First streaming in 2019, the Harley Quinn animated series has somehow survived to see a fifth season. This is something of a miracle, given Warner Bros. Discovery‘s attitude toward adult animation and the push to cancel everything DC related not made by DC Studios. However, with an eclectic mix of smart comedy and low humor, the show found a niche. There is some irony then that Harley Quinn Season 5, while as raunchy and immature as ever, is tied together by the themes of family and parenthood.
When Harley Quinn Season 4 ended, it set the stage for a new beginning, with Catwoman and Oracle joining Harley and Ivy to form the Gotham City Sirens. However, this setup is completely abandoned within the first four minutes of the season five premiere. Oracle gets fed up with being ignored, as Harley and Ivy realize all their “missions” involve helping Selena steal things.
Moving on up in Metropolis
One year passes and Harley Quinn (Kaley Cuoco) and Poison Ivy (Lake Bell) settle into a comfortable rut of streaming and ordering take-out. However, news of a Superman museum opening in Metropolis inspires them to visit the Big Apricot with larceny afoot. Through a circuitous chain of events, the anti-villains are painted as real heroes. This plants Ivy on the radar of Lena Luthor (Aisha Tyler), who offers her a job leading the Metropolis Green Initiative. Reportedly, this is all part of her own plan to redeem the Luthor name. However, being a Luthor, there’s more to the game than meets the eye.
Harley and Ivy also attract the attention of the alien Brainiac (Stephen Fry), who has his own sinister designs for Metropolis. Normally, this would be a job for Superman. Unfortunately, an impromptu therapy session with Harley Quinn convinces the Man of Steel he needs a vacation. This leaves Harley, Ivy, and the usual team of misfits to save Metropolis.
Harley Quinn season 5 brings the gang back together
One of the chief complaints about Harley Quinn Season 4 was that it sidelined the established ensemble in favor of more jokes about the Bat-Family and Legion of Doom. Season 5 corrects this, with a tighter focus on the core cast. Bane (James Adomian) and King Shark (Ron Funches) move to Metropolis, for the better schools, along with Harley and Ivy. Clayface (Alan Tudyk) is also on hand, staging a new one-man show. And Frank the Plant (JB Smoove) is once again living with Harley and Ivy, snarking it up as only he can.
The show continues to mix dark comedy with serious drama in a way that is incongruous yet somehow works. For instance, one episode deals the traumatic origins of Poison Ivy in this reality. Comic readers know that Pamela Isley’s story is not a happy one, and while Harley Quinn Season 5 takes steps not to be exploitive, it does not sugarcoat the details either.
The Power of Family
However, the fact that we can laugh and cry with these characters speaks to the power of the show’s writing and the excellent voice acting. It also speaks to the season’s recurring theme of family and how transformative love can be, for good or ill. Yes, Harley Quinn’s take on Bane is a buffoon. And yet, building on his storyline from Kite Man: Hell Yeah!, he is also allowed to be the badass from the comics when defending a classroom full of children. Even Brainiac is allowed to be a figure of fun, with this version of Vril Dox being accompanied by Koko the Space-Monkey. (Yes, Brainiac had a pet monkey in the comics. Look it up!)
Apart from a few filler episodes, there is little for fans of the show to complain about regarding Harley Quinn Season 5. The season finale ends on a high note, suggesting the adventures of these characters will continue, regardless of whether or not there is a season 6. If this is the series’ last hurrah, it is one worth cheering. Just don’t be surprised if you find some tears mixed with your laughter.
Grade: 9/10
Harley Quinn Season 5 debuts on Thursday, January 16. New episodes will release weekly on Thursdays through March 20 on Max.
