HARLEY QUINN Season 5 Review

Review

This week one of DC’s most legendary and fan-favourite animated series, Harley Quinn, returns with its fifth series on Max in the US. After a behind-the-scenes creative shakeup which has seen Dean Lorey (Creature Commandos) return as showrunner, the long-running series is changing things up for season five with a shift in location from Gotham to Metropolis. Can the series, the only remaining survivor of the original DC Universe streaming service, keep things fresh as it heads towards 60 episodes?

After the events of the season 4 finale, Harley (Kaley Cuoco), Ivy (Lake Bell) and Catwoman (Cherise Boothe) have been working with Barbara Gordon (Briana Cuoco), now known as Oracle, as the Gotham City Sirens. Season 4 left the gang with a mystery as Nightwing’s (Harvey Guillén) body had disappeared from his grave. But in typical Harley Quinn style that jumping off point isn’t quite the overarching storyline set to dominate season 5.

The latest batch of ten episodes actually represent a creative rejuvenation for the series. Lorey and the writing staff for season 5 encapsulate tying up the Gotham City Sirens storyline in an opening flashback. Instead opting to put Harley and Ivy in a professional and romantic rut which empowers them to make a huge change in their lives by moving to Metropolis. After four season spending the majority of their time in Gotham, it was a creative gamble taking both leads away from their traditional base of operations. Of course the well-established absurdity of the show means they’re able to bring most of the supporting cast along with them in weird and wonderful ways. But even Harley Quinn’s outlandish nature could have fallen foul to potentially sloppy writing.

Each season of Harley Quinn has to some degree reinvented the show. It began with levelling Gotham in season one, then introducing the romance between Harley and Ivy in season 2, season 3’s “The Eat, Bang, Kill Tour” and finally last year’s exploration of both Harley and Ivy’s duality. Each story has no-so-subtly shifted the basic DNA of the show. But this move to Metropolis somehow feels like one of their biggest flexes yet. It represents a fundamental shift from being a Batman-adjacent series to something which encompasses far more of the DC universe. We saw some of that as Ivy took over the Legion of Doom last season. But this season the widening of the series’ scope feels much more noticeable and rewarding.

The season premiere swiftly sets the scene and introduces of the key players in Metropolis. We meet Lena Luthor, brilliantly voiced by Aisha Tyler, Jimmy Olsen (Drew Massey) and the incomparable Stephen Fry as Brainiac. They’re joined by James Wolk and Natalie Morales who return as Superman and Lois Lane respectively alongside Diedrich Bader as Bruce Wayne, Alan Tudyk as Clayface, Ron Funches as King Shark and James Adomian as Bane. It’s a dizzying mix of old and new which feels like the perfect segue in to this new season. It also beautifully handles the series new approach to both Harley and Ivy’s status as both hero and villain. The series has always been versatile but the new elements of season 5 are the most challenging to the series’ core premise.

Maintaining a position where both leads are able to switch between murder, mayhem and heroics is integral to the success of season 5. It’s not dissimilar to the success that Marvel has found with the Deadpool franchise and that’s no easy tone to get right. Season 5’s handling of their place in the DCU rounds out a rewarding arc for viewers who have stuck with the series from the beginning. Fans of the core romantic relationship will also be pleased with how season 5 chooses not to separate them. There are still challenges to overcome just like in any relationship. But the overall arc of season 5 presents a couple fighting for their place in the world rather than fighting each other which is rewarding to watch.

The introduction of Lena Luthor and Brainiac really roots the series in Metropolis and the world of Superman. Though the Man of Steel himself isn’t a huge presence across the season, there’s no denying that we’re now playing in his sandbox. The season presents Brainiac as a sympathetic and flawed villain. Taking time to explore his backstory for those who may not be familiar with his character. His origin remains mostly intact but is presented in the most Harley Quinn of ways which means be prepared to chuckle at how core elements of his mythology are presented. He presents a different kind of threat which affords the series chance to raise the stakes, putting HarlIvy in the middle of some very apocalyptic circumstances.

Creatively this is the most satisfying season of Harley Quinn since the series began back in 2019. New cast slot in against the OG actors seamlessly. Kaley Cuoco and Lake Bell continue an unparalleled winning streak as Harley and Ivy. To this day it still surprises me these two don’t record together in the booth. Their chemistry feels strong than ever thanks to season 5’s approach to storytelling with these characters. Of the new cast this season, Aisha Tyler stands out for a lively performance as Lena. Whilst Stephen Fry brings a gravitas to Brainiac which fits the character’s comic book legacy whilst embracing the silliness this version instills in him.

Throughout season 5 the writers return to several key plots and characters from previous seasons. Long-time fans will be rewarded for following the misadventures of Frank the Plant (J.B. Smoove) for instance. His relationship to Ivy is key to her development as a character this season. It catapults her toward embracing her maternal instincts. Something which is crucial to saving Metropolis by the end of the season. There’s also pay off for the multi-season arc for Alfred Pennyworth (Tom Hollander) which ties itself in to resolution for the Nightwing arc from season 4. Taking a small break from the Brainiac story brings us an incredible bottle episode midway through the season.

More importantly, all of that investment in to this beautiful cast of characters means season 5 is able to address a key issue of the streaming era. There’s no guarantee in the current landscape of the kind of longevity of animated series like Family Guy or Rick & Morty. So, accordingly, there is a sense this season of bringing Harley Quinn to what feels like a potentially natural conclusion. Don’t get me wrong. I want the series to continue for years to come. But season 5’s finale feels like a point where we could leave this cast of characters without a sense of business being left unfinished.

Verdict

After four incredible seasons, Harley Quinn returns this week feeling fresh, rejuvenated and ready to create chaos. With Dean Lorey back in the showrunner’s chair season 5 is perhaps the best season yet. It’s dynamically written and sees Kaley Cuoco’s Quinn embracing her place in the DCU outside her home of Gotham City.

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