Does the Joker have sleep apnea and a family?! We’re back with a Joker-focused episode; “Joker: The Killing Vote”, and it’s slightly more heart-warming than you would expect. We learned from Season 2 that while Joker was Jack Napier; he found a new family and had an epiphany about his life choices. This results in the aforementioned family carrying over to this season. More than likely the entire joke for this plot is rubbing the irony in Harley’s face that he could change but not for her. Even though she would have given him all of that in a heartbeat – it was his refusing to change. Perhaps he realized he messed up and thus allowed Harlivy to blossom while also working on his own shit.
Gordon, as we know, is running for Mayor. Joker also decides to run for Mayor to get his stepson, Benicio, on the Dual Immersion Programme. It results in Two-Face, who is representing Gordon – kidnapping Benicio. The scene immerses you into an instant reference to The Killing Joke, a hugely popular, well-known Joker comic. Not to mention the episode title being a play on the comic itself. The episode shows us familiar scenes, only this time it’s Joker fearing for him and his stepson’s life – oh, and Gordon saves them! Like I said, unexpected.
Alan Tudyk has always been brilliant at voicing The Joker for me. Immediately from “Ugh, this guy” in Season One, I was sold. The blunt, quick muttering will never fail to make me cackle. Love or hate Joker; no one can hate Alan Tudyk.
There are many scenes with evidence he cares enough to retain important information about his kids. Like Sophia having asthma and going to extremes to run for Mayor to control their education. But despite Joker selling a pretty good run for Mayor – there are cracks in the foundation that seep through.
We can see his narcissism remains embedded deep at the dinner table. He discards his own rules by watching TV at dinner – but who is all over the screen? Himself. Any moment he could snap straight back into his old ways, and that’s what makes it exciting to watch, the will he, won’t he? Again, it could be legit, and the producers are trying to show us he really won’t be meddling with Harley’s life again anytime soon. We will only know in the future!
Also on the chalkboard, there are some years: 1939, Batman’s debut in Detective Comics. 1966 being Adam West’s Batman series debut. 1989, the film Batman by Tim Burton hit theatres. Again, in 2005, Batman Begins by Christopher Nolan. And finally, in 2008, The Dark Knight.
Favorable mentions; Gary randomly shooting people – he just didn’t get the “No Reservoir Dogs” memo. Two-Face singing Sum-41 caught me completely off guard – this show never fails to amaze me. Tudyk’s overall performance as Joker, he really gives his all every time. I think it’s a solid episode that opens up so many questions and possible plot lines. Join me next week for “Another Sharkly Adventure.”