By Ben Wright (@iamzavagno | www.xgeeks.co.uk)
This review is spoiler-free.
Created by Eli Horowitz, this 7-part audio drama follows the newly qualified psychologist Dr Harleen Quinzel (Christina Ricci) as she starts her new career inside the dangerous walls of Arkham Asylum. Dr Quinzel is handed the case file of ‘Patient J’ (Billy Magnussen), a chaotic prankster who no other doctor wants to take on. What follows is a fascinating interpretation of the ‘Mad Love’ Harley Quinn and Joker origin story. While they do use some of the well-known and established elements, there are also a few exciting factors to shape the story and characters. What if it wasn’t the Joker who manipulated and caused the downfall of Dr Quinzel, what if it was Harleen in the driving seat all along? Be prepared to embrace a new and interesting take on these two iconic characters!
As for the cast? Christina Ricci proved to be a very smart and unique choice for the role. Funnily enough, when I was younger and doing my own fan casting for a live-action Harley Quinn, Ricci was one of the names I had imagined perfect for the role. So, in a way, this audio drama proves me right, as Ricci truly takes this much-loved and well-established character and makes it her own. One change that I thought worked really well, and what most would call sacrilege, was the accent… this is no Arleen Sorkin! Now, I know dropping the accent isn’t a new thing, but I thought having Ricci use her normal voice worked within the context of Dr Quinzel and this story. As for Billy Magnussen’s Joker, I was really impressed. He was very un-Joker-like in many ways, more creepy than insane. Some actors try hard to copy the definitive Mark Hamill Joker, and sometimes it feels like the performer is trying too hard, which comes across in the experience. Magnussen’s Joker is much more subtle, but still very much feels like the clown prince of crime! Ricci and Magnussen’s chemistry came across really well and their interactions were always highly engaging. There were also some good performances from Mary Holland (Magpie) Stephen Root (Grunfeld) and Andre Royo (The Ventriloquist).
The production quality of Sound Mind was very pleasing. The sound design was faultless, both in terms of the editing and the performance and effect mixing. The 17-20 minute episodes were the perfect length, allowing the story to flow and progress without overstaying its welcome. Short and snappy works better here than trying to fill the episodes out.
While this audio series is mostly a positive experience, Harley Quinn and The Joker: Sound Mind is not without its faults. While I have praised the character performances and story elements, some of the sexualised content felt a little unnecessary and jolting. There were also a few details in the script that broke the immersion a little and some aspects felt rushed or under-prepared. With that said, adding more agency and feminist elements into the narrative updates the characters and story for the better.
Harley Quinn and The Joker: Sound Mind is an imaginative and refreshing take on the Harley Quinn and Joker origin story – flipping the script and shifting the balance of power for the better.
X-Geeks 