B:TAS "Harley's Holiday" Talkback (Spoilers)

[James Harvey]

In an effort to get talkbacks for every Batman: The Animated Series episode, The Penguin and I will be putting up B:TAS talkbacks throughout the summer. This will help fill the gaps and present a complete collection and archive of all animated Batman episode discussions. Talkbacks for scheduled episodes will stay remain intact. Now how can Harley get out of this mess...

Episode #081 - Harley's Holiday
Original Airdate - October 15th, 1994.

Discharged from Arkham Asylum, Harley Quinn tries to lead a sane, normal life. Sadly, she just can't seem to stay out of trouble, and when a misunderstanding occurs, Harley makes the situation worse by stealing Bruce Wayne's car and kidnapping his girlfriend. This ignites a screwball chase that not only involves Batman and Robin, but the police, army, and Gotham's most dangerous gangsters as well.

Comments?

 

[Batman's Biggest Fan]

Before I comment I must know, did Paul Dini write this episode?

 

[Stu]

Indeed he did, as with most Harley Quinn episodes.

This one was allright. Nothing great, but it's always nice to see Robin. Would have been great if they had had the Joker laughing at her instead of Ivy looking at her at the end.

 

[Batman's Biggest Fan]

OK, well he repeated this storyline somewhat in Batman Adventures Annual #1, although it was funny and Harley had some funny lines.

 

[Batman]

I loved this episode. It was great to see the series take a huge change and do a comedic romp through Gotham. I don't think I've ever laughed harder at a Batman episode then at this one. I never thought the series could really handle a comedic episode, but they show they can with this little adventure. Harley was a real gem in this episode, with some hilarious lines and gut busting speech during the rooftop fight scene. Paul Dini did a great job with this episode, and the animation was superb!

 

[Harli Kwen]

I thought this was a pleasing episode, and great (as all Harley episodes are to me). This one was nice though b/c it's not yer Joker with Harley tag along, it's a solo for her, which is rare and nice.

 

[FightingDreamer]

It's an absolute crime that this talkback is so pitifully small. This is a great episode, taking the form of a screwball comedy in order to examine it's thoroughly screwball heroine. This is absolutely Harley's best outing (gotta love those 'babies' of hers), and I love that everyone except the 'bad guys' of the episode (Boxy Bennett, Bullock [though he's more P.O'ed than anything else; love how his car gets progressively destroyed over the course of the episode], General Vreeland) knows that Harley is a relative innocent in this caper. Even Veronica picks up on the fact that Harley isn't meaning to harm anyone; it's a nice bit of development for the character. Add in some of the best Dong Yang animation in the series (seriously, there are some points in the episode that look good enough to be TMS' work) and Kevin Altieri's energetic direction, and you've got a rousing success. It's a shame that Timm and crew never revisited the idea of Harley being able to roam free once more.

 

[ShadowStar]

This one was allright. Nothing great, but it's always nice to see Robin. Would have been great if they had had the Joker laughing at her instead of Ivy looking at her at the end.

Well, this episode isn't as good as "Harlequinade" but I still feel that it's one of the series' best episodes! It's a compelling psychological farce centering on Harley Quinn - that alone makes it a tour de force. The fact that Harley's outrageous actions are easily justified and able to make her sympathetic - in the absence of the Joker - also helps immeasurably.

 

[tb4000]

The episodes focusing on Harley always had that old school Looney Tunes feel to them, because as dangerous and nuts as she is, she's basically a hot animated version of Screwy Squirrel to be honest.

 

[Mattashell]

When I was wasting time watching cartoons on a Saturday morning when this was new, my dad walked into the room and sat through the whole thing with me. When it was over he looked at me and said, "You know, that was a really good cartoon." My dad was a criminal defense lawyer in New York who had to deal with looney, Harley types on a regular basis, so his impression of this episode always said a lot to me.

 

[dark knight acolyte]

This episode took a series with great, serious atmosphere and showed just how much range it had! Fantastic showing!

The only time I laughed more at Harley was....

*Pulls out bazooka and aims at car load of teenage boys*
Harley: "...and here's the paddle!"

8.5/10

 

[Wolf Boy2]

This episode took a series with great, serious atmosphere and showed just how much range it had! Fantastic showing!

The only time I laughed more at Harley was....

*Pulls out bazooka and aims at car load of teenage boys*
Harley: "...and here's the paddle!"

8.5/10

Um, you're thinking of "Harley and Ivy." That never happened in "Harley's Holiday."

 

[Hanshotfirst1138]

Before I comment I must know, did Paul Dini write this episode?

That would be a "yes indeed." Wherever Harley was, he was seldom far behind.

It's an absolute crime that this talkback is so pitifully small. This is a great episode, taking the form of a screwball comedy in order to examine it's thoroughly screwball heroine. This is absolutely Harley's best outing (gotta love those 'babies' of hers), and I love that everyone except the 'bad guys' of the episode (Boxy Bennett, Bullock [though he's more P.O'ed than anything else; love how his car gets progressively destroyed over the course of the episode], General Vreeland) knows that Harley is a relative innocent in this caper. Even Veronica picks up on the fact that Harley isn't meaning to harm anyone; it's a nice bit of development for the character. Add in some of the best Dong Yang animation in the series (seriously, there are some points in the episode that look good enough to be TMS' work) and Kevin Altieri's energetic direction, and you've got a rousing success. It's a shame that Timm and crew never revisited the idea of Harley being able to roam free once more.

I was thinking the same. Did TMS do the layouts for this episode or something? Some of the animation is just gorgeous! Why, I do wonder, did they have a different voice for Veronica than in every other episode? Like "Harlequinade," this episode plays everything broadly, going for hilarious comedy. I suppose that that's bound to disappoint some people, and it probably would have disappointed my if I had caught it when I was younger and was looking for a more rock'em sock'em caper, but not I see that the DCAU was really funny long before Dwayne McDuffie's one-liners in JLU. This is a great gem, hilarious and gorgeously animated. Hugely fun stuff.

You''re sure that there's no mistake in the credits and TMS didn't do the layouts, right Mr. Timm ?

 

[satam55]

Meh, This episode isn't as good as "Harlequinade". But its still a decent episode.

 

[Geodude]

Just watched this episode again tonight with my mother. We've been gradually going through the entire DCAU. I kinda got her hooked on Superman and Batman. Anyway, I'd forgotten just how funny this episode is. That whole outrageous chain of events stemming from a simple misunderstanding in a department store...Robin's fish-nunchuks...the dialogue on multiple occasions...and it's all topped off with the sweet gesture from Batman of giving Harley the dress back. I love the way he explained it too.

I agree with what was said above so long ago, this thread is almost criminally short. This episode deserves more praise.