The fourth season of Harley Quinn featured complicated storylines which didn’t focus much on Harley and Ivy (also known as Harlivy), the relationship fans love. Instead, Harley joined the Bat Family (voiced by Kaley Cuoco) and Ivy became leader of the Legion of Doom (voiced by Lake Bell). However, season 5 moves Harlivy to Metropolis to make fun of Superman’s complex lore. Despite enjoying season 5, there’s a significant issue: Harley’s character growth remains unclear, and the main events revolve around Ivy. The show acknowledges this in recent episodes, but it doesn’t resolve the problem.
WARNING: Spoilers below for Harley Quinn Season 5, Episode 6
In the most recent installment, the issue is highlighted using a commentary about Harley’s reduced importance. When Lena Luthor (portrayed by Aisha Tyler) argues with Brainiac over protecting Harley, she chooses to reveal his schemes to Daily Planet editor-in-chief Perry White. However, it turns out that Perry is actually Clayface (voiced by Alan Tudyk), disguised and excited to use this revelation for his next stage performance. This storyline connects with Harley’s increasing understanding that she’s been stuck in a narrative rut, essentially playing the role of a supportive spouse while Ivy pursues her grand schemes for Metropolis. Desiring some sense of accomplishment, Harley threatens Clayface into casting her as Lena in his play.
In the play, events unfold in an unexpected manner. Lena didn’t intend for the production to make Brainiac appear more human instead of exposing his villainous side. However, it does. More crucially, during the performance, Brainiac learns a truth he’s evaded for centuries – his monkey companion, Coco, has been deceased for ages. This revelation cracks Brainiac’s pretense of power. As he watches the audience cheer from his spacecraft, anger overwhelms him at the idea that no one else comprehends his deep loneliness and grief. In a vengeful response, Brainiac orders his robots to kill Frank (played by J.B. Smoove) behind the scenes. Despite Ivy’s valiant effort to revive Frank using her Green abilities, Frank dies, adding another emotional layer to Ivy’s story rather than Harley’s.
Harley Quinn Is No Longer the Protagonist of Her Own Series
It’s becoming increasingly clear that the main character of the show is no longer Harley, as recent seasons have shown. While Season 3 did feature notable instances like Harley assisting Bruce Wayne/Batman (portrayed by Diedrich Bader) in dealing with his childhood trauma, the season’s principal storyline revolved around Ivy’s deepening bond with The Green and her ambitions to transform Gotham. Even the zombie apocalypse plot, instigated by Bruce’s efforts to bring back his parents, essentially functioned as a means for Ivy’s character progression rather than advancing Harley’s storyline.
In Season 4, the attempt to transform Harley into a hero started to fall apart when it was discovered that she was unconsciously acting out her hidden villainous desires, which ultimately led to the demise of Dick Grayson/Nightwing (portrayed by Harvey Guillén). The main emphasis of the season centered around Ivy’s struggles in leading the Legion of Doom, with Harley primarily providing assistance. In Season 5, Ivy faces her past as she encounters Jason Woodrue (voiced by John Slattery), who once tried to steal her test subject Frank and caused a lab accident that turned Ivy into a supervillain. Meanwhile, Harley switches between being a sidekick to various characters depending on the situation. Even when Woodrue returns as the vengeful Floronic Man, this plot point mostly advances Ivy’s emotional storyline, despite Harvey helping Ivy to defeat him.
The contrast between Harley’s chaotic nature and Brainiac’s order feels especially glaring, considering the potential for an exciting conflict between them. However, the show chooses to focus on other plotlines, predominantly those involving Ivy, rather than developing this natural rivalry. Despite the series showing marked progress from Season 4’s disjointed narrative, it continues to grapple with providing Harley with a substantial role in her own story, an issue that Episode 6 acknowledges but fails to resolve.
In the recent episode, Frank’s demise underscores this trend more strongly because it centers on Ivy instead of Harley, despite Harlivy being one of animation’s most fascinating duos. However, it’s growing challenging not to notice that the show appears uncertain about how to distribute focus between its two main characters, frequently neglecting the growth of its title character in the process.
New episodes of Harley Quinn Season 5 premiere on Max every Thursday.
I’d like to get your thoughts on Season 5 of Harley Quinn. Have you noticed that Harley seems to be underutilized? Share your opinions below and let’s have a chat!
Read More
- EUR JPY PREDICTION
- DF PREDICTION. DF cryptocurrency
- ASTR PREDICTION. ASTR cryptocurrency
- TRB PREDICTION. TRB cryptocurrency
- Doctor Strange’s Shocking Return in Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday Revealed!
- COW PREDICTION. COW cryptocurrency
- XDC PREDICTION. XDC cryptocurrency
- South of Midnight PC Requirements Revealed
- MIN PREDICTION. MIN cryptocurrency
- POL PREDICTION. POL cryptocurrency
2025-02-20 11:10