‘Harley Quinn’ Season 5 Review: A Strong Metropolis Adventure

Following what I thought was an underwhelming fourth season, Harley Quinn has returned for a fifth, not surprising anyone considering the popularity of the last surviving DC Universe (the streaming service, not the upcoming saga) series. Season 4 felt quite messy, with several jokes that were lacking in comparison to some of the show’s earlier material, but the series as a whole, until now, has never been much to call home about. Read our full Harley Quinn Season 5 review below.

This review of Harley Quinn Season 5 was made possible by screeners courtesy of Max.

Harley Quinn, of course, follows the eponymous character, played by Kaley Cuoco, as she interacts with other DC characters, most commonly with villains originating in Gotham and Metropolis. The previous four seasons saw the development of a cast of characters including the likes of girlfriend Poison Ivy (Lake Bell), Bane (James Adomian), Clayface (Alan Tudyk), Frank the Plant (JB Smoove), and King Shark (Ron Funches), all of whom are based in Gotham. But when Harley and Ivy move to Metropolis for a change, they soon face a bigger problem than ever before.

Season 5 is a great instalment in the show, elevating the material to new heights. It thrives in the new environment of Metropolis, introducing us to a bunch of new characters and focusing on some other characters that rarely saw the limelight in the previous seasons. In particular, some of the developments that take place at the Daily Planet are pretty cool, and some of the character work Ivy receives surrounds her past. 

There is an underlying theme of parenthood this season, forcing several of our characters to confront their own parents while many become parents (both biological and surrogate) themselves. I said in my Kite Man: Hell Yeah! review that I was supremely annoyed by Goldilocks as a character, and while her character does appear here, it’s never long enough to be angered at. That being said, the character of Sean the Shark takes that place of annoyance, and while it is intentional, I think the show would be considerably more enjoyable without the inclusion of the character. 

The villains of the season, Brainiac (Stephen Fry) and Lena Luthor (Aisha Tyler), are plenty charismatic and enjoyable on screen, and I feel like this take on Brainiac is a sensible leap from the comics. Together, the villains serve as good connective tissue throughout the ten-episode runtime, and while some episodes focus on themselves and not the story at large, it feels refreshing. 

There are some episodes here, such as what is exclusively a Braniac origin story, and another episode that is reminiscent of murder mystery stories like Knives Out, that form the highlight of the season to me. Each episode is gripping in its own way, while being wickedly funny. Of course, it comes with its flaws, sometimes being too immature for its own good, but then again, that’s half of the appeal of the show. 

Harley Quinn season 5 is a strong improvement on its first four seasons, utilizing a combination of hilarious jokes and an eccentric cast of characters and actors to make for a highly enjoyable experience. I would certainly like to see the show return for a sixth or even seventh season if the quality is upheld to this strong standard. 

Harley Quinn season 5 stars Kaley Cuoco as Harley Quinn, Lake Bell as Poison Ivy, Aisha Tyler as Lena Luthor, Stephen Fry as Brainiac, Ron Fuches as King Shark, JB Smoove as Frank the Plant, James Adomian as Bane, Alan Tudyk as Clayface and The Joker, Diedrich Bader as Batman, and many more.

Harley Quinn debuts its fifth season on Max, starting Thursday, January 16, 2025; releasing weekly through March 20. 

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