Last year, the Marvel Cinematic Universe delivered its first holiday special -- Werewolf by Night -- and followed that up with The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. HBO Max is continuing this trend of super-powered holiday specials with Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine’s Day Special, which delivers on love, lust and laughter. Taking place after the events of Season 3, though not reliant on any major plot points, Harley Quinn (Kaley Cuoco) is determined to give Ivy (Lake Bell) the best Valentine’s Day of her life. While things are perfect at first, Harley’s insecurities get the better of her, prompting her to turn to extreme measures that inadvertently put Gotham at risk in a hilarious way.

The heart of Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine’s Day Special is the relationship between Ivy and Harley, and show runners Justin Harlpern and Patrick Schumacker live up to their promise that this series will not break up the fan-favorite couple. Harley and Ivy feel like a genuine couple in this special because they have interpersonal issues but are willing to work through them. Harley and Ivy share meaningful moments throughout, and Cuoco and Bell's performances remind everyone that Harley Quinn has as much heart as it does humor.

RELATED: REVIEW: DC's Harley Quinn Romances

harley quinn

The writers don't sacrifice Ivy and Harley's healthy relationship for laughs, managing to stay funny without relying on tired toxic tropes that other series often fall into to make couples humorous. They also don’t water down the pair's bond, showing audiences how into one another these villainesses are. While much of the explicit content is played for laughs, it also feels genuine, something that's often sacrificed when handling comic book romance. Where other super couples are paired off almost as an obligation -- something the special makes fun of with Mera and Aquaman -- there is no denying that Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy are girlfriends, best friends, and lovers.

Along with that, Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine’s Day Special is sex-positive and full of queer joy. There are a lot of sex jokes, but the show does this without making fun of anybody. This is best seen with Bane's B-plot story. In the special, Bane feels alone on Valentine’s Day, but a chance encounter with a dominatrix changes his life for the better. Unfortunately, Bane has his own insecurities, prompting plenty of jokes.

harley quinn bane

The animators and writers are a dream team when it comes to the Bane plot. Along with the meta jokes and irreverent humor Harley Quinn is known for, there are quite a few visual gags, especially when it comes to Bane. While it is surprising that HBO Max is censoring nudity in an adult animated series, Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine’s Day Special makes it work in its favor. It’s funnier to see all the visual gags used to hide his penis than it would be to just show it.

When censoring an intimate moment between Ivy and Harley, it feels like the animators are winking at the audience. They lean into how absurd it is to censor their night together, considering how much of the plot relies on this moment. Meta humor and references have become commonplace for a lot of comedy in adult animation. While present in Harley Quinn, meta jokes never feels forced, and the writers find new, creative ways to poke fun at the source material and entertainment industry at large without exhausting itself.

Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine’s Day Special captures what fans love about the HBO Max Series. This special isn't just a love letter to fans of Harley and Ivy, it's a reminder that Harley Quinn continues to be one of HBO Max’s best animated series to date.

Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine's Day Special begins streaming Feb 9 on HBO Max.