Since the release of Suicide Squad in 2016, the world has been waiting to see more of Margot Robbie as the wild and endearing Harley Quinn. She’s finally back in Birds Of Prey. The film picks up after Suicide Squad. Harley has broken out of prison and is back out in the real world. Except, at the beginning of the movie, we learn that Harley has broken up with the Joker. From there on, we finally discover who the real Harley Quinn is, when she’s not being pushed and ordered around by the madman.
The result is a freer, happier, and even crazier version of the Harley Quinn than in Suicide Squad. While it may seem obvious that Harley Quinn is at her best in Birds Of Prey because she is no longer attached to her abuser, she still struggles with triggering memories, heartbreak and is tortured when she is on her own. So, let’s look at 5 reasons why Harley is better with the Joker and 5 reasons why she’s better without him.
With Joker: Introduced To Madness
Harleen Quinzel’s transformation from a professional psychiatrist to a laughing maniac all begins with the Joker. When the Joker is thrown back into Arkham Asylum and assigned Harleen Quinzel for his therapy sessions, Harleen seemingly falls for his charms and manipulation and ends up helping him break out of the asylum. In love with the Joker, Harleen does not fear him as everyone else does. On the contrary, she wants to convert herself into his world of madness.
And so the Joker puts her to the test. He asks her to jump into the very same pool of acid that turned his skin ice-white and made him a madman. Without the Joker, there probably wouldn’t be a Harley Quinn.
Solo: Part Of The Suicide Squad
Although Harley was still involved with the Joker when she was put in Task Force X - the Suicide Squad - she spent her time on the team separated from him. Deadshot, for instance, was someone who she confided in about her heartbreak. She bonded with all of the guys on the team over being misunderstood, being blamed for damage that was undeniably caused by Amanda Waller, and having a lifetime of regret to live with.
This allowed her to build human relationships beyond the unhealthy one that she had with the Joker. She made real friends whom she related to, shared with and fought for.
With Joker: Escaped Thanks To Him
What is particular about Jared Leto’s Joker is that he seems to actually care about Harley Quinn. Although he used her, tortured her and showed her off as a trophy, he appeared depressed and furious to be away from Harley when she was locked away in prison. So much so, in fact, that he tried repeatedly to release her from Amanda Waller’s claws.
His first attempt may have failed and left Harley heartbroken, but his second attempt was successful. It is thanks to the Joker that Harley Quinn can run around freely in Birds Of Prey, after all. In his own psychopathic, mad way, the Joker looked out for Harley by helping her escape prison.
Solo: Independent and Happier
Harley’s lack of independence and self-respect was one of the most criticized aspects of her characterization in Suicide Squad. A lot of fans accused the movie of glorifying an abusive relationship through Harley and the Joker’s infamous ‘mad love.’ Thankfully, all of this changed in Birds Of Prey - a film where Harley flourishes as a solo villain instead of as the Joker’s sidekick.
She makes her own decisions, gets out of trouble on her own, and fights the villain, played by Ewan McGregor, on her own. Although she has her new female friends to help her, what matters is that she is no longer someone else’s shadow. She truly has a voice and a loud one at that.
With Joker: Has Someone To Love
There is something undecipherable about Harley’s relationship with the Joker: whether Harley’s love for the Joker was genuinely reciprocated or not. In his own words, the Joker is not someone who is loved. And yet, he ended up dating Harley and risking his life to free her from prison and Amanda Waller.
Harley Quinn seems to be sensitive when it comes to love. It’s an unexpected quality in a villain. With the Joker, she had that special someone around whom she could be completely wild and crazy. They scammed gangsters, drove around chased by Batman, and brought chaos to Gotham city together. Harley seemed to revel in working with someone she loved.
Solo: Makes Female Friends
In light of the excitement surrounding Birds Of Prey, Margot Robbie revealed that she first pitched a solo Harley Quinn movie almost four years ago, before even the release of Suicide Squad. According to the actress, Harley’s character needed to be put at the center of a film where she would be surrounded by women instead of men, this time.
In Birds Of Prey, Harley meets Helena Bertinelli, also known as Huntress, Dinah Lance who is Black Canary, Renee Montoya, and even Cassandra Cain. All of these girls have distinct personalities, Helena and Dinah are badass and confidant, while Renee is friendlier, and Cassandra quieter - and Harley loves teaming up with them.
With Joker: Queen Of Gotham
We all remember Amanda Waller’s long introduction of the members of the Suicide Squad. In her description of Harley Quinn, she mentioned the Joker’s involvement in her transition from Harleen Quinzel to Harley Quinn and referred to the two of them the Queen and King of Gotham. And in her own infamous words, ‘she was his Queen and God help anyone who dared to disrespects the Queen.’
Part of what made Harley so unstoppable in the first movie is because of how well she and the Joker worked together, ruling the criminal world of Gotham.
Solo: Treated Better
The Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad started off having only ever known the abusive hands of the Joker. Perhaps this is why she easily found friends in the other outcasts of Task Force X. After such a long time of living as the Joker’s puppet, Harley failed to realize what she truly deserved. But by leaving her, the Joker gave her the opportunity to rediscover herself. In her new life, for the first time, Harley is surrounded by people who treat her as a human being.
In the end, it all comes down to Harley’s happiness. Therefore the main reason why she is better off on her own is that she’s free from abuse and ill-treatment from people she trusts.
With Joker: Safe From Villains
One of the reasons why Harley Quinn is being chased by villains in the likes of Black Mask and Victor Zzasz is because of her separation from the Joker. Despite the damage it may have done to her on a psychological level, being in a relationship with the Joker provided her protection from almost everyone (not Batman, though). Suicide Squad showed us how possessive and protective the Joker is of his girl, he makes sure to punish anyone who so much as looks at her the wrong way.
When the two break up, then, Harley is thrown out on the streets, left herself to drink at bars, and moan about her heartbreak to strangers.
Solo: Less Evil
The Joker is a character that everyone loves to hate. Although Harley Quinn seems like the female version of the Joker, viewers generally see her as less of an evil mind and more as a criminal with a heart. She may be violent, and impulsive. She may steal, stab and shoot people, but it is clear that she can have compassion for others.
Harley’s kindness is first introduced at the end of the Suicide Squad, when she takes a huge risk to save her new friends - something she chooses over Enchantress’s promise of a ‘better life.’ In Birds Of Prey, Harley also saves her friends when they need it.
