Constantine And Swamp Thing Crash The Party In Season 3 Episode 5 Of ‘Harley Quinn’
Image Source: Reddit
WARNING: SPOILERS MAY FOLLOW!
Things got a whole lot Justice League darker in the latest episode of Harley Quinn the Animated Series on HBO Max. This week’s episode delved into themes of therapy, being tied down in a relationship, and being in touch with your feelings. On top of this, the series brought Swamp Thing and John Constantine into the party.
It is easy to forget through her antics that Harley Quinn is a certified psychologist, and this episode made sure to remind us that. With each turn, Harley is analyzing things in her specialized field during an episode that truly needed it. Right off the bat, Ivy struggles to connect through the Green (the connection between plant life and every living thing in the DC Universe that allows those connected to view, feel, and communicate). She gets increasingly frustrated with herself as she is unable to solve a problem that was outside her control. Harley reminds her of this, yet Ivy refuses to hear her and continues to look for solutions. Just when Ivy has the idea to revisit an old friend to help reconnect her to the Green, Nora Fries appears and is ready to party. So when the idea of going to New Orleans arises she, of course, tags along.
RELATED:
Meanwhile, Bruce and Selina are struggling to figure out their relationship. She needs space, but he wants to be with her all the time. When she tries to go home and get some time to herself, Bruce brings her two cats that he has named after his dead parents. When things don’t seem to be looking up for the two, Alfred goes to the extremes and drugs them. Upon waking up, they are in the midst of a forced therapy session by the Music Meister himself. This evolves into a musical scene where the two truly sing their hearts out. They both express how they love the time they spend with each other, but it’s from different sides. Bruce loves personal time while Selina loves crime-fighting time. By the end of the song, it is clear that they love each other, but from worlds apart. This episode absolutely hits the nail on the head for Batman and Catwoman’s relationship. It has always been a push and pull where one is ready for more and the other finds it hard to give up the life they’ve come to know. This episode perfectly encapsulates decades of storytelling into a single comedic form.
Much like last week’s episode, it is an exercise in diverting from the main story while still progressing it. By the end of the episode, only one main plot thread is tied up which only leads to more questions than answers. However, the ride there is still very entertaining. Whether it be the musical segment mentioned earlier, or Harley, Ivy, and Nora in a drinking contest against Constantine, this episode reminds viewers that it loves DC while making it a laughing matter. Long-time fans of DC will be ecstatic to hear Matt Ryan return to the role of John Constantine even if it is for a very brief time in the episode. In a way, he has become synonymous with the character to die-hard fans, and they have been clamoring for him to get another shot at the character in live-action ever since his series ended after a single season, his recurring role on DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, his animated appearances, and the scrapped plans for a Justice League Dark series.
Image Source: TVS Clips
Swamp Thing plays a major role in the episode, as Ivy believes that he is the only person that can bring her closer to the Green. Much like Bane, Swamp Thing is introduced as a hulking figure with a surprisingly goofy voice and kind demeanor. While Bane was able to build off the jokes of the past for his voice and subvert expectations while keeping his anger issues and introducing a soft side that conflicts with said issues, Swamp Thing feels more forced.
Therapy plays a major point in this episode. Throughout, the characters learn that it is not only important to be true and kind to yourself, but open and honest with others. Ivy struggles to accept Harley’s words of advice in coping with losing a friend, Swamp Thing can’t handle a one-night stand, and Bruce and Selina can’t be honest about what they want for the future. It’s a simple reminder that two people make a whole. Both sides have emotions that they can’t always convey, but those emotions are so important in making a relationship a whole. The message here is understanding one’s self is important to understand the relationship, whether it be with the Green as Ivy learned or with someone you love as Selina learned. Sometimes saying what one feels isn’t going to be easy for the other, but it is what’s needed to make the other understand.
Image Source: geek marcus
This episode as a whole was entertaining as always. Yet, it missed the narrative mark. Much of the depicted problems could have been solved in a matter of minutes and moved the story forward, though that may not have been able to convey the message the writers were trying to get across without making the show feel rushed. The season is now at its halfway point and viewers have learned who kidnapped Frank. Going forward the series should, in theory, continue the narrative while still expressing these important messages. This season is no doubt on par with its previous two, but it’s hard not to feel anxious about what’s to come with only a few episodes left.
READ NEXT:
