Harley Quinn season 2, episode 4 review: Thawing Hearts

Harley totally reads the situation wrong in the latest episode of Harley Quinn season 2.

Previously, on Harley Quinn season 2, Harley and Poison Ivy invaded a museum to steal Firefly’s flame thrower. The pair needed it to get through Mr. Freeze’s seemingly impenetrable ice defenses, but in order to do this, they had to enlist the help of Catwoman.

This made Ivy both geek out and take a look back at her current life. On one hand, she loves helping Harley and the gang. On the other, she hasn’t been punishing the people destroying the green. This leads to her going back to her old life while agreeing to keep helping Harley. Also, it looks like Kite Man (Hell yeah!) and Ivy may be getting married!

Commissioner Gordon update! He wasn’t featured in the previous episode. We can assume that he’s somewhere shirtless drinking and watching Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

“I will not compromise for my art!” – Harley Quinn

We get right into it. Harley Quinn uses Firefly’s plasma flamethrower to break through Victor Fries’ ice barricade (and makes a cool design in the process). After breaking in, the gang makes short (and bloody) work of Freeze’s goons. Then, the big man himself shows up. In less time it took to write this sentence, Mr. Freeze freezes Harley and her crew. He doesn’t kill them – he locks them up so he can use Harley as a lab rat for a cure for his wife Nora.

The first part of this episode was hilarious and sets up everything nicely. However, there was more to this. The gang discussed Poison Ivy and Kite Man’s wedding and Harley took a weird approach. She was acting as if this wasn’t the big event of happiness that it should be. Despite her best friend getting married, Harley doesn’t believe true love was possible. Her thoughts were preoccupied with hooking up at the wedding and making fun of the couples. This comes into play throughout the show.

“For the schmutz on your suit” – Venue Manager

Meanwhile, Poison Ivy and Kite Man are looking into a venue that Kite Man has wanted to get married in for years. Kite Man is nervous. He felt like he had to get this place. Poison Ivy calms him down and tells him that they’ll get it. Then, tragedy happens. Kite Man’s nemesis is attempting to take the venue too! Who’s his nemesis? None other than the Condiment King. Yes, that’s a real villain in DC Comics. Google him.

Like most stories involving Poison Ivy and Kite Man, this one had a lot of heart and humor. The interactions between Kite Man and Condiment King were silly. It does make sense that those two wouldn’t like each other. The only thing missing was a slap fight. Ivy building up Kite Man throughout his anxiety – and being annoyed by Condiment King – was sweet. It was the kind of thing you hope to see in a relationship. Very well done.

I will never forgive Joker for what he’s done to you heart.” – King Shark

While Mr. Freeze is telling Harley Quinn and her gang about Nora, Harley is calling shenanigans. She thinks that Freeze froze Nora and is holding her hostage because he’s weird. After Harley gets Freeze’s gun, she defrosts Nora only to find out that Freeze was telling the truth this entire time. In retaliation, Freeze tells the gang that if Ivy doesn’t save his wife, he’s going to kill all of them.

In Batman New 52, Victor Fries (yes, it’s spelled like that) isn’t married to Nora. The show could have gone in this direction. Instead, they came up with a deep story about the Mr. Freeze we love. The one that debuted in Batman: The Animated Series. The one who isn’t necessarily evil. He just does bad things with good intentions.

It was a nice twist to find out that he was against killing Harley while the rest of the Injustice League wanted to. The reveal adds to Freeze’s character. Freeze is easily the MVP of this episode.

“For if you truly love someone, you will do anything for them” – Mr. Freeze

This show was deeper than it had any business doing. Every episode of Batman the Animated Series that Victor Fries was featured in made everyone love him; Harley Quinn successfully recreated that emotion. Seeing him get emotional about his wife showed that what love can make anyone do. It can make you crazy and determined.

It wasn’t just Freeze though. Kite Man and Ivy showed that as well. Kite Man had to make a decision that cost him the venue, but he did it without hesitation. Everything about this was incredible. Maybe not the funniest, but definitely the best episode of the series.

Questions about Quinn

The thumbnail for the next episode shows Bruce Wayne in next to a Hulkbuster-like Batman armor. Is he going to try and take Gotham back?

Wait, King Shark is betrothed? Well, the King part must be more than just a name.

Is Condiment King really getting married? It wouldn’t be shocking if he did this just to mess with Kite Man.

Where will Ivy and Kite Man get married? Most likely the mall.

Who will Harley Quinn take to her best friend’s wedding? It better not be Joker.

Has commissioner Gordon finished

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

? Did he enjoy the ending?

Harley Quinn season 2 returns to the DC Universe next Friday. Did you enjoy the latest episode? Let us know in the comments below!