Heartwarming / Harley Quinn (2019)

Per wiki policy, Spoilers Off applies here and all spoilers are unmarked. You Have Been Warned.

Even being a raunchy, hyper-violent Black Comedy show with a TV-MA rating doesn't preclude Harley Quinn (2019) from having its supply of touching moments.

Season 1

Til Death Do Us Part

• Poison Ivy truly cares for Harley, even going as far as to team up with the Riddler to pull off a fake heist just so Harley can realize that the Joker is a horrible person who never loved her at all.
  • Harley and Poison Ivy's friendship started when Harley was the first doctor to ever diagnose and get through to Poison Ivy, turning her from an absolute misanthrope to someone capable of human companionship.
  • When Harley is talking to a photo of herself when she was Harleen, Poison Ivy lets Harley talk even smiling and zipping her lips so that Harley can analyze herself and her personal problems.
• All of the inmates in Arkham share the same sentiment as Ivy in regards to Harley's abusive relationship with the Joker, even if to a lesser extent.
  Harley: The fuck do you know? You're all fucking insane.

A High Bar

• Bane and the Scarecrow ask the Joker if he is handling the breakup well. Sweet and ballsy, especially because they work with the guy and know that the Joker would kill them if he felt like it.
• Harley and Ivy both fangirl over Howie Mandel and are legitimately upset when the Joker kills him.
• The Penguin seems to legitimately care about his nephew, having orchestrated his bar mitzvah, invited his coworkers, rented the Gotham mint, hired actors for his first "heist" and even gives him the chance to kill Harley for ruining it.
• While he loses his nerve when Harley breaks him down, the Penguin's nephew seemed genuinely into the idea of joining the "family business" with his uncle, something that's both iffy and kind of sweet.
• Harley calls out the Joker for treating the other villains like his personal goon squad with no regard for their feelings. The Scarecrow and Two-Face in particular agree that the Joker's verbal abuse of Bane is completely unwarranted. Good to know these hardened criminals at least care about their friend.
  • Bane himself also calls out the Joker for denigrating Joshua's bar mitzvah. A remorseless villain he may be, but even Bane recognizes the importance of the occasion in Joshua's life.
• Poison Ivy's opinion of Kite Man is disgust... but she does compliment that riding on his kite to see Gotham City from above is nice.
• When the Joker decides to get dangerous and pulls out a gun to shoot Harley, Ivy steps between Harley and the gun. The Joker asks her to move, and she says, "Over my dead body!" Which probably would have been the case with the Joker.

So You Need a Crew?

• Ivy honestly praises Harley when she makes the news about kicking Maxie Zeus's ass and getting a highway named after her.

Finding Mr. Right

• When Harley comes home after a disastrous attempt at finding a nemesis, she sees that Ivy prepared a congratulatory celebration for her... which all went to waste, but still a sweet effort.
  • Harley briefly mistaking Ivy for being pregnant is a sweet moment in and of itself, as she acts like a welcoming aunt-to-be.
• When Ivy sees Harley being trounced around by Batman on live television, she shows up to give her assistance even after having vowed not to get involved with Harley's schemes.
• It's made pretty clear that Batman deeply cares for Damian. When Damian is in mortal danger from King Shark, Batman drops in to save him and later leaves Harley and his crew when the Joker tries kidnapping him. Later, Batman tries to cheer him up with his favorite dish — though he admits that Alfred made it — and tries consoling Damian over his failed attempt at finding a nemesis. When he tries getting out of giving Damian The Talk, it’s very Adorkable.
• In a gallows-esque adorable way, when running for his life from King Shark, Robin first calls for help from "Batman", then help from "Father" and then, finally, "Dad".

Being Harley Quinn

• Ivy insists on staying to help Harley with her repressed memories because Harley is the only person she thinks is worth a damn. She then talks the rest of the crew into helping because Harley helped them. Except King Shark. He just helps because he's that nice a guy.
• One of the portraits in Harley's mind is of her and Ivy embracing. It's a minor background detail, but it shows how much Ivy means to Harley.

You're a Damn Good Cop, Jim Gordon

• Jim Gordon is a wreck, and his bonding with Clayface's sentient arm is nice, even though it could get clingy.
• Batman's screensaver showing that despite his denials and his being "not good with... emotions", he's more than just a co-worker to Jim Gordon.
• Giganta's new boyfriend Brad not only lets her and her son stay at his house, but had a giant door installed for her.
• Doctor Psycho being proud of his "terrible, terrible son". Even Ivy describes it as "oddly really moving".
• How Harley treats her allies in contrast to the Joker abandoning her at Arkham. While she forgets that she left King Shark in prison when she remembers she immediately breaks him out and apologizes for leaving him there for what was likely no more than a couple of days, in contrast to the year she was left at Arkham by her LITERAL BOYFRIEND. It shows that she's a better boss and a better person than the Joker (not that the bar is particularly high).

The Line

• Ivy and Kite Man’s newfound relationship is actually really sweet. Despite their differences and Ivy’s reluctance to be seen with Kite Man at first, they seem to really care about each other and enjoy their company. With Kite Man showing off his thoughtful side and Ivy learning to care less about what others think. It’s nice to see a happy and healthy romantic relationship after all the Joker stuff.

A Seat At The Table

• Batman catches Harley after the Joker throws her out of a helicopter. The look he gives her afterward shows that, despite kidnapping his son, he still wants her to get better and hates how the Joker treats her.
  Batman: Some things never change, Quinn.

Bensonhurst

• Despite the fallout between Harley and Ivy, Ivy asks Frank to get Harley to rescue her, showing that while she knows that Harley did her wrong, she still believes Harley is still a good person who will help her if she's in danger.
• Despite how dysfunctional their family is - and how they evidently feel about each other - before they die both of Harley’s grandparents make it clear that they love her.
• As of the ending, Harley has officially hit rock bottom. The grandparents that genuinely loved her are dead, her parents tried to kill her, her crew is partying without her, and she truly believes that Ivy hates her guts. But then, Frank shows up in a car and tells her that Ivy needs her help.
• Sharon admits that she only acted passive-aggressive toward Harley because she only wanted the best for her. Made a lot less poignant by the entire rest of the situation, however.

Harley Quinn Highway

• Harley's former crew refuse to help her when she promises to do better. However, when Frank says they need their help to save Ivy, all of them agree without hesitation.

Devil's Snare

• When Kite Man appears in his Big Damn Heroes moment, not only does everyone shout his name happily, Ivy smiles and remarks, "Hell yeah."

The Final Joke

• Harley and her crew burying Poison Ivy and giving her a proper funeral are both this and Tearjerker.
• Joker tells Harley that if she doesn't put on her original costume and become his plaything again, he's going to kill all of her crew. Harley's crew, except Doctor Psycho, all beg her not to. Even after being horrifically tortured and with their lives on the line, the crew is loyal to their boss.
• Kite Man and Frank stay by Poison Ivy's grave like a loyal dog stays by its owner.

Season 2

Thawing Hearts

• Ivy And Kite Man planning their wedding.
• Mr. Freeze asking Harley and her team if they have any allergies or phobias when he invited them for lunch.
• The reveal that Mr. Freeze argued to keep Harley alive as a frozen block of ice to placate the Injustice League, who just wanted to kill her. He was disgusted by the act, knowing it would be the kind of display that men like them would get off on, but it was better than killing her.
• Honestly, despite the parts played for tear-jerker or Black Comedy, any moment Mr. Freeze and Nora show they are the picture of Happily Married is heartwarming.
  • Ivy explains creating a transfusion is tricky because Nora's blood type is as rare as her disease. Rather than show any frustration, Freeze just caresses Nora's cheek and muses, "Ever my unique butterfly." D'awww!
• Small moment but when Harley says Ivy can help Mr. Freeze, he calls Ivy Dr. Isley. He must have some level of respect for Ivy if he calls her Doctor.
• Mr. Freeze shows his devotion to Nora by sacrificing his own life to cure her. In his Dying Declaration of Love, he asks Nora to move on and live a happy life. Even Doctor Psycho is moved to tears by this.
  • And compared to what happens in comics, other animation, and live-action, this is actually one of the happiest endings that Freeze has ever gotten in the saga of him and Nora.
• This exchange when Freeze decides to give his life for Nora without a second thought.
  Harley: Holy shit, that’s insane!
  Mr. Freeze: It is not insane. For if you truly love someone, you will do anything for them.

Batman's Back, Man

• The fact that while Bruce’s antics and childish desperation to break Alfred’s rule are played for laughs, his desire to get out and help the innocent people of Gotham from the chaos his absence has allowed very much isn't.
  • It’s as his best friend once said: if you take away everything from Batman, you’re left with someone who doesn’t want to see anyone killed. This still rings true even in the exaggerated, Black Comedy-filled world of Harley Quinn.
• When you think about it, the way Bruce emotionally regresses to a child around Alfred. It's one of many ways Alfred is shown to be more than a butler to Bruce.
• Just knowing Batman has returned sparks mass protests from the citizens of Gotham. Even taking a bullet to the shoulder a woman stands up to Two-Face refusing to be bullied into submission, the rest of the bank patrons stand with her.
• After Alfred and Batgirl save Batman from being killed, Batman expects Alfred to remind Batman about how he told him going out in his condition was a mistake. Despite all the snark Alfred has made at Batman's expense, he refrains from doing so.

All The Best Inmates Have Daddy Issues

• Ivy saving Harley from being shot.
  • Ivy's awkward, "are you okay... or... or whatever", when she rescues Harley will make you smile.
• The beginnings of Ivy and Harley's friendship.

There's No Place to Go But Down

• Throughout the episode, Bane proves to be genuinely interested in helping rehabilitate the various criminals and villains that get sent to the pit. He calls out Poison Ivy for not being supportive of Zsasz's progress, brings in outside entertainment as a treat in addition to the talent show for the inmates, and helps teach people useful skills that they can channel their energy into instead of violence. He only becomes actually antagonistic after Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn start a riot/mass escape attempt and physically attack him (and when it was only the riot, he still tried to reason with them and support Ivy's further emotional growth). Affably Evil, thy name is Bane.
• Barbara actually reveals to her father that she's Batgirl, which gets her a So Proud of You. In turn, Gordon is inspired to quit drinking and take his job back.
• Harley sacrifices herself so Ivy can escape the Pit. In turn, Ivy goes right back for her and they both make it out, leading to the moment so many fans have been waiting nearly three decades to see onscreen: The Big Damn Kiss.

Inner Para Demons

• Darkseid of all people gives Harley some counseling on her issues. Too bad she doesn't listen.
• Ivy calling out Kite Man’s Abusive Parents on their horrendous treatment of him.
• King Shark complimenting Batgirl on her costume design.

Bachelorette

• Harley and Ivy are so in love that they just can't help having mind-blowing sex two nights in a row even as Ivy is about to get married.
• Harley plans the perfect bachelorette party for Ivy, getting to take down an eco-villain.
• After learning Tabitha isn't into their marriage either, King Shark manages to make everyone happy: they go through the motions of the marriage to prevent a war between their families, but with both having the full understanding that it's just for show and they can still hook up with whoever they truly love.

A Fight Worth Fighting For

• The fact that the Joker of all people genuinely loves Bethany and her kids and wants to make his relationship with her work and be a father to them is heartwarming in its own way. Even if he admits he's not going to stop being a villain it's still surprisingly sweet given how much of a Jerkass shitbag the Joker typically is and shows how powerful love can be.
  • Also how in the end he's giving Harley genuine advice about her relationship with Ivy.

Lovers' Quarrel

• Harley can't face losing Ivy again, so when the Justice League is (again) determined to send Ivy to the Phantom Zone, Harley begs to be sent there with her.
• Bane is not only revealed to have survived his fall into the Pit, but when Harley and Ivy's affair is revealed, he's not angry at all about their escape and simply says that he knew it.

The Runaway Bridesmaid

• To apologise to Kite Man, Ivy got the Gotham Corn Factory for their wedding. She says Condiment King just gave it to her and that he is very much still alive, but may have left town indefinitely. Kite Man is touched that Ivy would go "toe to toe" with his nemesis just so he would have his dream venue.
• Some of the guests at Ivy and Kite Man's wedding include Bane, despite being a member of the Injustice League, Kite Man's parents, despite their falling out with their son, and even Cy as a television! Despite being a food mixer the last time we saw him.
• While Kite Man didn't want Harley at their wedding, with good reason, Ivy clearly did, and it's shown as she organized an usher to keep Harley and Kite Man away from each other, as well as having a place for her at the dinner table.
• Despite being put through the wringer throughout the episode, Kite Man is actually quite mature and composed when he breaks his engagement with Ivy, partly because he realizes that Ivy wouldn't be happy married with him.
• Even after Kite Man's broken off the engagement, Harley still tries her best to comfort Ivy and convince her that he'll be back. Even when she can finally have what she wants, Harley is still putting what she thinks Ivy wants over her own desires.
  • Beyond that, not even Ivy admitting that, deep down, she really didn't want to marry Kite Man makes Harley immediately think that they can get together. It's only when Ivy finally confesses her own feelings for Harley that the latter gets it.
    Harley: I love you, Ive!
    Ivy: I love you too, Harls.

The Eat Bang Kill Tour comics

Issues 5 and 6

• Ivy's Battle in the Center of the Mind in which she saves Little Ivy from her abusive father. It's topped off with "Doctor Harleen Quinzel" and Little Ivy hugging one another, with the former taking care of her inner child, and it is just so wholesome. A small scene in Ivy's mind-space shows Little Ivy eating cake at her previously-ruined-but-now-decent birthday party with Frank and Doctor Quinzel, and it is equally adorable.

Season 3

Harlivy

• Even though Harley obviously finds it incredibly boring, to the point that Ivy tries to give her an out by giving her permission to not join in if she doesn't want to, she supports Ivy's interest in plantlife through and through, even bringing her to an old pet project of Ivy’s named Edin to help bring it back into fruition.
• Harley even manages real self-reflection for Ivy, admitting that her desire for drama ruined Edin.

There's No Ivy in Team

• Nightwing's complete 180 in attitude at the end of the episode. After getting quite a bit of Humble Pie, he decides to start over with Batgirl, setting up some ample Ship Tease between the two. He even joins Macaroni in an old-timey version of the Batman (1966) Batcopter!

The 83rd Annual Villy Awards

• Seeing how much Kite-Man's life has improved since the last time we saw him. When he finds Harley in the destroyed bathroom, standing over the beat-up Android trying to get the award results, he tells her that since dating Ivy, he has been inspired to be a better person and a better villain, and even though he isn't with Ivy anymore, he has a new girlfriend, Golden Glider and things are going well for both him and Harley. The man clearly holds no grudges toward Harley after everything that happened.
  • Golden Glider herself deserves a mention. She's a slightly awkward but sweet girl who makes weird jokes and adds her own sound effects when showing off her powers, and she really sees Kite-Man as a really great guy, making sacrifices to improve their relationship. She even lets out her own 'Hell Yeah!'.
  • Poison Ivy and Golden Glider meeting outside the Award Show, both being anxious about sitting at a table with each other. They both speak highly of Kite-Man (Mostly about his chili) and they both decide they shouldn't be anxious about each other and they should both support their partners because they would do the same.
    • That Kite-Man said they'd like each other when they met - and was entirely right - added to how touching the whole thing was. Kite-Man moved on and found a partner that was better for him, and his first thought was how he was glad his new partner was the sort who'd get on with his ex.
• Harley and Ivy both learn to put their partner's interest ahead of their own desires, ultimately deciding they don't need anyone else's validation.
• At the end when Joker takes Harley and Ivy's Best Couple award when they fail to claim it, he gives a shout-out to Bethany and her kids, expressing his love for them with 100% sincerity. He may still be an evil bastard again but him becoming a better person in the love department has completely stuck.
• Riddler and Clock King's relationship is funny but also genuinely loving. Riddler even remarks that the biggest mystery he solved was his own sexuality.

A Thief, a Mole, an Orgy

• We actually get to see Joker be the stepparent he now is when Harley and Ivy go to him for help in the middle of him helping Benicio with his math homework. He even refers to him as "my son" and even though the math frustrates him to no end, all it takes is his stepson's quietly crying face to calm him down. The first time anyway. The second time he throws the laptop at the wall, though he promises to make it up with some boba.

It's a Swamp Thing

Joker: The Killing Vote

• Even though he got carried away in his campaign for mayor, Joker doesn't even hesitate to shut it down if it means saving Benicio from Two-Face. Showing how much he loves his new family.
  Joker: You think I made a hard choice? Wrong. I'm only running for mayor for my family, and I'll quit for my family just as easily.

Batman Begins Forever

• Psycho seems to have made a genuine attempt at self-improvement, now running a self-help podcast from Arkham. When working with Team Harley, his previous raging misogyny is absent, and while still somewhat sarcastic, he’s also much less abrasive than he was even on his good days.
• The subtle actions of Harley and Ivy towards each other in this episode. When they first enter Bruce's mind and fall into the alley, Clayface and Psycho land face-first into the pavement while Harley lands on her feet; she then proceeds to catch Ivy, cradling her like a princess. Later in the episode, as Harley is still trapped in Bruce's mind, Ivy looks over her body with concern, noting how "beautiful" she looks even in sleep.
• Harley being the only person to sympathize with Bruce's traumatic witnessing of his parents' deaths. Whereas Ivy is indifferent and downright mean towards Bruce's plight (since Bruce kidnapped Frank), Psycho is just annoyed at seeing Thomas and Martha die multiple times, and Clayface only cares about how Thomas "felt" at the moment of his death, so he can "act" out his role better. Eventually, Harley tries her best to prevent Joe Chill from shooting the Waynes. When that inevitably fails, she protectively picks up kid Bruce, holds him close, and tells him to close his eyes, while staring daggers at Joe. She then spends the rest of the episode trying to keep Bruce safe, when she really didn't have to.
  • Her tone of voice and body language as she protects and consoles kid Bruce is amazing: she's being soothing and soft instead of demonstrating the usual bombastic behavior. When Joe Chill finally catches up to them, Harley demands that he leave Bruce alone and voices out her disgust that Joe is just another faceless cowardly asshole that Bruce shouldn't be afraid of.
• Harley slowly warms up to Bruce/Batman throughout the episode as she learns just how much he hurts himself with his trauma. Harley even admits that seeing Batman’s life altogether makes her realize how inspiring his actions are. The same is true in reverse, with kid Bruce growing to like Harley back, admitting that he was wrong about her being a "scary" clown, and even pleading with her to please help him.
• Despite the scariness of their situation, Bruce has demonstrated that his sense of humor and mischievousness can rival Harley's, teasing her with knowledge about Superman's secret identity, causing Harley to actually smile in response.
• During Bruce’s memory of fighting Joker and Harley in the past, Harley and Bruce share a moment bonding over how fun crimefighting can sometimes be. Bruce even compliments that Harley looks good as a superhero, using her real name, instead of calling her "Robin".
  • Even better is that the memory originally had Bruce rescuing Robin ^note Presumably Tim Drake because Jason Todd was already mentioned to have been killed by Joker before Harley became a villain and laying the smackdown on Joker and Harley together. While his crusade against Batman may be Bruce’s way of coping with his trauma, it’s also his way of forming a new family.
• The Bat Family showing up to take down Team Harley and rescue Bruce. Ivy assumes that Wayne paid them to and derides them as “sellouts.” The audience knows differently.
• Harley’s priorities slowly shift from finding and rescuing Frank to helping Bruce with his trauma. Even after she and Bruce wake up, Harley is downright desperate to help him. She almost reaches him too before Bruce stubbornly presses on with his plan. When Ivy and the others demand why she's doing this, Harley sidesteps the question, keeping her promise about Batman's secret identity safe.

Climax at Jazzapajizza

• King Shark getting Bruce to realize he did wrong is pretty wholesome. Not only does King Shark let Bruce know that he can relate to losing family (only being concerned with the fact that Bruce had been clinging to the same loss since he was a child), but he also gets Bruce to realize that resurrecting his parents isn't the answer and offers to kill them for him to save him the guilt, even asking him to turn away and cover his ears so he doesn't have to witness his parents dying a second time.
• Harley's gambit of getting a zombie to puke on her to get Ivy to make a choice results in two heartwarming moments.
  • First off, to get puke on herself, she jumps in the way of a zombie about to puke on Bane. In doing so, Bane is appreciative of her sacrifice and forgives her for the pasta maker. While his anger was essentially a running joke in the season, the fact he was grateful to her for saving him feels nice, even if saving him wasn't her intent.
  • Next is Ivy. She had been working on this plan of hers and intended to zombify everybody who she didn't like, only wanting to spare Harley and the jazz band. When Harley infected herself, Ivy knew she had to choose whether to save Harley or continue her plan, and she chose Harley. This shows that unlike the Joker back then, Ivy did and still does genuinely love Harley to the end.

The Horse and the Sparrow

• When she sees Bruce having a panic attack over going to see the movie about his parents Harley sits him down and helps him calm down.
  • When Bruce becomes worried she revealed he's Batman to someone Harley says she understands now that Gotham needs Batman. Also because it would go against client/patient confidentiality.
  • Bruce telling Harley she's a good person.
    • As many commenters have stated Harley basically now acts like the sister Bruce never had.
• When Bruce is arrested for tax evasion he decides he is going to accept his sentence because he needs Gotham to see that justice exists. And he admits with all his emotional problems it might be good for him to get help while in jail.
  • Bruce telling Batgirl she needs to lead the Bat Family
• Harley finally realizing she wants to help people, seeking out the Bat Family and asking if they need help patrolling the city with Batman gone, and they agree!
• Ivy fully supports Harley’s choice to turn to heroics and assures her that despite them being on different sides, they will still love each other.

A Very Problematic Valentine's Day Special

• The short When Harry Met Sally...-style vignettes showed throughout the episode featuring superheroes and supervillains telling the stories of how they met their significant others. Some particular highlights:
  • Superman and Lois Lane both worked on the same floor at the Daily Planet for three years, but they didn't have a chance to get to know each other until Lois' train was derailed one day by Metallo, who sent it airborne. Superman rescued the train and set it down on top of the Lexcorp building just so he could talk to Lois.
  • Hawkman and Hawkwoman's first meeting wasn't very romantic by modern day standards, as they first met in Ancient Egypt when Hawkman declared he would marry Hawkwoman and she didn't have a say in the matter, but they were still happily married for 40 years and continue to be in love after reincarnating several times over the centuries.
  • Killer Croc met Enchantress when Croc was having an appointment with the dermatologist, and Enchantress came in after having summoned a succubus. Enchantress says she looked awful that day since she'd literally been to Hell and back, but Croc says she still looked beautiful to him. When Enchantress asked Croc if any spawns of Satan had come through, Croc replied that she should check the law firm next door; while he admits that was a cheesy joke, Enchantress thinks it was cute.
• The blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment of Catwoman sneaking a box of chocolates into Bruce's cell at Blackgate.
  • Likewise Riddler proposing to Clock King.
• The whole thing is played for laughs but everything that Harley does to make sure Ivy has the best Valentine's Day she's ever had is cute and heartwarming in their own Harley Quinn way.
• So, what was Ivy's favourite Valentine's Day? It was the day Harley visited a tear-stricken Ivy in her cell at Arkham with a stolen carton of chocolate milk and gave her a scene-by-scene rundown of the movie Shrek 2. It was the first time anyone had treated her like a human being in a long time.

Season 4

B.I.T.C.H.

• When Harley finds it difficult to handle working with the Bat-Family and doing chores around Bruce's mansion, the one who shows her the most sympathy is Alfred, who easily handles Harley's angry outbursts and even gives her advice about how to deal with difficult situations (the titular "being a B. I. T. C. H."), which Harley makes use of later in the episode.

Getting Ice Dick, Don't Wait Up

• While she admits her opinion of her has soured since she joined the Bat Family, Barbara Gordon's roommate, Alysia, tells Harley that her being a kick-ass queer villain who was never afraid to be herself was inspirational to her while she was transitioning.

The Most Culturally Impactful Film Franchise of All Time

• For as absolutely ridiculous as Harley and Ivy's daughter being named Neytiri is? Beyond a little ribbing? The two give nothing but praise to their future daughter all throughout.
• King Baby heaps nothing but praise onto Harley and Ivy during their stay in the future. Harley even tells him his dad King Shark was the only villain to return her calls after she made her Heel–Face Turn.

Killer's Block

• Before she and Ivy escape from Lex's moon base, Harley still takes the time to go back and rescue Superman from Lex's kryptonite prison. Superman gives her a meek, but unmistakably proud smile as he tells her he always knew she was a hero, even if she's proven to be a rather unconventional one.