Harley Quinn Done Right

So both Margot Robbie outings as Harley Quinn were serviceable.  She's a solid actress, looks the part and has obvious enthusiasm for the character.  Neither Suicide Squad nor Birds of Prey and the Ridiculously Long Subtitle are great movies but I enjoyed both.

Still, I can't help the feeling that there's a better Harley Quinn to be had.

The original recipe (Arleen Sorkin, simply awesome AND the only actress in a soap opera that I ever enjoyed) has been sorely missed for decades but time and tide...

Enter Kaley Cuoco's Harley Quinn animated series.  I just finished the end of season 2 and a rewatch of my spiffy new season 1 dvd set, so I'm all up in Harley's biness right now.

This is a show for ADULTS.  I have rarely heard the word "fuck" used so much.  Not sure what the FpM (fucks per minute) rate is here, but it's gotta be right up there with Goodfellas, if not higher.

Cuoco is a superb fit for Harley.  She may not be Arleen Sorkin but she's definitely my second favourite Harley actress in my first favourite Harley outing.

Lake Bell's Poison Ivy is something else again.  Bell is the smartest, funniest person in Hollywood in my opinion.  Watch 2013's In A World if you don't believe me.  She's brilliant in everything I've seen her in and the smart, confident, strong of her comes through in every line Ivy utters.

This is the first super villain/hero show I can think of with two female leads and it works beyond all my expectations.  The chemistry between these two women is fantastic to behold.  There's power and wit and fun in every minute of the show. 

The supporting cast is truly great, too.  We get Alan Tudyk's impressive turn as The Joker (he's not Mark Hamill but he's psychotically fun here) AND his stupendous performance as Clayface.  Ron Funches' King Shark is hysterical and Tony Hale takes B-Lister Dr. Psycho and elevates him to supervillain status.  Special mention to both Michael Ironside for reprising his PERFECT Darkseid (Often imitated, NEVER equaled) in season 2 and to whoever masterminded bringing him in to do so!

The writing is whip-smart, the animation is crisp, the acting is excellent and they didn't spare the funny, the sexy or the gory.  This is Harley Quinn by grown up fans, for grown up fans.  Spectacular!