I’m Disappointed in Joker 2, Joker’s Coolest Change to Batman Canon

Joker: Folie à Deux has some connections to Batman lore, but I’m disappointed it abandoned one of its coolest changes from the first film. Joker 2 isn’t your standard comic book movie and follows its predecessor by being a slow-paced crime thriller – but this time also balancing the fact that it’s a musical. There were hopes that the film would serve as a continuation of Arthur’s transformation into the Joker, but that’s not exactly what happened. Apart from some references to Gotham, such as the introduction Joker 2From Harvey Dent, the sequel is almost completely separate from its DC ties.

What’s frustrating Joker 2 it’s just that he doesn’t do much with his ties to the comics. It provides some interesting changes, like Harley Quinn’s origin story, but these changes mean she looks like Harley essentially in name only. She does not embody this role, in the same way that Arthur Fleck does not fully embody the Joker. The first Clown teased Arthur’s imminent complete transformation into the Joker, even establishing an interesting connection between Fleck and Bruce Wayne. However, the sequel retains this relationship, making the change in Batman’s origin useless.

Joker Slightly Changed Batman’s Origin Story

Joker connected Batman’s origin story to the clown prince of crime.

2019 Clown established an intriguing relationship with Arthur and the Wayne family. Arthur finds a letter from his mother, claiming that he is Thomas Wayne’s illegitimate son, possibly establishing that Bruce and Arthur are half-brothers. However, it was apparently later revealed that the story was invented by her mother, who worked as a housekeeper for the Waynes. Still, this caused Arthur to interact with Bruce, and he was also partially responsible for his parents’ deaths, as they were killed by a Joker heckler rather than a random thief.

This isn’t the first time Batman’s origins have been changed. 1989 Batman revealed that Jack Nicholson’s Joker murdered Batman’s parents, establishing that Jack Napier was responsible for Batman’s rise and therefore his own downfall. Arthur does not kill Thomas and Martha directly, but the riots sparked by Murray Franklin’s murder lead to the Waynes’ deaths. It’s an interesting change that creates a personal connection between Arthur and Bruce. Unfortunately, this was sabotaged by Joker 2.

Joker 2’s Ending Makes Arthur’s Connection to Bruce Wayne Insignificant

Arthur’s death ruins any bond between him and Batman.

THE Joker 2 the ending shows Arthur renouncing his identity as the Joker and returning to prison. While there, another inmate fatally stabbed him, repeating the infamous “You get what you deserve” line that Arthur said before killing Murray Franklin in the first film. As Arthur lies on the floor dying, the inmate carves a smile on his face, inferring that the Joker’s legacy will continue through him. It’s a controversial ending that confirms that Arthur was never the true Joker, but the movement he created led to the rise of the Joker, who will eventually fight Batman.

I’m disappointed with this ending for a few reasons. It’s a cheap way to tease a future Joker and removes almost any connection the Joker we’ve been following has to Batman. The idea that the Joker’s revolution caused Batman is an interesting one, and it was nice to believe that the chaos of that riot inspired young Bruce Wayne to eventually clean up the city. The ending of the sequence also ruins Clown a little, as it makes it unnecessary to change Batman’s origin to give a final twist in the last moments of the film.

Even Thomas Wayne’s death was barely mentioned in Joker 2

The aftermath of Thomas Wayne’s death was shockingly absent.

Thomas Wayne was one of Gotham’s most influential figures. He was a billionaire whose business was prominent and his foundation ran many charities throughout the city. He was also a mayoral candidate who had a good chance of winning before he was killed. His death in the Joker Riot should have caused quite a stir in Gotham. In addition to Arthur’s murders, Thomas’ death should have been seen as a reason why Arthur needed to remain behind bars, as Fleck’s actions sparked violence that led to the death of a Gotham titan.

However, Joker: Folie à Deux it barely mentions the deaths of Thomas or Martha. Surprisingly, Harvey Dent never used it to invoke sympathy from the jury or emphasize the danger of the Joker symbol. It was also never mentioned on Gotham news networks. While Joker 2 takes place two years after the first ClownIt’s surprising that Thomas’ death isn’t a big topic of discussion surrounding Arthur’s trial, making it even stranger how much of Wayne’s story from the first film the sequel ignored.

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