Article by Adam Poncharoensub
At the end of June, it was confirmed that DC Universe’s brilliant Harley Quinn animated series would make its way to HBO Max. It was quietly included in an HBO Max subscriber newsletter with no other details or fanfare. Well, as of yesterday… it’s time, folks! Those HBO Max subscribers who held out against DC Universe can now view the entire series in its entirety. Harley Quinn Season 1 and 2 have been added to HBO Max.
In a Tweet released early morning August 1st, the official HBO Max Twitter revealed that Harley Quinn Season 1 and 2 are now available on the streaming service. See below for the full Tweet:
Good news, Puddin’: Harley Quinn seasons 1 and 2 are now available to stream on HBO Max. ♦️?? pic.twitter.com/jSPnX0qPra
— HBO Max (@hbomax) August 1, 2020
For those of you who haven’t seen it yet, now’s your chance. Trust me, you won’t regret it. The series is equal parts hilarious and heartfelt. One of the few shows that can have me weeping for the characters, and then laughing hysterically, literally within seconds. Also, be warned. You’re in for a wild ride.
Suspiciously quiet
What’s worth discussing, however, is why HBOM decided to be so discreet with its premiere. Harley Quinn was easily one of the most popular shows on DC Universe, broadcast on cable TV and YouTube. With something as beloved as Harley Quinn, it should be more of a marketing opportunity to garner more subscribers. Some holdouts who always wanted to watch the series, but never felt that DC Universe was worth it, could easily sign on to this giant Disney+ competitor, but instead, it was announced in a newsletter. This was followed by a Tweet on a Saturday morning, at 9AM EST and 6AM PST.
Though it still remains to be seen if DC Universe has a future in the shadow of HBOM, this certainly seems to be a nail in the coffin. Both Doom Patrol and Harley Quinn were supposed to be DC Universe exclusives… and now, they’re not. DCU moderators have insisted that the streaming service isn’t going anywhere, then they inexplicably removed the option to sign up for yearly subscriptions to DCU. This means that the streaming service is no longer available for a yearly commitment, so new users can only remain month-to-month. The speculation remains strong amid these moves and if they do decide to let the streaming service go. I will be sad to see it go.
Either way, Harley Quinn has been added to HBO Max and it’s time to start bingeing. Check out Kendra Hale’s review of the season 2 finale here.
