“Batman Caped Crusader” gives Harley Quinn an even better origin story

Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for Batman: Caped Crusader.

Finally, there is movement in Gotham City. Despite its classic aesthetic, Prime Video’s latest animated series, Batman: The Masked Crusaderis anything but old-fashioned and presents the audience with new twists on classic villains that make even Batman’s most famous villains interesting. From a gender-swapped penguin (Minnie Driver) To Batman: The Masked Crusader‘S surprisingly compassionate interpretation of Harvey Dent, the latest Batman project from the long-time DC mastermind Bruce Timm and executive producer Matt Reeves balances nostalgia with original storylines, with the series’ most refreshing innovation being the updated origin story of Gotham’s happiest psychiatrist, Harley Quinn (Jamie Chung).

A merciful break from Arkham by Batman: The Masked CrusaderDr. Harleen Quinzel is instead introduced in episode 3, “Kiss of Catwoman,” as a popular psychiatrist with a successful public practice. She often takes on clients referred to her by Barbara Gordon’s (Krystal Joy Brown) Quinzel even briefly examines the caseload as a public defender Hamish Linklater‘S Bruce Wayne in Batman: The Masked Crusaderwith the notoriously emotionally unavailable superhero pulling off the therapy about as well as one would expect. However, when several prominent Gotham tycoons begin giving away their entire fortunes and disappearing in episode 5, “The Stress of Her Regard,” Batman is nonetheless forced to take a closer look at Dr. Quinzel’s practice, with the episode continuing Harley’s story in Crusader with cape from several improvements to the supervillain’s iconic origins.

Batman: The Masked Crusader (2024)

In Gotham City, where corruption and crime are rampant, wealthy socialite Bruce Wayne is transformed into Batman after a personal tragedy. His relentless pursuit of justice earns him unexpected allies within the GCPD and City Hall, but also has deadly consequences. This series reimagines Batman’s mythology through the creative lenses of JJ Abrams, Matt Reeves and Bruce Timm.

Release date

1 August 2024

Creator

Bob Kane, Bruce Timm

Seasons

1

Franchise(s)

Batman

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Harley Quinn follows her own path to becoming a villain in “Batman: Caped Crusader”

In the past, Harley’s origins were not just her own. The character’s transformation from a dedicated psychiatrist to a hammer-wielding, crazed harlequin often attributed to the manipulations of the Joker since The new Batman adventures adapted the storyline in episode 24, “Mad Love.” Harley, an Arkham doctor who falls under the sadistic clown’s abusive spell, is largely portrayed as a victim of the Joker’s ability to generate false sympathy with his unverifiable backstories, as someone who in Harley Quinn’s episodes in Batman: The Animated Series because of a misguided feeling of conditional love. Recently, stronger incarnations of Harley Quinn have asserted their independence during Margot RobbieTerm of office as character and Max‘S successful HarleyQuinn Series, but Batman: The Masked Crusader goes one step further and Remove Joker from Harley’s backstory completely.

While the series does not reveal when its own Dr. Quinzel first slipped into villainy, Batman: The Masked CrusaderIn Episode 5, Harley is in full control of her plans. Instead of relying on the Joker’s chaotic gags and body-destroying props to wage a war against Gotham’s hypocrisy, The The disturbing clown uses his own abilities to achieve his goals. After imprisoning high-ranking members of Gotham’s elite in her own playpen, Dr. Quinzel uses her psychiatric training to psychologically torture her victims and make them obey her will, exploiting each man’s insecurities and inner crises to force obedience. And while Joker makes a surprise guest appearance in Batman: The Masked Crusader‘S At this point in the finale, Harley has already fled the city, which highlights the different status attributed to each of Gotham’s comedian villains.

“Batman: Caped Crusader” offers a more serious, more sympathetic Harley Quinn

Due to the distance between Harley and Joker in the series, Batman: The Masked Crusader gives Dr. Quinzel more room to develop her own version of her iconic personality, which leads to a unique Harley Quinn that deviates from the character’s typically humorous tone. Chung’s latest take on the Batman villain is dark and sinister as she forces her prisoners to write endless lines on a chalkboard, and as menacing as she dishes out her punishments brutally. But aside from how disturbing it is to see Harley repurpose her classic “pudding” line as a reward for her prisoners beating each other nearly to death, Batman: The Masked Crusader Plus, more than most Batman characters, Harley has a compelling reason to attack Gotham.

Rather than using unrequited love or a general desire for chaos as character motivation, Timm’s latest animated Batman series uses Dr. Quinzel’s difficult profession as justification for her extreme actions. After being forced to listen to how some of Gotham’s most selfish CEOs mistreated their family members and took advantage of the city, Quinzel’s more reserved, therapeutic personality has had enough of the fact that none of Gotham’s elite seem to learn from her actions and takes matters into her own hands, brainwashing them into supporting the charity they couldn’t bring themselves to do on their own. As a result, Batman: The Masked Crusader‘S Harley comes across as almost a psychiatric Robin Hood in Timm and Reeves’ Batman reboot, with the antagonist fighting social inequality by trying to give back what should never have been hoarded in the first place. And despite the cruelty Harley inflicts on her imprisoned misers, the series never lets themto completely drift onto the path of one-dimensional evil.

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“Batman: Caped Crusader” finally adapts the storyline of a banned cartoon series

Due to her supernatural nature, a female villain from the Caped Crusader has never made it into Batman: The Animated Series.

Batman: Caped Crusader adds a heartwarming touch to Harley’s personality

Although Dr. Quinzel’s alter ego is a notoriously moody harlequin, the character’s most cheerful moments are in Batman: The Masked Crusader occur when she interacts with Barbara and Detective Renee Montoya (Michelle C. Bonilla). In another refreshing reworking of Harley’s origins, Quinzel’s early days aren’t so much about the Dark Knight’s deadliest enemy, but rather about positive female friendships, with the three women supporting each other’s mental health and careers in the early parts of the series. In Episode 5, Quinzel’s date with Montoya even gives her a chance to show her more caring, romantic side, allowing Timm’s series to round out Harley’s origins by It shows both the crime and the compassion that lies at the core of her personality.

The climax of the episode best shows how Harley’s genuine concern collides with her villainous turn in Timm’s series. After managing to trap Batman in her playpen and setting her hideout to self-destruct, Harley stops her own successful escape from the building when she realizes Barbara has also infiltrated her hideout. This leads to Harley risking her own life to save one of her best friends as the building goes up in flames. The psychiatrist finally lets go of Barbara’s hand as she dangles in the cliff in a visual homage to Harley Quinn’s death scene. Batman Beyond: Return of the JokerAnd although the final scene of the episode confirms that Harley survived her fall into the sea when she calls Montoya in a phone booth, Harley’s willingness to risk her life for a friend is still gives the character’s otherwise villainous episode a heroic undertone.

By giving fans a glimpse into the character’s more altruistic side while also showcasing Harley’s psychological expertise and social awareness, Batman: The Masked Crusader hints at Harley’s antihero status, while he a compelling reimagining of their already iconic origins. With Joker absent, Harley and her personal relationships take center stage in Bruce Timm’s latest adaptation, allowing the showrunner to further develop a character who is quickly eclipsing the popularity of her original pudding. Not only does Harley’s latest appearance present modern audiences with a more layered, personal portrayal of one of Batman’s best animated villains, but Harley’s escape at the end of Episode 5 also opens the door for the dark, contradictory portrayal of the figure to continue to grow in future episodes.

Batman: The Masked Crusader can be streamed on Prime Video in the US

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