Harley and Ivy

I just wanted to quote Poison Ivy. Indeed it was!! And right now it is flourishing (pun intended), the two have their own Tv Series now, with its 3rd season coming up, and what a Tv series it is too. This episode is very much like a prequel, the origin story. Harley Quinn fans can watch it as a stand alone, in fact, you should. Enjoy.

I've gotta admit, I was kind of excited when I saw Paul Dini's name in the credits. 'Harley and Ivy' is right in his wheelhouse. He knows how to mine the Joker and Harley for laughs and uses their dysfunction to great effect. But it's also a great "just us gals" story and I love that this whole thing is just a pain in the ass for Batman. The guy just finds himself right in the middle of both a pair of mischievous criminals and a lovers' spat. And total respect for slipping in a theme of spousal abuse on a kids show. Not easy, but it totally works.

It's a great episode all around. It looks good and keeps right on ticking with laughs (and explosions). And it says a lot (tons) when Arleen Sorkin outshines Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill. She's an MVP, for sure.

8/10

Probably the best episode of the Animated series. I hadn't seen this episode in about 10 years, and yet I could still perfectly recap it. It has everything - a very original plot, larger than life characters, fantastic dialogue, and an ending that wraps everything up perfectly. A near masterpiece.

Two of the significant female characters have the upper hand over the Joker, although Harley loves the guy. Joker is the master chauvinist, treating Harley like dirt. Like many battered women, she overlooks his treatment and continues to care about him. When she meets Poison Ivy after being discarded, the two of them go on a crime spree, making a name for themselves. Of course, the Joker feels betrayed and he and his henchmen try to horn in on their successes. Batman appears, but they treat him like any man they despise. This is a non-stop delight with lots of feminist chest thumping. It would appear that this duo will continue to formidable.