Mad Love - Bat-May
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ส.ค. 2024
- A classic among classics, "Mad Love" has remained a popular and highly influential tale in the Batman mythos. Does this Harley Quinn origin story still hold up? Find out now!
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Mad Love is an episode of The New Batman Adventures. It's notable for telling the origin story of Harley Quinn, adapted from the original comic book one-shot of the same name; also written by Paul Dini and illustrated by Bruce Timm. This is also the last episode aired of the series, marking the end of an era. "Mad Love" is the 21st produced episode and the 24th episode aired of "TNBA".
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What did everyone think of Harley's origin story?
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It was absolutely fantastic man! It really enraptures You! ❤❤❤😊😊😊
Batman: "Though I gotta admit, she came a lot closer than you ever did... Puddin"
I like the backstory, hate the redesign on her and Joker's relationship. And I REALLY HATE the way modern Harley is handled
Also made it into the batman
Animated cartoon.
I treasure this epsiode for it made Harley more popular whether it's for the better or worse. Also being that this was Harley Quinn focus episode how can you forget to give credit to the VA herself Arleen Sorkin for doing a fantastic role of her in this series/episode.
"I knew your massive ego would never allow anyone else the "honor" of killing me. Though I have to admit, she came a lot closer than you ever did...Puddin"
Batman openly mocking the Joker while facing the clown is one of the most glorious moments in human history. It's cool as hell to see Batman enjoying his life as a vigilante for once instead of seeing it as a curse he must bear
That insult also seems to heavily indicate that while Batman might be willing to give his other rouges a second chance I think he's given up on the Joker at this point.
I think the reason why it’s working is it jab on how much obsess the joker with Batman so hearing him praise her for being better probably annoyed him the most
@@thefanwithoutaface8105 Me after watching the Return of the Joker movie: I can see why
Took them an entire season just for him to smile too
The rarest thing- to have Batman run into something in his work that actually made him laugh. And it *wasn't* Joker! Bullock has made him smile once, but never laugh.
The last shot of this episode is particularly heartbreaking. From Harley's perspective, it's her beau showing he truly does love her. From ours, it's an abuse victim falling under her abuser's spell once more.
This episode really does introduce young viewers the idea of a toxic and abusive relationships.
The audience: "Aw SHIT, here we go again!"
It's a powerfull note to end on. I can't help but feel bad for Harley.
And now they have created them,
as the perfect romantic couple,
which no one else can understand. 😱
@matwitch8872which made no sense cause he spent most if his screen time in Suicide Squad trying to save her
This episode is truly one of a kind. Though the most frightening part: batman laughing. You know hell has frozen over when the bat laughs WILLINGLY
Still gives me goosebumps
Same can be said when he laughs with the Joker up until he "kills" him
“You make me laugh but only because I think you’re kind of pathetic”
“STOP THAT!”
“What’s the matter I thought you wanted to make Batman laugh!”
@@Doodle1678 "YOU'RE NOT BATMAN!"
Batman: "Though I gotta admit, she came a lot closer than you ever did... Puddin"
You bastard, I was gonna comment this!!
Batman beyond: You make me laugh but one cause I think you're kinda pathetic.
@@neilyoungboy stop that!
@@chancemitchell4147 Batman the animated series : I am Justice I am the night I am Batman !.(believe that how that goes )
@@chancemitchell4147 what's the matter?! I thought you wanted to make batman laugh.
"He had you pegged for a hired help the moment you walked into Arkham." That's the sad reality of Harley Quinn in the DCAU that she never figures out or allows herself to understand. This story adds so many layers to her character and still remains the definitive Harley origin for me. It's my personal favorite TNBA episode.
More so when he revealed the truth about that tragic backstory the joker told her; he made it all up,it’s different every time; a drunk parent,abusive,runaway/absent mom or dad and of course “the omly time I ever really saw my dad smile…” he’s a self proclaimed comedian,he’s always got material. Or as mr Moore once had him say “if I got to have a past? I’d prefer it to be multiple choice”
I mean, she kinda does after the flashback events in Batman Beyond Return of the Joker and, if the Batman & Harley Quinn movie is believed in the DCAU, got together with Nightwing and started a real family.
The Dee Dees have acrobatic skills and it's obvious their Nana Harley is Quinn.
Ah yes. The episode that was used as Harleys definitive backstory ever since. A classic case of tragedy and Jokers heartless manipulations.
Best version of that origin? Probably Harleen by Stjepan Sejic. Worst? Batman: Arkham Origins. "Joker seduces her just by rambling about his man crush on Batman" was an AWFUL take. When Injustice can look at your take on Harley Quinn and pat itself on the back that "at least we didn't do THAT", you know you done GOOOOFED.
@@Volvagia1927 It's weird because I like almost everything else about Arkham Origins.
@@Volvagia1927 I love the Injustice version of Harley; especially when she called Wonder Woman out on her B.S. in number 2.
BTAS was so influential
@Volvagia1927 idk. I didnt hate the Arkham one. It did seem like he was toying with her in that. Psycho analyzed her while she was trying to do hee job. Tapped into her loneliness "does anyone call you harley?" And the tapping into the fact that she seemed to be a bit of a loner who gave up love and a social life for her work. In the recordings he consistently interrupts her questioning to question her. Wasn't as good as this but still pretty solid
Batman's laugh was so impressive. Kevin Conroy really was the best.
still my favorite scene
Hearing Batman laugh is pretty creepy
The ending with Batman getting under the Joker's skin and calling him "Puddin" with that mocking smirk was extremely satisfying.
That was the only time Batman did it. So makes me laugh imagining Kevin Conroy's reaction after that line was recorded.
Also wasn't this the episode when after The Joker falls to his "death", Harley cries "Puddin!" and Batman says something like "At this point, he probably is"?
I think there is one cool moment you didn't mention, when Batman told Joker the "She almost had me you know..." story. He mentioned how a combination of the sedative and being dizzy from the blood rushing into his head had him utterly helpless, and his last ditch effort to save his skin was to get her to actually call Joker in because he knew the clown's ego would never let him not be the one responsible for taking down the Bat. In a way it was kind of a callback to both the "Almost got 'em" AND "The Man who killed Batman" episodes, since Joker also tried to kill the guy who supposedly did the deed before he got a chance to.
I feel like this one detail basically set the stage for the HBO series version of Harley.
and let's not forget the joker deciding to shoot batman after he almost killed Harley with acid for suggesting it.
This episode is perfection.
Mad Love is to Harley Quinn what The Killing Joke is to Joker.
💯
@@alexiaNBC again 💯
Except for Joker’s redesign.
It's not. The new animation makes the episode lifeless and it's only saved by Conroy's bat, just get the original comic or the no man's land origin
The fact that the show added the "rev your harley" line was a pretty gutsy move
I don't know how they got away with that.
I still go 'Hnnnnng' when I hear that line 😅
VROOM VROOM
Rip Kevin Conroy he can never be replaced as Batman this is an OG episode that probably made this series very good
When Batman gets a new voice actor everytime he appears in other DC projects including other media that's not called replacement but a legacy. Just because Kevin Conroy was the definitive voice of Batman doesn't mean he was the only good voice. So respect to his successors for bringing the Dark Knight to life. Same for Mark Hamill's successors for bringing the Joker to life.
Hearing Kevin Conroy laugh as Batman was shocking, jaw dropping and terrifying
Harley Quinn: "Face it, Harl, this stinks. You're a certified nutso wanted in twelve states, and you're hopelessly in love with a psychopathic clown! At what point did my life go Looney Tunes?"
Batman really loves to make fun of Harley's pet name for the Joker. Let's not forget the iconic moment from the crossover with Superman in which Harley yells "Puddin" in horror when the ship the Joker is on explodes to pieces, to which Batman replies "At this point, he probably is..."
I always loved how the moment Harley says “attracted” Ivy comes into frame. Their dynamic has always been so strange and yet so perfect.
The staff was low key shipping them from the jump.
It's quite sad to think that Harley fell in love with the Joker and became his accomplice simply because she thought the clown was just a victim when he told her about his allegedly tragic childhood. All this could have been avoided if Dr. Leland had told Harley at some point: "By the way, he likes to make up his past every time he talks to a doctor. He in fact told the last one that he was raised as a child by a gang of Chinese-Mexican druglords..."
Animated series Harley, Suicide Squad and Birds of Prey Harley, and Tara Strong Harley are my favorite Harley Quinns. They're the ones I'm glad to grow up with.
She found that out in this episode, yet is still in love w/ him.
In the Harleen comic books she does know it, and it's very interesting to see how the story plays out!
@@jp3813it was too late at this point
Did Leland know about that though? Joker's an improvisational kind of guy.
Even though I've been holding Harley in contempt for the past few years because of the way DC has over-exploited her, I have to admit that this episode still makes me admire the character in a certain way. Despite falling victim to his manipulations, Harley demonstrated just how genuinely capable she is as a criminal, coming closer than the Joker to killing Batman. If that bothered the clown prince of crime enough, I wonder what his reaction was when he found out that she made Batman laugh.
While I too hate how much DC has overused Harley, I can't help but feel happy for the fact the character has broken away from Joker and become a hero albeit a chaotic one and it's episodes like "Mad Love" that remind me f how far she's come and grown into a character in her own right.
Yeah, the tragedy of the character feels more loss when trying to make her a girl boss. Her breaking off from the joker is fine, though it should feel more like he snapping and going fully insane, like when she face was shoved in the cake and cutting the jokers head. Leaves the tragedy of the character, and better than just going "im the boss now, look how cool I am".
Harley can be a hard character to write nowadays, but I think there is a balance that can be struck when it comes to letting Harley be her own person and break free of Joker's abuse, while also not shoving it in your face. Maybe make it a bit more subtle? But that's just my perspective.
I think the problem stems more from DC wanting to have their cake and eat it too- by having her break away from Joker, but still be super *crrrrazy* thanks to her New 52 origin of being dumped in the chemicals like he was.
Just fo clarify, that origin is no lo here a thing in post-New 52. Right?
This is by far my favorite episode. It perfectly encapsulates the harley-joker dynamic that made her character popular and puts the audience in Harley's shoes. You really do think that maybe just maybe the joker was doomed from the start and you can empathize with him a little just like harley does, but no it was all a lie. The second you see it begin to fall apart with Harley screaming at batman to stop confusing her is genuinely heartbreaking. It's the only seen in the whole show that I legit get chills every time I watch it.
Not the only time Harley has cried, but perhaps the first time she has cried for herself. Joker is a true monster, a mockery of the very idea of any backstory justifying his actions: 'If I have to have a past, I prefer it to be multiple choice!'
I like to think that this episode is why I make it a point to be suspicious when the first thing a new person talks about is their tragic childhood. They're either, like Joker, looking to gain sympathy to take advantage of, or they're a sympathy addict like one of those munchausen by proxy parents.
This one of my favorite episodes,which showed Harley and Joker messed up relationship and how Batman outsmarted Harley.Also,showed the danger of domestic abuse in a relationship.
Joker: "I give the punchlines around here! Got it?!"
Harley: "Yes, sir..."
I think the book HARLEEN is probably the only retelling I’ve seen of Harley’s origin done better than Mad Love (truly diving into Harley’s psychology and making it where she actually a genius, but with her genuinely good intentions being her downfall). But when you think of the fact that her origin has been retold hundreds of times, the fact only one did it better says a lot about how good Mad Love is
Lot of people nowadays say kids can’t handle adults issues or themes. This episode proves otherwise.
My generation got the implications of joker and Harley relationship completely. We knew what it meant. We knew what joker did to her and had done to her.
Fantastic episode and truly one of the best and darkest they ever did.
Animated shows today are sometimes good but the 90’s shows like this were truly legendary, I regretfully missed out on this show when I was a kid but now thanks to Max I can finally watch it and I see why this episode is great, Going to miss Batmay when it’s over this week.
No. Kids nowadays cant handle such themes. 😂
Don't know which people you're referring to but today's new parents are likely the ones who grew up w/ 90s shows like this. The reason that BTAS stood out is b/c most other cartoons of that time treated kids like babies. Just look up how heavily censored Spider-Man TAS or the English dub of DBZ were. In the subsequent decades, the likes of Avatar: The Last Airbender & The Legend of Korra actually wound up attracting adult viewers. The point is more people thought that kids couldn't handle adult issues or themes in cartoons back when those shows were filled w/ laser guns.
@@MforMovesets That's what they like you to think while accessing certain forbidden sites behind your back. XD
@@jp3813 Another good show that tackles on complexing stories and characters is Gargoyles
....... and don't call me "Puddin".
Loved the novel, deeply. Loved the episode even if i hated the design. Something that perfect needed a small movie itself than an episode, with a more accurate and OG character design like "Subzero".
It's a shame they omitted in this episode a really fun part of the comic in which Harley dreams about being married to the Joker and having kids, who are as crazy as his father. I bet those little demons are usually babysitted by good old "Uncle Batman" 😂😂😂
Awesome 😂 I wonder if that idea was influential in the future Batman Beyond show. There are two twin girls that commit crimes while donning clown makeup and it’s revealed that they’re actually the granddaughters of Harley Queen lol
Man, Arleen Sorkins, Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy have outdone themselves!❤ There was so much passion and delivery into this episode that made it an awesome drama that hits so hard its difficult to believw it could be contained in under 30 minutes!❤
I don't know why Batman and the GCPD don't just raid every warehouse or abandoned building in the city with some pun name to see if villains decided to set up shop in them. "We got the penguin at the bird sanctuary, poison Ivy at the old botanical garden, Joker in the novelty warehouse, the Riddler at the old puzzle palace, and a bunch of random drug dealers at the abandoned slaughterhouse...but we found some cow and pig costumes in the back room so I think they were trying to get a theme working, fortunately we nipped that one in the bud"
The police would need more than "that warehouse has a punny name" to get a warrant. That would not be an issue for Batman, though.
@@KasumiKenshirou but in Gotham? I feel like they would have a local ordinance by now
Mark Hamill's voice acting when the Joker is screaming at Harley and then throws her through the window really conveys how scary and psycopathic the Joker is, a true monster!
"The Joker had you pegged as hired help from the moment you walked into Arkham." ~Batman to Harley Quinn
"IF YOU HAVE TO EXPLAIN A JOKE, THERE IS NO JOKE!"
"...My fault...didn't get the joke..."
My heart breaks a little every time i hear that line.
Absolutely.
This was a great origin story for Harley Quinn. Seeing how her crazy relationship with the joker was beginning and flashing forward to how it was ending was great. That shot of Joker knocking hardly out the window was heartbreaking.
1:32 The subtlety of Harleen talking about attraction for extreme personalities while making eye contact w/ Ivy. Goes in line w/ them only having one bed in "Holiday Knights".
Arleen Sorkin shouldve won and emmy for her performance in this ep which is her greatest❤
"May the floss be with you" I bet mark had a field day with that.
I read the comic book version of Mad Love and its pretty impressive. Batman tries to convince Harley that Joker is manipulative and abusive, but she still loves him. Batman tells her, "What was it that he told you? Oh, yes, "My father took me to the ice show when i was 7."
Harley feels heartbroken and says ,"The circus, he said it was the circus."
Batman tells her that he has many more stories about he had and abusive father and alcoholic mother.
Sometimes you have to hurt a person’s feelings in order for them to see the truth.
That’s literally shown in the episode lol
One of the best episodes ever. Batman laughing is still terrifying, and then there's what should be a classic Joker line: "If you have to EXPLAIN the joke, there IS no joke!" Possibly the most sensible thing he ever said.
To be fair, that's just common knowledge among comedians.
Here it is...the episode that many are quite shocked got adapted into an epispde, but also at the emotional turmoil our dear Harley has put herself through for the sake of her ' Puddin'! ❤ I can't tell you how my heart literally stopped when Joker pushed her out that window and the whole scene grew silent...til you heard her sudden THUDD!!! in the alley way below! Beautiful execution of a scene and poetically tragic as our poor dear Harley uttered " ...I didn't get the Joke..."😢❤.
"May The Floss Be With You."🃏
Mad Love: The final BANGER
Joker's finest hour, and Harley's darkest. Only BTAS could pull that off. Every line spoken and drawn contributes to the fact that this is the greatest BTAS episode of all time
Batman: She almost had me, you know. Arms and legs chained, dizzy from the blood rushing to my head. I had no way out other than convincing her to call you. I knew your massive ego would never allow anyone else the "honor" of killing me. Though I have to admit, she came a lot closer than you ever did...Puddin!"
I think a pretty good indicator of the quality of the dialogue in Mad Love is that they used it verbatim in Arkham Asylum. Everything Harleen says in the first few moments of the flashback is used as-is in her first interview tape in the game. No alterations necessary.
EDIT: Also, imagine if they had omitted the Joker's flower from the final scene, bearing in mind that, in terms of airdate, this is the last time we would ever see the character until Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. One could imagine that Harley's reform and Joker's latest death would be permanent.
I like to think that the "Feel well soon, -J" flowers that Harley receives at the end weren't sent by the Joker, but by Jarvis Tech, wanting to impress her for a chance to bang her. Of course, Harley would interpret the J in the message as the person she'd like him to be and wouldn't hesitate to go back to the Joker the next time they meet, with poor old Jarvis being completely unnoticed
That would be good. Or it could've been one of those instances where Joker has some henchman on the outside of Arkham go get her flowers and writes her a note in his name.
To show that he can't even pretend to be nice on his own, he gets someone to do it for him.
😄I think there actually is a fan theory that those two had some kind of relationship.
Only if her middle name was Alice😂. Still it's kind of rare 4 Joker 2 show feelings 4 Harley except anger, so the flower in the end is kinda odd. Maybe he couldn't find his socks again 😂
“You’ve forgotten what I told you a long time ago, one of the painful truths of comedy, you always take shots from folks who just don’t get the joke!” Best joker line ever!
Absolutely love this one, for me the best Harley Quinn episode ever that really gives the backstory of how Harleen Quinzel was a doctor at Arkham, her first meeting with The Joker and how she became his henchgirl as well as her deep infatuation with him. It's the perfect origin story, I personally love the Mad Love graphic novel more as you get a much deeper look into her younger years at university. I personally feel that the story was so good that it should have been made into a tie in animated movie. 30 plus years and still one of the greatest stories ever told in the DC Universe
Side note: Batman laughing at Harley Quinn's dreams of settling down with The Joker is the highlight of the entire episode
This is for me the last episode i have seen for the TNBA and i have to say that this episode really hits hard in my heart , i loved it so much that whenever i think of Harley Quinn,i always think of this episode , Awesome work,truly the best instalment in the TNBA
We waited so long to know the origin on Harley and it did not disappoint. This is such a tragic origin.
Harley: "My bad... I didn't get the joke..."
As cringe worthy as Joker's line ("If you have to explain a joke, then it's no joke") before that one due to it being relatable at times, it's still iconic and a little funny
My father was furious when this episode aired. I remember him turning off the tv at the end of the episode to give me the talk (if someone, anyone, hurts you, ever, they don’t love you). I was even late for school that morning, but my dad believed this talk was more important.I was perhaps too young to understand how twisted Mad Love was. I now understand what he meant, but at the time, I was heartbroken to be forbidden from watching BTAS. It was and remains the only show/movie I was ever forbidden from watching.
There was no need to be furious about. He sees the problem and should have a talk but don’t be furious of the episode’s air
Huh. What a strange reaction on your father's part. That "talk" was the whole point of the episode. I've always figured that story was a way to show kids how to understand and recognize abusive / toxic relationships and how people can allow themselves to get sucked back into them. An important lesson. Maybe he would've gotten that if he'd finished the episode?
It was the ending that actually made my father snap. It would’ve been fine had they not shown Harley falling back for the Joker over his little note. As I was only 7, I didn’t notice the joker had not apologized or anything. To me, that was love. I didn’t question it. As an adult, of course I can see the cycle of abuse Harley is stuck in, but not as a child. My father was angry because kids my age probably didn’t get the message either. It was a very mature subject for a cartoon to tackle and my father disagreed with the way it was handled.
As a young mother now, I understand where my father was coming from considering most parents don’t take the time to listen to what their kids are watching and discussing it with them.
Arleen Sorkin deserves all the flowers for her work as Harley Quinn. Everyone else has been a pale imitation. 😊
Well the imitations have no makeup so its not even pale. 😂
LOVED this episode! Absolute classic.
Favorite part was Harley's break out of the Joker! Best Girl really shone!🎉🎉🎉🎉
I wonder if the comic book version of this was the first example of the "Why don't you just shoot him?" suggestion instead of an elaborate deathtrap. Harley makes this comment when listening to Joker's potential schemes, and it comes up later when Joker does decide to try to just shoot Batman.
Undoubtedly the best episode of the New Batman Adventures and possibly the best BTAS episode overall.
This episode still gets me in the feels. Not only because of how its toutches upon our lil' Harley Quinn, but also this being the one episode Kevin Convey and I discussed at a Convention before his passing! Of all the things i could've or should've asked him to sign on my Batman Boxset, he signed me this:
" Y'know, she got closer to me...Far more closer than you ever had...'Puddin'!"
I'll never forget for that! Thank you Kevin! Rest well out beloved Dark Knight!
Been waiting for this episode and to see it within 30 seconds of the upload makes it even better.
I've read the comic version, and I've wondered if Batman talking about Harleen sleeping her way to good grades was a false assumption on his part, as part of his underestimating her intelligence and knowledge of the human mind, since she later easily manipulates, tricks, and captures him.
I never considered that possibility and assumed what Batman was saying was what actually happened. But you don't need to be a psychologist to manipulate people, so that alone doesn't PROVE Batman was mistaken. But I suppose your theory could've happened. Obviously Batman didn't witness these events, so we don't know who told him about it. Was Batman listening into her therapy sessions at Arkham? (Holy HIPAA violation, Batman!) Since this is fiction, you would need to ask the authors what their intent was.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of fraudulent degrees out there. According to a Tweet from the late Sam Simon (who had a large role in early Simpsons episodes before he was forced out), Bill Cosby had the Fat Albert writers write his doctoral thesis for him. So "Dr." Bill Cosby had a doctorate in Education that he didn't actually earn. Dr. Jill Biden has the same kind of degree as Cosby, but she seems to have written her own thesis. However, it was very poorly written and she likely wouldn't have passed without her connections.
One of the smartest and darkest episodes. I honestly think what would make it better is using the original BTAS look
Also the Birds of Prey movie in my mind does not do the character justice
Honestly, I think they could have gotten a feature length production out of this. I could see it as a "Mask of the Phantasm" type of deal, there's just so much you can do with the bizarre Batman/Joker/Harley relationship.
I think it was a good idea to leave out the part about Harleen seducing one of her professors, it helps sell the idea that she’s a genuinely intelligent woman and makes her downfall more tragic even if she still wasn’t completely well intentioned
Iirc I think some versions do include that aspect but changed it so that she did genuinely earn the grade but people assumed she just seduced the professor due to her ditzy demeanour which pushed her further to the dark side
A decent compromise would be that she got like a C- in it but that was better than most of her other grades besides sports (seeing as how Paul Dini iirc wanted her to be a former woman's football player but it was too taboo at the time - maybe that's something they could even allude to with her parents saying she'd never be a football player).
Maybe she went to go see the prof and he was genuinely willing to upgrade it to a C if she could prove to him that she knows something about psychology.
Harley: "Knock knock, Puddin'! Say hello to your new, inproved Harley Quinn!"
As I see this episode years later. I feel so bad for Harley Quinn. It's so sad that it's pitiful from what she had to go through. This episode even made me cry. I'm glad she's doing better nowadays. Even though it's somewhat out of character.
I mean canonically she did better after the Jokers death, later on in the series (she even had a family)
Batman laughing at Harley is sad, terrifying, and even kinda funny. Also, him explaining to her that Joker has changed his origin story over and over again to gain sympathy points from doctors is a wonderfully traumatic touch
I love how Harley essentially has bunny ears to help with expression lol
This episode is a gold standard for demonstrating that good storytelling and characters can overcome a divisive aesthetic. Debate swells over the art direction for this season and some outright hate it with no remorse, but still, no Batman fan would ever tell someone not to watch the season; the quality in every other aspect is still there. I had a bad habit of judging shows by their looks when I was younger, but I grew out of that and wound up enjoying a lot of animation that I wouldn't have given a second glance before and was rewarded.
Poor Harley, she was hoping to help other with their problems in the beginning... But in the end, she couldn't even help herself from seeing the mess she's gotten herself into.
Even as someone who despises harley quinn, i honestly do love this episode, its a tragic masterpiece that really is timeless and just great overall
She was a good character before she left the confines of the DCAU. Then they tried to turn her into some weird sort of feminist hero who doesn't even dress like a harlequin anymore. They ruined Harley Quinn and now they've tried to replace her with a new Joker's girlfriend character called Punchline.
@@KasumiKenshirou
Bullcrap.
When Harley is falling out the window in slow motion, am I the only one who thinks of that one scene in Cowboy Bebop?
If there was ever one thing we can take away from the animated series, it would be how they created a DC Icon in Harley Quinn.
From her first episode introduction to this stealer comic/episode, they hit all the marks perfectly. Not to mention the current state of Harley as her being her own character as opposed to just “Joker’s henchman.” Yeah, there might be an “overexposure” like what we saw with Deadpool for a time, but no denying that more times than naught, Harley is handled with so much care to make her more than just some ditzy character. And the fact that we can see her inner psychologist come out shows that she can be quite smart too in between her insanity moments.
That Star Wars line at the dentist office is also a reference to Mark Hamill's wife Marilou. They met when she was his dental hygienist. Marilou has told him numerous times to "use the floss". As of now, the two have been happily married for 44 years.
Batman straight up going for blood this episode. Throwing a batarang at fake jokers neck and punching the man himself off a train.
"I didn't get the joke"
It has been a long LONG time since I first saw that scene and was a small kid at the time but I never forgot that line.
Having Joker and Harley's relationship explored as a form of a highly manipulative, toxic and abusive relationship really strengthened Harley as a more complex/tragic character and cemented itself as a defining aspect of her history and with time has allowed her to grow and form healthier relationships, most notably falling in love with Poison Ivy
I love this episode and I felt so sorry for Harley.
My all-time favorite Batman animated series episode. And that's saying something considering all the other amazing episodes we got. But this one is intense and so wonderfully character driven. The Joker has bullied Harley before, rough shoving and the like, but he had never outright struck her as he did in this episode. You don't even need to see it. You just see his backhand raised before cutting to Batman's reaction to the strike. It made Batman wince, okay? That's a huge deal. This is the pinnacle of Batman animated episodes for me. Number one, now and forever. You could say... I'm madly in love with it.
"It's my fault. I didn't get the joke." Is the most heartbreaking line ever.
It's all been leading up to this.
We made it to Mad Love everyone.
I don't know why Walter didn't save this one for last. Maybe he's giving that honor to the shitty Creeper episode.
I love this episode! Never get tired of the excitement here. Harley’s trap for Batman is so dramatic! She almost won and he even admits that he was close to death! Very edgy and intense! Also yes Kevin Conroy was so good in this episode! Fantastic! One of his performances by far. After someone passes, I love looking back on their pleasant moments and their triumphs and The laughter! Good positive images to block out the bad thoughts! Thanks for everything, Kevin!
I meant to say Best performances! Yeah truly best!
6:50, about Harley's backstory, my older sister actually met Paul Dini at a convention years ago and she asked him about the episode and the comic, now my older sister wasn't really a DC fan, she was more of a Marvel girl, she was a huge fan of X-Men (she idolized Rogue), but she did love the Mad Love comic and the episode adaptation a lot and Paul told her that there was more to Harley's backstory that they weren't able to fit in
They were going to show Harley Quinn's childhood but they weren't able to add it in because it would have made the comic too long, but in future Harley Quinn origin comic, her childhood origin got reused but slightly altered from the original in the Animated Series continuity, Harley was born and grew up in Brooklyn, her dad was a con man who got arrested a lot at home, her mom was a depressed alcoholic, sometime when Harley was 8, her younger brother named Barry was born. The shortly after Barry was born, Harley signed up for a Girl Scout group called The Mandy Scouts (revealed in the Gotham Girls series), then when she was in high school, while she the gymnastics, apparently, Paul told my older sister that there was supposed to be image of Harley wearing a football helmet and wearing large shoulder pads underneath a football jersey with the number 69 on the front running on a football field, cuz apparently, Harley used to be on her High School football team, however they weren't able to include that in the comic book because apparently there was a strict rule that TV shows, movies, and books couldn't show girls playing High School football on the football teams because it was considered taboo for that time or non-traditional, something like that, but Paul did confirm to my older sister that DCAU Harley did gymnastics and football during her high school years
Harley's childhood origin got reused for other comic books later on in the future and even in the Harley Quinn HBO Max series
For Harley getting away from the Joker in this universe, we got to see that in the Gotham Girls web series, which takes place during the beginning of Justice League, since in the episode Wild Cards, we see her working with Joker again, since that episode takes place after the Gotham Girls web series
Then after the events of Wild Cards, the Batman and Harley Quinn animated movie is next, that movie takes place near the end of Justice League Unlimited, we see Harley trying to get away from the costume heroes and villains shenanigans, so with this animated movie and the Gotham Girls web series, we get to see how this version of Harley would act around other people when Joker isn't around her
But overall, a great comic book and a great episode for a great character
This epsiode is one of the very best! Perfect even 💯💯💯💯💯
2:54 And by "more", I think he meant "the comic book "Harleen", the perfect retelling of the story by Stjepan Sejic".
I was rewatching some Batman Beyond this week and 'Meltdown' popped into my mind while watching this video. In that particular episode, Bruce wasn't sure about Victor's reform after being brought back into a human body. It makes sense when you think about The Animated Series/New Animated Series because there have been a number of times when Arkham inmates claim to have reformed, but went right back to their villainous ways.
Harley: "Aw come on, Puddin', don't you wanna rev up your Harley? Vroom vroom!"
😅
I like the context that she “slept” her way through her degree; it emphasizes that she wasn’t actually qualified to work as a psychiatrist, hence she fell the joker’s tricks whereas someone with better qualifications would have more easily recognized his tactics
It's such a shame that there was a status quo for these characters, cause I would've wanted to see an episode where Harley Quinn undergoes a redemption arc after this episode.
While we do kinda have a redeemed version of Harley in the Batman Beyond Return of the Joker movie, but even then the redemption is questionable, as she was responsible for the torture and mental damage Tim Drake underwent. Plus, she's an old lady at this point, AND her granddaughters became members of the Jokerz as the Dee Dee Twins, so the redemption is kinda questionable.
And then there's the Batman & Harley movie, where it's implied that it takes place in the same universe as the BTAS, but seeing how that version of Harley isn't voiced by the same actress, and the canon is highly questionable as Harley Quinn was declared dead during Joker's final moments, and Batman made a promise to never have anyone else work alongside him after what happened to Tim Drake, despite the fact that Batman was working alongside Nightwing to stop Poison Ivy and the Floronic Man. Also, I'm not sure if the Joker is still alive at this point. If this movie does take place after the flashback scene in BBRotJ, then obviously that means he's dead, but then why did Harley say that she was were through with Joker, which implies that he's still alive at this point? Like I said though, the canon is this movie is questionable.
And then there's the episode where The Creeper makes his debut. Harley Quinn is still with the Joker at this point.
In my opinion this episode should’ve taken place before the events of Harley‘s Holiday. That episode was the start of her redemption arc
I feel like they didn’t really knew what to do or in what direction they wanted to go with her character after Harleys Holiday. It’s a shame because it had so much potential
But on the other hand it makes sense that she only managed to regain her normal life due to the Jokers death. Throughout the series it was made clear that she will never fully get away from him and that the slightest bit of affection is enough for her to fall in love with him again and forgive him for everything he has done. He had to die so she could break free from that circle
She was never declared dead tho. They probably checked the pit and like Barbara said - never found her body. So it was obvious that she somehow survived but probably didn’t go after her since she never caused trouble again and Batman even managed to acquire her costume years later. Their real enemy, the Joker, was dead and Harley just another victim of him in the end
I think not including Harley's backstory showing her cheating to get good grades made the episode weaker overall. I've always found it strange how easily she fell for Joker's manipulation given her position dealing with such dangerous criminals and the flashback explains everything perfectly. Also Alfred saying how Harley was going to be a "annoying pop psychologist who sells self-help books" before turning to crime was so funny and so real that is a shame it got cut.
Yeah. I mean, I think I do like the idea that Harley was never the best example of a good person, but there definitely is some lost impact to her downfall if she was always like that.
I prefer the idea the Harley Quinn show pushed that she was always surrounded by bad stuff going on, and she was just trying her best to live a normal life out of it - and the only guy to actually make her feel like she was having some kind of normal connection with was the Joker.
Rest In Peace Arleen Sorkin our original Mad Love Harley Quinn. 🌹
On the train, when a bleeding Joker flicks open a knife, man... Mark Hamill's dark chuckle gives me chills. One of my favorite Joker scenes; sad it wasn't mentioned.
4:42 Part of me is kind of glad they didn't include that in the episode as it makes Harley less intelligent essentially indicating that she didn't earn her degree. Grant the series didn't exactly make her seem that smart to begin with but she didn't have a backstory then so it's forgiveable.
When they revamped Harley in The Batman they went more into what the comics suggested, with Harley basically getting her Psychology Degree from some online course. IT worked more there because the show was more exaggerated compared to this one.
The Ep that ended the Batman Adventures and man was it tragic yet i cant feel bad for Harley at the same time.
I actually always felt bad for her after watching episodes like Harlequinade and Harley’s Holiday. They portrayed her as a quiet nice but messed up person who was stuck in a situation where she couldn’t get out of
I’m glad they kept out the part of Harley sleeping her way through collage. I’ve said before that a lot of their attempts of fleshing out the character hurt a bit more than helped. The tragedy of Harley works best when she’s sort of that friend you know is good and smart, but somehow got involved with the wrong person. Now NOBODY deserves to be in an abusive relationship, but making her a fame hungry manipulator does make me feel a little less sympathetic towards her. And the more modern takes of saying she came from a bad home life or was always disturbed makes her fall seem a bit more of an inevitability. As if it wasn’t the Joker, she would have fallen for Two-Face, Penguin, or Riddler. It depends on what you find more tragic and interesting story wise: A good person who throws everything away for a bad reason, or a person trying to overcome their lot in life but ultimately succumbing to it. I know which version of Harley I prefer.
Also, this should have been the B:TAS last episode before everything got moved into the Justice League show. The fight with Batman and Joker has a sense of finality. And it would end on one of its best stories with its break out character.
I’m so glad there are so many Batman shows that you can go over! BATMAY CONTINUES! I grew up with Batman Beyond and Im pretty excited for when you eventually cover it.
My problem with The New Batman Adventures as a whole is it felt to action focused vs the character focus of the original. However there are some major exceptions such as this episode. Some unmentioned things I love is Harley’s tragic leitmotif and the Joker twisting his past manipulations to make his emotional blows hit harder like the “you always take shots from folks who just don’t get the joke” before he throws her out the window
When the Bat Laughs. Run. Batman smiling and laughing is the scariest moment in comic history right behind Spider-Man not talking.
Harley Quinn, a original creation of Paul Dini really came into her with BTAS & NBT, which explains why the character has endured to this day in all the different mediums that followed.
This was the last episode of TNBA? It was much shorter than I had it in my head. Absolute perfect episode to end it on.
It’s one of my favorite episodes because of Harley Quinn and it’s good
Joker:"MAY THE FLOSS BE WITH YOU" 😂😂😂😂😂
Joker: You’ve forgotten what I told you a long time ago. You always take shots from folks who just don’t get the joke!