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Series: The Batman (2004)
Episode: Two of a Kind (Season 4, Episode 47)
Original Air Date: February 24, 2007
Date Watched: December 28, 2007 (Cartoon Network)

The duo of Bruce Timm and Paul Dini created Harley Quinn/Dr. Harleen Quinzel for Batman The Animated Series

Harley Quinn/Dr. Harleen Quinzel Creator and Writer Paul Dini takes control once again of the character that he created (along with fellow Batman: The Animated Series Creator and Writer Bruce Timm) fifteen years ago by retelling her origin in the episode “Two of a Kind.”

Quinzel (Hynden Walch) is a television psychologist this time around (a step back from her days as a psychiatrist in Batman: The Animated Series (1992)) who is humiliated by the live cancellation of her talk show. This catastrophic event leaves Quinzel longing for an opportunity to redeem herself to the public by writing a “tell all” book on The Joker.

The Joker takes Quinzel (guised now as Harley Quinn) “on a night out in Gotham” in order for her to observe his pathology. Chaos then ensues before The Batman, Robin, and Batgirl finally intervene and avert the dastardly plans of The Joker and Harley Quinn.

Harley Quinn/Dr. Harleen Quinzel:

Inspired by Paul Dini’s love for the character of Calliope Jones (Arleen Sorkin) on television series Days of our Lives, Dini invites Sorkin to voice Harley Quinn–The first and only Batman: The Animated Series character to make the transition from celluloid to comics.

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“Madness is like gravity. All you need is a little push.” – The Joker (Heath Ledger)

Who is Harvey Dent?

District Attorney Harvey Dent is famously known as Gotham City's White Knight

A newly appointed public servant. Gotham City’s new District Attorney. And who can forget, the scourge of the underworld (with a good right cross)—Gotham City’s “White Knight.”

But there is more.

After watching Christopher Nolan’s second take on the Batman film franchise, the Dent topic made its rounds at the dinner table.

Who is Harvey Dent?

“Easy enough.” I said to myself, before addressing everyone at our current square-table discussion.

“Dent’s (Aaron Eckhart) love for the law is unparalleled in a world (Gotham) that reeks of corruption from every level. He is Gotham City’s “White Knight”—a public symbol of hope to the oppressed. But all that changed with the loss of his significant other (Rachel Dawes portrayed by actress Maggie Gyllenhaal) as well as his facial disfigurement.”

I then added, “From that point on, Dent’s sense of justice was skewed. He was also unable to reach even the most basic of decisions without consulting his father’s lucky coin as Dent believed, “chance is the only true justice, because it is fair.””

I believe in Harvey Dent! Bah! Politics!

Then my aunt offered another perspective.

“Hubris” she said.

Hubris is the ancient Greek term used “to indicate overweening pride, self-confidence, superciliousness, or arrogance, often resulting in fatal retribution.”

My aunt then continued, “The downfall of Harvey Dent was because he believed too much in his own press release. Much like the fallen angel, Lucifer, in Judaism and Christian belief—Dent felt that he could do it all by himself. That he didn’t need anyone’s help.”

My aunt was right; Dent was solely responsible in persecuting Salvatore Vincent “Sal” Maroni (Eric Roberts) and his mid-to-low level cohorts. He was also repeatedly warned by Gotham City Mayor Anthony Garcia (Nestor Carbonell) that because of his recent exploits, those on the wrong side of the law would stop at nothing to smear his good name. In response, Dent seemingly brushed the Mayor’s warnings aside and said that he was up to the task.

This was one movie that certainly didn't need a viral marketing campaign

We all know how that turned out.

In the end, the portraits of Dent overlooking Commissioner James “Jim” Gordon (Gary Oldman) give viewers and idea as to his fate.

Harvey Dent’s reputation remains intact and in his death, he serves as Gotham’s enduring symbol against tyranny.

Thanks to the sacrifices of his friends.

My aunt was right.

No man can be an island…even if they really wanted to.

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