IR TV Review: HARLEY QUINN - A VERY PROBLEMATIC VALENTINE’S DAY SPECIAL [HBO Max-S3]
Harley Quinn's concept of love usually amps it up to the nth degree with nare a thought of consequence in her mind. The interesting connotation of "A Problematic Valentine's Day Special" is how much it veers towards the notion of self-help in the HQ universe. Everyone is trying their best to be something for someone else when it is naturally better for them to be at peac internally e before trying to share that (which very few people do). The concept here starts with the "When Harry Met Sally" testimonials from a mostly superhero point of view but all are masked by ego. Harley & Ivy's balance of love is electric but flawed in the end, not because Ivy doesn't love Quinn but that Quinn can never accept.
A very tender moment in a flashback in Arkham is the most telling part of the episode once the carnage and sexual chaos has passed. Bane, often a satire unto himself, moves in the context of lust versus love which is a funny dichotomy but destructive, because most of the time, he simply wants to be accepted. He does find an undeniable connection which is farcical but also undeniably true. Clayface almost has more of an issue since he is so vain and sees things at face value because he mostly can only love himself. This is an existential duality issue but one that plays practically and yet metaphorically in the special to odd but likely correct effect. The reality is that romance, no matter its context, leaves destruction in its wake, no matter how good it makes you feel. But sometimes for Harley Quinn, that is all that matters. B-
By Tim Wassberg
