IR TV Review: HARLEY QUINN - EPISODE 9 (“Potato Based Cloning Incident”) [Max-S4]
The interesting aspect of the Harley Quinn animated series is its transition into an almost existential, psychology-based mind trip on Quinn as if she is battling inside her own mind (again this might be a truism or metaphor) on who she and where she is supposed to be in the balance of her life. There are parts of Harley than are empathetic and others that are psychopathic. In the ether, that is because of the trauma she suffered at the hands of Joker earlier in her life. He again, despite his recent evolution as a family man (in this specific series), is always whom he was supposed to be: a predator and a villain. Same with Harley but with a different bent (though her barometer shifts back and forth). The key point that was playing in the most recent episode was Harley's notion of the future (which was interesting paralleled with Bane's journey to Italy to find a pastamaker for his unrequited love: Nora).
Of course, the metaphor could be playing to the context of just wanting to be loved but everyone being stuck on their own path. This episode (#9) entitled “Potato Based Cloning Incident" plays to another metaphor but with a literal side effect (including a play almost based on a "Star Trek" OG series episode inspiration) of working against oneself: both the good and the bad. The big context in the past episodes has been the death of Nightwing which has plagued Harley (and by extension, Barbara Gordon/Batgirl). That is resolved here (in a way) while adding something else. The overall dread in the episode is provided by another plot point (which like other motivations in the series comes off as petty but that is meant as a compliment). All of these characters are selfish (even Alfred at a point) which is humanity but it is just a matter of how they resolve that. Harley hasn't figured out how (and maybe she never will) but that is what makes her journey here (despite all the outrageousness) affecting and maybe a bit sad. B+
By Tim Wassberg
