"Big Pasta Dinner" offers a delightful, action-packed break in Harley Quinn season 5, following one of the show's strongest episodes. After diving into Brainiac's backstory and introducing new layers to the villain, this episode takes a sharp left turn into the realm of murder mystery, featuring a hilarious, star-studded dinner party that showcases the show's trademark humor.
The episode opens with a funny moment involving Frank and King Shark's son, Sean, quickly setting the tone for what will be a lighthearted, yet thrilling romp. The action then shifts to Bruce Wayne’s apartment, which is where the party takes place. One of the season's highlights has been how the show continues to balance Gotham’s iconic characters like Bruce Wayne, despite the action shifting to Metropolis. Harley’s Bruce is far more comedic than the usual brooding Dark Knight, and this version of the character continues to be a breath of fresh air.
From there, the episode turns into a delightful parody of the classic murder mystery genre. Fans of Knives Out and Glass Onion will find this episode especially entertaining as it leans into that quirky, sharp humor. The story kicks off with the supposed murder of Alfred Pennyworth, only for it to be revealed that the butler isn’t actually dead, but merely pretending for dramatic flair. While the fake-out death was a bit of a letdown, it ultimately worked in the context of Alfred’s exaggerated personality. After all, who else but the disgruntled butler could pull such a stunt?
What really elevates this episode, however, is the unexpected partnership between Bruce and the Joker. The Clown Prince of Crime has been a standout character on Harley Quinn, and here, he gets a moment to shine in an unconventional pairing with his arch-nemesis. Seeing Bruce and the Joker team up to search for Harley (and even share a sauna session) offers a fascinating and funny dynamic, with the Joker doling out relationship advice to Bruce about Damian and asking for help with his daughter’s internship. It’s moments like this that make Harley Quinn such a unique and hilarious show, where the absurd becomes endearing.
The episode doesn’t stay tame for long, though. Once Red X makes his dramatic entrance, things kick into high gear. The reveal that Dick Grayson is behind the Red X persona adds a satisfying layer of intrigue to the ongoing storyline, and I appreciated how the show handled his return, showing a darker, more vengeful side of Alfred who orchestrated the resurrection after being snubbed by Bruce for so long.
While the episode doesn’t move the plot with Brainiac forward, Big Pasta Dinner adds a refreshing layer to the season’s dynamic, proving that Harley Quinn thrives in both deep character exploration and absurd, genre-bending fun. It’s one of the show’s most distinctive and enjoyable episodes, blending humor, action, and heart in the way only this series can. A fantastic addition to Season 5!
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