way of this.
I can’t consider I’m penning this, however the Joker has grown and matured as effectively. The previous legal has discovered love, arrange store within the suburbs and is now the mayor of Gotham. He even talked Jim Gordon out of killing Two-Face. That second particularly felt bizarre as a result of often the Joker is on the opposite finish of that dialog, usually as one in all Gotham’s superheroes must be satisfied to not homicide him! The Joker has grown as an individual, and because of this, his most beloved relationship has developed. That’s proper, no one means extra to Joker than Batman and we noticed a completely new dynamic between them this season on Harley Quinn.
How new? Nicely, the finale ends with Joker arresting Bruce Wayne for tax fraud. The episode doesn’t name consideration to it, however let’s not overlook that the Joker is aware of that Bruce Wayne is Batman. Scarecrow unmasked the Caped Crusader in the course of the season one finale, which enraged the Clown Prince of Crime. After murdering Jonathan Crane as punishment for ruining his enjoyable, Joker turned his consideration to Bruce Wayne, demanding to know why WayneTech hadn’t delivered on their promise of electrical automobiles. Since then, the Joker has been as much as different issues. And now he’s mayor.
By arresting Bruce Wayne, he’s lastly defeated his greatest foe. After years of sparring, their dynamic has been flipped. Joker is the lawman, and Batman is the outlaw. It’s a becoming joke, one which I’m positive isn’t misplaced on the Joker himself. It’s additionally price noting that he gave Ivy relationship recommendation. Certain, he was making an attempt to save lots of his personal life, however he was additionally ensuring Harley wouldn’t be caught in one other poisonous relationship. Evaluate that scene to their earlier interactions in season one and it’s clear that Ivy and Joker’s relationship has grown as effectively.
A raunchy cartoon like Harley Quinn is an surprising place to search out character progress and coronary heart, however don’t overlook that our protagonist is a former psychiatrist. Harley could also be an unconventional psychological well being practitioner, however have a look at her. She’s gone from villain to hero and she or he’s in a wholesome relationship together with her finest pal. She’s even working laborious to ensure Batman will get the therapeutic assist he wants, if you understand the Darkish Knight, then you understand that’s a tall order. Harley nonetheless has a whole lot of rising to do and many skulls to bash in. I can’t look ahead to season 4, it’s going to be a wild experience.
Harley Quinn Season Three is now streaming on HBO Max. For extra moments of mayhem and psychological insights, go to our official Harley Quinn sequence web page.
Joshua Lapin-Bertone writes about TV, motion pictures and comics for DCComics.com, is an everyday contributor to the Sofa Membership and writes our month-to-month Batman column, “Gotham Gazette.” Comply with him on Twitter at @TBUJosh.
NOTE: The views and opinions expressed on this characteristic are solely these of Joshua Lapin-Bertone and don’t essentially mirror these of DC Leisure or Warner Bros.
