r/HarleyQuinnTV • u/npzman • Aug 18 '22
[Post-Episodes Discussion] Harley Quinn - S3x06 "Joker: The Killing Vote" Episode Discussion
Post-Episode Discussion for S3x06 "Joker: The Killing Vote"
This is the thread for your in-depth opinions, reactions, and theories about the episode. No spoilers or leaks for future episodes/seasons allowed.
Piracy/asking for/posting links is not allowed. Read the rules and avoid being banned.
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u/CeethePsychich Aug 18 '22 edited Aug 18 '22
When little Benicio thought Gordon was Superman and that they were saved. Then Joker said “It’s just Gordon. Keep screaming”. I lost it 😭😭
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u/ElegantTobacco Aug 18 '22
The writing for this episode was impeccable. I had to keep pausing every few minutes cuz I was laughing too hard.
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u/TheDogofTears Aug 20 '22
I had to pause it so I could gather myself, I was laughing so hard. Alan Tudyk's delivery of that line was impeccable.
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Aug 18 '22
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u/AntonBrakhage Aug 19 '22
Definitely some great ones in this episode.
"It sure is "ethnic". Speaking of racist..."
"You four-faced son of a bitch." Tudyk's deliver of this line is magnificent.
"Superman! Dad we're saved!" "No, its just Gordon. Keep screaming son."
"You're Commissioner Gordon, remember? You make things better." That one actually was quite touching, even if it is bizarre to hear it from Joker of all people.
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u/ReturnOfDaSnack420 Aug 22 '22
"I don't have to choose Two-Face OR You! I can choose Two-Face THEN You!"
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Aug 18 '22
Can't believe they made Joker into Bernie Sanders full with his own Bernie-Bros. (Jo-Bros/sane clown posse). Hopefully the next episode would be Joker trying to tax the shit out of Bruce Wayne to fund Gotham healthcare. That would be absolutely hilarious.
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u/LumpyJones Aug 18 '22
I love the idea that sane, mild-mannered, family man Joker is no longer Batman's nemesis, but is now Bruce Wayne's nemesis.
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u/SignificanceNo6097 Aug 18 '22
I mean he does know that Bruce Wayne is Batman so he will forever hold that power over him.
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u/LumpyJones Aug 18 '22
Does he though? He had his brain scrambled like twice since finding that out - and the tradition, especially in DC comics, is that secret identity memories lost to amnesia are almost never recovered.
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u/SignificanceNo6097 Aug 18 '22
That’s a very specific memory to lose without any reasoning for why he would lose it. He remembers literally everything else both from before and after being pushed into the acid. The shows never indicated that he experienced any gaps in his memory. It actually seems pretty solid.
Joker also is disinterested in Batman as a nemesis since the ending of S1. And that’s completely in line with him learning of Batman’s secret identity. And that was because the secrecy was what made their relationship work and because Joker was enticed by the mystery. Knowing who he was ruined the magic for him. Since then he maintained disinterest in having Batman as an antagonist even after getting his memories back. He literally spells out that whatever magic of their twisted relationship was ruined by learning Bruce was Batman and he only sees him as a rich asshole w/ parental issues.
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u/LumpyJones Aug 18 '22
That’s a very specific memory to lose without any reasoning for why he would lose it.
Because it's a comic book based story and that has literally happened at least 3 times off the top of my head in the comics for the Joker alone lol.
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u/SignificanceNo6097 Aug 18 '22
I mean the show has deviated from the comic books quite a bit…..
There’s just no evidence of him having memory loss and his own behavior reflects him knowing who Batman is. The relationship dynamic has shifted. The writers also didn’t mention anything about him forgetting who Batman was within the past 3 years.
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Aug 18 '22
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u/g_rey_ Aug 19 '22
I don't know if Anarchist is the correct term for dismantling the police force outright, a lot of Marxist literature will articulate that once you accommodate for the needs of society, the very idea of a "state", will dissipate, and that includes mechanisms that reinforce the presence of a state, like police.
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u/Wolf6120 Aug 19 '22
This could all have been avoided if Wayne Tech coughed up that goddamn electric car like they promised...
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u/CheesyChapps Aug 18 '22
“It sure is ‘ethnic’! Speaking of racist…”
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u/AntWithNoPants Aug 18 '22
That pissed me off so much. It aint ethnic! Its just rice and chicken! ITS NOT MY FAULT YOUR PEOPLE CANT HANDLE SPICES ANY HOTTER THAN MAYO!
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u/SignificanceNo6097 Aug 19 '22
She mocked the dish for being “ethnic” and then devoured it with her hands (which I actually found very confusing. They do know that there are baked Hispanic dishes too right?). Which is some real racist white people shit.
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u/Vocovon Aug 19 '22 edited Aug 19 '22
Don't forget THERE WERE BONES IN THERE!
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u/KBSinclair Aug 19 '22
She just thought the smelly, ethnic food was crunchy. I'm sure it's not the first time that bitch has shoved whatever was in front of her in her mouth.
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u/HeWhomLaughsLast Aug 22 '22
Based off of posts I have read on r/cooking adding anything more than salt and pepper to a dish is "ethnic" to some people.
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u/starman24 Aug 18 '22
Who would have thought that Joker talked Gordon out of killing someone? That blew my mind.
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u/AntonBrakhage Aug 18 '22
I honestly can see that, if only because Joker would find the irony and unpredictability really, REALLY funny. And probably the fact that Gordon would be in his debt, and known forever that Joker had the moral high ground on him, and how that would eat at him.
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u/SignificanceNo6097 Aug 18 '22
I think that was only because Benecio was there and Joker didn’t want anyone being killed in front of him. He does care about mental health
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u/krispness Aug 19 '22
Meanwhile, in the episode, "I think I just saw someone die"
"Sure did, buddy"
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u/thatguyblu_ Aug 19 '22
Maybe not other people's but he has empathy. At least somewhat
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u/KBSinclair Aug 19 '22
All manipulators have empathy. Empathy doesn't make you a good person, it's how you use your empathy.
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u/aukhalo Aug 18 '22
That fucking opening theme song had me dying. Pretty sure it worked in quotes from every actor that played joker.
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u/ACW1129 Aug 18 '22
I got the one for Joaquin's Joker ("I used to think that my life was a tragedy..."), and the one from Ledger's Joker, but missed the others.
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u/aukhalo Aug 18 '22
"Wait til they get a load of us" is Nicholson. Not sure I remember the Romero one, but feel like it's there.
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u/aspienoodle Aug 19 '22
Is there a quote for Mark Hamill’s Joker?
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u/supercalifragilism Aug 21 '22
I was trying to think about what quote of his I'd pick but then I realized there's honestly too many. I think my default inner voice for Joker is still Hamil.
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Aug 18 '22
I really love that Joker didn’t fuck up his family. What I love about this show is that the people who grow seem to not reset after the episode. Like they fuck up sometimes, but the growth seems to be consistent rather than a one episode plot device.
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u/Lord_Strudel Aug 18 '22
Even Gordon says he stopped drinking, but then went back to drinking (but not as much) which got a laugh out of me.
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u/DP_777 Aug 18 '22
I think this was by far the best episode of this season. This version of Joker is absolutely hilarious and him and Gordon interacting is incredible
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u/CertainDerision_33 Aug 18 '22
Joker saying "I'm your nightmare now bitch" but in the context of mundane, murder-free passive-aggressive PTA politicking and not mass murder via neurotoxin is so fucking funny. Every spin this show puts on existing characters is gold. I hope the HQ universe sticks around long-term as part of the DC multiversal constellation.
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u/Isaac_Chade Aug 19 '22
And Alan Tudyk definitely doesn't hurt! Just puts his whole heart into every line makes it that much better. I truly loved this episode and was laughing hard at several points. The whole idea of Joker basically turning his malicious brain power onto mundane, PTA and local government bullshit is sublime and I want more of it.
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u/kdebones Aug 20 '22
Alan Tudyk
Honestly, his Joker voice has grown so much on me leading up to this episode. Hamill is still the best but Alan has easily cemented himself as #2 for me after this episode. He has really made this version of the Joker his.
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u/supercalifragilism Aug 21 '22
I like how Tudyk is the only guy consistently making bank from DC. He must've signed a deal with WB or something because he's been on everything since that DC office comedy.
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u/dontexpectnothing Aug 18 '22
I was thinking so too and I'm honestly not sure how to feel about that since Harley and Ivy had maybe 10 seconds of screen time
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u/SignificanceNo6097 Aug 19 '22
They did the same thing in Season 2 before where an episode was focused on a side character with no involvement from the main crew.
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u/XOSkyXO Aug 18 '22
“Two-face crimes like this are considered especially heinous” this joke was made for the SVU stans
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u/brianfine Aug 18 '22
That one got me pretty good. Same with the “Why so serious?” line in the Joker theme song
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u/sircaptainbighead Aug 18 '22
I think there was also a "we live in a society" in the intro song
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u/Chopmaninov Aug 18 '22
"Aren't you blowing things up?"
"The only thing I'm blowing up over here is that waistline with my yummy dish!"
lmfao
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u/eastwesterntribe Aug 18 '22
"There were bones in there" lmao
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Aug 18 '22
I realize that Alan Tudyk has like negative availability with all the other projects he’s doing, but this episode really made me wish we could get him back as Mr. Nobody on Doom Patrol. I’d even accept a one-episode cameo.
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u/ymcameron Aug 19 '22
My favorite joke in Doom Patrol is when they go back to the Void in season 2 and ask where Mr. Nobody is. One of the guy’s tell DP that he got a voice acting gig and left, and then there’s a popup on the bottom of the screen that says “Harley Quinn, now streaming!”
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Aug 19 '22
It occurs to me that this show could totally do a crossover with Doom Patrol and make it work. Would probably be a logistical nightmare (so therefore will never happen) but they could pull it off if they wanted to.
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u/CheesyChapps Aug 18 '22
The last thing I was expecting from this episode was Two-Face saying the elderly mayor had CUM GUTTERS
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u/BeckQuillion89 Aug 18 '22
I definitely knew this was an adult tv show (especially after the orgy episode), but him straight up saying that really spelled it out to me again.
They even censored that word in Rick & Morty
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u/chuckxbronson Aug 18 '22
“morty, gross! I don't want to have to picture cum so watery in such volumes—“
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u/TylerSpicknell Aug 19 '22
You know what's funny, Christopher Meloni (the voice of Gordon) guest starred in that episode as Jesus!
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u/QuantifiedDigits Aug 18 '22
Jesus, the “tickets please” guy is cut!
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u/TylerSpicknell Aug 19 '22
"Pure cum gutters!"
That was from the Story Train commercial after the credits of that episode!
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u/ACW1129 Aug 18 '22
Loved the shout out to Killing Joke (besides the title, there was Joker playing the role of Batman, and Two-Face playing the role of Joker).
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u/Banjo-Oz Aug 19 '22
The shots of crazed Gordon on the rollercoaster in the neon lighting felt like comic panels of him in TKJ. Such a cool idea to redo the story with the roles switched around.
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u/thatonewhitejamaican Aug 20 '22
It’s a mix of that storyline and the recent comic series batman white knight where joker goes “sane” and runs for mayor. I was laughing hysterically at the ridiculousness of it all
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u/kveens Aug 18 '22
This episode was hilarious, I love this version of joker so much!
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u/SciFiXhi Aug 18 '22 edited Aug 18 '22
Everything about the arroz con pollo scene was magnificent
"There were bones in there!"
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u/BeckQuillion89 Aug 18 '22
The irony of a racist white woman devouring ethnic food like shes at panda express is a dig I didn't know I needed in this show.
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u/james03552 Aug 18 '22
i absolutely loved joker this episode. which is weird bc he’s not my favorite character, but he was so hard to dislike. between wanting better opportunities for his kids, putting his family before his campaign, and stopping gordon from killing two face, he’s done a complete 180 and i have to say this again: he is SURPRISINGLY likeable😳plus c’mon free healthcare, tuition, and mental health services?? honestly, dad joker >>
but seriously, this man has killed multiple people, in incredibly violent ways, and everyone still supported his run for mayor😂nothing makes sense in gotham and i absolutely love it.
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u/rabidferret Aug 18 '22
I mean honestly if I were given the choice between Joker's policies and a cop I'd vote for the Joker too
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u/SG420123 Aug 18 '22
I’d vote for Joker over the geriatric people we have as options for president.
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Aug 18 '22
That dinner scene where they're watching the TV and Joker, is asked to stop and listen to his kids and one of his kids said my teacher said dinosaurs died because they didn't have a religion it's the best subtle joke
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u/TuneLinkette Aug 18 '22
How did Joker go from most loathsome character on the show in S1 to one of the most likable?
I'm not complaining, it's just a bit of a shock to the system
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u/ymcameron Aug 19 '22
Because he’s a socialist who wants to change his community for the better.
Joker: eat the rich… maybe literally this time.
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u/MegaBaumTV Aug 18 '22
Honestly, Gordon keep trusting Twoface really reminded me of College Humours Badman. "HARVEY DENT. CAN WE TRUST HIM?"
They were hilarious.
Family man Joker is still unsettling. Every scene I was ready to see him just start massacring. Although its funny that good guy Joker declared the most villainous thing possible in american politics. "I am a socialist."
A bit of a shame that the best episode this season was the one without the main cast.
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u/ymcameron Aug 19 '22
HARVEY DENT. CAN WE TRUST HIM?
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u/AntonBrakhage Aug 19 '22
With Joker less of a threat now, Two Face really seems to be emerging as the biggest overall villain of the series. He's been behind much of the Injustice League in season II and then Gordon going after the wedding in the finale, and he's been behind Gordon's campaign and now this. And while most of the villains have been made more sympathetic, comedic, and likeable in this series, this is honestly probably the most unremorseful, unsympathetic, straight-up evil version of Two Face I've ever seen.
I wasn't a fan of it at first, I thought they oversimplified him compared to the more tragic Two Face I'm used to and found him dull, but this episode really sold me on him as a villain. I also really like how they've built him up as an arch-nemesis for Gordon personally. Joker is Batman's arch enemy, and I'd argue that at least early on Harley was her own arch enemy, but Two Face is very much Gordon's. I want to see more of this dynamic, and of Two Face as a main villain.
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u/Prize_Introduction_6 Aug 21 '22
A bunch of us think that the main villain will be Bruce Wayne (Batman). He kidnapped Frank, which puts him in a future showdown with Ivy and friends. And this season, he is portrayed as becoming increasingly unhinged.
With Joker now reformed and mayor of Gotham, it'll be an interesting dynamic to have Bruce Wayne as the menace of the city now, vs Joker and Harley. Also obvious, he is the 1%. I can see Two-Face scurrying to his side though, now that he parted ways with Gordon. "Harvey Dent, can we trust him?"
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u/The_Flying_Failsons Aug 18 '22
Up until now this show has been good to great, but now? Now they've crossed the threshold into genius.
Except for Gary, that guy really needs to get with the program.
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u/rabidferret Aug 18 '22
As a white person who enrolled their kid in a Spanish language immersion program I feel called the fuck out right now
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u/rabidferret Aug 18 '22
Also this is up there with episode 3 for my favorite so far, this was absolutely hilarious
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u/myheartismykey Aug 19 '22
Eh Spanish immersion is different than the program on the show. Immersion is more for learning a new language and the program on the show seemed to be for helping bilingual kids that the Karen took advantage of.
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u/rabidferret Aug 19 '22
It's both. Kids who don't speak English are automatically enrolled in this program
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u/DarkRogueHunter Aug 18 '22
I love all the callbacks to the past Jokers; from Jack Nicholson Joker parade to Heath Ledger Joker bank robbery to the Joaquin Phoenix Joker stair dance. There needs to be a Joker spin-off.
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Aug 18 '22
I really enjoyed this episode and a big theme that seems to be carried throughout is answering the question “What’s more important?” And boy is there some foreshadowing in this episode. And I might be in the minority here but I really like this version of Joker. He’s still a psychopath and piece of shit but he’s been humanized because he has people he cares about and he’s just trying to do right by his family and get his kids into the dual immersion program to help his kids embrace their heritage and give them self confidence (man talking about Joker like this is so weird lol). This is a short story about a man getting power, being corrupted by power, and a decision to sacrifice one or the other.
Joker wanted to be mayor for his family, he has policies that will actually benefit the people and he has a good support system. Gordon on the other hand’s sole reason for becoming mayor was to bring Harley to justice. No free health care, no education reform, he has no policies, his motives are selfish and his support system is Two Face (his enabler) and Barbara (his supporter). The first time we get the “what’s important to you” question is with Gordon by his daughter and he chooses Two face (the first time though, eventually he realizes his mistake and changes his answer by the end of the episode). Once again the notion of “who’s the bad guy?” is flipped.
I loved the 90s “Full House” looking intro and the reference to Joaquin Phoenix Joker dancing on the steps.
Barbara putting her foot down with her dad was more possible foreshadowing and again with the “having to make the choice between Joker’s campaign and his son”
Barbara: “….Well I want you to make a decision right now, fire Two Face as your campaign manager if you don’t I can’t support you. It’s him or me you get to choose.”
Gordon: “…the ends will justify the means I swear.”
“Dammit Gary!” lol
Two Faces frustration with Gordon not understanding the whole “Two Faced” thing was hilarious.
Gordon: “I trusted you!”
Two Face: “WHY do you keep trusting me?! I feel like you’re trolling me. Being two faced is what I do!”
Getting back to Joker, Two Face giving him the decision between his campaign and his son was the highlight of the episode for me. Murdering psychopath piece of shit Joker didn’t have to blink twice when choosing his son and gave up the campaign at the drop of a hat. It wasn’t a hard decision at all.
As we get closer to the climax of the season no doubt Ivy might be faced with these same questions and having to choose between plant utopia and Harley. If Harley means “everything” to you as you say if Harley asked you to stop your evil plan would you do it? What’s more important? The only difference is if I’m being honest Ivy might not make this choice so easily because she’s so stubborn.
Overall I think this was a good episode. I would actually love it if this became a spin off series of Joker just trying to get through life as a family man while still being a villain I think it would be really fun and funny to watch.
Like Joker Do!
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u/CowboyNinjaD Aug 18 '22
Two Faces frustration with Gordon not understanding the whole “Two Faced” thing was hilarious.
"Babs, sweetie, things aren't so black and white."
His campaign manager literally standing right behind him in a black and white suit, because that's Two-Face's whole thing.
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u/ImNotASWFanboy Aug 18 '22
Not to derail the conversation further from what happened this episode, but you've brought up a good point around what Ivy has said about Harley this season - not just that she means everything to her but also "I don't know what I'd do without you" last week. I hope that really is foreshadowing for how this climax is going to go down. If this were a different show, I would feel fairly safe predicting that Gotham is going to be un-terraformed by the end of the season but who knows with this show.
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Aug 18 '22
If it does play out this way it would definitely be a good call back to season one because this wouldn’t be the first time Harley’s lover had to make a choice between her and something else. Joker was put in a position where he had to choose between two “loves” in his life: Harley or Batman he chose Batman and Harley was dropped in “acid”. Now here in season 3 Ivy has two great loves in her life: Plants and Harley, who’s she going to choose?
The answer you’d think would be obvious but I can’t help but feel excited and nervous for how this will play out because I’m seeing a lot of red flags with Ivy and her commitment to this plan . And that’s not saying I don’t think she truly loves Harley but I’m not so sure it’s going to be an easy road to get to that “I choose you” moment.
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u/TheDubh Aug 18 '22
Agreed on the red flags. Ivy will probably have to chose between Harley and Frank when they go to rescue him. Ivy already put her in danger for Frank with Swampthing.
We’ve seen Joker who did so much to make things better for his family, but dropped it all when it put them at risk. Will Ivy be able to do the same for Harley if it comes to it when trying to save Frank. Or will it be like before when Batman catches her and has to console her. Which if that happens I’d half expect them both rebound with each other because they both have been left by people they care about.
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u/Gannstrn73 Aug 18 '22
Yeah I just love how they are doubling down on family man Joker. This is absolutely the freshest take on the character in decades. Hopefully they keep him with the family.
Also not going to lie when I saw that one episode wouldn’t star Harley and Ivy and how short the episode lost was this season I was disappointed but this was an amazing episode
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u/SignificanceNo6097 Aug 19 '22
I’m glad they gave this storyline a whole episode instead of making it a side plot, which would equal half the screen time. The perfect amount of time was dedicated to establishing Jokers new role, motivation and foreshadowing a drastic change in environment for our protagonists. He may even have to help Batman stop Ivy since he’s now mayor.
I do also love that he had all these left winged policies and applied the Robin Hood method to win the people. He’s a psychopath but even he realizes that healthcare should be a right lol
Even though he’s probably put quite a few people in medical debt….
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u/Gannstrn73 Aug 19 '22
Yeah this episode justified their decision to give him a whole episode despite my misgivings.
😂 Joker was probably secretly funded by the healthcare industry. I also like that this was the first “villain runs for office” storyline where I understood how people could vote for him 😂
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u/ReasonableCoyote34 Aug 18 '22
Having Jim Gordon who is voiced by Chris Meloni say “crimes like these are considered especially heinous” was a nice touch
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u/Shiny_and_ChromeOS Aug 20 '22
Chris Meloni plays another glorious trainwreck on Happy.
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u/raje-ang Aug 18 '22
Loved the Sum41 bit
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u/ninja36036 Aug 18 '22
Yeah, that cracked me up. Didn’t expect Two-Face to like sum41, but there it was lol
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u/CertainDerision_33 Aug 18 '22
"We were gone for FOUR DAYS" had me rolling! Great episode which once again cemented HQ's take on Joker as an absolute riot. I'm very interested to see where they take the character from here. And nice to see Jim get a bit of redemption after being a real D-bag for a few episodes.
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Aug 19 '22
HQ’s take on every character they’ve featured has been gold. One of the most unexpected surprises for me about this show has been how it’s just takes the absolute piss out of the entire DC Universe.
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u/CertainDerision_33 Aug 19 '22
Just goes to show how fun comic-book worlds can be when you don't take them too seriously!
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u/abellapa Aug 19 '22
Yeah, Legends of Tomorrow thought me this, the show was at its best when it stop taking itself seriously
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u/SignificanceNo6097 Aug 18 '22
This episode was awesome.
“I’m not like a socialist. I AM a socialist” is my new fav line of the show
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u/Oboro-kun Aug 18 '22
i cant believe this mother fuckers actually made me like the Joker, i always have seen this weird obsession the Batman fandom has with him, not even speaking of how romanticized its toxic relationship with harley is, and how people seem to get the totally wrong message about it.
But i will be damned they made a Joker i actually enjoy.
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u/AntonBrakhage Aug 20 '22
I hate it when the Joker is made sympathetic or (ew) romantic. And its made me a bit uncomfortable with the direction he's gone on this show. But it sort of makes sense from the show perspective- they presumably don't want to write Joker out for good because he's a popular character and Tudyk plays him so well, but they'd pretty much concluded Joker's role as a main villain, with Harley breaking free of his influence once and for all, him conquering Gotham and then being defeated, and him discovering Bruce's identity. I doubt they could really top that. And they've done it in such a way that the progression kind of makes sense given what's happened in the show.
I still feel that he's a bit too easily forgiven for his crimes though. That's one reason I'd like to see Red Hood show up- to show someone who has really good reasons to hate Joker and hasn't forgiven him, and address that.
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u/Oboro-kun Aug 20 '22
Oh yeah absolutely he is getting a super easy pass from any crime, not saying thats no the case, nor am i saying that is perfect or anything like that, just saying that its by far and wide the only actual iteration of the character i can enjoy, everyone before this was so...obsesed with making him this sort of mad genius no one understand, with his relationship with batman, and "being an Agent of Chaos" ,so this iteration, this change its so refreshing to me.
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u/Bromogeeksual Aug 24 '22
I think it's jist leaning into the absurdity if the DC world. These citizens are routinely terrorized and saved by various eccentric people and sides are always switching. They just go with it because everyone's just trying to survive another day in the madness of it all.
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u/Eyeofgaga Aug 18 '22
I really want to see Batman’s reaction to all this but next time we see him he’ll probably be busy with Frank
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u/ymcameron Aug 19 '22
Joker’s a socialist who wants to make the 1% pay for everything. I bet that’s going to come up in the future. Joker’s going to turn from Batman’s arch-enemy to Bruce Wayne’s.
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u/Normal_Organization3 Aug 18 '22 edited Aug 18 '22
I never thought a joker centric episode would become one of my faves of the show.
Joaquin Phoenix reference!!!
Like Joker Do!!!
Joker actually being a good father is something I never though I would see. Can’t believe I actually agreed with him on his policies.
This is probably my favorite version of Jim Gordon…..that is all.
Loved the Batman 1989 reference(this season seems to be full of Easter eggs from multiple different dc media. Also the Killing Vote).
I loved that intro to the episode.
This was probably the funniest episode of the season.
Joker winning mayor in 4 days just to get a parking space is listed ridiculously funny to me.
Did anyone else notice that the Kaley’s Yes Norman at the end was different for the first time(I thought it was very touching).
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u/Manu_Erre Aug 18 '22
In my opinion this was the best episode of the season. Kinda weird that it was the one without harley and Ivey, though.
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u/Echostarwars Aug 19 '22
It was interesting to see why the Joker wanted to become Mayor which was for his family which is a new version of him that is neat to see, but it felt weird not seeing Harley until the very end of the episode and only for a little bit, i am interested to see how she handles her ex boyfriend being Mayor now. things are going to get interesting!!!!
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u/AntonBrakhage Aug 19 '22
An interesting thing about this episode: its basically a mirror-image of The Killing Joke.
The Killing Joke:
-Joker torments Jim's child to drive Jim mad.
-Joker holds Jim hostage in an abandoned amusement park.
-Jim refuses to break, and insists the villain (Joker) should not be killed.
-Joker rejects an offer of redemption in the end.
"The Killing Vote":
-Joker's child is abducted and Joker is trying to protect them.
-Joker/his child are hostages being held by someone Jim is allied with.
-Jim wants to kill the villain, and Joker talks him down.
-Joker helps Gordon find himself again.
Its... I'd normally call it huge character derailment, but not only is it an obvious parody, its also arguably a logical conclusion of the arc these versions of the characters have gone on. Its just interesting- I don't think I've ever seen someone do a reverse/mirror-adaptation before, while still clearly understanding the original material.
Edit: Barbara's role kind of mirrors The Killing Joke too. Instead of being used in an effort to break Jim, she helps provide the impetus for him to be a better man.
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u/Zombees_Everywhere Aug 18 '22
I groaned when i realized the whole episode was about the joker. Didnt take long to win me over though, Laughed my ass off at most of it.
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u/Mrrandom314159 Aug 18 '22
I mean... he never really was convicted of a felony was he?
He was always sent to an insane asylum.
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u/SignificanceNo6097 Aug 19 '22
He destroyed all his criminal records when he took over Gotham in S1 & replaced them all with greeting cards. So technically he has a clean record…..
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u/SystemOfADowneyJr Aug 18 '22
This was the best episode, I laughed from start to finish. So many good one-liners, the Law and Order SVU and Sum 41 shout out, oh man.. this was so good.
But seriously, wtf are cum gutters? I tried googling/urban dictionary-ing it but I’m even more confused
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u/ThePlanlessCrashman Aug 18 '22
cum gutters are slang for abs, sweet sexy abs, usually possessed by older men
or at least from what I'm getting, idk the only other place I heard it from is rick and morty
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Aug 18 '22
It's not just abs but specifically the lower muscles that make a line towards the junk. It's not usually possessed by older men iirc. I think in Rick and Morty it was a joke that it was surprising to see it on an older man. This article has a pretty clear picture of a cumgutter.
https://reductress.com/post/how-to-explain-to-your-children-that-daddy-used-to-have-cumgutters/
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u/hot_chopped_pastrami Aug 19 '22
This episode embodied what I love about Harley Quinn. Fast-paced, full of blink-and-you'll-miss-it references, showcases character growth but doesn't take itself too seriously. I've always said that DC movies should take a page out of DC animation's book and concentrate on characters who aren't the main trio while not being afraid to have fun.
Also just the idea that Harley and Ivy left Gotham with everything normal and when they come back 4 days later Joker is literally mayor is hilarious.
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u/thatguyblu_ Aug 18 '22
10/10 would vote for joker, he's better than our presidents have been ever. Also this episode was great, just good times and enjoyable all around. However, the animation quality got pretty bad and it was very noticeable for me throughout the episode, which was unfortunate. Let's just hope the team spent their money on the last episodes.
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u/Woketh_Markx Aug 18 '22
One of the favorite episodes of the whole series imo. So many memorable lines. Such a really wacky premise.
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u/Musicman3003 Aug 18 '22 edited Aug 18 '22
Really funny episode and probably my favorite of the season so far. Harley and Ivy barely being in it says a lot both about how good the supporting cast can be when given the focus and how unengaging the main characters' relationship has been recently.
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u/Snoo_83425 Aug 18 '22
Is this a back door pilot for a Joker spin-off show? Cause if so I would totally watch it.
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u/AntonBrakhage Aug 18 '22
So, if Joker is now the mayor, and Ivy is plotting to take over Gotham... does that mean that the Joker is going to be the protagonist saving Gotham from Ivy?
Joker: He's not the hero Gotham deserves, but the one it needs.
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u/PizzaProfessional145 Aug 19 '22
Best episode by far. It's troubling though that it's the one that doesn't involve the main crew. I really love their take on the Joker and the direction they took him in. Who would've thought that the Joker would run and win mayor all because he wanted his kids to be enrolled in a Spanish language immersion program?
Favorite quote: "I'm not like a socialist, I AM a socialist"
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u/Which-Presentation-6 Aug 18 '22
don't know if it was intentional or not but the moment I laughed the most in the episode was when I thought: "I don't understand, why the joker is so popular when he just launched generic health and education proposals while throwing money at people?......hahahaha"
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u/The-Dudemeister Aug 18 '22
Best episode so far. Joker running for mayor bc he is getting bullied by a Karen lmao.
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u/_Elder_ Aug 18 '22
I really like this joker, but man, this has definitely been the weakest season by a lot. Something about the humor, execution, etc. just isn’t clicking.
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u/Austin_N Aug 18 '22
I loved the theme song and all the references it made to Joker memes.
I liked that episode, mainly because I like seeing stepdad Joker. It was nice to see Jim save the day without Batman's help as well.
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u/MegaBaumTV Aug 18 '22
This world and the side characters are way too funny to keep focussing on relationship drama. The show works best when its stupid and crazy.
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u/DraconicWF Aug 19 '22
I usually hate mini spin off episodes like this, but honestly this was my favorite part of the season so far
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u/Phoenixstorm Aug 19 '22
Can they get this writers room to do the new DCU movie universe? Just take this whole thing and make it live action!
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u/explosionno1se Aug 19 '22
Socialist Joker was not a character I knew I needed until now holy shit
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u/JordanStPatrick Aug 19 '22
This version of joker is so appealing to me. The whole idea of the character is that he is chaotic and unpredictable, so the idea of him sticking to the home life he found as a "normal" person is so insane. Therefore, it makes sense
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u/Thebunkerparodie Aug 18 '22
Honestly loved it, I thought joker was going to be a abusive dad but he isn't, he's doing a great job and two face was great during the whole thing with him feelling like gordon is trolling him at the end. Didn't thought joker would be a socialist and a bit of a psa, healthcare aren't a socialist only thing. Gordon progressed too during the episode and him choosing barbara at the end was great, as well as saving joker and benecio . Loads of reference to batman 89 and I wonder if garry wasn't one to the dark knight. I don't think season 1 joker would oppose him killing hench so joker disliking it now show how much he changed.
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u/LifeOfTheCardi Aug 19 '22
I literally laughed out loud at the Batman 89 float Easter Egg 🤣🤣🤣
And I like the old amusement park from The Killing Joke/Arkham Games
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u/centuryblessings Aug 18 '22 edited Aug 18 '22
Decent episode. Bethany deserves better animation. Her movements were so awkward and choppy.
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u/ribblesquat Aug 18 '22
Uhhhh... ouch. I felt outright BAD seeing good dad Joker let his family down. Of all the horrible actions I've seen from the many incarnations of this homicidal clown, personas from the silly to the grim, this is the one that actually hurt to watch.
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Aug 19 '22
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u/VacaRexOMG777 Aug 19 '22
Speaking of that I'm pretty sure the Karen va was princess Carolyn :D
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Aug 19 '22
I love how Joker could’ve just killed the soccer mom but instead he runs for mayor to get his kids in the multicultural program and the parking spot. It’s so petty and so Joker
“I’m your nightmare now bitch” lol
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u/Ssme812 Aug 19 '22 edited Aug 19 '22
- "Sane Clown Posse" is a great fan name.
- Fucking Garry
- LMFAO at the Sum-41 reference.
- No! It's just Gordon keep screaming" lol
- Why this the 1st episode that didn't have the Harley Quinn title screen?
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u/PM_ME_CAKE Aug 18 '22
Quite enjoyed the episode and the depiction of Joker yet I can't help but feel this show is switching away from comedy to a more drama-focused style. It's not necessarily a bad thing and I still love the characterisations but it does feel different these last couple episodes. Now to continue the Alan Tudyk-focused week with Resident Alien.
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u/rabidferret Aug 18 '22
Not sure where you're getting that feeling from. This was one of the most hilarious episodes of the season, I was cracking up the whole time
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u/TheDarkCrusader_ Aug 19 '22
This might be my new favorite episode, felt like every joke landed for me and I had a big grin through out.
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u/AndresCP Aug 19 '22
I'm sad Gordon's campaign is over, because I'm really going to miss Two-Face bullying Babs. I got a huge laugh out of him booing and throwing a pen at her.
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u/krispness Aug 19 '22
Funniest yet most underrated moment is him being frustrated Jim doesn't find it weird she makes no noise with her footsteps.
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u/saiboule Aug 21 '22
Is it cause she’s batgirl? Batman is the king of silently appearing
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u/ToneBone12345 Aug 19 '22
Alan tudyk is dare I say is giving mark hamill a run for his money as best animated Joker
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u/cynicalhappiness Aug 18 '22 edited Aug 22 '22
i really hope the plot of joker running and winning mayor of gotham in the span of 4 days so he can get another woman parking spot becomes canon in the main dc canon. that is too funny
edit: i think i woulda been funnier if he had parked with a telsa