Episode 53 Review
Harley Quinn
In the wake of Frank the Plant's death, the tapestry of the looming season finale weaves some shocking twists and turns. Impulsive and careless choices feed into the real big bad's plans and she takes advantage of them to great success. But a taking out a little insurance doesn't hurt and it only fractures Harlivy even more. Can our favorite leading couple mend fences and get revenge before the point of no return for Metropolis? Three episodes remain in the season. "Frankette" is the beginning of the end in another entertaining season of Harley Quinn.
I'm on the fence, usually killing off someone from the original cast and bringing in a little girl 'version' is a jump the shark moment of a show but the way it was executed was one of the greatest jokes pulled off by the late Frank the Plant. Anticipating his death, pre-recording a final message, and predicting everyone's reactions perfectly so to also time out the birth of his daughter Frankette was a brilliant set up and payoff. In a season featuring progeny and themes of ego and legacy, another child showing up at a crucial point in this season's ongoing arc should be no surprise. It also helps that Frankette is so cute, Frank became a Force Ghost giving his Dagobah speech to Ivy, and Harley's psyche analysis is spot-on but ignored by Ivy but she comes around. Plus, we've had this all built out this season: Frank's origin story was revealed, Frank fretted about getting old, Ivy fussed over him like a doting parent. What Frankette represents to Ivy is the last vestige of Frank that she needs to protect and preserve but what also could prove to be an Achilles's Heel. Frankette, herself, could be a new wild card who saves the day but also by being kidnapped and used as a pawn, makes Ivy less predictable and turns on the blinders which could then lead to things getting worse before they become better, namely Metropolis and the latest couple fight.
Sometimes, the most obvious suspect is the culprit. Never trust a Luthor. The murder mystery set up in the final moments of last week's episode wasn't much of a mystery and just another part of Lena Luthor's manipulation. Unsatisifed with Clayface's play, she kills Frank and pins it on Brainiac so Harley and Ivy do their thing and kill him since she lacks the means to. Still using Harley and Ivy like that was a risky roll of the dice but Lena perfectly dodges any recrimination and takes advantage of the situation and levels up by taking control of the Skull Ship and drones. In his bout of depression, Vril Dox doesn't bother locking out or taking away Lena's teleporter. Harley and Ivy aren't their usual 100 and both miss a chance to murder Lena once the truth is out. Also, Harley for some reason opted to push buttons rather than bash Vril's console to pieces. Lena now has power and the means to execute the one desires she has, to rule Metropolis and the only ones who can stop her are nerfed. Brainiac is shrunken and trapped. Harley and Ivy are fighting. Lena has Frankette. Well, we have our real big bad and a final battle all set up with a nice, neat bow.
Bane playing concerned parent and even playing hero, to an extent, was a welcome sight and it was nice seeing him on his own rather than being Clayface's overworked writer. I mean, the last real crime he did was blowing up the pasta maker company last season, there was something heartwarming that he saved Goldilocks and her classmates while their teacher just straight up abandoned them. Just give Bane some chairs and desks and those drones were toast. Or so we thought. And the irony is if the Green Initiative was pulled off, Ivy would have had more ammunition in the big fight of the week but like on the ship, she's outclassed and both ultimately lose and bailed out by Lena at the last second.
Shaun is starting to wear thin. While he is another chess piece with the child component of the season and a walking metaphor for Harley and Ivy's season five themes, his recurring role coupled with King Shark's anemic presence this season leaves a lot to be desired. It made me wonder if the crew had to write King off to an extent while Ron Funches was busy working on other projects or this is all done with intent, possibly leading to a spin-off series starring our favorite shark man. In the lead up to season five, there were some promises the old crew would be back but it is clear now that is hardly the case. King Shark is barely around. Clayface is in and out. Dr. Psycho and Sy are nowhere to be seen. Joker has only appeared once. We haven't seen Bruce suit up yet. Frank is dead. And once again, Ivy gets angry at Harley towards the end of the season and thanks to the repeated assurance of the showrunners, we know they will never break up and things will resolve themselves somehow to formulaic effect. Lastly, even though it was introduced last week, Vril being able to break the fourth wall feels ineffectual and out of nowhere.
Despite my quibbles, everything is set up perfectly heading into the final part of the season. Frankette has to be saved. Metropolis is still in danger. The real villain to stop is Lena. Harley and Ivy need to make up. Bane needs to find a new school. Okay, maybe that last part isn't as dire but a child needs stability! The solution seems to entail convincing a depressed Brainiac not everything has to be perfect to be right and getting him out of his funk. But I get a feeling Metropolis will get bottled up for a few episodes but restored then further messed up for comical effect (i.e. Skull Ship crashing into the heart of the city and causing a huge explosion, prompting Harley and Ivy to go back to Gotham and Superman is elated to be needed because its chaos). There's also a multitude of ways things could go for Lena. Shrunken. Eaten by Frankette. Bashed to death by Harley and Ivy. Blown up. Of course, Harley and Ivy make up after some drama but I hope it's not lazily pushed through. Playing parents this season was one thing, but now having Frankette to raise is a bit of a game changer that perhaps what their relationship needed all along rather than a move to a new city. They all just have to survive. And it is interesting food for thought. Is Frankette now the daughter that Harley and Ivy raise as their own rather than having Princess Ladyfingers or does she still happen? Is King Baby really Shaun? Before I get too cross-eyed over hypotheticals, all in all, so far it's been a little messy but uncertainty and chaos isn't a bad thing and this has been one of the better seasons of Harley Quinn.
Rating: 9.4 out of 10