Harley Quinn has had a bumpy ride during her time in the DCEU. While she's remained one of the most popular characters since her initial debut in Suicide Squad, there were some problems with her first major appearance. The biggest issue fans have been pointing out is that Suicide Squad sexualizes Harley for the sole purpose of appealing to the male gaze.
She started off without much of her own personality, because her only major purpose was to serve as a prop for the Joker. Her outfits, behaviors and actions were all extremely lewd in nature, and the only thing she ever truly cared about in Suicide Squad was being wanted by the Joker. In essence, her value was based on the opinions of a psychotic (and poorly written) male terrorist.
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Birds of Prey definitely took into account these flaws in her character design, breathing new life into Harley and portraying her as a person, rather than an object. She cried after going through a breakup, went to a bar for drinks when she needed to have fun, lovingly took care of her pet, and nearly lost her mind when she dropped her sandwich on the ground. All of these scenarios are things that the average person can relate to, but more importantly, Birds of Prey truly showcased Harley’s humanity and individuality.
The Suicide Squad continued to show Harley as being more than just the Joker’s sidepiece, as the film continued to develop her personality. Her appearance in this movie continued to distance her from the sexualization that took place in the first film, as well, which fans can see from the first moment she appears. Harley apologizes for being late because she had to go “number 2” which is one of the most unsexy things a person can do. She killed the man who proposed to her, even though he did everything in his power to woo her because she didn't like the kind of person he was and she refused to relive her experiences with the Joker all over again. Harley also escaped from imprisonment all on her own, even though the rest of the team was trying to rescue her, proving that she's anything but a damsel in distress.
It's obvious that the Harley Quinn fans met in 2016 is miles apart from the Harley Quinn they saw this year in The Suicide Squad, but there are still some pieces missing from her character development. In every film she's been in, Harley has managed to find at least one friend on her crazy adventures. In Suicide Squad, it was Will Smith’s Deadshot. In Birds of Prey, Harley found a way to bond with every woman that crossed her path, no matter how unlikely it seemed. At the end of The Suicide Squad, Harley said she would happily be friends with Bloodsport and the remaining members of the team. Even though she's made all these friends, none of them seem to stick around long enough for their relationship with Harley to blossom.
Although Harley is now a very defined individual, her character could be enhanced by having a more constant presence in her life. She's on the path towards self-discovery now that she's free from the Joker, but that doesn't mean she has to do it alone. Margot Robbie has expressed before that she doesn't think Harley Quinn would do well as the narrative center of a DCEU project and that she needs to have other characters around her to help her shine. The easiest way to do this would be to introduce the infamous Poison Ivy to the DCEU franchise. In addition to speaking about her own character, Robbie is also on a mission to get Harley and Poison Ivy on screen together. Having these two women meet face to face could ensure that Harley has a more permanent friend in her life to rely on and help her avoid falling into the male-obsessed trap that had a hold over her in the original Suicide Squad film. It could also satisfy Margot Robbie’s wishes for her character, as well.
Harley and Poison Ivy have a complicated history in multiple different DC animated series and eventually in DC Comics, as well. Their dynamic has been received incredibly well by fans, as the two have been enemies, friends, and eventually lovers. Bringing this into the live-action DCEU could mean big things for the franchise, and for Harley’s character, by appealing more to their female and LGBTQ audience. There hasn't been much queer representation in the DCEU franchise as of right now, and with Marvel promising fans to step up their game in terms of LGBTQ characters and same-sex relationships, the DCEU needs to catch up. Whether or not Poison Ivy ever shows up in the DC and Warner Bros universe, the DCEU should still consider giving Harley some more stable relationships in her life. After seeing her character come so far, it would be disappointing to a lot of fans if Harley’s development never grew beyond where it's at right now. MORE: The Suicide Squad: James Gunn Reveals Closer Look At Calendar Man
