'Harley Quinn' Season 2 Episode 4 Review: Mister Freeze debuts in this impressive new take on a tragic romance
Spoilers for 'Harley Quinn' Season 2, Episode 4: 'Thawing Hearts'
Out of all of Batman's many villains, Mister Freeze (Alfred Molina) has perhaps always been the most sympathetic, and certainly one of the most tragic. There's an underlying sadness to all of his emotions — he is a man fighting for love. His heart has ironically hardened in the pursuit of it, leading him to stop at nothing if it furthers his search for a cure. A cold heart, fueled by love — it is that simple concept that has made the story Mister Freeze one of the most memorable of the Batvillains. Alfred Molina's take on the character, through a double-subversion, offers a completely new look at Mister Freeze while at the same time offering up a story that hits just as hard.
There's a lot to love about this episode. We get to see more Kite-Man (Matt Oberg) and Poison Ivy (Lake Bell) together, as they prepare for their wedding, and for all that everyone is waiting for the Harley Quinn (Kayley Cuoco) and Poison Ivy romance to start, Ivy and Kite-Man make a very sweet, loving couple. They're a joy to watch on screen, as they try to beat Batman's OTHER lamest villain, the Condiment King (Alan Tudyk), in the race for a wedding venue. Another joy is to see a little more of the dynamic between Harley Quinn and her main crew: Clayface (Tudyk), Doctor Psycho (Tony Hale) and King Shark (Ron Funches). Harley and her boys have not had a lot of time spent together, and their enforced time together as hostages of Mister Freeze is a great reminder of just how well the four work together.
It's Mister Freeze, however, who is the absolute star of this episode. The show's first subversion sees a far more cheerful Freeze than we've ever seen, which only makes him even more terrifying. A ruthless mad scientist is one thing, but a cheerful one who refuses to see any evidence that he might be mistaken is somehow just more chilling. Mister Freeze is warm, friendly, and likable, making his bizarre choices feel increasingly wrong. Unlike Batman, however, who would take the time to investigate Freeze, Harley Quinn has no time for anyone she feels is being oppressed, putting Norah Freis' (Rachel Dratch) life in immediate danger.
The second subversion quickly undoes the first, turning a creepy Freeze into an earnest, quirky one. The strength of Mister Freeze as a villain is the strength of his conviction — there is nothing he would not do for Norah, even lay down his own life. He's still absolutely a villain, and the show does not excuse him for it, but it's not like anyone in Gotham is truly a lot better. His final scene with Norah is one of the most heartbreaking moments of the entire series aside from, perhaps, Poison Ivy's death. If the episode has one glaring flaw, it's that a moment that was so well done is not given time to sit before the humor undercuts it.
'Thawing Hearts' is a beautifully done episode about love, conviction, and devotion, giving us a beautiful look as to how Harley, Ivy, and Kite-Man each approach love in their own ways. It's a gem of an episode, and despite his death at the end of it, it makes fantastic use of the classic story of Mister Freeze and his beloved wife.
The next episode of 'Harley Quinn' airs May 1 at 9 am ET on DC Universe.