The DC Universe rolls out the red carpet for Kaley Cuoco as The Big Bang Theory star plays Harley Quinn in the new animated series. The no-holds-barred pilot episode premiered on Nov. 29 (Friday) in the United States.
From Penny to Harley Quinn Real Quick
Known for her iconic role as Penny in the long-running comedy show The Big Bang Theory, Kaley Cuoco is not every DC fan's top pick to play the animated version of the badass Batman villain. According to the DC show's executive producer Justin Halpern, however, the suggestion came directly from the peeps at Warner Bros.
In an interview with Metro UK, Halpern noted that Cuoco's confidence and attitude made it easy for them to cast her for the role.
"We hadn't really thought about it because she's always just been Penny on The Big Bang Theory and so we were like, 'We love her but let's just talk about it', and we talked to her about it and she just completely got it," he added.
What to Expect in the New DC Cartoon Series
The story centers on the life of our bloodthirsty protagonist. After breaking free from her toxic relationship with The Joker, Harley Quinn goes out on her own to form a new identity. This time, she wants to prove she's more than just the sidekick of her abusive ex-boyfriend. Donning a fresh, more feminine (but still lethal) look reminiscent of her Suicide Squad guise, the Clown Queen of Crime meanders around Gotham City to build her own villainous army.
The titular series' first episode went off with a bang, with the badass villain engaging in fight scenes that scream both violence and vulgarity. Add to this her best pal Poison Ivy's dead-pan humor, as well as the appearances of fan-favorites, such as Two Face, Bane, and Scarecrow, and you're definitely in for a killer, villain-centric DC treat.
Reception
Digital Spy described the pilot as "a feast for the eyes," adding that the animated version of each character "feels fresh." For them, DC's recent addition to their list of shows is "one of the best-animated series of the year."
For Chris Hayner of Gamespot, the cartoon is "vulgar, but has a heart of gold." Hayner praised Cuoco's performance, saying that although the lead character presents two different moods (one that's excited to rule over Gotham and another that has to deal with a horrible past), the actress "manages to play both sides of the role perfectly, creating a version of Harley Quinn that is a supervillain you can't help but root for in this cartoonish world."
Will the cartoon version appeal to DC fans? Screenrant thinks so. In his review, Kevin Yeoman said that the show takes advantage of its being animated by "becoming as brutal and coarse as it possibly can."
Friendly reminder: if you haven't seen the official trailer yet, brace yourself for its NSFW and not-so-kid-friendly scenes and dialogues.
The Harley Quinn animated series can be streamed in the U.S. via the DC Universe. Meanwhile, its United Kingdom airdate is yet to be announced.
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