Episode #21 - Mad Love
Original Airdate - January 16th, 1999 - Series Finale
Harley recounts how she became involved with the Joker, and is
determined to prove that she is still useful by trapping Batman.
Media by James Harvey
Review by Robin III |
Credits
Story by Paul Dini, Bruce Timm
Written by Paul Dini
Directed by Butch Lukic
Music by Shirley Walker
Animation by Koko/Dong Yang
Voices
Kevin Conroy as Batman/Bruce Wayne
Mark Hamill as The Joker
Arleen Sorkin as Harley Quinn
Bob Hastings as Commissioner Gordon
Suzanne Stone as Dr. Joan Leland
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Quotes
JOKER: Well, Batsy, it's been a hoot, as always. May the floss
be with you!
--
HARLEY: Oh, come on, Puddin'! Son't you wanna rev up your Harley? Vroom
vroom!
--
JOKER: Batman was right! That setup today was corny! Old hat! It's time
I capped off our feud with his ultimate humiliation! Followed by his
deliciously delirious death.
HARLEY: Why don't ya just shoot him?
JOKER: Just shoot him? Know this, my sweet. The death of Batman must be
nothing less than a masterpiece! The triumph of my sheer comic genius
over his ridiculous mask and gadgets!
--
HARLEY: Face it, Harl, this stinks! You're a certified nutso wanted in
12 states and hopelessly in love with a psychopathic clown.
--
HARLEY: For what it's worth, I actually enjoyed some of our romps but
there comes a time when a gal wants more. And now all this gal wants is
to settle down with her lovin' sweetheart.
BATMAN: You and the Joker?
HARLEY: Right-a-roonie!
BATMAN: Heh heh heh heh. . .
HARLEY: I've never seen you laugh before. . .
BATMAN: Ha ha ha ha!
HARLEY: I don't think I like it!
BATMAN: HA HA HA HA!
HARLEY: Cut it out! You're givin' me the creeps!
BATMAN: You little fool. The Joker doesn't love anything except himself.
Wake up, Harleen. He had you pegged for hired help the minute you walked
into Arkham.
HARLEY: That's not-- no. NO! He told me things, secret things that he
never told anyone!
BATMAN: Was it his line about the abusive father? Or the one about the
run-away mom. He's gained a lot of sympathy with that one.
HARLEY: Stop it! You're making me confused!
BATMAN: What was it he told that one parole officer. . . Oh yes, "There
was only one time I ever saw dad really happy. He took me to the Ice
Show when I was seven."
HARLEY: Circus. He said it was the Circus.
BATMAN: He's got a million of them, Harley.
--
HARLEY: My fault. . . I didn't get the joke. . .
--
BATMAN: She almost had me, you know. Arms and legs chained, dizzy from
the blood rushing to my head. . . I had no way out other than convincing
her to call you. I knew your massive ego would never allow anyone else
the honor of killing me. Though I have to admit, she came a lot closer
than you ever did. . . Puddin'.
--
HARLEEN: I finally see that slime for what he is: A murderous,
manipulative, irredeemable--
SHE LOOKS BESIDE HER BED AND SEES A ROSE WITH A TAG READING "Feel better
soon - J"
HARLEY: --Angel!
Review:
The Batman Adventures: Mad Love gets the full-animated treatment in this special adaptation and it's easy to say that, yes, this episode does that great one-shot comic justice. Paul Dini and Bruce Timm's masterwork, easily one of their best collaborative works ever, comes to vivid life in this episode and while it's not perfect it's still solid effort.
This episode was a
terrific adaptation of the comic book, and even made it better in some
places. The best transition to screen was Batman's laugh. It was
extremely haunting and exactly how Harley described it.
The script was great, using extreme psychological moments such as the
Joker's confession to Harleen in Arkham and Batman's methods of getting
Harley to call Joker. It was just extremely well done. Joker's discovery
of Batman's capture was hilarious with the quick cut scene of his car
racing over the streets literally. If the writers kept in the thoughts
of Joker on what the other villains would say, the effect would have
been ruined. It was also interesting to see how they managed to
incorporate Harley in her neglige and even have her knocked out of the
building.
The animation was very nicely done, but some of the memorable splash
pages from the comic weren't captured as well such as Batman's capture
of Joker, Harley's introduction to Joker, Joker rushing into the room screaming Harley's name and Batman's final blow off to
Joker's face which knocked him of the train. This can hardly be
accounted against the episode though because the rest of the visuals was
fantastic. The voice work was some of the best, especially Harley's
'sensible' voice when acting as Harleen. Joker's ranting was beautiful
as ever and Batman's laugh, as said before, was a classic moment.
Overall, this has to be one of the gems of the series.
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