Harley Quinn Season 5, Episode 5 Review: A Murder Mystery With Irreverent DC Characters Is As Much Fun As It Sounds

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Harley Quinn season 5, episode 5Harley Quinn season 5, episode 5 continues the DC series after one of the show's best overall episodes. Last time around, it was all about Brainiac, complete with an intro sequence dedicated to the villain and his backstory. I loved seeing a new side of the character, as Harley Quinn tried to humanize the villain by focusing on his family and how Brainiac started on his path of destruction across the universe. After that, I couldn't wait to see how his story developed throughout the season.

Sure, Brainiac poses a major threat, and every time the character is onscreen means something important to season 5's main plot. But there are more adventures to be had with the characters before any forward movement with Brainiac happens. Harley Quinn is a show that knows the value of having fun with beloved characters, so plot-heavy episodes and one-offs will live on for as long as the show continues to air new seasons. Episode 5 is part of the latter, offering a fun look at DC characters in a popular genre.

A Murder Mystery Takes Over The DC Series

Harley Quinn Brings Back Fan-Favorite Characters

After a funny start with Frank and King Shark's son, Sean, episode 5 takes the action to Bruce Wayne's apartment. One of my favorite aspects of the new season is how it managed to keep Bruce around despite the action shifting from Gotham City to Metropolis. Harley Quinn's version of Bruce is far more comedic than Batman is known for and it works so well in the context of the show. Episode 5 knows how to capitalize on that with a huge Gotham party.

Lois Lane, Damian Wayne, the Joker, Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne, and more join Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn for a fun adventure that involves a murder mystery. There has been a surge of murder mystery movies and shows and, as a fan of 2019's Knives Out and its sequel, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, I felt like Harley Quinn very much leaned into the franchise's tone and humor. The result is one of the show's most distinct episodes and a fine addition to season 5.

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As with any murder mystery, it all starts with a death. Here, it's Alfred Pennyworth who bites the bullet. However, Bruce Wayne reveals a twist, saying his trusted butler is just pretending to be dead, as Alfred gets "extra" when he is annoyed. That left me half disappointed and half happy. While I prefer it when there is an actual death in a murder mystery, I did not want this version of Alfred to die. The DC series presents an angrier, more evil version of Batman's butler, which is interesting.

Harley Quinn Gets A Chance To Undo A Past Mistake

The DC Shows Presents Exciting Character Dynamics

After Harley is found with the fake murder weapon and runs away alongside Poison Ivy and Sean, Bruce reveals the truth to everyone, and the remaining dinner party guests form pairs to go looking for Harley. This leads to my favorite dynamic of the episode, as Bruce goes off with none other than the Joker. Harley Quinn has done a fantastic job with the Clown Prince of Crime. After Harley left the Joker and eventually found love with Ivy, the Batman villain has only gotten better, giving up crime and having a family.

The Joker is one of Harley Quinn's most hilarious characters, so to see him alongside Batman — who only appears as Bruce Wayne in episode 5 — not fighting but talking and searching for Harley together is exciting. Seeing the Joker and Bruce go to the sauna together, with the former villain giving him advice on how to have a better relationship with his son, Damian, as well as asking Bruce to help him with his daughter's internship, is something you don't see anywhere else.

Things do become action-packed when Red X enters the scene. Ever since I saw Red X in the season 5 trailer, I had a feeling it would be how the show brings Nightwing back to life. Lo and behold, that is exactly how it played out. Despite not being surprised by the reveal Dick Grayson was Red X, I liked how the series explained his return to life, with Alfred planning to use him from the shadows after he grew tired of years of neglect from Bruce. Alfred as a Bane-like villain and Dick making peace with Harley sealed a fun episode.

New episodes of Harley Quinn season 5 stream on Max each Thursday.

Harley Quinn

8/10

Release Date November 29, 2019

Pros & Cons

• A murder mystery with DC characters offer exciting opportunities
• Character dynamics work to the episode's favor, particularly the Joker's interactions with Batman
• Alfred's arc and Nightwing's return turn up the dial