Harley Quinn<\/span><\/i> is set in a hyperbolic version of Gotham City that is perfectly suited to Harley and the insanity that is her world view. It is full of the character\u2019s you\u2019d expect (and more than a few that are so obscure there is no way you would). However, most, like the world itself share that hyperbolic twist. Batman is overly serious to the point of absurdity. Gordon is a drunk who treats Batman more like a wife that he is trying to rekindle his relationship with than a crime fighting partner. Bane is a bumbling nice guy who wants to be taken more seriously–but is usually just taken advantage of.<\/span><\/p>\n However, it is the two closest to Harley–Poison Ivy and the Joker–that seem the most like how we\u2019ve come to expect them.<\/span><\/p>\n Poison Ivy, at this point in the story, has come to care about her first human in years: Harley. She\u2019s overjoyed when Harley leaves the Joker for good and she wants to support her friend’s new life. However, it drives her crazy to see that, instead of trying to blaze a new path for herself, Harley spends her time trying to win the approval of those who have belittled her for so long. Ivy knows how powerful not caring what others think can be–despite how it can also isolate you.<\/span><\/p>\n By opening herself to Harley, Ivy opens up to others, as well. But interestingly, it\u2019s not the other members of Harley\u2019s crew she becomes close with but rather Kiteman. In an odd way he\u2019s a lot like Harley–a D-lister. However, he doesn\u2019t care about getting approval from strangers or even coworkers. He just bashes through their criticism with boundless self-optimism.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But what he does care about is the approval of those he\u2019s close to–specifically Ivy as the two grow romantically close. And when both she and he accept their own inner awkward nerd and let the rest of the world think what they want. They find a measure of normal happiness in each other. It\u2019s interesting to see Ivy in a romantic relationship–especially such a normal one and with a villain so far below her own ranking.<\/span><\/p>\n Harley Quinn<\/span><\/i>\u2019s Joker, on the other hand, is the Joker at his most egotistical. He sees himself as the world\u2019s premiere criminal and anything that negatively affects that image becomes the target of his ire.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As for Harley, he can\u2019t accept that anyone would reject him–especially his thug\/lover. His ego is too big for that. It\u2019s not that he is a jilted lover–after all, there\u2019s no real \u201clove\u201d involved, only pride. And if her breaking away from him is bad, the idea of her ever showing him up is too much to bear. He absolutely has to ruin her by taking away everything she has gained since she left him–all while hinting that she might still be able to win his approval (regardless of whether they are in a relationship or not).<\/span><\/p>\n Of course, while Joker and Ivy are important characters, the focus of the show is on Harley herself. Harley is finally ready to strike out on her own and make a name for herself outside of the Joker. However, it\u2019s her way of accomplishing that which causes most of the problems in the series.<\/span><\/p>\n Harley is deeply insecure and haunted by her past mistakes–i.e., her time with Joker. She demands outside recognition–but not from those close to her, regrettably. She wants to show those who doubt her just how awesome she can be. Thus, she does scheme after scheme attempting to show them up.<\/span><\/p>\n The problem is it\u2019s a battle she can\u2019t really win. After all, you can\u2019t make others view you differently–especially when they have a vested interest in looking down on you. The story really is about her learning this lesson.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n By making her own team of misfits, she makes her own surrogate family–who actually care about her and see her for what she is. And though it takes her learning the hard way, by the end of the season, she realizes how important they really are and that it\u2019s their opinion that really matters.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s a surprisingly good moral–even if it\u2019s often overshadowed by all the dark comedy and gore.<\/span><\/p>\n Harley Quinn<\/span><\/i> Season 1 can be seen on DC Universe<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n I just wanted to give out a big thanks to Joshua Ott for sponsoring this review with his\u00a0Patreon<\/a>\u00a0donation. (At the $60 a month tier, you are allowed to pick anything up to an including a 13ish episode series to be reviewed\u2013which is released in addition to the one article a week I normally put out here on BiggestinJapan.com.) So thanks again!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Top image source: DC<\/a> on YouTube.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/gZtmeP1FYUY\/maxresdefault.jpg?w=700&ssl=1\")
Image source: DC<\/a> on YouTube<\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/iUiBrtDPmJg\/maxresdefault.jpg?w=700&ssl=1\")
Image source: DC<\/a> on YouTube<\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/--PoeYUa7cI\/maxresdefault.jpg?w=700&ssl=1\")
Image source: DC<\/a> on YouTube<\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/uCRXOk_z_qE\/maxresdefault.jpg?w=700&ssl=1\")
Image source: DC<\/a> on YouTube<\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/yUNkuSKu_Xo\/maxresdefault.jpg?w=700&ssl=1\")
Image source: DC<\/a> on YouTube<\/em><\/p>\n
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