Out Of Arkham: Harley Quinn, Mental Illness And Suicide Squad

Suicide Squad’s Suicide Blonde: Harley Quinn At The Beginning Of Her Arc

First, the most important thing we need to point out about Suicide Squad Harley is that she’s only just been forced away from the Joker for the first time since his abuse began. She still trusts him to save and take care of her, and she still believes he really does love her. And maybe he does, in his twisted, unhealthy way.

As difficult as it is to watch an abuse victim happily go back to her abuser — especially when his abuse of her is mostly offscreen and may not be obvious to a casual, mainstream audience — it’s not exactly surprising. Both because women often return to their abusers because it’s an environment they understand how to survive in, and because abuse narratives are generally very badly written in Hollywood.

I wish Harley had gotten further in her arc in this movie. At the very least, I wish Ayer and his editors had allowed us to see just how awful the Joker is to her for more than one scene or two.

The saving grace, though, for Harley, is her actress: Margot Robbie.