‘Harley Quinn’ Season 3 Ending Explained

HBO Max’s Harley Quinn has become nothing short of a cult classic in the three years since its premiere. It maintains the delicate balance between its humor, darkness and humanization of complex characters even in their worst moments. Not only that, but its handling of the relationship between Harley and Ivy has been nothing short of spectacular to watch. While season one focused on Harley coming into her own after splitting with the Joker, season two ended with the culmination of the long awaited romantic relationship between Harley and Ivy. We all rejoiced at the top of our lungs, but good things only last for so long.

Season 3 was definitely one for the history books

After the conclusion of their “Eat. Bang! Kill. Tour,” Harley and Ivy return to Gotham City with a plan to terraform the earth. Yeah. Ivy would have the concrete Jungle we all know (and hate), turn into an emerald wonderland. In the process of her research, she comes across a power known as the Green which allows her to communicate with and control all of the plants in the world. As if she wasn’t powerful enough. 

At the the same time, Batman is drowning in the trauma of what happened to his parents. In an act of desperation, he tries to resurrect them using the mutant powers of Ivy’s plant Frank. Needless to say, that doesn’t go so well and he inadvertently causes a plant zombie apocalypse. Yikes.

Thankfully (or depending on how you see it, really), Ivy is able to take control of the zombified army with the Green. She has every intention of using said army to turn the world green. Harley is now put in a difficult position where she has to go against her girlfriend and stop her. She does so by purposefully getting contaminated by one of the plant zombies which causes Ivy to reverse the effects out of love for her. It works—but to the detriment of their relationship.

Their emotions come to a head when Ivy is tasked by Lex Luther to kill Mayor Joker, for which Harley initially offers support until she realizes that she has no desire to kill or harm anyone anymore. 

Will Harlivy come to an end?

At the end of season three, Ivy, like the audience, realizes that she continues to put Harley in a difficult position. With Harley constantly having to find ways to be okay with her behavior, their relationship might crumble before it really begins. They reach an agreement where they both decide to follow their own path while at the same time trying to maintain a relationship, but is the writing already on the wall? But then again, things can’t get much stranger in Gotham City. The Joker is the mayor and is on a social justice kick, while Bruce Wayne is in prison for tax fraud, trying to overcome his trauma in a cell.

What’s next for Harley?

Due to Harley’s efforts in stopping Ivy, she is now seen as a hero and comes to the realization that she enjoys doing good. Being that she now also knows Batman’s true identity after a brief stint in is head, she promises to help him overcome his demons. With that, she’s the new official member of the bat family. Good on you, Dr. Harleen Quinzel.

While it shows growth and is as heartwarming as the writers intended for it to be, one can’t help but wonder how long this tacit truce is going to last. Ivy leading the Legion of Doom and Harley heading down a path of anti-herodom will do doubt give us conflict in season 4. Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long to find out.

Season 4 has been greenlit, and though we’ll have to wait in the wings for a specific date, there is strong potential for a release sometime in 2023.

Featured Image via HBO Max

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