Trouble blooms like a flower in the newest Harley Quinn Season Five episode. Following the events of last week, Poison Ivy must face the consequences of her revenge. She must contend with a foe possessing the same powers as her but much deadlier. This brand-new character is also one of the most iconic beings in DC Comics history. They’ve been in various comic books, facing off against the Justice League and Swamp Thing. Now that they’re in the Harley Quinn show, what challenges do they bring?
Last Time in Season Five
The fifth season of Harley Quinn started in Gotham City in ruins. The Bat Family disbanded, and the city possesses no mayor as leader. Harley and Ivy now live a comfortable life as a normal couple. They decide to journey to Metropolis to crash a gala at a new Superman museum. The couple meet Lena Luthor, Bruce Wayne’s new socialite girlfriend and the party’s hostess. She offers Ivy a job to ‘green up’ Metropolis, so she and Harley relocate there.
Episode Two focused mainly on Ivy and her past with her ex-lover, Professor Jason Woodrue. They were a secret college couple, though things ended when he tried stealing her work. They fought, which resulted in Ivy acquiring her iconic plant powers and green skin. She got her revenge in the present by killing him with a toxic gas cloud. In truth, Jason still lives and is mutated into a plant creature. The B-story revolved around Harley babysitting King Shark’s kids at an exclusive club.
Recapping the Newest Harley Quinn Episode
The third episode of Harley Quinn Season Five, Floronic Man, opens with Ivy having nightmares. Images of Jason returning from the dead for revenge plague her thoughts. She dismisses it, but Harley confronts her about Jason’s death, which is headlining the newspapers. Harley begins questioning her girlfriend, but Ivy insists everything’s fine. Their conversation ends when Ivy must prepare her presentation for the Green Initiative meeting. Later, the former eco-terrorist reveals her plans, and the presentation goes well.
Things suddenly turn south when Ivy begins hearing voices and seeing images of Jason. She panics and decides to go into The Green to calm herself down. Her idea works until she meets a plant man she recognizes as Jason. Calling himself Floronic Man, he attacks Ivy and proves he’s immensely stronger than her. Harley finds Ivy and calls Frank for help, who joins in on Ivy’s fight. The battle ends when Harley finds Floronic Man’s physical body and chops him into pieces.
Rise of the Iconic Floronic Man
The most prominent highlight of this Harley Quinn episode is the arrival of Floronic Man. Debuting in 1962’s The Atom #1 comic, he was initially a villain called Plant Master. His transition into Floronic Man occurred in The Flash #245 from 1976. His appearances often showcase him fighting against the Justice League, The Atom, and Swamp Thing. In some versions, he’d be the catalyst behind the creation of Poison Ivy. He’s considered a fan favorite because of his demented personality and frightening looks.
These pinnacle traits carry over to the Harley Quinn adaptation of Floronic Man. He delighted in tormenting Ivy at every opportunity before their fated reunion. The plant man even physically harmed her, delaying her death for his amusement. As for his appearance, it was as unhinged as his behavior and fear-inducing. His moss-covered wooden body was gangly, and his beady red eyes lay in sunken sockets. These aspects combine to create a character you’ll want to see again in another episode.
The Semi-Irrelevant Return of Clayface
This week’s new installment of Harley Quinn featured the return of renowned character Clayface. He stars in the secondary story, showcasing him performing a show in Metropolis. Much to his shock, his performance receives a scathing review from The Daily Planet. He meets with editor-in-chief Perry White and demands a retraction, but his efforts are fruitless. Clayface kidnaps Perry and writes a new review with Bane’s help, then impersonates Perry. He takes the editor’s spot in the end and uses the newspaper to promote himself.
While it was nice to see Clayface again, his plot doesn’t contribute to the episode. He doesn’t even cross paths with Harley and Ivy like King Shark previously did. Clayface feels underutilized and unnecessary, though his arrival could lead to something unexpected. He could replace Perry at The Daily Planet and use it to promote himself. All the headlines would be about him, and his shows would receive only good reviews. And there’s no telling what other things this egotistical clay blob will do this season.
Final Verdict on Floronic Man
I must give this Harley Quinn episode a 9.8 out of 10, a solid A. The 0.2 loss comes from the negatives of the Clayface side story. But everything else about this new installment hits the mark for me. The action is thrilling, the humor hits right, and there’s much Harlivy relationship cuteness. Season Five is shaping up to be better than the last one. If you liked this review and analysis, I’ll be back for another next week.
