A number of characters fromSuicide Squadand the greaterDC Universehave made their way intoHarley Quinn, with one in particular being effectively adapted in the show’s latest episode. Theseason 5 premiere ofHarley Quinnspent a little bit of time reflecting on the past, but most of this chapter of the show seemed to focus on the future, with a new setting in Metropolis and establishing a new villain in Brainiac. Brainiac wasn’t the only DC villain to get a new iteration in the series, however.
The popular Max series has done such a great job with adaptation, to the point where even the funniestHarley Quinncharactershave some interesting depth.Characters like King Shark and Clayface have been adapted with a cleverness that never gets in the way of genuine emotion. Following this trend, a maligned character from the now-defunctDCEU timelinemade a brief appearance in the latest episode, setting an excellent template for more of her in this series and beyond.
The Version Of The Character In The Animated Series Is Compelling And Unique
Enchantress makes a brief appearance in the latest episode in a way that arguably redeems theSuicide Squadcharacter. Granted, many do not loveSuicide Squad, so this may not seem like a hard bar to clear, until recognizing thatwhat worked well inSuicide Squadwas the adaptations of many of its characters.Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn went on to become one of the most beloved characters in the DCEU, and Joel Kinnaman’s Rick Flag was another strong point with rippling effects even on the new DCU.
Cara Delevigne’s iteration of Enchantress, unfortunately, had little of interest to her in that film. WhileHarley Quinnshows the character as spooky and unique, with an interesting energy and a bit of humor,the David Ayer film generally used Enchantress as a generic villain.Following that film being the biggest iteration of the character so far, it is wonderful to see Enchantress appear inHarley Quinnin a way that could set a template for the future of the character, whether in subsequent episodes or in the larger DCU.
The Animated Series Has A Much Different Approach To The Action Film
It is difficult to compareHarley QuinnandSuicide Squad. While they both have elements of humor, the former is an animated comedy while the latter is a dark action film that DC is alleged to have changed significantly in post-production. Still,both stories focus on villains, and in humanizing them to create a compelling story.From there,Suicide Squadused Enchantress as a device for the team to face together. There were emotional stakes due to her relationship with Rick Flag, but much of this was buried under computer animation and came off feeling mostly forgettable.
Suicide Squadwas unfortunately not everything promised, with the director speaking many times about how the final film did not reflect his vision. Because of this,much of the emotion and stakes of the film likely did not make it into the final product.In addition, the movie was trying to do many different things, including the introduction of a plethora of characters, all of whom had the potential to be interesting and important. Enchantress inHarley Quinnwas given the attention that she did not receive inSuicide Squad, and it shows, even in such a short clip.
Harley Quinn Proves Enchantress Has Potential In DC Adaptations
Many DC Characters Could Be Important In Future Stories
Enchantress is a dark and compelling character with incredible powers that could be excellent in future DC stories.Her appearance inHarley Quinnis strong and satisfying, and it would be fun to see more of the character in the future of the show.However, this success also speaks to how strong she could be in other future DC stories. With a burgeoning universe in development, characters like Enchantress could fit well among figures like Lobo or Swamp Thing in future DC or DCU stories.
If done well, aJustice League Darkprojectcould be an excellent place for Enchantress to appear.Tackling the character’s duality, but also giving her room to be interesting and fun in her own right rather than dark and brooding, could help to contribute to all kinds of future DC projects.As the universe expands, there are a wide range of different stories and characters to pull from, but Enchantress is certainly among some of the most interesting and underused figures DC could pull from, and thus should hopefully have more appearances soon.
AsHarley Quinncontinues, there is hope that many of the popular characters they have introduced, like Enchantress, will make their way back to the show. However, what is most important isrecognizing, through Enchantress' appearance here, that the character has all kinds of potential in larger DC stories.Whether or not she appears inHarley Quinnever again, it would be wonderful and rewarding to see more of Enchantress in the near future.
Harley Quinn
Cast
Harley Quinn is a 2019 animated series focusing on the titular character’s evolution after severing ties with the Joker. As she seeks to establish herself as an independent force in Gotham City’s criminal underworld, the film explores her journey toward becoming Gotham’s criminal Queenpin.
