Harley Quinn and an Unusual Take on Superheroics The 2019 animated series "Harley Quinn" feels like someone took the entire pompous superhero genre, shook it up like a bartender with a cocktail shaker, added a bit of madness, a couple of liters of dark humor — and ended up with the boldest DC animated show in years. It’s loud, brash, colorful, and surprisingly smart. The creators know the comic-book canon inside out and mock it with genuine affection. All those classic character traits, dramatic poses, and familiar clichés are pushed to the point of absurdity — yet you can tell the showrunners actually love the source material, not mocking it just for the sake of mocking. It’s not a parody — it’s a respectful but delightfully mischievous take on the DC universe. Harley herself is the engine of the whole series. Not just “a crazy clown girl,” but a full-fledged personality trying to break free from the Joker’s shadow and finally figure out who she is on her own. And yes, her wild antics, impulsive decisions, and emotional chaos work perfectly. The other characters don’t disappoint either: from Poison Ivy to Batman, everyone is portrayed in a slightly grotesque yet bizarrely accurate way. Sometimes one scene is enough to think: yep, that’s exactly the character — just taken to their logical extreme. The show’s main weapon is its humor. And it’s not “just to have it.” It hits right on target: bold, sharp, sometimes brutal, but always fitting. The way it blends with the energetic action scenes is a joy on its own. The profanity is perfectly placed, the absurd dialogues too. In the dubbed version I watched, the voice actors absolutely nailed it — the delivery, the emotion, the rhythm — nothing felt stiff or artificial. In the end, it’s a genuinely unusual superhero animated series. Stylish, daring, vibrant, and very funny. If you love comics and know the lore — this is a must-watch. You’ll catch all the subtle and not-so-subtle references, jokes, and the sheer craziness of its world. If you’re not really into comics — still give it a try. "Harley Quinn" works great as a standalone dark comedy with charismatic characters and tons of self-irony. And yes, it sticks with you — far more than most of the recent “Gunn-era” DC adaptations. 8 out of 10