Harley Quinn S2E1 recap: Gotham is an Apocalyptic Wasteland

Harley Quinn is back up to bat in the season premiere of her hit DC Universe show! It’s all anarchy and sushi in “New Gotham!”

What’s better than anarchy and sushi? According to Harley Quinn in “New Gotham,” the answer is nothing. The series’ second season starts off months after the Earthquake that shook the season finale, and now Gotham is no longer part of the United States.

Without Batman and the Joker, Poison Ivy tries to convince Harley Quinn that now is the perfect time to control the city. However, our Clown Princess of Crime has other ideas in mind: eat sushi and start a rebellion. She prefers a Gotham with no leadership whatsoever. Apocalyptic wasteland? Harley Quinn is all for it.

Oh, and that previously mentioned rebellion? Harley Quinn convinces the goons and henchmen of well-known DC villains to go their separate ways. Why work for The Penguin when you can be like The Penguin?

This rebellion doesn’t bode well for Bane, The Penguin, Two-Face, Mr. Freeze and The Riddler. To them, they need structure and organized crime, which brings us the creation of the Injustice League. To get Harley on board and get their goons back, the newly formed squad invites her to their lair. But chaos is Harley’s middle name, and she doesn’t fall for their plan of returning the hierarchy.

While this is all happening, poor Gordon is searching for Batman, but using the Bat-Signal only brings out Robin donned in full, over-sized, Batman gear. Robin informs the commissioner that Batman was in the Joker’s Tower when it was destroyed and that ever since Batman has been missing. Our spunky side-kick states that he’s prepared to take up the mantle, but Gordon doesn’t seem to be going for it.

Back to the meeting with the Injustice League, after she rejects their New New Gotham concept, Mr. Freeze pulls out his freeze-gun to imprison Harley. They then proceed to taunt her by telling her that she will never be one of them.

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Gordon attempts to return order within the GCPD but is interrupted by Harvey Dent. Two-Face informs Jim that he’s taking over the department. This news leads to a shoot-out, with multiple officers down. Gordon takes off and warns Two-Face that he will be back with Batman.

After two-months of being frozen, Harley’s friends arrive to save her from The Penguin’s domain. The entire team takes on their role at distracting Penguin, however, get caught and a half-frozen Harley comes face-to-face with the villain.

Fortunately, after taking a huge chunk out of his nose, Harley falls back and breaks the ice. She then plays a smokey game of hide-and-seek with The Penguin, which ends in her victory and his death.

While having a drink, the gang informs Harley Quinn that she’s been frozen for two months, and during this time, the henchmen returned to their villains. She also learns that the Injustice League carved up the city,  making it their own. After being in their captivity for so long, Harley Quinn just isn’t having it and officially declares that Gotham will be hers.

Bad time for this decision though, as the episode’s cliff-hanger shows that Bruce Wayne had been recovered in the rubble of the Joker’s Tower. Meaning, it’ll only be so long before Batman returns to save Gotham.

And, in an ending note, fans of Harley Quinn rejoice! Bud and Lou, her trusty hyenas, make their appearance in “New Gotham!”

Did you catch the season premiere of Harley Quinn? Share your thoughts in the comments!

New episodes of Harley Quinn land on DC Universe on Fridays!