IR TV Review: HARLEY QUINN - EPISODE 9 (“Climax at Jazzapajizza”) [HBO Max-S3]

The integration of Harley Quinn's lucid self but also her idea of right and wrong has come a long way. The actual path in the animated series can also be more specifically relegated into her being in somewhat of a stable and loving relationship to manifest the actual psychology in play. The previous episode set up journeying into the mind of Bruce Wayne but it is Harley's empathy that paints the way and that comes even more to bear in Episode 9 ("Climax at Jazzapajizza"). Bruce Wayne is blind in many ways and yet Harley is thinking clearly ironically. The transference at one point into Robin while fighting herself and Mr. J is quite dynamic because it is only in watching herself and seeing the context that she sees in many ways.

Granted this is through the prism of Bruce's mind. The reflection of this meanders towards "the end" but the mind flashing and memories are a really neat device (which is only possible with Dr. Psycho) but it works really well here. The transformation of Ivy acting out is another thing but it reflects in the irony of what Harley and Ivy think they want as villains and who they actually are as people. The notion of who the innocents are is also a very specific question for one of these characters but it could extend to Batman as well who is no condition to deal with any of this. The idea though is that these actions could drive a wedge in a way with could deconstruct everything in the series. B+

By Tim Wassberg