Summary
“There’s No Place to Go But Down” includes the moment everyone has been waiting for since the show began — but where do we go from here?
It finally happened. After a season and a half, Harley Quinn (Kaley Cuoco) and Poison Ivy (Lake Bell) kissed. And to be honest, since it came right at the very end of an episode that didn’t make much of an impression of its own or foreshadow the hook-up in any way, I barely noticed. That seems like something of an anti-climax for literally the biggest moment in the show’s entire history.
Let’s hope there’s a lot more to unpack in subsequent episodes. Meanwhile, “There’s No Place to Go But Down” treated its title literally by having Harley and Ivy be sentenced to imprisonment in the bowels of the Pit – that iconic subterranean prison of The Dark Knight Rises fame. It’s particularly tied to Bane’s (James Adomian) backstory, which is probably just as well since I’ve always said that this show’s version of Bane is hilarious. Other Batman rogues are obviously present, including Killer Croc and a funny variation on Victor Zsasz, and the episode’s central premise of a ludicrous escape attempt that includes a comedy show provides lots of encouragement to riff on safe space culture, political correctness, humor in general, and the long histories of Batman’s foes.
I was perfectly happy with most of this, but Harley Quinn Season 2, Episode 7 excelled more in a subplot involving Jim Gordon (Christopher Meloni) and Batgirl (Briana Cuoco), I think because this stuff felt more of a piece with the overarching shape of the season. The Pit business, while often very funny, had a distinct air of filler about it.
Of course, the last-minute kiss immediately becomes the only important takeaway, though you have to wonder where the show plans to take this promised romance after backing out of it in the first season and putting a fair helping of eggs in Kite Man’s basket in this one. We’ve had a couple of episodes confirming the legitimacy of Ivy’s love for Kite Man; even when I thought some sexual tension with Catwoman was going to lead to an epiphany for Ivy, here we still are. What happens next with those two? Do we just forget about it completely? Do we sweep the Harley/Ivy kiss under the rug? Or do we somehow – and I think this is the preferable option – try and juggle both for the rest of the season? Let’s hope it’s the latter.
Nevertheless, and quibbles aside, “There’s No Place to Go But Down” feels like a win for both queer representation and believable romance in a superhero story, both of which are perennially in short supply. It might not have done much for the broad narrative arc, but is Harley Quinn really a show about such things in the first place? I’d say not, though its serialized elements have been consistently enjoyable this season. Either way, wherever things go from here will probably be at the very least worth a look.
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