Honestly, it’s kinda wild to think that Harley Quinn wasn't even supposed to exist. Back in 1992, Paul Dini just needed a body to jump out of a cake in a Joker episode. One and done. But the moment Arleen Sorkin opened her mouth and that Brooklyn-meets-vaudeville accent came out, everything changed. We aren't just talking about a sidekick anymore. We're talking about a character who basically hijacked the entire DC Universe from a Saturday morning cartoon.
If you’re looking to revisit the Batman the Animated Series episodes with Harley Quinn, you’ve gotta understand that the show didn't just give her a costume. It gave her a soul—a messy, tragic, hilarious, and deeply uncomfortable soul.
The Mistake That Started It All: Joker’s Favor
Harley’s debut in "Joker’s Favor" (Season 1, Episode 22) is actually pretty low-key. She’s just there. No origin story, no deep drama. She’s the Joker’s "moll," a colorful background detail in a story about a regular guy named Charlie Collins who accidentally insults the Joker.
But look closely. Even then, you’ve got that weirdly charming chemistry. She’s not just a henchwoman; she’s a performer. She treats the Joker’s homicidal whims like a high-stakes comedy routine. This is where the seed was planted. The producers saw the dailies and realized they had something special.
When Harley Met Ivy: The Best Duo in Gotham
You can’t talk about Harley without talking about Pamela Isley. "Harley and Ivy" (Season 1, Episode 47) is probably the most important episode for her growth. Why? Because it’s the first time someone tells her that her relationship with "Puddin’" is absolute garbage.
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After Joker literally kicks her out of their hideout—for the crime of being more competent than him—Harley runs into Poison Ivy at the Gotham Museum. What follows is basically a supervillain version of Thelma & Louise.
- The Dynamic: Ivy is the cynical older sister who hates men; Harley is the codependent mess who just wants to be loved.
- The Immunity: Fun fact—Ivy actually injects Harley with a serum here to make her immune to toxins. That’s why she can keep up with the heavy hitters later on.
- The Subtext: In 1993, they were "just friends." Today? We know better. The chemistry was there from the second they shared that house in the toxic waste dump.
The Tragedy of Mad Love
If you want to understand the "why" of Harley Quinn, you have to watch "Mad Love." This wasn't just another episode; it was the series finale of The New Batman Adventures (which is basically Season 3 of the original run).
It’s brutal. Honestly, it’s hard to watch as an adult. We see Harleen Quinzel, the ambitious psychiatrist at Arkham, getting manipulated by the Joker. He feeds her a sob story about a tragic childhood—a story Batman later reveals is a complete lie he tells everyone.
The most chilling moment? When Harley actually captures Batman. She does what the Joker never could. And instead of being proud, the Joker is so insulted that he throws her out of a window. The episode ends with Harley in a full-body cast, swearing she’s done with him... until she sees a flower he left her. It’s a loop of abuse that was incredibly heavy for a "kid's show."
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The Episodes You Might Have Forgotten
Everyone remembers the big ones, but there are some deep cuts that show different sides of her.
Harlequinade (Season 2, Episode 7) is a personal favorite. Batman has to team up with Harley to find a bomb the Joker hid. It’s basically a buddy-cop movie where one of the cops is a total lunatic. You get to see Harley's "origin" teased even more here, plus that legendary musical number, "Say That We’re Sweethearts Again." Paul Dini actually bought the rights to that song just so Harley could sing it.
Then there’s Harley’s Holiday (Season 2, Episode 16). This one is actually kinda heartbreaking. Harley gets paroled and is genuinely trying to be "good." But a series of misunderstandings—basically a security tag left on a dress—spirals into a massive city-wide chase. It shows the tragedy of her character: the world just won't let her be Harleen anymore. Even Batman feels bad for her by the end. He’s the only one who sees the human underneath the face paint.
The Actionable Guide to Watching Harley
If you're planning a marathon, don't just watch them in air date order. Watch them like a character arc.
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- The Intro: Start with Joker's Favor and The Laughing Fish. This is Harley as the sidekick.
- The Independence: Move to Harley and Ivy and Harlequinade. This is where she starts to become her own person.
- The Breaking Point: Harley's Holiday. It’s the "almost" redemption.
- The Origin: End with Mad Love. It’s the flashback that explains everything you just watched.
Keep an eye out for the small stuff, too. Notice how her costume changes slightly in the later seasons (the "New Batman Adventures" look). The original Bruce Timm design with the cowl is iconic, but the later simplified version felt a bit more modern for the late 90s.
Batman: The Animated Series didn't just create a character; it created a phenomenon. Harley Quinn works because she’s vulnerable. We’ve all had a "puddin’" in our lives—maybe not a clown who tries to blow up the city, but someone who wasn't good for us. That’s why, 30 years later, we’re still talking about these episodes.
To get the full experience, track down the "Lost Episode" which is actually the cinematics from the Adventures of Batman & Robin video game. It features a great Harley segment that many fans totally miss because it wasn't part of the standard broadcast.
Grab some popcorn, head over to Max (or wherever you stream your classics), and start with "Joker's Favor." You'll see exactly why a one-off henchwoman became the Queen of Gotham.