DC Youngverse/Tropes

Tropes for the franchise

 * All-Star Cast: The franchise contains celebrities such as Racheal Zegler, Elizabeth Olsen, and Anna Akana, as well as well-known voice actors such as Kimberly Brooks and Clancy Brown.
 * Art Shift: Several movies in the franchise use different visual styles and even different animation styles and techniques.
 * Author's Saving Throw:
 * Following the criticism received by early DC Extended Universe films for focusing too much on setting up next installments and attempting crossovers too soon, the DCATU takes a more Marvel Cinematic Universe-esque approach by introducing characters before making crossovers and keeping all set-ups at bay
 * While mostly well-received, the 2019 version of DC Superhero Girls did saw some criticism for the less comptent potrayal of the male superheroes, with some even feeling it hampered its message of female empowerement. This franchise, which drew inspiration mainly from DCSHG, avoided those criticism by potraying both male and female superheroes as being equally competent, and even featuring heroes such as Brainiac-5 in standalone stories.
 * Speaking of DC Superhero Girls, fans complained over the fact that both versions included a younger Wonder Woman instead of the far younger Wonder Girl. The films corrected this by having Diana be the only member of the Superhero Girls to be an adult.
 * Fans felt that the franchise managed to redeem villains such as Enchantress and Mr. Freeze in the eyes of moviegoers following their lackluster cinematic debuts througth more memorable potrayals that played to each character's strength.
 * Adaptational Badass: In this version, Harley Quinn is shown to be somewhat more athletic than mpst versions, being team captain at all of her school's sports team.
 * Adaptational Intelligence: While still pretty much The Ditz, Harley is smarter than most versions, mainly due to her failing in love with the Joker due to suspicions of some sort of troubled childhood based on his modus operandi, as she has a terribly big soft spot for people who got it rough, instead of believing bullcrap from him, and being able to see the monster he is far sooner than most versions.
 * Adaptational Job Change: Played with. This version of Harley is too young to be a psychiatrist and psychologist, and with her parents dead, she instead works as an intern in Ace Chemicals to pay the bills. That being said, she is studying psychiatry and psychology, and she's a prodigy in that area.
 * Adaptational Nice Guy: While Harley Quinn still has a crush on the Joker, she ultimately chooses her friendship with Barbara Gordon over him, to the point of helping her defeat the Joker and becoming her crime-fighting partner afterwards.
 * Adaptational Relationship Overhaul: While in recent comics Harley is seen as part of the Bat-Family, this version is implicity adopted by Bruce Wayne, who gives her a room in Wayne Manor and allows her to live with him.
 * Character Development: Harley slowly recovers througth the films from the trauma brought by the Joker's manipulations in Batgirl.
 * Composite Character:
 * This version of Batgirl is level-headed like lost of her potrayals, but occasionally shows a Genki Girl actitudes closer to her 2019 DC Superhero Girls self.
 * This version of Harley Quinn has her usual Ditz/Genki Girl aspects, is best friends with Batgirl like her 2019 DCSHG self, and is a more heroic person much like her New 52 and 2015 DCSHG self. That being said, she's still plagued by the same mental issues most of her other selves are. She was also adopted by Bruce Wayne as his ward, much like most Robins.
 * Crounching Moron, Hidden Badass: Downplayed in that, while not a moron, Harley can be very childish. Threaten her friends, througth, and better start prayibg cause all bets are off.
 * Genre Roulette: While the DCATU films usually are rather standard superhero films, there are some that are set within other genres:
 * DC Superhero Girls is an action-adventure treasure hunt film in the style of Indiana Jones.
 * Harley & Ivy is a full-blown road trip buddy movie.
 * Raven II is a Psychological Thriller.
 * Recurring Gag: Zatanna mistaking someone with an enemy at the start of the DC Superhero Girls films.
 * Role Reprise:
 * Corey Burton reprises his role from the DCAU as Brainiac.
 * Henry Cavill, who potrayed Superman in the DC Extended Universe, finally gets another shot at the role by voiving him here.
 * She Really Can Act: Genesis Rodriguez is arguably delivers one of the best Harley Quinns to date, up there with her original VA and Margot Robbie. She manages to not only ddliver the comedic lijes needed for a character like her, but also masterfully showcase more emotional and serious sides of the character while still delivering the type of dialogue you would expect from her. This is best shown in Harley and Ivy, where she stands off against Knight Templar Lyle Bolton western-style, and, while her lines are just as goofy as ever, Rodriguez' delivery allows the fialogue to not to break the badassery of the scene.
 * Stepford Smiler: Harley at first seems like a quirky and friendly vigilante, but it soon becomes clear than, as brief as her time the Joker manipulating her was, she was left with as much psychological and emotional scars as most other versions, ranging from guilt, to struggles with mental disorders, to implicit trauma.
 * Unexpected Characters:
 * More like unexpected team, but, since the DC Superhero Girls franchise was devised more as a toyline snd only appeared in the comics outside of tie-ins, the fact that the team from the 2019 version was the focus of the franchise's first crossover caught many by surprise.
 * Let's be honest, who actually expected Brainiac-5 to lead his own film?!
 * The franchise may have taken a few cues from both versions of DCSHG. Yet, that dosen't mean fans from the 2015 version were expecting to see Kryptomites in the franchise!

Tropes for Batgirl

 * Adaptational Badass: This version has the Joker taking the Man-Bat serum, making him a far more physically imponent fighter.
 * An Aesop:
 * If you wanna change the world, do it in a way that both is morally right and you feel comfortable with.
 * Don't be afraid to be who you are.
 * When it comes to choose between someone you have a crush on and friends who truly love you, choose wisely.
 * Applicalibity: Barbara being told to "toughen up" and become a darker person in Gotham can be seen as a parallel to how some want superhero films to have a dark and serious tone instead of something more lighthearted and upbeat, with the film ultimately saying that, in the end, therre's nothing wrong with being funny and lighthearted. Word of God is that this was unintentional but "ultimately embraced by the time".
 * Author's Saving Throw:
 * Similar to The Lego Batman Movie, the film avoided criticisms towards the Bruce/Barbara ship by explicity showing them in a mentor/mentee relationship that obky involves into a quasi-father/daughter, to not to mention the age gap between both being too big for even supporters to agree with it here.
 * While Darker and Edgier than films such as The Lego Batman Movie and Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders, the film is still noticeably Lighter and Softer than most films centered on the Batman mythos, further addressing criticisms that the Batman and Batman-related movies have been excesively dark at the cost of a sense of fun.
 * Similarly, fans were pleased to see the film embrace the sci-fi aspects of the franchide, after some felt recent cinematic outings were execively realistic and neglected the more fantastical side of the character.
 * Awesome Moments:
 * The film's potrayal of Harley Quinn can be seen as one from a meta perspective. The film potrays her as a Nice Girl who becomes Batgirl's crime-fighting partner and even fights against her pudin, The Joker. Yet the entire creative team and Genesis Rodriguez neverthless kept everything audiences love about the character, from her wacky actitude to even her crush to Mister J. That's good writing.
 * Unlike previous incarnations, when the Joker deliberately throws her off to some chemicals to enrage Batman and Batgirl, Harley does not justify it in any way. Thus was the moment that showed her the Joker is a sociopath, and she accepts the truth. She even gets to give a "fuck you" to the Clown Prince of Crime by still being a good person, showing that "one bad day" may drive someone insane, but dosen't necessarily turns them into someone like him.
 * Then there's her fighting the Joker, which is so one-sided it finally puts onscreen something Harley fans knew all along: If there's someone the Joker is scared of, is her.
 * This is even better dusplayed at the end. The Joker, inside of a tall building ajd back to his human form, tries take Batgirl hostage and run. But Harley intervenes in the nick of time and effortessly throws the Joker into the ground. Upon noticing Harley with her maze in her hands and fury in her hands, the Joker practically shits himself, knowing she's gonna kick his ass worse than Batman. As Harkry approaches him, he trues to talk his way out, but Harley ain't buying his crap twice. Helpless the Jomer tries in vain to call Batman for help. Harley then gives Mr. J a taste of his Mad Love medicine by punching him with her hammer out of a window and straight to the street, where he lands straight in the trash, which, as Harley states, is where he belongs.


 * Catharsis Factor: Given how horrible the Joker treats Harley in most media, seeing her actually beating the crap outta him can be very satisfying from a meta perspective. The fact that she ends up turning the tables on him in a Mad Love recreation is the cherry on top.


 * Character Relaiment: A franchise-wide example. The film potrays the Batman mythos closer to their pulp science fiction potrayal from the comics, something only The Lego Batman Movie has shown in theatrical Batman films, and avoiding the Badass Normal potrayal shown ever since The Dark Knight Trilogy.
 * Darker and Edgier: The film noticeably skews the more cartoonish concepts and/or stories featured in previous Warner Animation Group films and instead focuses more on emotional stories and character development, all while focusing on issues such as self-steem and the consequences of overworking. The film's setting is also noticeable bleaker, being set in a lawless city full of corruption and crime. Additonally, the film os more viokent than previous WAG, featuring tons of onscreen Family-Unfriendly Deaths at the hands of an unsavory villain.
 * Fridge Brilliance:
 * The filmmakers admitted The Joker turning his henchmen into the Man-Bat Commandos was a deliberate Ass Pull. Which is something totally in-character for The Joker! After all, he does have a reputation for doing things in a whim!
 * Its already fitting that the song that plsys duribg the Joker's raid on S.T.A.R. Labs is "The Joker and the Thief". Its also fitting that the song playing right before is the song "Born to be Wild", performed by the band Steppenwolf.
 * The Joker's lair includes a makeshift throne. Well, he is known as the Clown Prince of Crime.
 * Funny Moments: Harley and Joker's fight. The fact that these two are really nuts and wacky as hell means that seen them both fighting equals a lot of Toon Physics, funny dialogues between boths, and even a few jokes that are straight out of Looney Tunes.
 * Heartwarming Moments:
 * Barbara and Harley's friendship in general is this! Even througth the two are fans of arch-enemies and Harley is in love with the Creepy Clown, the two are with each other througth thick and thin, to the point that not only Barbara admits her secret to her right after becoming Batgirl and even taking her to the Batcave while working out of trust, but Harley is very supportive of her, delivers sweet and sound advice, and is generally geniunely happy for her friend.
 * And even througth she spents part of the film torn between her friendship with Barbara and her crush on the Joker, Harley ultimately chooses to actively help her friend by fighting the Joker.
 * The origin of Harleen Quinzel's codename "Harley Quinn" in this version? "Harley" is Barbara's Affectionate Nickname for her. It really gives her Catchphrase "Call me Harley" a lot of emotion behind it. Its almost as if she's asking people to be her friends.
 * The scene where Barbara discovers Bruce gave her one of his Batmobiles. And not just any Batmobile, Its the Tim Burton version! Which they both said was their favorite!
 * And then is Barbara's reaction. The same one any fan lf the Burton films would have if they were in her shoes.
 * A more subtle one: The shot revealing her new Batmobile is a direct homage to the opening shots of the Joel Schumacher films, down to Elliot Godmenthal's theme playing in the background. No Take That! No mocking. Pure awesomeness. It's a straight up homage. Considering how both of the Schumacher films are seen as the worst luve-action Batman films, and he never got a chance to redeem himself after his planned third, Darker and Edgier, film got axed, this feels like a great Throw the Dog a Bone moment towards a fellow Batman fan who never got the chance to make, in his words, "a true Batman film".
 * Bruce also left a message for Barbara in the Batmobile: "Do whatever you please with it. Just don't scratch it". Its his way of saying "Do your own thing, Barbara. Don't copy me if you don't want to". It shows how Bruce didn't actually cared if Barbara did things her own way or like he does. He just wanted her to be happy.
 * Also, remember this: Early in the film, Barbara was shunned by everyone but Harley for being herself. Now, her personal hero is showing that he loves her like a daughter because of who she is.
 * Bruce adopting Harley at the end. He finally loses the loneliness he realized he had at the beginning.
 * He Really Can Act:
 * While no one doubted Genesis Rodriguez would have the comedy chops required to voice Harley Quinn, she also manages to deliver some surprisingly heartwarming lines while still feeling pretty much in-character gor Harley.
 * Everybody agrees that Mark Hamill's vocal performance as the Joker is one hell of a Tough Act To Follow, but it is unanimously agreed that Willem Dafoe more than managed to live up to the task by providing a performance just as creepy and entertaining as Hamill while giving the character a level of eloquence that allows his interpretation to stand on his own. Everyone thougth he would be a great Joker, and he proved them right.
 * Hilarious In Hindsight:
 * Loki's boast in his self-titled series' fourth episode of having lost track of how many times he died becomes a lot funnier now that his actor, Tom Hiddleston, appears in this film as the voice of The Joker, who has defied seemingly-impending dooms so many times he even had an entire trope about that named after him.
 * In the Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? epusode "What a Night for a Dark Knight?", the Joker disguises himself as Man-Bat to kidnap Alfred. In this film, he actually takes the serum.
 * Lighter and Softer: In spite of being Darker and Edgier than previous WGA films, it is at the same time lighter in tone than most Batman films, featuring a more optimistic and upbeat vibe product of a lead character who is more joyfull and energetic than Wayne, as well as a greater amount of jokes and humour.
 * Nightmare Fuel: Not because is one of the Lighter and Softer versions of the Batman mythos dosen't mean its not terrifying. Its not the 60s, you know!
 * The Joker. He is as much of a Creepy Clown as he is in the comics. And Tom Hiddleston lines are both eloquent and truly wild, making up for a truly chilling performance.
 * His appearance alone is quite horrifying. Combine the eyes of his 2004 self, Heath Ledger's scars, and his Arkham body, and this could qualify as the most creepy a normal Joker has ever looked. Add to all that his Man-Bat form, and you'd be forgiving to think he became one of the Devil's beasts.
 * His introduction is nothing short of terrifying, even througth we don't see his face yet. He throws knives at a tied bank security officer like in a circus act just to scare him for his own sick amusement, all while telling him he won't kill the officer. But when Batman shows up, the Joker chooses to go for the kill, simply telling the officer he changed his mind about not doing so, followed by a shot of the knive approaching the guard, who screams for his life, right before cutting to Batman and the police hearimg the scream. Tge way Hiddleston so sincerely says both "I'm not gonna kill you" and "Oh, heah, then... i changed my mind" makes it even scarier, since it shows the Joker truly changed his mind on wbether kill or spare the security officer.
 * Also, how the Joker randomly changes targets during a fight, unless he's that close for the kill. One second he tries to shoot Batgirl or Batman, and the next he targets the first person he sees instead. And not only enemies, but he can change his mind and kill an innocent bystander for the hell of it in an instant. Indeed no one's truly safe when the Joker's around...
 * ...And that "no one" dosen't exclude even his lackeys. The Joker does randomly shoot the first of his allies he can kill, even througth they didn't even were near him.
 * The scene in which Batgirl and the police attack what appears to be the Man-Bat. The filmmakers admittedly drew inspiration from the equally terrifying bottle factory scene in The Incredible Hulk, and it really shows. The scene becomes even more terrifying when its revealed kt wasn't Langstorm who attacked, but The Joker himself, having taken the Man-Bat serum. And unlike him, he's perfectly aware of what he's doing and enjoyed it.
 * And right before leaving, he drops a captive Langstorm to his death cackling like hell. And after his henchmen congrakute him on killing him before he coukd provide the heroes with a cure to the serum, he asks: "Wait, do you really think he would've give them a cure?". The fact that his voice tone is completly sincere manages to mame the line even more chilling.
 * His plan this time? Combine the Man-Bat serum with his Joker Poison and unleash it on Gotham City. But he firsts tests it on a civilian. And tp the results are creepy would be an understatement. The victim starts to painfully turn into a mindless monster while laughing uncontrollaby, and all that's left is a dead giant werebat with an offputting smile. And he plans to do it to all of Gotham.
 * In order to gain easy access to Ace Chemicals and the chemicals that turned him into who he is now, the Joker fools Harley into giving him that access by lying that he wants to find out whether he can be cured of his state. Its already creepy how his lies and manipulations feel reminiscent of the Mad Love comic, but the fact that this Harley is a teenager while Joker is at his mid-40s makes it far, far, worse.
 * Right before his final clash with Batgirl, The Joker chooses out of nowhere to turn his henchmen into the Man-Bat Commandos with the remaining of the original serum. And the scene is predictably horrifying, with tons of Body Horror to spare. Even worse is that this is followed by the Joker unleashing them on Batgirl wkth a delivery of the line "Fly, my pretties. Fly. Fly" that would make the Wicked Witch of the West proud.
 * How does Batgirl finds the Batcave? Well, she was unknowingly resting her back in the cave's door, which then opens. Then, the Batmobile nearly rolls over Barbara, had she not put herself to the cave's wall in time, all while Batman is distracted due to thinking about the Joker's words on his loneliness. There's something so chilling on how mundane such scenario is compared to the rest of the movie, a little remainder on how not all risks in superhero worlds come from madmen and conquerors.
 * The film dosen't even try to sugarcoat how Gotham City is a lawless hellhole. Most of the city's design looks straight out of a zombie apocalylse movie. Also, police sirens, gun shots, and even screams can be heard in the background. Thank goodness Batgirl managed to correct that by the end of the film.
 * Meaningful Echo: Upon being given the mantle of Batgirl, Barbara exclaims "I'm Batgirl!". She later repeats these words after choosing to make the world a happier place and do things her way, when a poor man asks her who she is.
 * Mythology Gag:
 * Barbara's adress in the film is "Craig Street 1968", a nod to Yvotte Crakg, who played Gordon in the Adam West series, and Batgirl's debut in the year 1968. Similarly, Harley's adress is "Boulevard Timm 1992", a reference to her co-creator Bruce Timm and the year Batman: The Animated Series, where Harley first appeared, began airing
 * Before fighting the Joker, Harley Quinn says "Hey, Joker. You wanna get nuts? Come on! Let's get nuts!"
 * Harley's entrance at the climax causes the Joker to ask Batgirl "Is she with you?". The shot also resembkes the scene in which Catwoman met Batman and the Penguin in Batman Returns.
 * A graffiti saying "S. Lee" can be spotted in a building alongside a graffiti of an African-American man, as a clear nod to Marvel Comics Stan Lee, who actually did wrote for DC, having developed a line of comics in which he re-imagined several DC heroes. Among those re-imagenings was an African-American.
 * Shirley Walker's The New Batman Adventures theme appears througth the film.
 * At one point in the film, Batgirl says to Bruce that he should have tried with contacting Wonder Woman if he tried go fight Kryptonians due to their weakness to magic.
 * This version of Harley uses a javelin to fight as well as her maze, a nod to her being given one in The Suicide Squad.
 * A joke at the start of the film has Gotham City being referred as "the one place worse than Corto Maltese",
 * Barbara's school is called "Faust's School for Gifted Young Minds", a nod to 2019 DCSHG creator Lauren Faust. Additionañly, the school's baseball team is the "Gotham Hyenas", a reference to Harley's love for hyenas.
 * Barbara's room has posters with nods to Batman composers from Shirley Walker to Michael Giacchino.
 * Batman once again finds himself in the opposite side of a Stealth Hi/Bye, followed by a quip on the matter.
 * Two of the score's tracks are titled "Batgirl Begins" and "Batgirl Returns". Aside from referencing Batman Begins and Batmam Returns, they also are nods to the titles of episodes of the 2004 and 1992 animated series. This is also a practice inspired by the soundtrack for The Dark Knight Returns, which had a track titled "Batman Returns".
 * At one point, the film recreates the Joker's dance in the stairs from his solo film.
 * The scene near the end where Harley throws the Joker off Gotham Bay and into the ocean was meant to be a reversal of the scene in the comic Mad Love, where the Joker threw Harley off a window. Additionally, before throwing him, she calls him a "lousy scum-sucking creep", the same insult she used towards him in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Trial". Also, the Joker pleading for Batman's help is a nod to the TAS episode "Joker's Favor".
 * Oh Crap!: The Joker undergoes a massive one when he notices that Harley A.K.A. The one who had the upper hand against him as a Man-Bat, was the one who knocked him to the ground in human form. And the way he tries to avoid more problems with her is one that fans haven't seen since "Joker's Favor"!
 * Stealth Hi/Bye: Played for Laughs. Shortly after Barbara discocers Batman's identity, he vegins to talk to her on the natter, pnly for him to turn around and discover the girl is gone. He then comments "Wow. Soooooo.... That's what it feels like".


 * Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: The Joker faces three at the film's conclusion:
 * When fighting against multiple enemies, make sure to ambush one alone after checking in were the others are to prevent them from interfering in time to save the first one. The Joker learns this the hard way when he tries to take Batgirl hostage and escape, only for Harley Quinn, who happened to be close by, to save Batgirl by attacking Joker by surprise, resulting in her literally kicking the crap outta him and launching him onto the river.
 * Also, the Joker expects to be sent to Arkham Asylum due to him having put on an "insane" façade, but Harley, a gifted student on psychiatry, to reveal that she made a pdychological profile on him that shows to the authorities he is actually a perfectly-sane psychopath. Façades can only take you so far for so long, and you'll eventually get exposed no matter what, especially if the lie involves an area full of professional on the subject.
 * Due to his years of false insanity pleas, Joker ends up with an even bigger sentence than if he didn't gave them. After all, he did lied to law enforcers on a subject where doing such thing is illegal.
 * Take That!: After the Joker is done dancing on stairs, he starts dancing on the ground in a manner simikar to Emo Peter's mementically famous Spider-Man 3 dance... only that this clearly is meant to be intentionally ridiculous.
 * Tearjerker:
 * The opening scene is heartwrenching to its core. A shot even shows tombstones revealing that everyone Bruce was clode with, from Selina Kyle to Alfred, ended up dying eventually. The following shot is of Bruce sitting in solituded until the Batsignal appeared ála Batman Returns. However, whereas that was an awe-inspiring if solemn image of Batman waiting for duty to call, thus one is a downright depressing look of a man who's job is practically the one thing he has left.
 * Even worse, according to the tombstones, the only Robin in this continuity was Jason Todd. The events of A Death in the Family not only happened, but to Batman's first partner and brpke him to the point he didn't wanted another.
 * Barbara giving up being Batgirl. While serious, she was still an upbeat young person who felt she was meant to be Batman's partner, so seeing her giving up and falling into a Heroic BSoD just because she wasn't able to be like Bruce is truly gut-renching,
 * Vile Villain, Saccharine Show: While the film is relatively lighthearted, specially for a movie based on the Batman franchise, it neverthless dosen't sugarcoat how much of a monster the Joker is, being as every bit as terrifying as always.
 * Unexpected Character:
 * Man-Bat surprised auduences by actually showing up here. Ehile in the actual film his alter-ego dosen't habe a big role, at least the serum does.
 * On that note, nobody expected to see the more unknown Man-Bat Commandos making their theatrical debut here.

Tropes for Supergirl

 * Author's Saving Throw: While Superman (1978) is still held in high regard by fans, some took an issue with how Superman's origin story in that film had him essentially being brainwashed by his father into bevoming a hero, while underplaying the roles of the Kents in his origins, a plot point that transcended even to more modern versions of the DCEU. In this film, Superman explicity states that he never knew what his father sounded like, while crediting the Kents for making him who he is now.
 * Awesome Moments: When Kara finally learns to fly. The optimism, the emotion... It manages to succeed where many Superman films failed: Recreating the magic of Christopher Reeve's first film
 * Composite Character: While Supergirl's personality is mainly modeled after her DC Superhero Girls (2019), her character arc of coping with the destruction of Krypton is partially based on her Superman/Batman: Apocalypsis incarnation.
 * Heartwarming Moments:
 * Superman asking to Kara about not just Krypton, but their family. He really wabts to know more about them.
 * Supergirl's first flight will denotate a big spark in your heart.
 * Prequel: The film is set a few years before Batgirl.
 * Mythology Gag:
 * Supergirl overcoming Brainiac's manipulations was inspired by the climatic scene from Zack Snyder's Justice League where Cyborg overcomes the Mother Boxes' influence.
 * John Williams' Superman theme appears througth the film.
 * Supergirl's first flight was inspired by her first flight in her 1984 film. Additionally, the scene where she reveals herself to the world is inspired by the boat scene from Superman II.
 * Tearjerker: Kara flashing back to Krypton's destruction abd tearing up. At the end of the day, Kara is just a traumatized girl who lost forever the only family and home she ever knew, and she won't get them back.


 * The Stinger:
 * In a mid-credits scene, Lex Luthor uses Brainiac's computer and discovers somethibg that sets him to got to Gotham City in order to recover something even if it meabs fighting the Joker. Anyone who's seen Batgirl knows he'll have it easy.
 * A post-credits scene shows Brainiac-5 in the middle of the ocean, as he glitches and his eyes turn blue instead of red.
 * Tainted by the Preview: While the trailer overrall received a positive reception, many fans protested over how the film seemed to potray Brainiac-5 as The Dragon to Brainiac, as they felt it was disrespectful to the character. Fans changed tune, however, when the film's post-credits scene indicated subsquent DCATU films would feature a more faithful potrayal of the character.

Tropes for Zatanna

 * Casting Gag: Elizabeth Olsen and Kathryn Hann once again play comic book magic users who are put against one another.
 * Central Theme: How growing up affects our relationships.
 * Does This Remind You of Anything: Much like in DC Superhero Girls (2019), Zatanna's powers emerging is meant to be an sllegory for puberty.
 * Leaning on the Fourth Wall: During the post-credits scene, when Wonder Woman shows up, she says "I suppose you know who i am", to which Zatanna nods in agreement.
 * Musical Nod: Wonder Woman's DCEU theme plays during her cameo in The Stinger.
 * Shout-Out: While struggling with her emerging powers, Zatanna accidentally brings to life a broom, that begins to clean her mess.
 * The Stinger: Wonder Woman ask Zatanna for help.

Tropes for Green Lantern

 * An Aesop:
 * Trauma may not go, but don't let that stop you from living a happy life.
 * You can't run fear, but you can fight it.
 * Awesome Moments: The moment Jessica decides to save the Green Lanterns. You see it in her face. She us terrified if keaving, but she won't lose her friends again. She flashes back to that day wkth every step she takes outside her house. But she is fone with ketting that day control. Her. AGAIN! As she sees that moment flash innfront kf her, she recites the Green Lanterns' oath. And when she remembers the momemt her fruebds died, she SCREAMS THE END IN FURY. A light comes out, and she is in full costume, while symbollically freeing herself in her flashback. With resolve in her eyes, Jessica takes flight. And even througth she still flashes back during her flight to Oa, she dosen't stop. She keeps flying. That's when both she and the audience knew it: She is a Green Lantern.
 * Big Bad: Siniestro.
 * Composite Character:
 * Jessica Cruz has her 2019 DCSHG design and pacifist ways, and also has two mothers, but she retain her main self's traumatic past.
 * John Stewart takes over Hal Jordan's role as Jessica's teacher.
 * Darker And Edgier: The film is noticeably darker than both previous DCATU films and Green Lantern (2011), dealing with themes of trauma and mental health and having a protagonist with PTSD and Survivor's guilt.
 * Dark and Troubled Past: Much like in the comics, Jessica saw her friends being gunned while on a trip.
 * The Ghost: While never name-dropped, it is heavily implied that a version of Hal Jordan exists in this universe, since Siniestro comments that "Lanterns from Earth tend to be particularly dangerous", and it is stated that Siniestro was a Green Lantern until his authoritarian plans were exposed, which Hal exposed in the comics.
 * Hilarious In Hindsight: Just the fact that the second theatrical film to center on (a) Green Lantern film is animated, given how the last one got backlash and became objevt of mockery due to having an animated suit.
 * Nightmare Fuel:
 * Jessica's backstory is plain out terifying. Imagine being on a routine walk througth the forest, having a chat with your friends... and then, you see two men being executed by gsngsters. They overhear you, and you try to escspe, and, while you escape, your friends are caught and shot in front of you. And ypu can't do anything but watch.
 * The film's opening pretty much prepares audiences for its rather dark tone. It starts with a view of the Siniestro Corps attacking a planet, and the view of the battle is that of the Green Lanterns bring overpowered as if this was World War II. Then, we get our introduction to Siniestro himself, who establishes himself as a dangerous threat by murdering a Green Lantern. That's right. Murder. There's no better way to describe it. First, he leaves him heavily injured, and when he fails to interrogate the Green Lantern, he finishes him off with a powerful and painful blast. Onscreen.
 * Jessica's flashbacks are very nightmare-inducing, if for how reallistic they are.
 * Siniestro's very appearance is scaringly fit for someone powered by fear. Remember how Duck Dodgers said Siniestro looked like the Devil? He had no idea what he was talking about.
 * Fitting for the home planet of an organization literally fueled by fear, Warworld is positively terrifying place to look at. It is pretty much a blend of the worst locations of Sci-Fi Horror films like Alien. And then there's...
 * Ranx the Sentient City. Imagine every building, every vehicle, literally everything in a city not only observing you, but trying to kill you with a lot of pleasure. There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. It will find you, and, unless you are lucky or strong enough, will kill you.
 * Role Reprise: From Green Lantern (2011), of all films, we have Mark Strong as Siniestro (througth Word of God was that this fact was only half the reason thanks to having some familiarity with the role, the other being his performance as Dr. Sivana in 2019's SHAZAM!).
 * The Stinger: In a mid-credits scene, Jessica receives an urgent message calling her back to Earth.
 * Visual Effects of Awesome: Oa is nothing but gorgeous to look at.

Tropes for Bumblebee

 * Adaptational Job Overhaul: Karen in this version has a part-time job at S.T.A.R. Labs, which is where she began developing her suit.
 * An Aesop:
 * Don't let anybody tell you how strong you are. You hold a guagantic strength unside. You just need to find it and believe in yourself.
 * Your body's size dosen't make you awesome. Your heart's does.
 * Awesome Moments: Bumblebee fighting Giganta in the climax. She not only has to save the city, she has to face her bully. WHOSE SINCE COULD GIVE MONSTERVERSE!KONG A RUN FLR HIS MONEY. And not only that, SHE WINS.
 * Big Bad: Giganta.
 * David vs. Goliath: Small and timid Bumblebee vs. Big and violent Giganta. Taken Up to Eleven at the climax where Giganta becomes as tall as Godzilla.
 * Disney Villain Death: Downplayed. Bumblebee tricks Giganta into knocking herself out, causing her to fall into the ocean.
 * Does This Remind You of Anything: A black girl is harrassed by a white girl. This speaks for itself.
 * Mythology Gag:
 * The scene where Giganta further grows in size is similar to when Starro broke free in The Suicide Squad (2021).
 * Bumblebee defeats Giganta in a similar way to when they first fought in ''DC Superhero Girls'". In fact, most of their characterizations borrow heavily from the show.
 * Bumblebee's early designs for her suit include her Teen Titans (2003) design.
 * Nightmare Fuel:
 * Giganta's rampage at the climax. Ever wondered how it would a Kaiju movie be if the monster had human intelligence and caused a rampage? Here's your answer, and is not a pretty one.
 * Also, when she begins growing even more, the entire S.T.A.R. Labs facility falls apart. We see many people almost being crushed by the rubber.
 * Fridge Horror: How many people actually died thanks to Giganta's rampage.
 * On a more subdued level, Doris' bullying of Karen, due to how accurate it potrays bullying.
 * Her entrance is surprisingly creepy. Everything feels like a John Hughes film, until Doris shows up. All joy stops, and no sound is heard except for eerie music that makes the entire scenario all the more unsettling. Seriously, props to the filmmakers for making a bully's entrance feel like something out of Silent Hill!.
 * Doris' first transformation into Giganta is rather scary, and feels like something that would be more at home in a supernatural horror movie.
 * When her first rampage reaches Karen's house, Giganta causes an explosion with two cars she walks througth. The appearance makes her seem like a demon from Hell.
 * Shout-Out:
 * Giganta's costume througth most of the film is a reference to Jennifer Walters' 2016 Hulk outfit.
 * When Karen first sees Doris as Giganta, she first notices water vibrating, similar to Jurassic Park (1995).
 * Tearjerker: The film dosen't skip over how Karen has been affected by bullying. She dispkays a sadly low self-steem and is even implied she considered suicide. Which is a sad Truth In Television.
 * Took a Level in Badass: Karen's arc througth the film has her evolving from a timid young girl into a brave superhero willing to face literal giants.

Tropes for DC Superhero Girls

 * Central Theme: Friendship. The girls slowly become Fire-Forged Friends as they bond over the course of the story and learn to work together as a team, leading to their victory, while Lex Luthor slowly isolates himself, leading to his defeat.
 * Funny Moments: How is Lex Luthor, Superman's nemesis and one of the most dangerous villains in the DC universe, taken down at the end? Batgirl kicks him in the nuts and decks him out.
 * Fridge Brilliance: The can Harley accidebtally destroys while trying to attack a LexCorp robot is full of toys of Luke Skywalker, who's played by Mark Hamill. Then you remember what DC character Hamill is known to be the voice of, and you realize why Harley was the one to shoot.
 * Heartwarming Moments: When Supergirl meets Batman at the Batcave, she says that Superman told her that "if [she sees] Batman, to ask him one thing: Come to Metropolis one of these days. [Superman] misses [him]", meaning that the two used to be the World's Finest like in the comics before his vigilante life took a toll on him, a wonderful contrast to their relationship in recent stories like Injustice and Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.
 * Nightmare Fuel: The post-credits scene features a Kryptomite from the 2015 DC Superhero Girls series. There? Kryptonite with a face. Here? The unholy combination of Doomsday and a Gremlin! And its going to Metropolis. And its hungry...
 * Mythology Gag:
 * When Zatanna impulsively attacks Harley Quinn, she points out she looks like she could be the Joker's girlfriend.
 * The heroes join after a villain tries to use a Mother Box to conquer the world, much is pretty much the plot for blth versions of Justice League. All films also include Wonder Woman as a main character.
 * The still poses the Superhero Girls make in the credits resemble those of the Justice League in the opening credits for their own animated series.
 * One of Wonder Woman's poses resembles one of her DCEU poses.
 * Batgirl is introduced fighting alongside Harley Quinn and Batman against Lex Luthor's mooks in a train, a nod to the climax of Batman Begins. The train even goes out of control and thry have to stop it, througth Zatanna manages to intervene with a portal before anybody gets hurt.
 * At one point, Supergirl sarcastically refers to Wonder Woman as Lynda Carter.
 * Shout-Out:
 * At the climax, Wonder Woman takes a similar pose to Mulan's when fighting Shan-Yu.
 * The way Bumblebee picks up one of the Mother Boxes in a temple is a nod to Indiana Jones taking the idol in Raiders of the Lost Ark.
 * After defeating Lex Luthor, Supergirl asks him "You want another reunion with our fight club?".
 * Harley Quinn at one point refers to Supergirl as "Brightburn".
 * Upon seeing Lex' machinations with the Mother Boxes, Harley shouts "Blatherin' blaterskite", Gizmoduck's catchphrase in DuckTales.
 * Take That!:
 * While explaining the Multiverse, Zatanna mentions how there can be an alternative universe with an evil Superman, only for Supergirl to interrupt her by calling her explication "lame", reflecting fans' opinions on the subject.
 * At one point, Harley accidentally destroys a trash can full of Luke Skywalker figures.
 * The Stinger: In a post-credits scene, it is revealed that Lex's kryptonite was exposed to energy from the Mother Box, causing it to mutate into a Kryptomite that begins eating everything in its path towards Metropolis.

Tropes for Brainiac-5

 * An Aesop: You define who you are.
 * Battle at the Center of the Mind: Brainiac-5 and Brainiac engage on one inside Brainiac 5's head at the climax.
 * Friendly Fandoms: While Superman is not the lead character, the film has neverthless been appreciated by fans of both Superman's "boy scout" potrayal and the more serious potrayal in the Zack Snyder films, seeong how the film has a Darker and Edgier tone and Henry Cavill voicing Superman, while also potraying Superman as a kind and gentle figure willing to do "small things" to help those in need.
 * Instant Sequel: The film starts shortly after the events of Supergirl, througth the actual plot takes place a few months after.
 * Mythology Gag: Superman calls Brainiac-5 "Brainy", much like in Legion of Suoerheroes.
 * Nightmare Fuel: Brainiac's posesion of Brainiac-5 feels straight out of The Exorcist.
 * There's also the way he moves while using his body. Its just so... lifeless. Uncanny Valley does not begin to describe it.
 * And then there's how his possesion begins. Bramiac stsrts as a whispering voice in Brainiac-5's head, which becomes louder and louder... until, one day, he briefly takes over Brainy's arm and almost shoots an innocent man.
 * Also, when he posseses Braniac-5, Braniac makes clear there won't be any Villain Decay by using kryptonite to beat Superman to a pulp.
 * Uncanny Valley: Deliberately invoked for Brainiac's movement while controlling Brainiac-5, which feels truly lifeless.
 * What Do You Mean Its for Kids?: Oh look, an animated superhero fiom about a teen alien robot and Superman. Oh look, the teen basically asked Superman to help him commit an assisted suicide and suffers a horrific Demonic Possesion.

Tropes for Harley & Ivy

 * Actor Allusion: Poison Ivy is shown to be friends with a carnivore plant voiced by Brenda Song, referencing Anna Akana and Song's respective roles as Sasha and Anne in Disney's Amphibia, albeit with a far healthier relationship than Anne and Sasha's. Song's character is even named Anne, which Word of God confirmed was very deliberate. Additionally, Frank is voiced by Keith David, who also starred in Amphibia.
 * Adaptational Intellegence: Comic!Ivy's motivation was pretty much a case of Evil Is Petty, since it was mostly her wanting payback towards all of humanity for her neglected childhood and heartbreak with a college professor, this version acts more in defense of the only family she ever had, making her more emotionslly intelligent in comparation.
 * Adaptational Nice Guy: Whereas Comic!Ivy pretty much forces her will in nature to make plants grow unnaturally, DCATU!Ivy does this only with plants willing to let her do it. Additionally, her motivation is changed so, in addition her lashing out against humanity due to their damage to nature, she also commits her acts of eco-terrorism to prptect the only thing that ever treated her kindly.
 * An Aesop:
 * Not all criminals are remorseless. Some can be convinced to turn over a new leaf and change for the better. That being said, there are unreasonable villains. You just need to see the difference.
 * Those who hurt because they were hurt must be given help, not punishment; punishing them will only hurt them more and make things worse
 * Age Lift: Renee Montoya is noticeably younger than most versions, with her voice acyress even voucing her with a more mature version of her Luz Noceda voice. Word of God is that she was made younger to reflect her beginning to grow into a more comic-accurate personality at the end of the film.
 * Author's Saving Throw:
 * This film can be seen as one towards films based on comic book superheroes, as it skews most of the cliches seen in the genre in favor of a road buddy movie plot, making it somewhat different and unique within the superhero genre.
 * In Batman: The Animated Series, Bolton's brutally came off as an Informed Attribute due to limitations on children-oriented program, and he himself was, before attempting to kill people such as reporters and Commisioner Gordon himself, more sympathetic than intended to some due to initially centering his brutality on Arkham's inmates, such as Scarecrow and Harley Quinn. The film managed to correct that by showing his brutality onscreen, thanks to lesser limitations on content for films, and by showing his Knight Templar mentality has gotten to the point of geniuenly refusing to believe a criminal can pull off a Heel-Face Turn, which Poison Ivy does at the end of the film, even when presented with testimonies and evidence, as well as by showing his willingness and goal to kill even for the lowest crimes. as well as anybody who stands on his way, effectively making him less likeable towards audiences. Also, his reasonable arguments about Arkham are nowhere to be found, while other films imply is not the Cardboard Prision is usually depicted as.
 * Awesome Moments:
 * The fact that a film focused on Harley Quinn centered on morality and provided commentary on how to deal with criminals is awesome in and of itself.
 * When Lyle Bolton has Harlet at gunshot, does she cower in fear? No. She remains her usual self, content that at least her friends are safe, and even taunting that to his face. Defiant to the End indeed.
 * Even mote awesome when you keep in mind that, in Bolton's debut back in 1992, DCAU!Harley was among those who feared his wrath. Here, this Harley knows what he's capable of, and yet she still has enough force of will to fight and mock him even when he's about to kill her. Talk about an Adaptational Badass.
 * Just as awesome is Ivy's Big Damn Heroes moment. She manages to have her plants stop Bolton's shot from killing Harley mere seconds before she can get killed. And the two then work together to kick his ass.
 * At the end of the movie, Renee Montoya is shown to personally escort a Hannibal Lecter-style tied Bolton to his own personal cell in Blackguard, all while telling him, "enjoy your home", not-so-subtly comparing him to those he was targeting.
 * Catharsis Factor: We get one when Harley ambushes and beats up Lyle Bolton, a madman whose brutality and lack of morality more than earned him that beat up. And seeimg Renee Montoya arrext him and lock him in Arlham ála Hannibal Lecter is the cherry on top.
 * Also one from a meta perspective. In Bolton's debut, Harley was among the victims terrified of his abusive treatment of Arkham's inmates, making it far more satisfying when she gets to beat him up.
 * Central Theme:
 * How not all people who do bad things have bad intentions, and can actually be reasoned with and become good if given the chance.
 * How trauma can determine the actions of some people.
 * Company Cross-References: Many of Harley's movements at the climax were inspired by Tex Avery and Bob Clampett's versions of Daffy Duck.
 * Does This Remind You of Anything: Ivy's dynamic with Anne and Frank is very similar to that of a troubled and rebellious child and her parents.
 * Funny Moments: What causes the first argument between Harley and Ivy? Ivy complaining that they the bus they found was not an electric vehicle.
 * Foreshadowing: Poison Ivy's introduction, while having her practicing her definetly-not-evil-speech, potrays her as an otherwise sympathetic figure, showing her close and relatable friendship with Frank and Anne and already indicating her tragic backstory. Meanwhile, Bolton's introduction plays him as a more intimidating figure, delivering a speech about criminals that sounds just like an Evil Speech. Thus foreshadows their respective Heel-Face and Face-Heel Turns.
 * Freudian Excuse Is No Excuse: Ivy is convinced that she has every right to attack humanity bevause of people treated her and treat nature. However, Harley poibts out to her that she can't try to kill all of humanity because of how some treated her, and that there are other ways to protect nature. The two realize, in the end, that she is just a traumatized misanthrope who fears getting close to humans. Notably, this is delivered by Harley in a kind tone, not to call Ivy out for her actions, but to make her realize what she did was wrong and that she needs help.
 * Fridge Brilliance: As noted brlow, the film essentially follows many plot points from Harley's backstory in Mad Love, so why did Film!Harley succeded where the rest failed? Simple, she is doing it to Poison Ivy instead of the Joker, and it is well-known that Ivy truly cares for Harley to the point of doing good for her sake. This is pretty much an extension of that.
 * Germans Love David Hasselhoff: The film's themes regarding criminal rehabilitation gave it a strong audience on Norway, where laws generally center on rehabilitating criminals instead of punishing them.
 * Harsher in Hindsight: At first, Poison Ivy's powers being nullified with a collar seems funny. After learning it means she can't communicate with plants, the only thing that was nice to her...
 * Heartwarming Moments:
 * When a captive Harley concedes that Ivy has a point in how humanity treats nature, Ivy seems geniunely touched by that. As her backstory would later reveal, this would be the very first moment a human being was nice towards her.
 * In the climax, Harley not only manages to reconcile with Ivy, but also shows her that there are good people in the world. This in turn inspires Ivy to try to stop her own plans of releasing deadly plants througth the world by way of a Heroic Sacrifice ála Doc Ock in Spider-Man 2. Luckily, Harley saves her in time.
 * Later, both Harley, Batgirl, and Montoya go to save Ivy when Lyle wants to kill her, in spite of Ivy stopping her own plan nearly at the cost of her life. Heck, they even risk their lives for her.
 * Just the fact that, upon learming of her and Ivy's friendship, Batgirl never shows jealousy nor does she thinks she's gone bad. If she likes Ivy, there has to be a good reason.
 * A small one, but Harley offhandelly mentions she has driven the Batmobiles, implying that Bruce trusts her enough to actually let her drive even his.
 * When talking to Ivy about the mebtal issues she developed since the Ace Chemichals incident, Harley acknowledges they caused her problems with social interactions and during work, yet, as she states, "they still are a part of [her]". Its touching to see Harley embracing herself Warts and All. If there's something she didn't lost that day, its self-love.
 * The film's ending. After saving her from Bolton, Harleen and Barbara go to visit Ivy on Christmas in her house, where they reveal their identities by Saying Something Only They Would Say. The three, alongside Frank and Anne then begin a small party. In the meantime, Harleen gives Ivy a present: A picture of their journey. Ivy is touched by this, while Harleen woshes her a Merry Christmas, a sentiment Ivy shares as the two embrace. All while "Joy to the Wprld" plays in the background.
 * When asked why the film is set ln Christmas, director Cathy Yan said that its because Harley and Ivy give each other two valuable presents: A friend, and healing from their trauma.
 * Heartwarming in Hindsight: Thanks to the Friendly Fandom and camaderie between the creators of Amphibia and The Owl House, seeing leads from both series starring in the same film and Sarah-Nicole Robles' characger even trying to save the life of Anna Akana's character will probably be something fans of both series will treasure.
 * Hilarious in Hindsight:
 * Poison Ivy's film debut in Batman & Robin had a subplot where Robin falls in love with Ivy and tries to reform her, only for Ivy to use his feelings to manipulate him. Come this film, her second promenient film role, and Harley Quinn mamages to genuinely and succesfully reform Ivy literally without even trying.
 * Akana's character in Amphibia, Sasha, had as friend and companion Captain Grime, a character voiced by Troy Baker, who has voiced Batman in multiple direct-to-video projects. This makes the fact that she voices a character who is mostly known as a Batman villain kind of ironic.
 * Speaking of Amphibia, an episode had Grime complaining about Sprig planting poison ivy in his bed, which is kind of profetic to how Akana would end up voicing the Poison Ivy.
 * I Want You to Meet An Old Friend of Mine: The film reunites Anna Akana, Brenda Song, and Keith David, after working together in Disney's Amphibia.
 * Karma Houdini: In spite of her actions, Poison Ivy gets scot free in the end. Tropes Are Tools applies here, as it ties to one of the film's messages of emotionally damaged criminals needing help instead of punishment
 * Narm Charm: The fact that, in order to rid Gotham of crime, Bolton aims to kill even bootleg sellers sounds rather ridiculous and funny. But, since the scene is meant to show how deep he fell into a Knight Templar All Crimes Are Equal mentality, it instead is very scary, as the fact that he wants to kill people for even such minor crimes really helps to sell the idea.
 * Nightmare Fuel: How much horror can a buddy movue starring a clown-like superhero have? As it turns out, A LOT.
 * The film's opening gives is a fair share of NF product of a literal nightmare. We start off with a nice, saccarine dream of Harleen and Barbara hanging with each other and gaving fun. But this goes from sweet to sour when Harley takes someone to a walk, only for that spmeone to turn out to be the Joker in Man-Bat form, revealed via a werewolf-style transformation. The scene then transitions into the incident at Ace Chemicals, Lovecraftian-style. Heck, the Joker himself looks far more demonic than even then. Qnd when he throws Harley to the chemicals, we get a look at how it was for Harleen to become Harley Quinn, and it was horrible. No wonder she's so traumatized, if that's her full perception of those events.
 * At the climax, Ivy, believing Harley betrayed her and that humanity is indeed worthless, proves herself to be a threatening force of nature. Not only she displays ruthlessness in her attacks, but the second she sees Harley, she goes for the kill. She even almost chokes Harley to death. And her Death Glare will makes you wonder whether she will listen to reason now.
 * The scene where Harley is hanging over a river full of cocodriles. Their realistic design and ferocity, plus the fact that the rope she is hanging on is beginning to fall, will make you fear for her life.
 * Lyle Bolton starts off as a Jerkass but seemingly better than his original version... until he begins Jumping Off the Slippery Slope in his attempts to find Ivy, believing her death be more importsnt than anything, and, by the end of the film, is reduced to a Holier Than Thou Knight Templar who tries to kill not only Ivy, who at this point has redeemed herself, but also Harley and Batgirl for helping her, convinced that criminals can't change. He spents most of the film's third act trying to shoot all three of them. In the end, he was just as horrible, if not more, than hus original self. And then there's the fact that he's voiced by Vincent D'Onofrio.
 * The scene where he beats up a suspect is terrifyingly brutal. He starts somewhat descent by simply asking a few questions, but when he gets no abswer that can lead him to Ivy, he begins to beat him ála Christian Bale's Batman, pmly that this victim isn't The Joker, but a terrified guy begging for his life to a madman. To not to mention the way he beats the guy is more reminiscent of D'Onofrio's Kingpin. Add to that what seems to be a Gory Discretion Shot, and you'd be forgiven for thinking the guy was killed.
 * The fact that the guy was not only heavily hospitalized, but that he begins making the best suggestions on where Ivy could be that he can come up with (which are rather vague) the second he sees Bolton makes clear how brutal his beat up was.
 * The entire scene where Renee Montoya finds out about Bolton's plans to kill all sorts of criminals in Gotham. Not only could easily be mistaken for a horror film's scene, but it shows Bolton's Knight Templar tendencies made him took All Crimes Are Equal to horrifying levels, deeming pickpockets and even bootleg sellers as deserving of death. Meaning that those who commited even the smallest crimes within that city are on his hit list.
 * One of the shots during his attempt to shoot Ivy to death is chillingly reminiscent of Jack Nicholson's Joker when he killed Batman's parents.
 * While Bolton may have deserved it after attempting to kill a now-harmless Ivy for the first time and not listening to Harley, seeing a silent Death Glare played straight coming out of Harley Quinn is something so out-of-character for her that is just terrifying.
 * Mythology Gag:
 * Among Harley's suits at the start of the film are the ones she wore in Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Enmancipation of One Harley Quinn), The Batman (2004), and Injustice 2. Both Birds of Prey and Harley and Ivy were directed by Cathy Yan.
 * Aside from her usual nickname of "Red", Harley also calls Ivy "Poison Oaky" (first as a mean-spirited nickname and later as an affective nickname), which is how she accidentally called her during their first meeting in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Harley & Ivy".
 * Harley's alarm has as ringtone the theme for the Joel Schumacher Batman films. Her alarm also says "Bat-time", a nod to the phrase that finished the Adam West series often finished which.
 * Harley has a dart game with a drawing of the Joker on it, just like in Birds of Prey.
 * Harley is shown to have in her room a William Shakespeare bust with a button revealing a pole that leads to the Batcave, much like Adam West's Batman. She is also shown to have a hidden revolving door in her bedroom, much like Yvonne Craig's Batgirl.
 * Among the things on Harley's bucket list in the credits are "Finding things that are lost", "being a dog walker", and "being a life coach", which are somd of things she listed in her buisness card in Birds of Prey.
 * Dutimg an argument, Harley questions Ivy's motivations by sayingbthat, if she truly cared for nature, she should donate to Greenpace, to which Ivy points out that Greenpace saves whales. This is a reference to a similar argument in the film Batman and Harley Quinn.
 * The scene where Harley and Ivy try to get rid of a flaming bottle is reminiscent of when Adam West's Batman just couldn't get rid of a bomb.
 * When Ivy tries to steal a truck, Harley insread pays it with her "Harley Credit Card". Safe to say, it makes more sense for her to have something like that than Batman.
 * When Ivy points out to Harley that humanity has done nothing but damage nature, Harley responds by saying "Good point. I mean, we do have some idiots running the show".
 * Ivy and Harley share their backgrounds while on a bus, much like Ratcatcher 2 and Bloodsport did in The Suicide Squad.
 * The scene where Bolton beats up a criminal was written as a dark parallel to the Joker's interrogation scene in The Dark Knight.
 * The way Ivy reconciles with Harley resembles the infamous "Martha" scene from Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016).
 * At the end of the film, Ivy says a variation of the "men are still good" monologue Bruce Wayne said at the end of Batman v. Superman.
 * As the film closes, Harley suggests several potential names for their newfound female trio once Ivy feels ready to join her and Batgirl, among them "Birds of Prey", "Gotham City Sirens", and "The Terrific Trio".
 * During the credits, a photo shows Harley and Ivy using a vine to climb a building, similar to how Batman and Robin used to do it in the Adam West series.
 * Realism-Induced Horror: Followin on his original self's footsteps, Lyle Bolton is a prime example. He's a police unafraid of using brutal force on anyone to get what he wants and has no qualms on killing criminals even after they surrended themselves or commited even the smallest crimes. In other words, he's just like many cops out there, unethical and too blindsided by his hatred of crime that, in the end, they're no different from the crooks they hunt down.
 * Tearjerker:
 * Ivy's backstory. As a child, she was an outcast much like Harley once was. Following a lab accident that gave her the power to communicate with and control plants, they treated her with far better kindness than any human bring at that point, making Ivy extremely protective of nature as a result.
 * Shortly after revealing her backstory, Ivy asks why Harley is the way she is. After Harley reveals what the Joker did, Ivy asks her how she can deal with the chemicals' psychological side-effects, as well as the psychological issues it only aggravated. Harley then responds, with a tone of melancholy in her voice, "Well, some stuff you... just learn to live above, througth it still pops up. And the rest? That's what you gotta learn to live with". This will ring true to anybody who has dealt with a mental illness.
 * Upon finally arriving to a plant-filled area, Harley realizes a trap was set up, so she tells Ivy to wait and she tries to convince Batgirl and Bullock to stand down, but Bullock refuses and shoots Ivy in an attempt to kill her. While she avoids the bullet, she assumes Harley secretly set the trap up and cuts off their newfound friendship, believing she only lied and manipulated her, while also making her belive once more that Humanity Is Evil. As Ivy escapes, Harley is left crying at the loss of her new second best friend.
 * Montoya's arc can be quite heartbreaking. Seeing her transition from a young and idealistic girl with faith on the police system to a more comic-accurate personality is just... so sad to see. The moment where she discovers Bolton's crimes, when she sees with her own two eyes police officers enganging in the same type of criminal activities they sought to stop, is particularly devastating, her facial expressions making clear the faith she once had in the system is shattering, and how that hurts her.
 * Shout-Out:
 * Two to The Matrix.
 * During an argument in which Ivy threatens her, Harley responds with "You don't wanna mess with me. I know Kung Fu", a similar line to one uttered by Keanu Reeves' character in the original film
 * During the final battle, Harley uses her javelin as a pole to defeat some cops ála Neo in Matrix Recharged.
 * The scene where Batgirl enters the bay to saveHarkey and Poison Ivy is an homage to the motorcycle scene from Akira
 * During a montage, Harley begins to dance during the rain, doing the same steps as Gene Kelly in Singing in the Rain.
 * Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: After Ivy reverts to villany when Bolton tries to kill her, Bolton takes a Never My Fault actitude and argues "its her nature". Harley, however, points out that the actual reason was that she was almost murdered by a law officer, as the reason she became a villain in the first place was because she was treated horribly by every person she met as a child. As Harley points out, doing something that will force a troubled person to revive a traumatic experience will not help them improve their behavior.
 * Spiritual Antitesis: The film centers on Harley trying to convince a member of Batman's rogue gallery to abandon their evil ways, eventually coming to sympwthize with them for their backstory and Harley ends up personally liking them. This is pretty much what happened to her in her backstory as depicted in the comic Mad Love. However, whereas the Joker manipulated her into liking him by coming up with a bullshit backstory and ebds up making her his henchwoman, Ivy is truly sincere in her words, the two form a mutual friendship, and she pulls a Heel-Face Turn.
 * The Stinger: Poison Ivy unknowingly gives some hallucinogen pollen to the Scarecrow.
 * Vile Villain, Saccharine Show: The film is a lightherated-if-emotional buddy movie centered on Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy on a road trip. But Lyle Bolton is a truly threatening antagonist, being nothing but a sadistic and brutal Knight Templar cop who is more than happy to beat into a pulp and even outright kill anybody who even talked to a criminal and darkens the film's tone with his presence.
 * Villain Has a Point: Deconstructed. Througth her interactions with the kind and optimistic Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy realizes that being right about nature needing protection does not give her any right to take human lives.
 * Wham Line: At the end of The Stinger, Ivy asks "What are you gonna do with the pollen, Crane?", tipping off fans on who is she talking to.

Tropes for DC Superhero Girls: Fear State

 * Adaptational Badass: The worst Scarecrow ever got before was a national threat in the Batman: Arkham games. This Scarecrow is a worldwide terrorist able to use his wit, agility, and fear gas to fight off a demigodess.
 * An Aesop:
 * You can't get rid of fear, but you can resist it.
 * To cope with your fears, you must first open up to your friends.
 * Central Theme: How to cope with fear.
 * Darker and Edgier: Whereas the film was a lighthearted story about teamwork, this film focuses on overcoming fear, has psychological horror-esque imagery, and includes a villain who carries literal Nightmare Fuel to use as his weapon of choice.
 * Disney Villain Death: Subverted. Scarecrow nearly falls to his doom after exhailing his own fear gas and hallucinating, but Supergirl manages to catch him in time.
 * Heartwarming Moments:
 * Througth the film, it is shown that all the Superhero Girls, annoyed as they are of her antics, geniunely care for Harley as much as Batgirl does and do see her as a teammate and a friend. A far cry from her status as an outcast alongside Barbara back in Batgirl. Conversely, Harley also shows that she truly cares for the girls.
 * It is shown that not only has Poison Ivy remained good friends with Harley, but she even formed a friendship with Batgirl, and the three are now their own best friend squadron.
 * Similarly, upon hearing how Ivy reformed and became a good person, as well as her backstory, the rest of the team slowly but surely welcomes her with open arms.
 * Hoisted by His Own Petard: Scarecrow ends up being defeated when his mask breaks and ends up exposed to his fear gas.
 * Mythology Gag:
 * The subtitle is a nod to the Batman: Fear State story arc.
 * The way Supergirl prevents Scarecrow from falling to his doom is an homage to Superman saving Lois Lane in Superman (1978).
 * Tearjerker: Supergirl's fear is losing the Superhero Girls, who are the few friends she had ever since arriving to Earth.

Tropes for Raven

 * Abusive Parent: Trigon is of the emotional kind.
 * Adaptational Relationship Overhaul: Zatanna had nothing to do with Raven's origins as a hero, yet here she is a privotal part and a close friend of hers.
 * The Eeyore: Raven, of course.
 * Mythology Gag: The scene where Raven fully submits to Trigon is inspired by whrn Superman bows to Lex Luthor in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.
 * Nightmare Fuel:
 * Trigon is fearsome to watch. And not only in his devil-looking appearance. His ruthless behavior and power will haunt your dreams.
 * And for those who suffered abuse, Trigon's treatment of Raven makes him infinitely more terrifying.
 * The realm of Azarth most definetly qualifies. Seriously, its the closest thing PG-13 animated film may have to Hell.
 * Sequel Hook: In a post-credits scene, Raven suddenly begins to eat some chips, before getting frustated and behaving normally once again while wondering why she has chips. Now, with Raven taking a familiar behavior while eating chips, fans might realize a version of her Emoticlones might be coming...
 * The Stinger: A post-credits scene that suggests Raven's Emoticlones from Teen Titans might show up in a sequel.
 * Tearjerker: In this version, the reason Raven is such an emotionañly depressed girl is the emotional abuse she had to endure from her father.
 * Took a Level in Badass: In the end, Raven finds the strength to stand up to Trigon.
 * Wham Line: In The Stinger, after Raven begins to uncharacteristically eat some chips only to hit herself, she asks: "When did took these chips".

Tropes for Harley & Ivy's Holiday

 * Big Damn Kiss: Ivy gives Harley one as a way to admit her feelings for her.
 * Fridge Brilliance:
 * "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" and Seal's "Kiss From a Rose" are rather fitting for the film's leads when you think about it.
 * "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" is fitting for Harley, since it could be seen as her asking for the most thrilling and exciting aspects of a ro,antic relationship, while the repeated use of the line "You're a star" can be seen as her telling Ivy how worthy she's in her eyes, reflecting her energetic but kind and good-hearted nature.
 * "Kiss From a Rose", while sounding fitting for Harley for its title, is arguably more fitying for Ivy, as the lyrics talk about how a lover helped their parent by making their lives brighter with their love, which is exactly what happened to Ivy: Harley's then-platonic love for her helped Ivy not only become a better person, but got her out of her self-destructive behavior and improved her personal life.
 * The final scene has evrtybody celebrating Harley and Ivy's love in the jungle. Well, they had to let in Ivy's guests somehow.
 * Greater-Scope Villain: The Intergang may be the film's main villains, but DeSaad is the one pulling the strings. And, of course, DeSaad is doing it on Darkseid's orders.
 * Mythology Gag:
 * The film features the songs "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" and Seal's "Kiss From a Rose" from Batman Forever.
 * The film's title is inspired by the The New Batman Adventures episode "Holiday Knights", whose first segment centered on Harley and Ivy
 * At one point, Harley suggest to Ivy buying a Christmas tree, which she refuses due to having been cut trees, similar to the aforementioned episode. Unlike the episode, however, Harley suggests buying a plastic one instead.
 * After Harley realizes her feelings for Ivy, a montage of her daydreaming and fighting crime appeats, with "Whistle for the Choir" playing; the song previously appeared in a romantic montahe between Harley and General Luna in The Suicide Squad (2021).
 * At one point, Harley asks Bruce for romantic advice, only for him to argue that he's not fit for those advices, pointing put that "[his] relationships either don't work out or end when they become criminals". This is a nod to Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, where it is shown that Bruce's first girlfriend, Andrea Belmont, broke up their relstionship to become an assasain after her father was killed by the future Joker.
 * Harley at one point suggests naming one if Ivy's plants DeeDee, which was the name of her granddaughters in Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker.
 * Harley and Ivy's second kiss is similar to their first kiss in Harley Quinn (2019).
 * DeSaad actively manipulates the Intergang into working for Darkseid. This was inspired by a Post-Crisis story where he manipulated them into working for him.
 * Role Reprise: Peter McGuiness is back from Zack Snyder's Justice League as the voice of DeSaad.
 * Shout-Out: Harley and Ivy's first kiss was inspired by the climax of The Croods: A New Age.
 * Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: When Harley asks Bruce on advice regarding romantic relationships, she argues he had a lot of relationships, to which Bruce says "More reason to not to give you advice". As it turns out, asking romantic advice to someone who couldn't commit to one is not a good idea.

Tropes for Ivy and Mr. Freeze

 * Anti-Villain: Mr. Freeze, as always.
 * Big Bad: Max Shreck
 * Fridge Brilliance:
 * Ivy asking Freeze to not to drop Shreck off his building instead of using her powers to catch him mid-fall makes sense when you realize its not just about Freeze to not kill him and deliver him to the police, is about asking him to drop his revenge by refusing to kill him.
 * Also, Freeze trying to kill Shreck by dropoing him off a building is somewhat poetic when you realize he attempted the same with Catwoman on his debut. Simikarly, by choosing not to drop him, Freeze proves himself the morally suoerior between the two on a meta context, by refusing to do exactly what he did.
 * Genre Savy: Harley knew if they put all info exposing Shreck's crimes in a drive, he could have his people chasing her and Ivy were he to survive his encounter with Freeze, so she just leaked it then and there.
 * Heartwarming Moments:
 * Ivy trying to warn Freeze that, if he crosses any moral line, then he would be no better than the people who put his wife's life in more peril.
 * The ending. Finally, after years of failures, separations, or one of them dying, fans finally get to see what at this point seemed unlikely to happen in any canon universe: Victor Fries reuniting with his wife Nora. Freeze, Nora, and Ivy all ended bathing in Tears of Joy, alongside every fan who watched this.
 * Heartwarming in Hindsight: In Harley Quinn (2019), when Harley convinces Freeze to spare her from his experiments, she suggests calling Ivy to help, causing Freeze to ask why would Ivy do it. In this film, Ivy helps him out of concern for both Nora and his soul, and is her help what ends up curing Nora.
 * Heel-Face Turn: Mr. Freeze commits one in the end when he realuzes killing Shreck is not what Nora woukd want him to do.
 * Hilarious in Hindsight: The last time Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy appeared in the same theatrical movie, Ivy attempted to kill Nora so she can have Freeze for herself. Here, Ivy is a lesbian in a relationship, and manages to save Nora.
 * Mythology Gag: The speech Ivy gives to Freeze regarding the ways he takes to save Nora is inspired by tge one Batman gave to Robin regarding vengeance in Batman Forever.
 * Nightmare Fuel:
 * Seeing Mr. Freeze beating Shreck to the vetrg of killing him is as horrifying as it is sad. Here we have a loving and caring husband succumb to a murderous rage to the point of being as brutal as people like the Joker.
 * "I'm afraid my condition has left me cold to your pleas of mercy". Kudos to the filmmakers and Alfred Molina for making one of Arnold Shwarzenegger's many bad puns sound actually terrifying.
 * Shreck in this version is just as uncaring for life as he was in 1992, and its just as disgusting. He was more than willing to let Nora die just to get some money.
 * Role Reprise:
 * Alfred Molina returns from Harley Quinn (2019) as Mr. Freeze.
 * Christopher Walken provides the voice of Max Shreck, returning to the role he originated in Batman Returns.
 * Tearjerker: During her watning speech to Freeze, Ivy makes clear that she regrets every day she spent as an eco-terrorist, and will carry that guilt form who knows how long.
 * Tempting Fate: After being spared by Freeze and Ivy, Shreck claims that he will be able to get away with his actions due to lack of evidence, only for Harley to come out at the last moment and reveal she already leaked the evidence online.

Tropes for Raven II

 * Adaptational Heroism: Red Raven was potrayed in Teen Titans as the malovelont incarnation of Raven's anger. This version is changed to a Jerk with a Hear of Gold and a Hair-Trigger Temper.
 * Adaptational Job Overhaul: Downplayed. Chase Meridian is still a psychiatrist, but she now specializes in helping superheroes
 * Alternate Identity Amnesia: Raven and her alters all suffer this at first.
 * Bait-and-Switch: The opening briefly suggests Red Raven will be as evil as her original self when she seemingly unleashes a hell on Zatanna on purpose. However, it is quickly shown that Raven actually didn't regained control until after leaving in shame, indicating this Red Raven will be a bit nicer.
 * Casting Gag: Renee Russo, who voices Chase Meridian, was originally set to play the character in Batman Forever, before being remplaced with Nicole Kidman once Val Kilmer was cast as Batman.
 * Faux Affably Evil: Gentleman Ghost gives a vibe of elegance, througth it dosen't disguise the fact that he is a power hungry sadist.
 * Funny Moments: When noticing Raven's behavior, not knowing of Red Raven or that she's in control, Zatanna says that she never saw Raven so angry before, before pointing out she never saw Raven angry period.
 * Hilarious In Hindsight:
 * Chase Meridian is referred in Batman Forever as an expert on patients with multiple personalities. Yet is this version, who is never referred in such a manner, who provides a more accurate description of the disorder, provides accurate observations, and gives Raven advices that are true to real life.
 * At the start of Teen Titans Go! Vs. Teen Titans, it is an out-of-control Raven who defeats the Gentleman Ghost. Now, he atorments Raven as the main antagonist of this film. Maybe he had some resentment over that defeat.
 * Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Red Raven may be grumpish in her best mood, quite feisty, and have a terrible temper, but, deep down, she's as good as the rest of the system.
 * Jerkass Woobie: Red Raven may be a grumppis anti-sovial with anger idsues that make the Hulk seem stable, but you csn't help but feel bad for her once it comes out that she loathes her very existence.
 * Lighter and Softer: The film is noticeably lighter in tone than the first film, mainly due to the presence of Raven's more lighthearted and comical Emoticlones.
 * Mythology Gag:
 * Green Raven's entrance is reminiscent of when Aquaman goes to Atlantis in both versions of Justice League. The music playing is the same song than in the 2017 version.
 * Chase Meridian helps Raven deal with her split personalities; in her debut in Batman Forever, she was described as an expert on multiple personalities.
 * Reimagening the Artifact: The incarnations of Raven's emotions from Teen Titans (2003) are reimagined in this version and potrayed as Split Personalities she developed due to her abuse relationship with Trigon.
 * Rescued from the Scrappy Head: Many fans felt that this version of Chase was much better than the original, as she behaved more professionally than her Batman Forever counterpart by treating Raven as a patient first, her lust for Batman being nonexistent (in fact, the Caped Crusader isn't even alluded to here), and lacking any Ms. Fanservice traits.
 * Shout Out:
 * When perceiving Gentleman Ghost for the first time, Raven says "[she] feels dead people".
 * When Green Raven frpnts while fighting Gentleman Ghost, she taunrs him by saying "bring it on, Gozar".
 * Split Personality: In this version, Raven's Emoticlones are depicted as separate personalitues she created due to Trigon's abuse, each representing either a repressed aspect of hers or something she wishes she could be at least at times.
 * Tearjerker: When Red Raven and Raven meet, the latter is mad at the former not for keeping her in, but for, in her eyes, letting her exist. And when she turns into a demon and attacks her, she says "If you had gotten awqy from our dad in time, i wouldn't exist, AND EVERYBODY WOULD BE IN A HAPPIER PLACE!!!!!!!", the broken tone of her wprds making clear she means it.

Tropes for Trinity

 * Adaptational Badass: Composite Superman goes from a weird gimmick villain to a geniune power-obssesed threat able to fight both the Man of Steel, the Dark Knight, and Wonder Woman at once.
 * An Aesop: Friendships can be tarnished or damaged, but never broken.
 * Character Rerailment: Batman in this version is revealed to have trusted Superman pretty much from the get-go and have been close friends with him ever since, a contrast from the more hostile relationship seen in media such as Batman v. Superman and much closer to the original World's Finest comics.
 * Heartwarming Moments: After seeing them being quite hostile, see Batman and Superman as former friends is quite nice, actually.
 * Mythology Gag:
 * The series is titled after the comic book of the same name.
 * In a flashback, Batman and Superman playfully discuss the iconic "More powerful than a locomotive" monologue from Adventures of Superman.
 * The final battle between Batman, Superman, & Wonder Woman and Composite Superman resembles of the climax of ''Batman v. Superman'.
 * Superhero Movies Don't Use Codenames: Composite Superman is never referred as such in the series.
 * Unexpected Character: Composote Superman was a little known gimmick villain from the Silver Age, so everyone was surprised to see him in this series.

Tropes for Raven and the Red Lanterns

 * An Aesop: Anger is not bad. That depends on how you use it.
 * A Day in the Limelight: Red Raven gets far more spotlight than most of her incarnations.
 * The Bus Came Back: On a meta level, Razer makes his second apperance after Green Lantern: The Animated Series.
 * Fridge Brilliance: Its fitting that Red Raven helps a Red Lantern.
 * Mythology Gag: At one point, Jessica comments ln how the Green Lanterns have let even chipmunks and ducks into their ranks. This is a reference to both Ch'p and the Duck Dodgers crossover episode "The Green Loontern".
 * Unexpected Character: Raise your hamd if you expected a series starring Raven and a Red Lantern.

Harleys

 * Alternate Reality: DCTAU!Harley ends up transported into one where a more traditional version of her resides.
 * Audience Surrogate: DCATU!Harley is this regarding her reaction to Alt!Harley.
 * Broad Stokes: The writers admitted the cpmic was made to be ambiguous in its canoncity to the DCATU, as the main purpose was to see "this Harley's reaction to a more usual Harley".
 * Dramatically Missing the Point: When DCATU!Harley tells Alt!Harley her Joker is in Arkham, without showing a bit of worry for him, yet Alt!Harley assumes she came to recruit her help in breaking him out. DCATU!Harley has to spell out to her that she put him there.
 * Heartwarming Moments:
 * Upon seeing the hell her alternative self is trapped in, DCATU!Harley tries to convonce her to change her life. And its implied it did worked!
 * While talking to her alternative self, Garley calls Batman "the only father [she] ever had".
 * "Ray of Hope" Ending: At the end of the comic, Alt!Harley visibly refuses to answer when her Joker calls her, suggesting DCATU!Harley's words did got througth her.
 * Take That!: When the Superhero Girls find Harley, Supergirl states that, while looking for her, they even went to a reality where Superman is an evil dictator, which she states "didn't made a lick of sense. He'd never do that". This is a clear jab to the Injustice franchise.
 * Tearjerker: DCATU!Harley is left in tears after seeing a version of her who is a criminal abused by the Joker.