Sharing its title with a Tim Powers novel, the fifth episode finds Batman tackling his most curious case with one of his lore’s most formidable foes, Harley Quinn. This episode excels in the writing and acting, as the series continues to embrace fresh takes on beloved characters.
Our tale begins when Batman saves a man from walking in the middle of traffic. The confused gentleman is later identified as Fletcher Demming, who believes he is a pharaoh. Given his current mental state, appointed public defender Barabra Gordon, recommends her friend, Dr. Harleen Quinzel, perform his psych evaluation. But the mere mention of the doctor’s name strikes fear in Demming, who attempts to flee. When Barbara questions Harleen about knowing Mr. Demming, she says she’s never met him.
While Barbara and Batman work the case, Harleen courts Detective Renee Montoya. The cheerful psychologist has grown smitten with the GCPD officer and invites her out on a date. Renee feels the suggestion is quite forward, but graciously accepts the invitation. Harleen has always been portrayed as queer, having previous romances with the likes of Pamela Isley aka Poison Ivy. The two go ice skating, enjoying each other’s company when Quinzel gets a call. She must leave for a patient’s emergency, but she promises Renee a rain check.
Circling back to the initial investigation, Batman and Barbara discover that Demming, a wealthy real estate mogul, was seeking regular therapy sessions from Dr. Quinzel. Harleen lied to Babara. Not only was Demming her patient, but he also transferred millions of his fortune to charities days before his incident. The duo discovers a trail of men, who vanished, allotting their life’s wealth to random charitable organizations. They all had one thing in common: their therapist was Dr. Quinzel, revealed to be villainess, Harley Quinn.
Midway through the season, the show keeps getting better. Episode five’s introduction of the classic femme fatale twists our expectations of the character. Created as canon from the original animated series, Harley Quinn was always seen as the Joker’s — Batman’s archnemesis — sidekick. A victim of mental and emotional abuse, Quinn has freed herself from the Joker’s grasp throughout the character’s existence. But this specific origin story views Quinn starting as her own woman. She has agency and self-determination apart from a madman creator.
Another bright side to the episode is the kinship between Gordon, Montoya, and Quinzel, all depicted by women of color. Non-white women have previously appeared in Batman lore — Montoya and more recently, Zoe Kravitz and Sanaa Lathan as Catwoman. But it’s interesting to see these particular three share their lives and their different dynamics. It helps humanize the female characters, establishing relationships outside the male-dominated workforces to which they belong.
Jamie Chung’s performance is incredible, embodying both distinct personas with ease. Harleen is an astute, accomplished professional, with a heart of gold for her best friend and a potential love interest. Additionally, Harley possesses the same sane focus, instead of appearing widely unstable. It shows Harley as a whole character and not a result of a man’s toxic abuse. Her mission is also specific and somewhat admirable, almost aligning with Batman’s mission. However, while Batman seeks to root out criminals, Harley has porgressed further, focused on dismantling the oppressive system.
Rating: 10/10