Thursday, December 5, 2024
ComicsOpinion

The Harley Quinn cartoon just cured my depression

As you may have already realized, these last few months have sucked like no other. Weirdly enough, I’ve felt somewhat ‘okay’ for most of it. But, as I talked about before, video games have been hard to write about lately, and even harder to play. It’s hard to find joy in anything. That’s why I’m so grateful for the Harley Quinn cartoon, because hot damn, this show is so, so good.

While I’d originally put it off due to a lack of time, and to be frank, a complete lack of interest in a show that didn’t acknowledge the 30 years of simmering chemistry between Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy. However, after hearing that the show will be taking a more romantic turn for them, I jumped in to watch season one.

Boy, did that show cure my depression for a couple of days. It’s probably considered ‘edgy’ with it’s adult humour and gore, but if you can forgive South Park and Family Guy, then you’ll be fine with a much more open-minded Harley Quinn cartoon show. It’s not perfect by any means, harmful stereotypes — particularly towards the Jewish community — stops it from being a show I’d recommend to all my mates, but I’d be lying if I said it isn’t a fun take on DC’s characters.

The premise is simple and, if you’re a fan of Birds of Prey, you’ll definitely like: Harley Quinn dumped the Joker and now she’s looking to become the Queen of Villainy. As you may have guessed, I’m totally on board with this idea, especially when it comes to Harley partnering up with Poison Ivy, as well as King Shark, Dr Psycopath, and Clayface. Also they get a war criminal to join them, who can kinda turn into a car? The show is completely batshit.

I’m now exhausted after finishing season one at 4am, but by God, it was worth it.

One of the things that I like most about the Harley Quinn cartoon is that it isn’t afraid to explore DC’s characters outside of the constraints of comic book ‘lore.’ Poison Ivy has a pot-smoking plant called Frank, Harley regularly drinks cereal from a blender, King Shark definitely boned Constantine in some other universe, Dr Psycho…was probably always a misogynist and Clayface? Well, Clayface is a bisexual, acting king.

“But what about in 1996 when…” It doesn’t matter, Steven. It just doesn’t matter. Now don’t get me wrong, the Harley Quinn cartoon does acknowledge things, such as The Killing Joke, but it really can be watched by someone who has no idea about anything but DC. That’s what makes it so great.

With season 2’s latest episode ending with a particularly steamy kiss between two fan-favourites, now is a perfect time to get into the show and experience this goodness for yourself. Let’s just hope this show gets a season 3, because if I need to find another hyper fixation to stave off my depression I will not be happy, let me tell you.

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