A Harley Quinn show could have gone wrong in a lot of ways. Although she’s a very popular character, she often runs the risk of overexposure like Deadpool does. And there’s the problematic aspect of Harley being in a toxic relationship that she keeps returning to despite tons of red flags.
Thankfully, the show wastes no time in addressing such problematic issues. We get to see why Harley (Kaley Cuoco) is in love with the Joker and how she keeps hanging on despite the Joker constantly using her for his own ends. However, once she gets left behind and is locked up in Arkham Asylum for months, Harley finally decided to go on her own and put together her own crew of villains.
Of course, this is a raunchy comedy with healthy servings of violence and crude language. But there’s a surprising amount of warmth and sincerity, whether it’s Harley’s bestie Poison Ivy (Lake Bell) trying to prevent her from spiralling again, or it’s the hapless crook Kite Man trying to woo Ivy and become a worthy boyfriend. Each of the characters handled has his/her own unique tic, and while that doesn’t always work out for the best, it makes room for plenty of comedy.
Harley’s core character is tweaked, with her burning desire now being to join the Legion of Doom instead of pleasing her ‘pudding’.
This way, it becomes a tale of a woman working to better herself and achieve her ambitions, instead of being stuck in a relationship where she’s constantly gaslighted and used.
That, coupled with one of the most satisfying female relationships on TV today, makes the show worth watching. While there are hints that the bond between Harley and Ivy might blossom into something more, that’s left for later. This season is more about Harley as a person and not the people she dates.
As good as the show is, sometimes it veers into predictable directions.
One episode shows the rest of the gang exploring Harley’s psyche, and the trick is later repeated to dive into Ivy’s mind. However, the cast of characters more than makes up for it. There’s the gruff Batman, the deliciously thespian Clayface, and a Robin whose bark is worse than his bite. Then there’s Gordon, a lonely man who’s desperate to discuss his failing marriage with Batman, who wants to keep things professional.
The thirteen episode length of the first season gives just enough room for the main story to breathe while letting the episodic elements come to the fore. The show is still juvenile, and it struggles to balance the scales between comedy and drama, but it gets enough right to make audiences stick through to the end.
Harley Quinn has been already renewed for a second season. Let’s hope this allows the show to find a stronger voice and explore more of Harley’s relationships down the line. As great as the Joker is, let’s hope the show moves past him sooner than later. The show does a good enough job of showing Harley’s struggles to be an independent woman that you want to root for her to finally achieve her goals. Sometimes, the show’s feminism is thrown in your face, but when it isn’t, it becomes one of those rare blends of humor and thoughtfulness. Hopefully, the show will get bolder while still telling a strong narrative.