First series Harley Quinn: "Pilot" Review – Comic Con 2019

DC Universe may not compete with Netflix or Amazon Prime Video in terms of exclusive content, but there is much to be said about the "quality on quantity" approach. Until now, the selection of DCU ranges from solid (Titans) to excellent (Young Justice: Outsiders) to one of the best shows of 2019 (Doom Patrol). Harley Quinn continues its momentum. It's a much more far-fetched and badier alternative to the rest of the animated DC chain, but it also offers Harley an adaptation that is not one of all adaptations. As if the constant stream of F bombs and gratuitous violence does not make it obvious Quinn is not connected to Batman: The Animated Series or any other animated DC project. Instead, the show sees Kaley Cuoco take on the role made famous by Arleen Sorkin and Tara Strong, as she explores the long and difficult battle of Harley to free herself from "Mistah J" and establish herself as a solo player on the stage. supervillain.

The series shows a strange mix of influences. This is probably the most directly comparable to the comedic New 52 Harley Quinn writers Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner. The artistic style certainly evokes Conner's comical covers, and the emphasis is also on trying to move Harley outside of Joker's shadow. But there is also a smell of Batman: The Brave and the Bold in the series, and not just because Diedrich Bader takes over the role of Batman. Harley Quinn has an equally whimsical sense of humor, adorably worshiping DC characters, both major and minor. Even the colorful artistic style is as much as that of the Silver Age Bat-Camp as that of Dark Deco, inspired by BTAS.

At some point, the question then becomes whether the humor and the R-rated violence add something substantial to the series. The novelty of seeing Harley and Joker (Alan Tudyk) cursing with indiscriminate abandonment and brutally mutilating their enemies fades quickly. The pilot is funny, but often despite the steady stream of F bombs rather than because of it. It is not because DC Universe has fewer content restrictions that the envelope must necessarily be pushed.

Fortunately, the series is fair enough in its humor and in its portrait of Harley to make it only a minor concern. As slight as the tone is, we still focus on Harley as a survivor of abuse slowly rediscovering her independence. The echoes of his pre-Joker character shine through, a voice of reason trying to impose a semblance of order on a disturbed mind. Harley is still portrayed as a villain rather than as the anti-hero that she has become essentially in comics, but nevertheless sympathetic. And it helps that she reserves her lethal antics to the worst citizens of Gotham.

Better yet, the pilot clearly indicates how much the friendship between Harley and Poison Ivy (Lake Bell) will be a driving force behind the show. It's almost Ivy's show as much as Harley's, Ivy trying to punch out Harley's pink glbades and let her see how much life without a Joker has to offer. Their relationship is without a doubt the most endearing part of the series and this evolving relationship seems to be just as important to the bigger picture as Harley's pursuit of professional respect.

For many Harley fans, the most pressing question is whether Cuoco is a worthy Harley. This is an area in which the series may need a little more time to prove itself. Cuoco certainly brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the role. But it's hard not to judge all newcomers against the gold standard that's Sorkin and Strong. Plus, a Jersey-less Harley Quinn will always look strange. It may take just a period of adaptation during a few episodes.

Strangely, Cuoco's Harley is unaccented for 95% of the episode, but from time to time, she abruptly switches to the clbadic Harley mode for a line or two. This only serves to draw unnecessary attention to how much this Harley voice is different from most previous voices. It's a good performance, but is it a good performance from Harley Quinn?

Fortunately, the rest of the cast does not face this problem. The sardonic Ivy poison from Bell is a fun leaf for Harley and various other villains. The pilot uses Batman de Bader sparingly but effectively, a hilarious and absolute figure that only appears when the plot requires it. And, having had a great time as Mr. Nobody in Doom Patrol, Tudyk has no trouble giving life to Joker. Tudyk's performance has the same manic and evil energy, with just a hint of Mark Hamill and Jokers from Cesar Romero for more precision.

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