"You're just one big, forgiving doormat, aren't you?"
Another superb episode here, from the opening scenes with the very Tim Burton-esque Gotham cityscape evoking his two Batman films to the highly satisfying ending with Officer Montoya being the one to apprehend Poison Ivy and Harlequin. But, despite the highly 1960s-style deathtrap and the very Thelma and Louise crime wave (much of it shown via newspaper headlines in the use of a splendid old trope). this episode succeeds because of character.
It's fun seeing the two ladies capering together, especially sticking it to the Patriarchy in various ways. But this episode is fascinating as the first to truly depict the relationship between Harley and the Joker as it would later be understood- abusive, co-dependent, complex. Harlequin knows the Joker is abusing her but she misses him when he's not there, and needs him. It's complex, tragic, nuanced, and depicted so very well.
It's a Batman-lite episode, yes, but that's ok. This series is very strongly about its ensemble cast. Batman standing back gives us a chance to see some real depth to poor Harlequin in what is yet another superb episode.
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