The 10 Best Moments from ‘Harley Quinn’

Since her debut in Batman: The Animated Series, we’ve seen a lot of different versions of Harley Quinn. Her newest incarnation comes in the self-titled animated DC Universe comedy. This features the clown princess of crime finally breaking up with The Joker and setting out to make a name on her own.

With Harley’s impulsive, violent tendencies, nothing goes according to plan, and hilarity ensues. Supported by her best friend Poison Ivy and her new crew comprised of Doctor Psycho, Clayface, and King Shark, the ridiculous versions of these villains and heroes lead to some spectacular moments.

As the first two seasons of Harley Quinn makes its way to HBO Max, we’re taking a look at the 10 best moments of the show. 

1. Harley and Ivy kiss

Longtime fans of Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy know the two have a special relationship. In fact, there are many who believe that Ivy, not Joker, is Harley’s real true love.

Season 2 sees Harley start to realize how much she really cared for Ivy.

On Harley Quinn Season 2 Episode 7, “There’s No Place to Go But Down,” the duo is imprisoned by Bane in his weird camp/pit. During their escape, Harley decides to sacrifice herself to save Ivy, but first, the pair share a long-awaited kiss. It is the moment fans have wanted to see on screen for years, and it is absolutely worth the wait.

2. Jim Gordon

There’s no way to pick just one Jim Gordon moment. From the first episode, Christopher Meloni’s portrayal of a sad sack, desperate for love and affection commissioner is so far from what we’ve always seen, it’s a revelation.

Through his anxious bids for Batman’s approval to his fall from grace to his alcoholic depression, there is no scene he doesn’t steal.

It’s pure comedic brilliance the way Meloni and the show took one of Gotham’s most upstanding, dependable citizens and turned him into everyone’s post-divorce, pathetic dad who they must awkwardly visit. 

3. Harley throws Ivy a bachelorette party

Following their kiss, Ivy makes it clear they’re still just friends and a devastated Harley tries to power through her feelings by throwing everything into Ivy’s bachelorette party. She flies the bridal party to Themyscira’s new resort for a bachelorette weekend.

The party starts with birds crashing into the invisible plane they take to the island and things get increasingly wacky from there, ending with the ladies saving Themyscira from being developed by Lex Luthor.

Mixed into the madness is Harley and Ivy’s feelings making themselves known in a series of hookups that the friends keep denying. In the end, Ivy isn’t ready to trust Harley with heart, leaving the latter gutted.

4. Justice League fights Poison Ivy

Anyone who’s ever read comics knows that Poison Ivy has long been underpowered. Toward the end of season two, on Harley Quinn Season 2 Episode 11, “Lovers’ Quarrel,” Doctor Psycho mind controls Ivy into fighting the Justice League.

Though Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman get some shots in, Ivy is clearly more powerful than them. The clincher comes when she uses her pheromones to make them attracted to one another. It’s both hilarious and revealing about the League.

After all these years of her being treated like the plant lady, it is awesome to see her finally shine.

5. Harley ruins a Bar Mitzvah

On Harley Quinn Season 1 Episode 2, “A High Bar,” in order to prove herself, Harley crashes Penguin’s nephew Joshua’s Bar Mitzvah.

The event is being held at the Gotham Mint, so Harley decides to rob it. In her usual Harley manner, she charges in without a plan and everything goes wrong.

As the second episode in the series, every moment here sets the tone for the twisted, hilarious journey we’re about to go on.

As fun as Harley is, it’s really Bane that steals the show. Turns out he’s the punching bag of the Legion of Doom. Seeing the supervillains in this somewhat normal environment is like the bad guy version of The Office.

6. Robin is Harley’s nemesis

To start her new career off right, Harley needs the perfect nemesis. When she steals the Batmobile it isn’t the Dark Knight that shows up, instead, she’s met by Robin, who the world now assumes is her new nemesis.

The show hilariously portrays Damian Wayne as an annoyingly cute kid who is really an insufferable brat.

Ultimately, Robin is embarrassed into admitting Harley isn’t his real nemesis on the ever-present Tawny’s talk show. Since it’s a central part of this story, we need to take a moment and acknowledge the awesomeness that is Tisha Campbell-Martin’s Tawny. She’s one of the best new additions to Gotham, and we need her to become canon.  

7. Ivy’s wedding

Even after all the drama of her and Harley’s fling being revealed to the city, Ivy decides to go through with her wedding to Kite Man. Unfortunately, Commissioner Gordon shows up to secretly arrest all the criminals in attendance.

Of course, everything goes wrong for him when Harley thwarts his plan and makes him look foolish again. The chaos pushes Kite Man to call things off, with Ivy finally admitting that she loves Harley. Viewers are left with the exciting prospect of Harley and Ivy having a real relationship in season three.

8. Legion of Doom Headquarters

Everyone loves a good workplace comedy.

Turns out even the Legion of Doom isn’t immune to breakroom arguments and uncomfortable planning meetings. When Harley gets invited to join the group in “L.O.D.R.S.V.P.,” viewers get an inside look at what it really takes to be a supervillain.

With all the bells and whistles of a Silicon Valley tech company, while keeping the awkward normalcy of a regular office, the Legion of Doom headquarters is full of grenade vending machines, kryptonite submarines, and henchmen cubicles.

Just goes to show even the evilest corporations have a middle management hierarchy.  

9. Harley and Ivy meet Batgirl

As she continues her quest to take down the Injustice League, Harley goes after The Riddler on Harley Quinn Season 2 Episode 2, “Riddle U.”

His university is the only place in Gotham with fresh water and electricity. Of course, there’s a nefarious plan behind his success. During recon on campus, they meet a student named Barbara Gordon, who has been doing her own investigation of The Riddler.

Barbara ends up rescuing Harley and Ivy from Riddler, getting her first taste of hero work. Babs is nerdy, obsessed with Batman and completely awkward during fights, but thanks to meeting the girls, by the end of the episode she makes her transformation into Batgirl.

10. No one fears Aquaman

It’s no secret that Aquaman is the most disrespected member of the Justice League. No one is impressed with his ability to talk to fish. For an over the top series like Harley Quinn, that is a joke too good to pass up.

Harley gets the attention of the Legion of Doom by stealing priceless jewels from Atlantis. Aquaman shows up at LOD headquarters to get revenge, but no one is scared. And when Harley tricks him into breaking the huge aquarium, it just goes from bad to worse for the king of the seas. Seems like Jason Momoa still has a lot of work to do to make Aquaman cool.

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What moments stand out to you the most? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Harley Quinn is now streaming on HBO Max.

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