Villain Therapy: HARLEY QUINN and Histrionic Personality Disorder

Why is Harley Quinn often doing things to get attention?

Licensed therapist Jonathan Decker and filmmaker Alan Seawright, along with editor, producer, and frequent guest Sophie Tellez, discuss the psychology behind Harley Quinn, why she acts the way she does, and why people love Margot Robbie's portrayal of this villain (anti-hero?). Jonathan discusses the codependency between Harley and the Joker, diagnoses her with Histrionic Personality Disorder, and dives into what that is and how she exhibits symptoms. Alan and Sophie talk about male gaze in the filmmaking, some of the great performances and production design, and fight over DC vs MCU.

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Cinema Therapy is:
Written by: Megan Seawright, Jonathan Decker, and Alan Seawright
Produced by: Jonathan Decker, Megan Seawright, Alan Seawright, and Sophie Téllez
Edited by: Jenna Schaelling
Director of Photography: Bradley Olsen
English Transcription by: Anna Preis

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[LindCreations]

As a friend of mine recently said: "If you're not fed love with a silver spoon, you learn to lick it off knives."
Have to say, that resonated with me on a whole other level.

[narial]

I love that Margot Robbie though broke out of her "blonde bimbo" stereotype by just straight up making her own movie company and producing her own movies. I, Tanya just showcased her acting skills SO MUCH. She's a powerhouse as an actress, businesswoman, and human being. Just respectable in every way

[gurglequeen]

One of my favorite parts about Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn, is that her beginning as a psychologist isn't just a part of her origin story and then they never talk about it again. They reference it and have her use her education several times.

[tieganmccusker]

You'll also notice, in suicide squad, the camera is VERY centered on Margots chest, whereas in birds of prey, the camera is centered on her face. Not to mention the insane push-up bra they very clearly had her wearing during suicide squad that looked physically uncomfortable, vs the pink brallete she was wearing throughout most of birds of prey which actually fit her well. 🤙

[randomperson]

The fact that Alan started their commentary by saying “Margot Robbie. Thank you for existing” honestly just shows you how great the rest of it is gonna be

[Zuyuri]

“If you romanticize Joker and Harley, seek help, ”
Thank you! It always makes me sad that some people want to use an unhealthy relationship as the goal.

[meganshaw]

She’s romanticizing the acid scene. In the comics, he led her to the factory while she was terrified. In the comics, she was so frightened that she was trembling above the acid when Joker pushed her in knowing that she couldn’t swim and letting her remain in the chemicals for several minutes as she was drowning. He drained the chemicals at the very last second and adapted her name from Harleen Quinzel to Harley Quinn. As Kaley Cucco (the current voice of Harley Quinn in the show Harley Quinn says in an episode before hitting Joker very hard with a bat) “You got Harley Quinn out of Harleen Quinzel. Nice work, genius!!!” WHAM-O!!!

[tandemraptor]

The line she said "they tell ya the music you like ain't real music at all" help me so much. It almost sad to admit. It was really hard for me to understand my last relationship was toxic until I heard this. My ex did that all the time. He constantly dismissed and deconstructed my music taste to the point I hated myself for even thinking of listening to music, I would be afraid to like music, any music. It just helped to hear it. It really helped me acknowledge and heal from it. This line still hits.

[vertoatrum]

I have histrionic personality disorder and for me, it feels more like being in a separate plane from other people if you're not talking to them or centered on in some way. It's like as soon as somebody stops including you in the conversation you literally fade out into a different dimension and you become the most depressed version of yourself; you feel worthless, invisible, unwanted. So whether it's shiny clothes, bright colors, or being loud and boisterous, the Brain will find ways to get the attention on you or to make sure that the attention can't leave you. It's awful, it's guilt inducing, and most of it is actually subconscious. We're not all sexual deviants with irritating personalities who just want to irk you 😟

[dustbitten]

There’s a channel that discusses the wardrobe choices for Harley between the movies. In the first movie she was dressing for Joker, in the following movies especially the second, she’s dressing for herself. She’s dressing more comfortable than sexy, more colors.

[Manu-dpls]

An example of how to portray this condition without overly sexualising the character is Angelina Jolie in Girl, interrupted. There's a scene where she's being overly sexual and flirtatious but our thoughts in that isn't "Wow she's so hot" and instead is "My god she needs some serious help". Angelina Jolies portrayal of Lisa Rowe remains one of my favourite performances of all time.

[Scrofar]

I still remember this episode in Batman: The Animated Series where it showcased the toxicity and abusive nature of Joker and Harley's relationship on full display. All Harley wanted was a little attention and adoration from the Joker--she carries out his orders, dresses up sexy for him, and even tries to help him with work, even successfully abducting BATMAN so that Joker has a little less on his plate to deal with.

But the Joker never once acknowledged, appreciated, or praised Harley's efforts the whole time, and was instead was enraged because 'she hurt his pride.' The episode doesn't show it, but off-screen you _hear_ Joker strike her, and Batman himself _wincing_ at the action. Everyone knows it takes a lot to faze the Batman, so to have the darkest, most undeterred superhero wince at Joker's abuse is enough to tell you how cruel and unfair this moment was for Harley.


Yet even while Harley was hospitalized for her injuries, Joker sends her flowers, and Harley continues to live in that infatuation. I remember being truly heartbroken for Harley--how the Joker would lure her back in and continue his manipulative cycle all over again, and that Harley might never break free. It makes me glad and happy that current media are taking Harley's route in new directions, particularly when she chooses to move on from Joker and live for herself, and reinterpreting her as something more than just Joker's right-hand woman and plaything.

[suzy]

In terms of the diversity, I also like the fact that one of the women was also was a bit older, middle-aged in fact. She looked like a real person. Usually when films show 'diversity' you get the young stunning Black woman, the young stunning Latina, the young stunning Asian woman, etc....you can definitely tell this was directed by a woman!

[elisabetrouge]

I love that she has this whole therapy session with herself while the guy she shot is just squirming around on the floor 😂

[Excanda]

Margot Robbie is a great actress and luckily the perfect pick for Harley. In the first Suicide Squad she apparently had to deal with Jared Leto often improvising his lines that she never knew what he would say, but she reacts perfectly in character. I also grew up on Batman TAS and Margot Robbie reminds me of the animated Harley. The start of Birds of Pray is chaotic, but do keep in mind that the narration comes from Harley who is seriously messed up in her head and so is all over the place.
I love that they kept the three biggest actors (as in performing the best) from the first Suicide Squad in the second one, as it would not have been so good without Margot Robbie(Harley), Viola Davis(Waller) and Joel Kinnaman(Brick Flag).

[RanLynn]

I don't remember the who said it but the best explanation I've heard for why her outfit in Birds of Prey feels more right is because it seems like something Harley would pick out herself, but the one in Suicide Squad looks like something someone put her in

[trinaq]

I just realised why Harley was so angry when El Diablo revealed his backstory about accidentally killing his family. Her desire, as shown by Enchantress' visions, involves a normal life with the Joker, complete with children. In her eyes, he threw away what she wanted by destroying his loved ones.

[frumiousalice]

as an abuse survivor, this one really hits home. my ex referred to me as his Harley all the time, and even bought these ridiculous Harley/Joker rings for us to wear. i'm almost 6 years removed from it now, and looking back it's hard to believe HOW MUCH i put up with from him. i haven't been in a relationship since, because i'm terrified of them now.

ETA: i'm absolutely in therapy right now, and have been for about 5 years. 💕

[RuviGaPo]

Also! Re: the clothes.
The clothes in birds of prey actually Look Comfortable. Suicide squad is like.. it's a single rly tight layer and the shorts are way shorter and ridiculously tight. Like... they're in no way the same ammount of revealing. And that's not taking into account that the outfits in bop have actual personality and tells a story lol. Like i would wear that in a heartbeat i just think it's so cool!

[nataliiamelnykova]

"It's for the girls, and if you're offended by that, that's your problem"

Love it!