Harley Quinn Valentine’s Day Special: Talk About a Weird Holiday

The Harley Quinn Show: A Problematic Valentine’s Day Special is a weird entry into this animated comedy. It will have you laughing and smiling but mostly in shock. (This special is not for the faint of heart.)

Ever since the first episode of The Harley Quinn Show debuted in 2019, it has set a high standard for what a comedic version of an animated comic book show can be. Throughout its past three seasons, the humor has managed to be mindful of DC Characters while not taking itself too seriously.

Harley does her best in this holiday special to give Ivy the “Best Valentine’s Day Ever.” In typical Harley fashion, things go awry, creating crazier and crazier scenarios leading to a final act involving a kaiju-sized villain. If it sounds ridiculous, that’s because it really is.

Sprinkled throughout the overarching plot are interviews with couples such as Superman, Lois Lane, Aqua Man, and Mera. It’s a charming addition, and this episode includes a host of characters from the DC universe.

I will caution this episode was a lot raunchier than I expected. The adult humor felt similar to the jokes in The Boys. In my opinion, it was a bit jarring and sometimes overshadowed the core of what has made this a solid series.

The acting has Kaley Cuoco and Lake Bell as Harley and Ivy, and they keep the same tone and character they have had throughout the series. A fun addition to this episode is the cameo of Brett Goldstein who plays Roy Kent from Ted Lasso. It’s a reminder this show isn’t meant to be taken seriously.

The animation has been consistent in its 2-dimensional style, and this episode keeps the steady quality. I’m curious how confused the animators were when they read the script that called for a talking clay butt.