Nightwing literally being reduced to a “butt joke” in Harley Quinn season 4 episode 1 has not been well received by DCU fans. The fourth segment’s debut episode from HBO Max has Harls and the Bat-family investigating a gruesome crime scene involving a social media model and Dick Grayson’s butt may be the only arsenal at their hand to bring the killer to light.
The premiere episode of season 4 titled “Gotham’s Hottest Hotties” has not received an overwhelmingly positive reception like the previous season 3 episode 1. Harley Quinn season 3 gave Ivy and Harl their much-needed character arc twists by pushing Harley into giving up a life as a supervillain to join the Bat-family as a superhero. Meanwhile, Poison Ivy finally gets her long-overdue respect from the villain community after Lex Luthor asks her to run the Legion of Doom.
With the main storyline for Harlivy reaching some form of a conclusion for now, the creators are rather getting creative by picking up on fan-service elements to include them as a plot point. Speaking of, at SDCC 2023, it was confirmed Nightwing’s “phenomenal ass” would play into the story in season 4.
Unfortunately for the DC TV show creators, objectifying Grayson has failed to appeal to audiences as a humorous light-hearted moment. Fans who tuned in on the Harley Quinn season 4 episode 1 are disappointed for forcing Nightwing to do a raunchy photoshoot for Gotham Magazine with an exclusive look at his butt or as the show describes it, “juicy caboosey”.
Not only does the harley Quinn show ridiculously sexualize nightwing but to top it all of they actually fucking acknowledge that he was assaulted and STILL continue to drag this degrading joke it's honestly just vile
— Elijah (@G0DLYPRINCE) July 27, 2023
Disgusting. If this scene was done with a female character there'd be hundreds of headlines about it.
But objectifying men is okay now đ¤ˇđ˝ââď¸
Do it for both genders or don't do it at all. #HarleyQuinn pic.twitter.com/pcdrs9zs2r
— Lynch – Reply Guy (@LynchUnhinged) July 27, 2023
The Nightwing butt joke was funny when it was knowledge exclusively in the fan community as a little gag
It became annoying the moment DC made a character trait and started over using the joke everywhere
Shit legit became the male equivalent of Power Girl breasts— Caio (@Foreverheroics) July 28, 2023
I hate how the HQ show is treating nightwing, its disgusting. Not only did they acknowledge that Dick is an sa survivor but they went on and based a whole season objectifying him and degrading him, so disappointed
— alex (@twilightsparklv) July 27, 2023
I love Harley Quinn, but I'm really disappointed with how they treated Nightwing. Dick is clearly uncomfortable with being sexualized yet Harley makes sexual remarks despite knowing him as a kid. If the roles were reversed, everyone would point out this is sexual assault. pic.twitter.com/64rY2RQTqN
— Gluff (@GluffOfficial) July 27, 2023
Nightwing consistently getting sexually exploited After 2 occasions of him being raped is one of the worst messages dc continues to "joke" about https://t.co/bNaizJo3lL
— đłď¸ââ§ď¸Bonnieđłď¸ââ§ď¸BLM/ACAB (@walterwhitekinn) July 28, 2023
I am so angry at the constant sexualization of dick grayson / Nightwing with DC and writers making it the only fucking plot point they can think of for him. I hope they all rot in hell
pic.twitter.com/XKbXlnSdb5— dick grayson die challenge (@DlCKSGF) July 28, 2023
The more I see of Harley Quinnâs Nightwing the more grateful I am for him. https://t.co/QsI6orB17S
— Grayson (Ken) (@TheAlazul) July 27, 2023
The joke about nightwing has always been lame and gross but somehow this stupid show managed to make it even worse. Way to treat a character who was originally a victim of sexual assault and traumatized from it. https://t.co/ezIWa3UKkB pic.twitter.com/5m6cNFb4TO
— Elijah (@G0DLYPRINCE) July 27, 2023
this isnât funny or ârealâ, especially when they canonized the Nightwing being an SA survivor in this universe https://t.co/J3mAKIypkD
— JAE đżâď¸ i am kenough. (@kanenrisak) July 27, 2023
Oh I just saw a Harley Quinn show clip of nightwing itâs actually way worse then I feared pic.twitter.com/QoLsqG3viY
— bri⨠(@aerithstifa) July 27, 2023
Nightwing is being done too dirty for this to be solely parody. https://t.co/n4i3GWgZW4 pic.twitter.com/T0PUoFYLHS
— That Nos Guy (@OhMyNosFace) July 28, 2023
The steamy scene plays out after Harls realizes Professor Pyg is behind the sequence of gory crime incidents. And with the knowledge that Professor Pyg appears to target victims from “Gotham’s Hottest Hotties”. Harley she and Batgirl impersonate photographers and engage in having Nightwing strip down his clothes for a desirable photoshoot. Dick Grayson is shown sporting a thong and although he appears to hesitate – Harls convinces him while Batgirl live streams the shoot.
Aside from critiquing Harley Quinn season 4 episode 1’s butt scene as a tasteless joke, many are calling the scene “disgusting” and questioning if “objectifying men is okay now” as @LynchUnhinged wrote on Twitter. From the looks of it, the majority of the fanbase is not in favor of sexualizing Grayson to the point where the character’s real identity is blurred to portray him as an eye candy for entertainment.
Though it should be noted Harley Quinn season 4 does not appear to be pulling punches in showcasing more sexual elements. In fact, season 4’s trailer has already teased Harley flashing her breasts and another steamy sexual moment between Harley and Poison Ivy in an elevator.
This is also not the first time Harley has had an erotic encounter with Nightwing. In Batman and Harley Quinn animated movie – Harley ties up Dick Grayson to a bed and engages to get intimate with him.
nightwingâs naked butt from the new harley quinn season. best ass in dc pic.twitter.com/ljMAr95TGE
— mike (@srodulvelu) July 27, 2023
The Harley Quinn show is so real for giving us Nightwing butt ass naked pic.twitter.com/JuS8T8QoCX
— Kâę¤IM (@mutantfate) July 27, 2023
Congratulations to Nightwing for making The Hottest Hotties list. If you got it flaunt it baby!#HarleyQuinn pic.twitter.com/HSzMbA8BM2
— ERod đ¨ (@ERodBuster1) July 27, 2023
I get that this is a comedy show and itâs not meant to be taken seriously but the whole ânightwing has a great Ass letâs keep showing itâ joke isâŚnot that funny imo https://t.co/rKEnG27xeY
— PattyNest (@PattyNest) July 28, 2023
NightwingâŚ.. hear me out pic.twitter.com/dLWbbqukA9
— FaceS (@FaceS_13) July 27, 2023
The first three episodes of Harley Quinn season 4 are currently streaming on HBO’s Max.
