Suicide Squad (2016), directed by David Ayer, was the first ever movie that starred a live-
action Harley Quinn, which was portrayed by Margot Robbie. While the movie itself did not do so great, Robbie was praised for her role as the iconic character. Four years later, Harley Quinn will make it back on the big screen in Birds of Prey: The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn
(2020) directed by Cathy Yan. While both movies offer vastly different story lines and
characters, Birds of Prey is seen as a continuation to Harley Quinn’s story and a much-needed
display of character growth.

If you didn’t already know, Harley Quinn’s sole purpose when she was first created in
1992 was to stand by the Joker, who abused her constantly. Suicide Squad demonstrates this
unhealthy relationship through obvious details such as his constant manipulation of her and how
quick he is to abandon her. His ownership of her is even depicted in small details such as all the
tattoos of his name littering her body and a dog collar that she wears around her neck that says
“Puddin” on it, a very popular nickname her character has called him in various forms of media
for decades. Harley’s co-dependency for the Joker is also depicted in her actions, with her
abandoning the Suicide Squad in the movie and leaving them all in harm’s way, just to escape
with him. She only goes back to her team when she assumes, he has been killed. Harley has
always been a spontaneous character who makes random decisions at any given moment,
however in her older variations, she never hesitated when it came to the Joker and constantly did
what he asked even if it meant that she payed the price for his actions. Suicide Squad brings to
life this older variation of the character, giving her no personality and no meaningful existence
outside of her life with the Joker.

Birds of Prey, however, gives Harley Quinn her well-deserved character growth. Firstly,
the whole premise of the movie is Harley attempting to find herself after she breaks up with the
Joker. She even blows up the Ace Chemical factory, which in Suicide Squad is a figurative setting
of her complete and total devotion to the Joker. Harley destroying the factory is symbolic to her
deliberately choosing to walk away from the Joker and his abuse. Secondly, her outfits are of her
own choosing. Despite the fact that in Suicide Squad Harley’s clothing is representative of the
Joker, the clothing was also representative of the male gaze itself. Her clothes were ripped right
below her breasts and she wore pigtails that seductively frame her face and are long enough to “tug
on.” Additionally, there are multiple scenes unnecessarily depicting parts of her body when they
are not fully clothed. However, in Birds of Prey, all the tattoos on her body that 
symbolized her love for the Joker were crossed off. It’s a better decision to have them crossed off ratherthan removed completely because, once again, it is symbolic to her choosing to walk
away from him.

 

Furthermore, there is a scene of Harley crying and cutting her hair, which is
often a very big decision in a woman’s life and is brought on by the desire to completely reinvent
one's life. Harley also wears more than one outfit and brands herself on them with her most worn
outfit being a t-shirt that has her name on it. Lastly, Harley finds friends in the movie that are
willing to accept her for who she is and not use her for personal gain as happened in Suicide Squad.

Harley Quinn is a powerful figure for women in abusive relationships. Where Suicide
Squad failed, Birds of Prey succeed and gave this adored character the justice she deserved.