Top 10 Funniest Moments on Harley Quinn

Season 3 of “Harley Quinn” sees Dick Grayson, aka Nightwing, aka the OG Robin, return to Gotham City. The protector of Blüdhaven wastes no time getting down to serious business. But someone that serious is bound to break, which is exactly what happens when he and Ivy are trapped in Riddler’s escape room. After he attempts and fails to free them, Nightwing becomes a sobbing mess. The writers threw in some clever Easter eggs referencing the character’s history, but all we can focus on is his dramatic reaction. Between desperately seeking Batman’s approval and harboring an intense fear of failure, Nightwing’s emo vibe makes a lot of sense.

It’s no secret that overzealous “fans” are impossible to satisfy, especially when it comes to comic book adaptations. In this meta cold open, two unnamed DC fans debate whether or not to watch “Harley Quinn.” The guy donning a “Release the Snyder Cut” tee criticizes the female-centric narrative and Harley’s ability to defeat other iconic rogues. For someone who claims to not watch the show, it sure sounds like he does, which even his friend points out. What’s even better is that this episode, titled “Batman’s Back, Man,” focuses on the Dark Knight’s recovery and return… So, the fanboy’s rant is irrelevant in this case. We know the “Harley Quinn” writers must’ve had fun with this one.

In this trippy season three episode, Harley and the gang venture into the mind of Bruce Wayne, a place where the tragic moment he lost his parents plays on a loop in several Crime Alleys. While exploring the nightmarish realm, a young Bruce reveals to Harley that he grows up to be Batman. Compared to Joker’s reaction to an unmasked Batman back in season one, she handles the news rather well, and it only takes her seconds to realize it’s definitely plausible. After Harley processes the reveal, she gets a glimpse of Batman’s most iconic and bizarre moments. We always love a reference and seeing recreations from different eras of the Caped Crusader made this one of the show’s best episodes.

Speaking of Mr. Wayne, Season 3 also shows us more of his relationship with Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman. While feelings aren’t exactly one-sided, Bruce’s unresolved trauma and loneliness make him extra attached to his notoriously aloof love interest. After spending some time at Wayne Manor, Selina understandably needs some solo time at her place, much to Bruce’s disappointment. He later shows up at her penthouse unannounced, and what does he bring her? Well, two cats, of course! Because what else would you gift a feline-themed antihero? He also christened them with some odd names, to which she has the purrfect response. With Bruce Wayne being such a historically tragic character, we appreciate these comical moments.

Season 2’s “normal” Joker storyline was wild, to say the least. Season 3 gave us a more unhinged look at his evolution from a maniacal, chaos-causing murderer to a loving partner and supportive stepdad. Seeing the Clown Prince of Crime struggling with common core math is hilarious and unfortunately for some, relatable. As a domestic suburbanite, he’s now tormented by a Karen-esque mom named Debbie even in his nightmares. Instead of outright violence, Joker opts for good ol’ pettiness. The situation inspires him to run for mayor of Gotham City. Joker’s parade harkens back to Tim Burton’s “Batman,” not to mention the brilliantly written opening theme song littered with callbacks and references to the character’s storied history.

We love all members of Harley’s crew but Clayface is a special kind of rogue. Inspired by a previous take on the character, he strives to be a celebrated actor. A series of bonkers events lead to an opportunity to mold himself into Billy Bob Thornton and assume the leading role of Thomas Wayne in a new biopic. His interactions with the film’s director James Gunn are especially enjoyable. Clayface manages to get away with the impersonation but realizes that it’s “Thornton” who will ultimately get the recognition he so desperately craves. After the movie premiere, he reveals the truth. As it turns out, he is such a great actor that no one believes him. Or it’s possible they just don’t care.

Bane is surprisingly one of the most lovable characters on “Harley Quinn.” Their take on the infamous villain was clearly inspired by Tom Hardy’s turn as the brute in “The Dark Knight Rises,” specifically his bizarre voice. Bane is regularly sidelined and unappreciated, and rarely does he get any respect, which makes his various plights all the more amusing and a little sad. He spends most, if not all, of Season 3 sulking and briefly has an existential crisis that triggers an inner dialogue a la Carrie Bradshaw. Through this subversive lens, he’s still physically intimidating and has a penchant for vengeance. But the s’plosions-loving character also cares about proper grammar.

When Harley and Ivy pose as students to infiltrate Riddler’s university campus, Clayface sees an opportunity for character work. As we mentioned, he has a proclivity for doing the most when it comes to a role, no matter how brief. For this mission, he becomes Stephanie, a gossipy coed who only talks about acapella clubs and the anguish of being Chad’s almost girlfriend. “Stephanie” has seemingly only existed one day or less, yet is already living an eventful life. It’s truly one of Clayface’s best performances, though it’s only somewhat helpful to Harley and Ivy in the end.

Kite Man is immature and completely lacks any self-awareness. But his simplemindedness is hysterical. We mostly see the underrated villain in the first two seasons, starting as an annoying guy trying to hit on Ivy at a bar mitzvah. He becomes her main love interest, though she tries to keep their relationship low-key. The couple almost made it to the altar but he wisely chooses not to marry a woman who’s in love with someone else. As we see in Season 3, he’s living his best life with a new lady on his arm. He has since taken center stage in his spin-off, perfectly titled, “Kite Man: Hell Yeah!” Because if any character deserves their own show, it’s definitely Kite Man.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Harley Bonding with Batgirl, Various
Sisters Kaley & Briana Cuoco Gave Us the Pairing We Didn’t Know We Needed

Catwoman’s Villy Speech, “The 83rd Annual Villy Awards”
The Ultimate Mic Drop for This Gotham City Siren

King Shark, Prison Boss, “You’re a Damn Good Cop, Jim Gordon”
How Is Nanaue Simultaneously Cuddly & Terrifying?

Frank Being Frank, Various
Ivy’s Loyal Plant Is Always Ready with a Comeback

Commissioner Jim Gordon has been a consistently amusing character, largely due to his unrequited bromance with Batman but also his unbelievable ineptitude. He repeatedly hits rock bottom but still manages to bounce back, if temporarily. Similar to other characters in the series, he tends to be the funniest when he’s at his lowest moments. We also like to see good old Gordo when he’s not depressed, like his adorable, whirlwind friendship with Clayface’s disembodied, sentient hand. Whether his life is in shambles or things are briefly looking up, we can always count on Gordon to make us howl with laughter.

What moments had you chuckling? Share the laughs in the comments below.