Harley Quinn’s solo series Harley Quinn dives into the personal life of Harleen Quinzel and allows her to be more than just a plot device for the Joker in a better DC future for the character. Batman: The Animated Series introduced Harley Quinn as one of Joker’s lackeys but she became popular when she began to star in her own episodes, most notably in “Harley and Ivy.” Her current solo show Harley Quinn reflects all the traits that made her popular in the animated series while also demonstrating how perfectly she can carry a story on her own.

The animated series Harley Quinn takes place after Harley breaks up with the Joker once and for all. In an effort to become more relevant than any other supervillain, she creates her own team of villains including her best friend Poison Ivy. There are ups and downs in Harley’s life as she goes back to the Joker several times only to be betrayed again by him. Ivy is also romantically entangled with Kite Man which becomes a problem for Harley in the second season when she starts to develop feelings for Ivy. It is shown in each season that Harley, while bullheaded and impulsive, is able to fight for what she wants and even make an impression on the Justice League despite her desire to be a villain.

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The sole element that stands out in Harley Quinn is how she is portrayed as an individualistic character. Not only is Harley able to break away from the plot devices which shackled her in the original animated series, and more recently Suicide Squad, but she is also shown to have flaws equal to the common hero’s. Harley’s character is humanized in BTAS but the audience sympathizes with her because her blind devotion to the Joker is usually framed as something pitiable. In Harley Quinn, the sympathy the audience feels for Harley changes as she does, becoming more than one-note. She has worries about being good enough to join the Legion of Doom but having the aspiration to join it at all shows growth in her character. This goal of hers is one of the many moments that sets her apart from the Joker’s storyline; this is a milestone for her character since her main issues always seem to lead to getting back together with the Joker. Harley Quinn is an empowering show, refusing to depict Harley in a reductive light. It also respects her character by seamlessly instilling her humor from BTAS. Her future in DC is turning out to be a brighter one now that she’s being portrayed as not only an interesting enough character to have her own show but that she can be a leader too.

Split image showing Harley Quinn in Batman TAS and in Harley Quinn HBO Max series

What's more, by allowing Harley to finally free herself of the Joker’s clutch on her, Harley's growth as a person striving to be better is remarkable. Her flaw of selfishness in the show ends up humanizing her when she lets go of it at the end of season 2 to help Ivy and Kite Man’s wedding go off without a hitch. She does this despite her own feelings for Ivy, which convinces Ivy she has changed enough that they can attempt a relationship. Her selfless growth even under the scrutiny of dozens of other villains is what makes the series stand out. It remains to be seen in season 3 whether she falls into old habits or not, but her relationship with Ivy looks like it will flourish in interesting ways.

Harley Quinn will go down in history as one of the most popular villains in DC for her unique wit and blunt personality. Her solo series succeeds in showing more sides to her other than her villainy and devotion to the Joker which opens new doors for where DC can take her. Harley Quinn not only humanizes her but gives her the best path forward for her future in DC media, treating her as she deserved all along.

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