8. Harley's Holiday
Here's a shocker for you: If
BTAS was made today, there would be no Harley Quinn. In this age of geek gratification studios and filmmakers pursue comic book properties, not because they want to make a dynamic and unique vision that challenges their audience, but because they want to pander to geeks. They enslave themselves to comic-book continuity, afraid to make any changes to the material that would offend fans and take away from their box office returns. In a age such as this, do you think Bruce Timm and company would have the nerve to introduce a brand new character into the Batman mythology? The answer is no. Thank God for the 90's. Long before all this mainstream, comic-book fanaticism began and people became afraid to take chances with costumed heroes, writers and directors (animated, or otherwise) had more freedom in how they interpreted a comic book character and their world. New characters could be invented, powers could be shuffled, and story-lines could be riskier since production companies weren't breathing down your neck demanding a blockbusters. (Whew, rant over) Harley Quinn is a true product of her time and proof that those who adapt comic books for the big screen or otherwise shouldn't be afraid to take risks and try new things. In the case of Harley Quinn, an original
BTAS creation, it payed off big time. She is not only a fan favorite in the Batman franchise, but a favorite comic book character period. Her crazy, sexy, and ultimately hilarious presence (and dynamite voice, courtesy of Arleen Sorkin) was always welcome in any episode of
BTAS. She would often be grouped in with Joker's henchmen, always bring a bit of lunacy of the proceedings. Every now and then, however, Harley would be given the spotlight and an entire episode would be devoted to her. Of the few that were (including "Harlequinade", "Harley and Ivy" and "Mad Love") "Harley's Holiday" was undoubtedly the finest. The episode follows a recently declared sane Harley Quinn on her first unlucky day outside the walls of Arkham Asylum. Unlike some of her fellow inmates, she actually wants to go straight, but one misunderstanding piles up on top of another, things go from bad to worse, and her old life beckons once again. I give
BTAS a lot of credit for being one of the only incarnations of the Dark Knight to deal with the issue of rehabilitation. A lot of people forget that most of Batman's adversaries are in an asylum. They're crazy, and they need help. From time to time on
BTAS, we get to see the earnest and half-hearted attempts of Batman's legendary foes trying to go straight ("Riddler's Reform", "House and Garden"). It usually ends with a relapse, which probably doesn't speak too highly of the system. The recently declared sane end up choosing the wrong path again and again. But in Harley's case, she found herself a victim of circumstance. It should serve as a reminder that just because the system declares someone sane and fit to return to society, it doesn't mean that society is ready to accept and accommodate them.