DISCLAIMER: This recap of the Harley Quinn episode “There’s No Ivy in Team” has spoilers. Prepare to overtake Gotham and proceed at your peril.
Welcome back, queenpins of crime! Harley Quinn chugs along with another stellar outing. “There’s No Ivy in Team” is even better than the premiere. As much as I adore Harlivy, I feel this show is truly an ensemble at heart, and it soars when the whole gang is together.
Speaking of ensembles, “There’s no Ivy in Team” examines the power of teamwork through two lenses: the heroes and the villains. The series showcases the similarities between our baddies and the good guys. Watching each group encounter the same inner obstacles, namely, clashing egos that impede teamwork, is fun.
Ready to delve into “There’s No Ivy in Team”? Let’s get to it.
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Guess who’s back?
We open with Dick Grayson, a.k.a. Nightwing (Harvey Guillén), providing narration as he returns to Gotham on the bus. In true fashion, Harley (Kaley Cuoco) sits beside him and boos his cheesy monologue. Nightwing, Harley and Ivy (Lake Bell) disembark once the bus reaches its destination. Then, our fave lovebirds steal Alfred’s swanky vehicle. You and Nightwing can hitchhike back to Wayne Manor!
Meanwhile, King Shark (Ron Funches), Clayface (Alan Tudyk) and Frank the Plant (J.B. Smoove) readjust to living together as a team. Harlivy bursts through the wall all Kool-Aid Man-style, ready to implement Ivy’s terraforming plan. Harley encourages Ivy to disclose her grand scheme to the class, but Ivy loses confidence and flees.
Bat Fam
Next, Batgirl (Briana Cuoco) introduces herself to Nightwing in the Batcave. Nightwing brushes her off, his ego in full swing. Batman (Diedrich Bader) and Robin (Jacob Tremblay) enter the fray, knocking Nightwing down a few pegs. Batman informs the group that Firefly is at it again, so they all prepare to depart to combat him as a team.
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Nightwing calls shotgun in the Batmobile, but Robin gets there first. Not to worry, Nightwing — the Macaroni (a.k.a. Alfred) has an extra seat!
It’s 60 Percent of Her Personality!
Later, Ivy showcases a slide presentation explaining her plan to terraform Gotham. She hopes to unlock the plants growing beneath the surface by utilizing a prehistoric mosquito trapped in sap. The gang must steal one from the Natural History Museum. Naturally, the crew compares this to Jurassic Park, which is, purportedly, 60 percent of Harley’s personality.
Ivy provides the team with thick binders detailing the museum heist and everyone’s roles in the process. Clayface already has a few personas on hand, one of whom is a security guard who “picked up an extra shift” because he wishes to propose to his high school sweetheart. When will my man get the opportunity to display his versatility as a performer?
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Barging Bane
Suddenly, Bane (James Adomian) barges into our villains’ headquarters. He asks the crew to return the gift he gave Ivy and Kite-Man for their wedding since, you know, they never got married. When they don’t hand over said gift, Bane leaves in a huff, vowing not to ask nicely next time.
Next, the team puts Ivy’s plan into action. Clayface accurately predicts the story of one of the security guards, who, inexplicably, is working an extra shift to purchase a ring for his high school sweetheart. Is Clayface a clairvoyant? Anyway, Ivy snags the prehistoric mosquito, but the proceedings are messy as hell. King Shark remarks that this plan is somehow worse than a Harley scheme.
Then, Ivy procures the substance she needs from the mosquito to power the plants below the ground. A flower bursts through a crack in the floor. However, it morphs into a terrifying, formidable creature that dies when it falls into a vat of acid. Feeling like a failure, Ivy tells Harley she will execute her terraforming plan solo.
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Meanwhile, the Bat crew finds Firefly enmeshed in a devious crime. Nightwing confronts Firefly instead of waiting in the wings with the rest of the Bat fam. Unfortunately, Nightwing’s hubris allows Firefly to escape, colossally failing on all levels. Batman is one unhappy camper.
Foster Camaraderie
Later, Harley sees a TV ad for an escape room that promises to “foster group camaraderie.” That’s her favorite thing to foster! Harley hopes participating in a group activity will persuade Ivy that teamwork makes the dream work.
Bane attempts to purchase explosives at Mor-4-Lex Wholesale. Lex Luthor has his hands in everything these days, eh? The lifeless cashier informs him that his card isn’t working, so she allows Calendar Man to overtake his goodies. He’s going to blow up Valentine’s Day! We hear Bane’s inner monologue as he mines the depths of his psyche.
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Next, Harley and the gang trick Ivy into partaking in the escape room fun. Unfortunately, they discover that The Riddler (Jim Rash) is behind it all, luring them in with a persuasive TV ad. Ivy inadvertently kills an innocent man who joins their group. RIP, nerdy dude.
Ban tries to obtain a bank loan, but once again, he’s declined. Bane spirals internally, wondering if he needs to seek therapy. Been there, done that.
Team Work Makes the Dream
So, The Riddler splits our crew, and we see they wind up in separate rooms with members of the Bat fam. Riddler gives them a certain amount of time to figure out their escape rooms; otherwise, they die. Ivy partners with Nightwing, while King Shark and Clayface are with Batman and Robin. Lastly, Harley teams up with Batgirl. Batgirl also wanted to participate in a teambuilding activity. I love hearing the Cuoco sisters in a scene together.
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Nightwing makes an egregious mistake while playing chess, unlocking a ceiling full of spikes that descends upon him and Ivy. Nightwing, like Bane, spirals, preparing to succumb to his fate. Batman rants about the media exploiting the Wayne family via countless TV and film adaptations. This rant feels like a remark on many Batman projects over the decades. I dig it.
Ivy saves the day by failing. Well, she saves herself and Nightwing. Meanwhile, Batman saves everyone, much to the irritation of The Riddler.
If At First, You Don’t Succeed, Fail
Later, Ivy attempts to utilize the serum again on another plant. At the same time, the gang celebrates what appears to be a smashing success and the plant blossoms into a thing of terror. It increases in size until it explodes the already dilapidated mall. Bane sits outside and observes while the mall becomes nothing more than rubble, dismayed that he missed the opportunity to destroy Harley and the crew himself. Is it time for therapy now?
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Thankfully, Harley, Ivy, King Shark and Clayface emerge unscathed from the debris. Frank the Plant, however, soars into the air. He declares he’s a god — a superpowered mutant plant! Uh-oh.
Next, Firefly strikes again, so the Bat fam heads to stop him. Nightwing mends fences with Batgirl, deciding once and for all that he’s Team Bat. He’s even excited about hitching a ride with the Macaroni.
“There’s No Ivy in Team” is a delightful episode, introducing Nightwing into the fold and the Bat-family dynamic and laying the groundwork for the seasonal arc. I love Bane’s inner monologue and his relatable mental health narration. Bane should join Harley’s team, y’all. I’m so happy this zany, sardonic, bloody and heartwarming show is back to fill the Harley-shaped hole in my heart.
Harley Quinn drops new episodes every Thursday on HBO Max.
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
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