The Heroic Harley Quinn

Birds of Prey is a work of art.

I mean, what’s cooler than an unlikely group of dope women working together to defeat a common enemy? Especially when led by the likes of an unforgettable and perhaps sometimes underappreciated character like Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie). Harley is also accompanied by a strong and determined squad that includes Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez), Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), and Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). Collectively, these women team up to take out a villain in Gotham, Black Mask (Ewan McGregor), and many others throughout the film. Though an odd figure, it’s hard to ignore how heroic Harley is. And her backstory is even more intriguing.

In Birds of Prey, it’s learned that she went to college and earned her Ph.D., became a psychiatrist, fell in love with the Joker, went on to pursue a life of crime and chaos, and when her relationship with the Joker ended, you could see her heartbreak and her humanity. She cried. She cut her hair. She moved into her own place. Took herself out for an egg sandwich. Bought a pet hyena, affectionally named Bruce after Gotham’s very own Bruce Wayne (also known as Batman), and sets out on a quest to find and reinvent herself. She was starting over. Which is a heroic act in and of itself, and not an easy thing to do. Harley ends up on some unbelievable adventures, including a rescue mission to protect a pickpocketing kid in danger, teaming up with some fierce female allies, and fighting off different individuals she’s wronged along her path towards self-discovery. Her approach and impeccable sense of humor are hard to ignore, and watching her kick butt and take names alongside a group of tough, determined, and dedicated women was something I could definitely appreciate. Harley is a criminal, but she's also a hero. Sure, she's made a ton of mistakes and been reckless and wild at times. However, it's hard to deny her vulnerability, willingness to be herself, and how she redefines a new meaning of what it can mean for a woman to be truly emancipated.

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