Starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, Joker: Folie à Deux is the musical sequel to the Oscar-winning origin myth for Batman’s most infamous supervillain nemesis. The latest DC follow-up set two years after Arthur Fleck aka Joker murders Murray Franklin on live TV, shows him locked up in a psychiatric asylum, awaiting his trial. Joker becomes a media sensation, an object of obsession by fans especially Harleen “Lee” Quinzel aka Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn.
Along with their toxic romance and shared insanity also begins Gotham’s “Trial of the Century” where the prosecutor and the defense attorney make arguments if Arthur suffers from a split-personality disorder, whether he is innocent or guilty, and whether he needs medical assistance or a death penalty. Arthur Fleck is charged guilty but before the jury announces the complete sentencing, a bomb explodes and destroys the courthouse wall. Many are injured, some killed, and among the harmed is defense attorney Harvey Dent, who suffers a severe burn on one side of his face.
In Batman lore, Dent later becomes Two-Face, an enemy of DC’s caped crusader. The explosion allows Arthur to flee and he runs to Lee to salvage their romance but the latter breaks up with him. “All we had was the fantasy and you gave that up,” she says before walking away.
It takes no time for authorities to capture Arthur, they bring him back to the asylum, where he is stabbed by a psychotic inmate. A post shared by Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) A.