The fifth season of Harley Quinn, reinterpreted Brainiac, Archionemigo of Superman, with a much more complex and tragic version that could change the perception that fans have of him
Who is Brainiac in DC?
Brainiac, also known as Vril DoxIt was one of the greatest threats for Superman and the Justice League during the history of DC. Initially, it was presented as a alien in his iconic ship’s iconic ship Together with his pet Koko, dedicating himself to the reduction of cities to a small size and collect them in bottles, with the city in the bottle of Kandor as his most emblematic trophy.
Over time, the versions of Brainiac have varied since then An artificial intelligence without emotions Even a ruthless scientist who believes that perfection can be achieved only by eliminating the “defective”. However, in Harley QuinnThe series adopts a different and much more emotional approach.
A human turning point
The great revelation of the Season 5, episode 4entitled “Breaking Brainiac”, it is that the villain was not always a destruction machine without soul. In this version, Brainiac He had a wife and son, Vril 2.0And his goal of bottling is no longer based on a cold scientific ambition, but on a desperate attempt to preserve civilizations before they self -destruct.
The tragedy of the character begins when, after one of his exploration trips, he returns to his native planet, Colu, just to find out Was annihilated in a solid genocide. Devastated, he suffers even more when he remembers He could never tell his son how much he admired his intelligence and his skills to solve the puzzles. This loss makes a being obsessed prevent other civilization from suffering the same destination, using their technology to “save” worlds against their will.
A villain that acts for pain
This new approach gives you a More emotional dimension To the character. Instead of simply being a cold and calculating entity, Brainiac is someone who Has never exceeded his loss And now it acts From the duel and the sense of guilt. His determination to find “perfect worlds” for bottling derives from his inability to accept the imperfection of life and his tragedy.
History also introduces a new dilemma: Koko, his faithful animal, died and Brainiac does not even know. He imagined all this time, indicating it Your psyche is on the edge of the collapse. This detail not only strengthens your pain, but it does it too An even more dangerous and unpredictable character.
The alliance with Lena Lothor and the danger to the earth
Another significant change is the introduction of Lena Lothor Like the ally of Brainiac. Unlike his brother Lex, whose relationship with the villain has always been based on ambition and power, Lena sees in Brainiac An opportunity to gain control on Earth. Promises his collaboration in exchange for A sector of the planet under its domainIn a colder and more corporate version of this classic alliance.
But the problem is that Brainiac is losing control. His vision of the world has been distorted to the point that he now believes it Humanity is too primitive to be saved. If this emotional collapse is not arrested, I could decide that the entire planet It is a lost cause and delete it from existence.
Can Harley and Ivy redeem Brainiac?
The relationship between Harley and Ivy It could be the key to bringing her humanity back Brainiac. Harley, with its chaotic but empathetic nature, could connect with the bad and show it Love and imperfection are what really gives value to life.
At the same time, his relationship with his son Vril 2.0 is a crucial point. Brainiac has never shown him affection in life and is now paying the price of that distance. If Harley and Ivy manage to show him that his son was looking for his approval and not his cold logic, perhaps the villain can find a real redemption.
A new destination for Brainiac?
If the series continues with its line of Give the second opportunity to the bad guysWe could see a version of brainiac moving away from his destructive mission and find another purpose in the universe. Or, on the contrary, if your traum is too strong, it could Immerse yourself completely in madness and becomes a great threat.
What is clear is that The series reached the unthinkable: Make Brainiac a character with whom spectators can enter into empathyBy presenting it not only as a villain, but as a being that has been destroyed by loss and solitude.
Each new episode of the season 5 brings us closer to the resolution of this plot. Harley Quinn Continues to prove it Nobody is beyond redemptionNot even one of DC’s most feared bad guys.
New episodes available every Thursday in Max.