Spoiler alert! This article contains spoilers for Joker: Folie a Deux.
Numerous scenes from Joker: Folie a Deux only really happened inside Arthur Fleck’s mind, as part of Jokers mental illness or his shared delusion with Harley Quinn. DC’s Joker: Folie à Deux, the much-anticipated sequel to 2019’s Joker, continues to explore the chaotic mind of Arthur Fleck, a man whose descent into madness has become a cultural phenomenon. As the film blends musical elements with psychological drama, it delves deeper into the shared delusions of Arthur and Harley Quinn. This invites viewers to question the reality of certain scenes, suggesting that some events in Joker: Folie a Deux only occurred in Arthur’s imagination.
Equally, several moments from Joker are presumed to have only occurred in Arthur’s head. The most notable and likely examples include Arthur’s burgeoning friendship with his neighbor and attending a taping of the Murray Show as an audience member. This trope was amplified in Joker: Folie a Deux, in which the line between reality and fiction was blurred repeatedly.
10 The Colorful Umbrellas At Arkham
Arthur Imagines The umbrellas Changing Color
One of the striking visual moments in Joker: Folie à Deux occurs when Arthur is escorted along an outside walkway in Arkham Asylum in the rain. Initially, the guards accompanying him wield black umbrellas, a symbol of the oppressive atmosphere surrounding Arthur’s life. However, in a sudden shift, these umbrellas transform into bright colors. As Arthur is baptized by the rain, the umbrellas signal his shift back towards the Joker persona.
The color of these umbrellas in Joker: Folie a Deux is the same as Arthur’s flamboyant red suit from his appearance on the Murray Show in Joker. This transformation signifies Arthur’s warped perception of his reality, foreshadowing his return to the suit. The color shift embodies his desire to escape from his bleak surroundings, indicating that this moment is more a reflection of Arthur’s hopeful imagination than an actual occurrence within Arkham Asylum.
9 Joker And Harley’s Sex Scene
Joker Imagines Harley In Solitary Confinement
In a confusing scene that retains the bleak tones of the so-called “real” world, Arthur is placed in solitary confinement. Shortly after, Harley Quinn appears in his cell, claiming she managed to persuade the guards to let her in. Their conversation quickly escalates to a haunting moment where Harley puts make-up on Arthus, before the pair engage in sexual intercourse. This scene was not presented with the bright lighting and glossy sets that typically accompany the imagined scenes in Joker: Folie a Deux, suggesting that it could be real.
However, this scenario seems highly improbable given the stringent security measures typically enforced in solitary confinement. The dynamics between Arthur and Harley, built on shared delusions, suggest that this encounter may not have occurred at all. Instead, it likely plays out as Arthur’s fantasy, where he imagines a connection and intimacy that starkly contrasts with his isolating reality. This highlights Arthur’s yearning for love and acceptance, revealing how deeply rooted his delusions are in his emotional landscape.
8 The Variety Show Sequences
Joker And Harley Engage In Several Musical Numbers
One of the most whimsical aspects of Joker: Folie à Deux is its foray into brightly lit musical sequences that resemble a classic variety show. These colorful song-and-dance moments, filled with surreal choreography and exuberant costumes, appear to encapsulate a world of happiness and freedom. Yet, the sheer extravagance of these sequences suggests they exist solely in Arthur’s mind.
These performances in Joker: Folie a Deux act as a coping mechanism for Arthur, allowing him to escape the harshness of his reality. As he shares this delusion with Harley, it reinforces the idea that their relationship thrives in a fabricated world where they can experience joy and liberation, showcasing the depths of their shared insanity. Interestingly, this frequently included blackout edits and bright lights, which several characters suggest to Arthur early in the movie could indicate his mental illness.
7 Joker’s Arkham Song
Joker Imagines A Performance In Front Of Arkham Inmates
A particularly memorable moment in Joker: Folie a Deux occurs when Arthur watches a news broadcast featuring Harvey Dent calling for his execution. In a surprising turn, Arthur bursts into a lively song and begins to dance around his fellow inmates. This exuberant scene, while entertaining, abruptly cuts back to Arthur staring blankly at the television, suggesting that this vibrant performance was a projection of his desires rather than an actual event.
This represents Arthur’s complete denial and inability to comprehend his situation. Instead of acknowledging the possibility he will be executed, Arthur retreats into a fantasy, singing about the power of love. It underscores Arthur’s profound need for expression and recognition, illuminating the ongoing conflict between his fantasies and the harsh truths he faces. Much like the solitary confinement scene, this is presented with a similar tone as the real world in Joker: Folie a Deux, but the editing confirms that it was imagined.
6 Harley Does Joker’s Dance
Harley Quinn Acts Out The Infamous Bathroom Dance
One of the most striking scenes from Joker: Folie a Deux depicts Harley Quinn reenacting Joker’s iconic bathroom dance from Joker. The scene shares the same haunting cello score and repeats some of the Joker’s unsettling choreography. It creates a poignant and beautiful parallel between the two characters and suggests that Arthur is imprinting his identity onto Harley and suggesting she is going through a similarly transformative moment.
This sequence likely exists within Arthur’s imagination, but could have occurred as part of Harley’s or the pair’s shared delusion. By envisioning Harley embracing the dance, Arthur reinforces their connection, framing their relationship as a shared journey toward liberation from their past traumas. This moment illustrates how deeply intertwined their identities have become, as they navigate their madness together, blurring the lines of individual reality.
5 Joker And Harley Get Married
Joker Imagines A Wedding Scene With Harley
One of the more fantastical moments in Joker: Folie à Deux occurs during a vibrant variety show scene, where Arthur and Harley stage a mock wedding ceremony. The over-the-top theatrics and colorful costumes reflect the couple’s playful yet tumultuous relationship. Like the other variety show scenes, this scene was part of Harley and the Joker’s shared delusion.
Related
9 Biggest Changes Joker 2 Makes To DC Canon
Joker: Folie a Deux is set in a far more bleak and grimy world than usual, and as such made some notable changes to DC characters and narratives.
This Joker: Folie a Deux moment serves as an expression of their intense bond and desire for commitment, even if it is rooted in delusion. It underscores the fantasy they create to escape the grim realities of their lives, highlighting how Arthur uses imaginative scenarios to cope with the surrounding chaos. Suitability, both characters are in full costume at the time, hinting at how Lee loves the Joker persona, and not Arthur himself.
4 Joker And Harley Dancing On The Rooftops
Joker And Harley Reenact Classic Musicals
In a nod to classic comic book moments, Arthur and Harley are depicted ballroom dancing on rooftops in Joker: Folie a Deux. This sequence is also reminiscent of Hollywood musicals from the 1940s. This romantic visual, while visually stunning, is steeped in the whimsical fabric of Arthur’s mind, as signaled by the overly stylized sets, costumes, and lighting.
The grandeur of their dance in Joker: Folie a Deux, set against the urban skyline, represents a fleeting escape from their turbulent lives. It showcases Arthur’s yearning for beauty and connection amid the chaos, illustrating how he romanticizes their bond. This scene functions as a vivid illustration of Arthur’s delusions, portraying a world where love and joy reign, even if it’s only in his imagination.
3 Joker Tap Dancing
Joker Imagines A Captivating Dance Number
Another homage to classic musicals occurs when Arthur showcases his tap-dancing skills as part of a vibrant musical number. The rhythmic tapping and exuberant energy encapsulate a celebratory spirit that starkly contrasts with Arthur’s dark reality. Yet, this moment is unlikely to have actually taken place and exists within Arthur’s mind only.
Much like the famous stair dance from Joker, Arthur’s tap dancing reflects a newfound confidence. The tap-dancing serves as a metaphor for Arthur’s internal struggles and desires, providing a temporary escape from his grim surroundings. It emphasizes how he utilizes these imaginative performances to cope with his chaotic existence, transforming his pain into art.
2 Joker Killing The Court
Joker Imagines Himself Murdering People in Court
In a particularly grotesque Joker: Folie a Deux musical number, Arthur imagines himself dancing around the Gotham City courtroom. During this, he executes the prosecutor, Harvey Dent, before violently attacking the judge with an oversize gavel. This darkly comedic scene draws on Harley Quinn’s iconic giant mallet from the comics, blending absurdity with brutality.
Related
Every DC Character In Joker 2
Joker: Folie a Deux introduced some classic DC characters into Arthur Fleck’s grim vision of Gotham City, but with distinctive updates.
The exaggerated nature of this fantasy suggests it never truly happened, particularly considering how neither Dent nor the judge were killed. Instead, it represents Arthur’s inner turmoil and the violent fantasies he harbors. This moment illustrates how Arthur uses imagination to process his feelings of rage and betrayal, highlighting the disconnect between his desires and the harsh realities he faces in a world that continually marginalizes him.
1 Joker’s Flashbacks
Joker Repeatedly Remembers Events From Joker (2019)
Throughout Joker: Folie à Deux, Arthur experiences several flashbacks to key moments from 2019’s Joker, including extended or recreated scenes that delve into his past actions. These function as recollections providing insight into Arthur’s psyche in moments of self-reflection. A notable example depicts Joker removing his make-up after the bathroom dance, while he hears Arkham inmate Ricky being killed.
The flashbacks in Joker: Folie a Deux are used to depict how Arthur grapples with the consequences of his previous choices. As Joker reflects on pivotal events, these flashbacks serve as a narrative device that bridges the two films, suggesting that Arthur’s current delusions are deeply rooted in his traumatic history. This exploration of memory underscores the ongoing impact of his past on his present state of mind, emphasizing how he wrestles with the haunting memories that contribute to his complex identity throughout Joker: Folie a Deux.
Joker: Folie à Deux is the sequel to Todd Phillips’ critically acclaimed comic book thriller Joker. Reprising his Academy Award-winning performance as the failed comedian Arthur Fleck, Joaquin Phoenix revisits the iconic DC character alongside Lady Gaga, who makes her debut as Joker’s lover Harley Quinn in this standalone continuity of the DC Universe.
