Recap of Harley Quinn Season 5 Premiere: Easter Eggs and Ending Explained

Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Harley Quinn Season 5, episode 1

Harley Quinn Season 5: Episode 1 Overview

The highly anticipated premiere of Harley Quinn Season 5 sets the stage for thrilling developments and clever nods throughout. As Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy relocate from the chaotic streets of Gotham to the vibrant city of Metropolis, they seek to reinvent their lives. This relocation sparks a mixed response; while some residents are elated by their arrival, others raise concerns about the duo’s potential impact on the classic Superman territory.

In the preceding season, Harley and Ivy navigated numerous challenges—Ivy attempted to lead the Legion of Doom while Harley made strides within the Bat-Family. Now, facing a deteriorating Gotham, they are poised for new adventures in Metropolis. This recap will unveil key moments, the episode’s conclusion, and highlight significant Easter eggs featured in Harley Quinn Season 5, episode 1.

Harley Quinn Season 5 Episode 1 Recap

Episode Title: “The Big Apricot”

Harley Quinn Talks With Superman in Harley Quinn S5 Episode 1

Gotham lies in turmoil following the disbandment of the Bat Family, and a year has passed since the breakup of the Gotham City Sirens before Nightwing’s body was recovered.
Riddler and Clock King criticize Harley and Ivy for their stagnant lifestyle, planting the seed of doubt in Harley’s mind.
Harley persuades Ivy to accompany her to the grand opening of the Superman Museum, leveraging the favor of saving Superman’s life.
At the event, they encounter Lena Luthor, Lex’s sister and Bruce Wayne’s new girlfriend who financially supported the museum.
Metropolis is defended by cutting-edge drones that leave Superman feeling obsolete, as they perform his duties with unmatched efficiency.
After being expelled by the drones, Harley and Ivy disguise themselves as performers to infiltrate the museum and steal its prized artifact.
Lena Luthor plays along, diverting attention away from Harley and Ivy by acting as if their heist was part of the performance.
The following day, Lena invites them to lunch, extending friendship and proposing Ivy lead a new green initiative in Metropolis.
Encouraging Superman to take a break, Harley convinces him to step away as the drones have overshadowed his role.
Harley and Ivy finalize their decision to establish residency in Metropolis.
Unbeknownst to them, the drones are manipulated by the villain Brainiac, who disapproves of their presence.

Finale Breakdown: Harley Quinn Season 5 Episode 1

Brainiac’s Plans for Metropolis

By the end of the episode, we discover that the mastermind behind Metropolis’ fleet of security drones is none other than Brainiac. A notorious adversary of Superman in the comics, Brainiac aims to achieve absolute perfection in Metropolis. This Coluan alien is infamous for collecting entire cities and is notably recognized for his infamous act of shrinking and preserving the Kryptonian city of Kandor.

Brainiac aspires for Metropolis to reach optimal efficiency, likely eyeing the city for a similar fate as Kandor. With Superman encouraged to take a sabbatical, it appears Brainiac could easily conquer the city. However, Harley and Ivy’s arrival complicates this plan significantly.

Harley and Ivy’s Presence Disrupts Brainiac’s Goals

Brainiac's Perfection Meter in Harley Quinn S5 Episode 1

Brainiac’s monitors demonstrate that Metropolis was nearing a 100% perfection rating before plummeting from 99% to 86%. This decline corresponds with Harley and Ivy’s decision to remain in Metropolis long-term. Consequently, this suggests that Brainiac will take urgent measures to remove them from the city, as their antics threaten to hinder his meticulous plans in forthcoming episodes.

Notable Easter Eggs and References in Episode 1

Gotham City Sirens: The opening confirms the dissolution of the Gotham City Sirens despite their formation at the end of Season 4.
Nightwing’s Body: Harley mentions that Nightwing’s stolen body remains unfound, a narrative twist stemming from his resurrection by Talia al Ghul and Damian Wayne.
Enchantress from the Suicide Squad: A brief flashback features the Enchantress, echoing her design from the 2016 film.
Man-Bat: This classic villain makes a quick appearance, adding a familiar element to the episode.
Light and Dark Cities: A striking visual transition from the dark streets of Gotham to the bright vibrancy of Metropolis nods to their respective heroes.
Lena Luthor: A new character, Lena Luthor draws on her comic origins while bringing a contemporary twist seen in the CW’s Supergirl.
Humorous Reference: Lena’s quip about her love life playfully references the infamous “Martha”moment from Batman v Superman.
Eclipso Encounter: Eclipso’s appearance from Lena’s broken necklace highlights Harley’s fearless persona as she dispatches him effortlessly.
Time Travel Easter Egg: Superman’s mention of altering Earth’s rotation recalls a key moment in the 1978 Superman film.
Brainiac’s Introduction: Voiced by Stephen Fry, Brainiac emerges as the season’s central antagonist, initially teased in the spin-off series, Kite Man: Hell Yeah!

Easter Eggs within the Superman Museum of Metropolis

Superman Museum in Harley Quinn S5 Episode 1

Superman’s Costumes: The museum features various costumes, including the iconic black resurrection suit and the blue and white containment suit from the comics.
Black Mercy Display: The alien parasite, known as the Black Mercy, appears, pulling from a classic Superman narrative.
Diverse Kryptonite: Various forms of kryptonite, complete with descriptions of their abilities, add depth to the exhibition.
Reference to Henry Cavill: A Space Marine’s armor hints at Superman actor Henry Cavill, renowned for his love of Warhammer 40K.
Iconic Artifacts: Other significant items include the Phantom Zone Projector, the Fortress of Solitude’s key, and Superman’s first cape, reinforcing the museum’s nostalgic essence.

New episodes of Harley Quinn Season 5 premiere every Thursday on Max.

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