Ranking Every Major Character On Harley Quinn

Few DC properties on film and television right now enjoy as much love and support as "Harley Quinn." Premiering in November of 2019 on the short-lived DC Universe streaming service (before that service was restructured and largely folded into HBO Max), the show has offered fans an animated exploration through the craziest and most obscure characters and situations that the comics have to offer. It manages to walk a tightrope between feeling very adult (through its use of bloody violence and crass language), yet never taking itself so seriously that it can't have fun at the expense of some of the world's most iconic heroes and villains. It's a semi-meta satire of the entire Bat-verse while also finding room for meaningful explorations of queer romance, gaslighting, insecurity, and the benefits of therapy.

Over the course of three seasons (with a fourth potentially on the way), the show has racked up critical accolades (per Rotten Tomatoes) while finding itself frequently beloved by fans who are relieved to find a raunchy depiction of the Bat-verse that doesn't carry over the self-important tone many of the movies tend to lean toward. Best of all, it provides a proper emancipation for the titular psychiatrist-turned-hyper-athletic clown girl, as she finds herself escaping the Joker's shadow and carving out her own identity.. But while Harley is the star of the show, there's plenty of room for the diverse ensemble to make a strong impression. Here is a ranking of every major character from "Harley Quinn." Spoilers for Seasons 1-3 follow.

Scarecrow is one of Batman's oldest and most consistently recurring villains, having earned a live-action appearance in "Batman Begins" (as played by Cillian Murphy) and even served as the primary antagonist of the video game "Batman: Arkham Knight." This version of the character, provided with a cockney British accent courtesy of "Midnight Mass" star Rahul Kohli, is obviously a bit less intimidating, since as with many of his fellow villains he is shown to be completely subservient to the Joker. Unlike his colleagues, however, the fear gas-administering psychopath is revealed to be an actual ally of Joker, serving as his right-hand man in a grand scheme to destroy the Legion of Doom and take over Gotham.

The former Dr. Jonathan Crane proves willing to capture and experiment on Ivy in order to grow an army of tree monsters, and even goes as far as helping to capture Batman. Unfortunately, he takes his loyalty to the Clown Prince of Crime a little too far when, observing that his boss has grown bored with torturing his nemesis, takes things a step further by unmasking him, revealing billionaire Bruce Wayne. This enrages Joker, who promptly melts Scarecrow's face with acid. His is a brief run on the show, with little humor to offer beyond a throwaway joke about insurance companies being the real villains, though he does establish early on that this continuity is willing to kill off major characters for good, no matter how popular they might be in other media.

The easiest way to describe Darkseid is that he is the DC equivalent of Marvel's Thanos, although that would be a gross simplification of this terrifying warlord. Voiced with chilling resonance by Michael Ironside (who has played the character in a number of other animated properties), the ruler of Apokolips seeks conquest above all else, frequently depicted as either hunting for or in possession of the Anti-Life Equation. The version seen in "Harley Quinn," though every bit as imposing and destructive as his comic counterpart, mostly exists as a conduit for first Harley and then a bitter Doctor Psycho to take control of his legion of parademons. He initially gives them to Harley after she proves herself in exchange for her using them to conquer Earth in his name.

Though Harley initially seems to be following through with this plan, Ivy helps her to see that this kind of mass destruction isn't really what she wants, leading her to relinquish her control of the parademons. Doctor Psycho uses a telepathic amplifier to take over, and tries to get Darkseid to honor his deal with Harley. When he is eventually defeated and Harley once again rejects the army, Darkseid admits confusion and returns to Apokolips. The character's stone-faced seriousness creates a humorous contrast with the zanier characters (as in his reaction to Doctor Psycho's backstory), but he is another character whose presence on the show is too brief to place him high on the list.

It should go without saying that each individual member of the Justice League is more than compelling and dynamic enough to warrant their own entry in other media (Superman has of course starred in numerous live-action films, not to mention cameos and TV appearances, while Gal Gadot's take on Wonder Woman has earned significant acclaim and box office success within the DCEU). However, for the purposes of their representation within the context of "Harley Quinn," they are most often seen and considered as part of a group. There are exceptions, such as Wonder Woman's duel with Doctor Psycho that winds up getting him cancelled, Aquaman's attempt to attack the Legion of Doom, and Superman patronizing Harley by allowing Robin to rescue Lois Lane. But for the most part, the greatest heroes in the world are here frequently reduced to team-up appearances.

While some of them are still able to create amusing scenarios, such as Wonder Woman mistakenly believing that Superman can translate parademon and being called a racist, but the majority of their screen time is spent fighting a mind-controlled Poison Ivy, or mistakenly believing Harley and her crew are responsible for Joker's destructive schemes. Two members, Green Lantern and Zatanna, have yet to receive any dialogue, and at the end of Season 1 the team gets trapped in the Queen of Fables' storybook, where they spend the majority of Season 2. This leads to a version of the team that feels significantly neutered for the show.

The wife of Victor Fries, a brilliant scientist in the field of cryogenics, Nora Fries developed a rare blood condition with no known cure that threatened to kill her. Out of options, her husband froze her in a block of ice so he could hunt for a solution, a road that eventually led him to become the supervillain Mr. Freeze. In Season 2 of "Harley Quinn," the title character's misunderstanding of the couple's relationship leads her to thaw Nora's body prematurely in the hopes of saving her, before realizing that the two are madly in love and that her disease is very real. Though Poison Ivy is able to arrive on the scene and develop a cure, it requires Mr. Freeze to sacrifice his life for hers via blood transfusion, resulting in her being saved but now a widow.

In an effort to make amends, Harley invites Nora to Ivy's bachelorette party, and although she's initially resentful of the women who killed her husband, she eventually loosens up and finds herself liberated by the whole experience, even sleeping with Maxie Zeus over the course of the girls' crazy weekend. She later returns in Season 3 and assists Harley and Ivy with tracking down and getting information from Swamp Thing. Voiced with party-girl energy by Rachel Dratch, this version of Nora is notable for being the only one who's allowed a proper character arc outside of serving as motivation for her husband.

There have been many crime-fighting youths to adopt the masked identity of Robin over the years, from Dick "Nightwing" Grayson to Jason "Red Hood" Todd to Stephanie "Spoiler" Brown, but one of the more unique to take on the mantle is Batman's own son, Damian Wayne. Typically depicted as a teen skilled beyond his years with more than a little darkness in him, the version played by Jacob Tremblay in "Harley Quinn" has far more youthfulness, though he obviously aspires to the kind of brooding intensity that comes so naturally to his father. He gets a great introduction early in Season 1 when he presents himself as a potential nemesis for Harley, who is naturally unenthusiastic about the prospect of regularly fighting a child.

After he pushes her too far by declaring their relationship status on a talk show, Harley strikes back by capturing him and threatening him with being devoured by King Shark before he accidentally reveals his true colors to a live TV audience. Though it's hilarious to see him bite off more than he can chew by taunting Harley, or drowning in Batman's costume while the former is indisposed, Robin mostly disappears into the background after making such a strong first impression. He shows up with the rest of the Bat-family throughout Season 3, and clearly has no lost love for the former Robin when Nightwing comes back to town, but otherwise he plays a mostly minor role within the larger narrative.

Bruce Wayne's longtime butler, mentor, confidante, and occasional partner in crimefighting, Alfred Pennyworth has seen many incarnations over the years, from Michael Gough's grandfatherly take in the first run of live-action films to Michael Caine's comforting presence through the "Dark Knight" trilogy, Jeremy Irons' gruffer interpretation for Zack Snyder's DC films, and Andy Serkis and Sean Pertwee's more world-weary depictions in "The Batman" and "Gotham," respectively. The version we see in "Harley Quinn," as played by Tom Hollander, is something of a blend of the various Alfreds who came before him: old enough to have a certain wisdom, yet spry enough to get in on the action when the occasion calls for it.

We see this in the form of a superhero called the Macaroni, an alter ego that sees Alfred adorned in old-timey formal attire and a giant mechanical wig with which to trounce evildoers. He finds himself in need of this persona while Bruce is in recovery during Season 2, and even uses it to come to his master's rescue when an impatient Batman tries and fails to use a more advanced suit to go up against Bane. Alfred makes a very strong impression in this episode, doling out the sarcastic quips and hard-earned life lessons that one would normally associate with the character. A shame, then, that Season 3 largely sees him in the background supporting the Bat-family in a mostly silent capacity, only cracking wise to observe Bruce's obsession with Selina Kyle.

Riddle me this: who's one of Batman's oldest foes, yet always open to a fresh interpretation? Why, that would be the Riddler, of course, whose previous media depictions have included Frank Gorshin's manic portrayal in the 1960s "Batman" series, Jim Carrey's deranged take in "Batman Forever," and Paul Dano's inspired performance in "The Batman." On "Harley Quinn," he's voiced by the irascible Jim Rash, and despite a number of costume changes is very faithful to what you'd expect from the character: He places his potential victims in traps and leaves them puzzles to solve, or maybe he'll plant a bomb in the city that can only be deactivated by solving one of his riddles. Classic Riddler stuff.

Where this iteration stands apart is the variety of unconventional subplots he finds himself going through. In Season 1 he assists Ivy in putting together a fake trap to help Harley understand how little Joker values her. In Season 2 he opens his own university, gets captured, and is forced to run on a giant hamster wheel until he becomes impossibly jacked (not to mention his brief team-up with Doctor Psycho once the latter turns heel and tries to destroy Gotham). And in Season 3, we discover that he's in a relationship with D-list Batman villain the Clock King, to the point where they're both hoping to win Best Couple at the 83rd Annual Villy Awards, despite their difficulty kissing with Clock King's clock face.

The man. The myth. The legend. Batman needs no introduction. He's Batman. He's one of the most beloved characters in all of fiction, which has netted him over a dozen live-action film appearances, various live and animated shows dedicated to either him or other characters in his immediate vicinity, video games, merchandise, and so much more. His appearances are so numerous that Diedrich Bader, who provides that appropriately gravelly voice work for the character in "Harley Quinn," had already him played him in earlier animated properties, including all three seasons of "Batman: The Brave and the Bold." Despite having numerous interpretations over the many years he's been around, Batman is always recognizably Batman, and that consistency absolutely carries through to his recurring role in "Harley Quinn."

While not exactly a series regular, the Caped Crusader shows up prominently, and finds himself in plenty of wacky situations. Whether it's working on his relationship with Jim Gordon, recovering from crippling injuries despite being highly impatient to get back into the field, or inadvertently raising an army of the dead rather than properly dealing with the trauma of his parents' death, this version of Batman works because he maintains his stoic composure no matter how ridiculous the situation. Season 3 even ends on a note of hope for the character, as he allows himself to be arrested for tax evasion and even lets Harley help him work through his many, many mental health issues.

A former CIA operative with a shady past and no shortage of skeletons in his closet, Sy Borgman (voiced with distinctive panache by Jason Alexander) is introduced as Ivy's crotchety landlord. Though seemingly an withering old man who happens to be augmented with cybernetic implants, Sy quickly reveals himself as ruthless, merciless, and surprisingly friendly once he's allowed to become part of Harley's crew. Of course, this only happens after they catch him attempting to burn their unconscious bodies in a furnace, suggesting that this isn't the first time he's used such an approach to dispose of corpses.

The more we get to know Sy, the more we uncover just how many strange occurrences populate his increasingly mysterious backstory. Sometimes it's a beloved sister he keeps in the basement after she accidentally transforms into a horrible squid-like monster. Other times it's the fact that his body is engineered with the capacity to transform into a car if the situation calls for it. Sy is full of surprises, the biggest of which is that he sacrifices himself to help Harley and her team escape after Doctor Psycho turns on them. Though it's initially sad to see him go, it turns out he has one more trick up his sleeve: with some assistance from Kite Man, his consciousness is transferred to the internet and various electronics. He no longer plays much of a role on the series, but is still present for major events appearing on TV screens.

If Batman is one of the most beloved heroes of all time, then it only stands to reason that his arch-nemesis the Joker would find himself with an equal amount of popularity. The Clown Prince of Crime has appeared in nearly as many adaptations as the Caped Crusader, and is so often portrayed that two separate actors have won Academy Awards for the role (Heath Ledger in "The Dark Knight" and Joaquin Phoenix in "Joker"). With such an impressive pedigree behind the character, it would seem difficult to create a new version for the purposes of "Harley Quinn." Fortunately, thanks in large part to Alan Tudyk's sinister yet jovial vocal performance, the show proves that there's still plenty of material to mine.

The show kicks off with Harley's emancipation from their toxic relationship, and most of Season 1 deals directly with the fallout from that, building up to his plan to take over Gotham before Harley and her crew take him down. Due to some acid-based amnesia, Joker finds himself living as a suburban stepdad and a hapless bartender, an existence he finds himself enjoying so much that even after he gets his memory back, he decides to keep it going. This leads to a hilarious subplot in Season 3 where, in an attempt to provide better educational options for his stepchildren, he runs for mayor and actually wins, leaving the character in a place we've never seen him before.

One of the biggest departures in characterization that "Harley Quinn" has to offer is in Christopher Meloni's portrayal of an utterly broken Commissioner Jim Gordon. While live-action takes on the character have ranged from ineffectual and doddering (such as with Pat Hingle in the initial four-film run) to highly competent and motivated (Gary Oldman's version from the "Dark Knight" trilogy), the show depicts a man that's been doing this for so long and with so little success that he's barely able to keep it together. Unshaven, constantly clutching either a coffee mug or a beer can, and deeply insecure about his relationship with Batman, this Gordon is deeply depressed and highly temperamental.

While content to spend much of Season 1 trying to get his vigilante co-worker to hang out with him, befriending Clayface's sentient hand, and attempting to use tanks to stop an army of tree monsters, Season 2 is where the character really gets into gear. Initially despondent after the police department is scattered and the Injustice League takes over the city, discovering that his own daughter has begun fighting crime as Batgirl reawakens a fire in him, and he singlehandedly takes back the Gotham Police Department from Two-Face and his goons. Despite this, Two-Face is able to inspire him to run for Mayor, with the former DA as his campaign manager, though this ultimately flounders once the Joker steps into the race. Gordon's exhausted edginess is a frequent source of humor for the show.

One of the most consistently funny characters in "Harley Quinn" is an absolutely inspired depiction of Bane, the longtime antagonist who famously broke Batman's back in the comics and in "The Dark Knight Rises," where he was played by Tom Hardy to menacing effect. In the show, comedian James Adomian puts on an approximation of Hardy's distinctively whimsical speech pattern, but in service of a character that's far more goofy and accident-prone than he's ever been allowed to be in any other media. This version of Bane channels his potent anger issues into a desire to blow things up, and while he's fairly friendly to his villainous counterparts, they have little more than scorn for him.

Indeed, even though he's a founding member of the Injustice League, his colleagues insist that he sit on a tiny folding chair rather than the comfortable ones they're all using. He still does what he can to do right by his fellow villains, such as when he gets control of an underground prison in Season 2, and uses it to get the inmates under his watch to focus their issues on arts and crafts projects. After Ivy and Kite Man's wedding falls apart, Season 3 sees Bane consumed with getting back the expensive pasta maker he'd gotten them as a gift. This eventually pushes him to seek out therapy to work on his problems, though despite being in a healthier place he still can't get any respect from his peers.

Though there have been versions of Clayface in the comics, video games, and animated series that started out as an actor before being transformed into a shape-shifting mud creature, none have taken on a commitment to the craft quite like the one we see in "Harley Quinn." Bolstered by Alan Tudyk's deliciously hammy line readings, this Clayface is a true thespian to his core, and although he does possess the ability to become a giant or make weapons with his arms, his primary contribution to Harley's team is his ability to disguise himself as a variety of characters, usually with way too many background details and epic pronunciations to be fully believable.

Among the most loyal and dedicated of the main crew, Clayface's true passion will always be for performance, and more than once he's found himself getting far too invested in a character (such as a ditzy college student he portrays at Riddler University, who becomes far more enamored with co-ed gossip than with anything relating to their undercover plan). His yearning for acting peaks in Season 3 when he finds himself on the set of a James Gunn-directed Thomas Wayne biopic, and has to take over for leading man Billy Bob Thornton after inadvertently killing him. This leads to a crisis of confidence at the film's premiere, as the deceased star earns the lion's share of praise from the audience, despite Clayface's attempts to reveal himself as the actor behind the actor, which does not sit well with him.

It wouldn't be a great look if Harley Quinn herself wasn't able to take the top spot in a ranking of characters on the "Harley Quinn" show, but this is still far from a gimme. The character was introduced in "Batman: The Animated Series" as female sidekick to the Joker, and evolved through various comic, movie, and game appearances to be more of a proper love interest. The problem eventually arose that their romance, while great for couples cosplay, was deeply toxic and unhealthy. As Harley herself began to rival the popularity of her Puddin', a narrative shift across all media began to occur, allowing her to split up with the mad clown and to establish herself as a noteworthy villain in her own right.

This is the entire thrust of "Harley Quinn," and though there was initial skepticism about "Big Bang Theory" star Kaley Cuoco taking over the voice work that Arleen Sorkin had made famous, she has proven more than capable by leaning into the complexity and vulnerability that comes with such a chaotic character learning to better understand herself. Harley's impulsiveness, her half-baked schemes, her loyalty to her friends, and her insatiable desire for respect all drive the show forward, and by the end it's impossible to say that this version of the iconic villainess hasn't completely redefined herself, both in the context of the show's narrative and within the pop culture landscape as a whole.