Batman: The Animated Series' "Mad Love" gave an origin story to the Joker and Harley Quinn's twisted romance. 1992 saw the arrival of Batman Returns, the second entry in the live-action movie franchise. The groundbreaking success of the 1989 original made a sequel all but a given, but despite being another hit, Returns was slammed for being too dark and dour for younger viewers. Director Tim Burton had been granted more creative freedom with the project, but Warner Bros felt the sequel have been more of a hit if it leaned in a more family-friendly direction.
This is a chief reason the studio opted to replace Burton on Batman Forever with Joel Schumacher. Batman Returns is very well-regarded now, as is Batman: The Animated Series - which has its creepy moments - which also debuted in 1992. The show took creative inspiration from the Burton movies, but in addition to introducing fan-favorite characters of its own, it's often considered one of the best iterations of the franchise in any medium. Despite being aimed at young audiences, it featured some mature writing and subject matter, such as the acclaimed "Heart Of Ice," which reinvented classic villain, Mr. Freeze.
Batman: The Animated Series also introduced Harley Quinn, the girlfriend and accomplice of Mark Hamill's Joker. Harley has since become an icon in her own right, receiving solo comics and movies such as Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey. The abusive relationship between Joker and Harley Quinn is something that most modern takes on their "love" story have often explored, and Harley's creator Paul Dini won acclaim for his 1994 comic Mad Love, which revealed how they first met. This was later adapted as a Batman: The Animated Series episode of the same name, detailing how Doctor Harleen Quinzel came to Arkham Asylum to treat its infamous patients and quickly fell for Joker during their sessions.
Batman: TAS Reveals How Harley Fell For Joker
Batman: The Animated Series "Mad Love" reveals Joker displayed a more sensitive, vulnerable side to himself, including growing up with an abusive father. He also frames Batman as the true monster, and Harley's perspective is gradually swayed. After he breaks out and is recaptured by Batman, Harley (voiced by Arleen Sorkin) dons her famous costume and breaks him out again. "Mad Love" doesn't sugarcoat their relationship either, where Joker is shown to be cruel and dismissive of Quinn - even when she has Batman captured and is ready to feed him to piranhas.
Batman: The Animated Series also marked the final episode of the show's original run. Considering it's one of the series' best - and is one of the defining examinations of the Joker and Harley Quinn story - it's hard to think of a stronger way to end. Elements of this backstory were also used in 2016's Suicide Squid, which marked Harley's (played by Margot Robbie) first big screen outing.