Season 2 of Peacemaker has arrived, officially introducing its characters to the DCU, and through two episodes, at least, it feels like a welcome change. But that feeling could instantly veer into a new direction, as there are absolutely no guarantees for any James Gunn production…
This show is wild. Talk about a crossover storyline gone haywire. Feeling a little out of touch with the pop-culture zeitgeist, I put my HBO Max subscription to good use lately, finally watching The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker Season 1 before finally arriving at the recently debuted Season 2. So, let me get this straight. John Cena’s character was initially killed off by the conclusion of TSS, but Warner Bros. reps wanted a spin-off series, so James Gunn decided to resuscitate the antihero who will kill any man, woman or child in order to preserve peace? Sounds about par for the course.
Our Season 1 recap reveals the previous season finale has been retconned, from the brief moment when the Justice League originally arrived too late has now been replaced with the Justice Gang (in accordance to the new Superman film — which I’ll watch as soon as it streams). In the season premiere, “The Ties That Grind,” Chris is now considered a superhero after saving the world, and he doesn’t want to mess things up.
“I don’t want to be a joke, anymore.”
Project Butterfly reveals a minor alien invasion with Body Snatchers vibes has occurred, although it seems like it’s been resolved (even if the aliens still exist somewhere on the planet). Task Force X is no more and the team separates. Chris Smith is all alone now and his interview with the Justice Gang goes poorly (although it’s hilarious). Harcourt’s been black balled from joining another governmental agency. Adebayo has started a spy agency while working at a coffee shop (Watch for the Easter Egg!). Vigilante still works at an insufferable restaurant and Economos is the only member of The 11th Street Kids to still work at A.R.G.U.S.
Now living in Auggie Smith’s house, when Chris wanders into one of the 99 doors — that lead to 99 different realities — of the Quantum Unfolding Chamber… it is revealed that this is DC’s answer to the MCU multiverse! Once inside, Chris finds both his brother and his father are alive and kicking, who are partnered with his doppelganger to form The Top Trio. Returning to his home (dimension), he must decide which world is better — after fighting himself in a duel to the death. Will he actually choose peace and move to a strange new world, one which feels more positive? Or will he choose to remain miserable back home?
Season 2 continues with the next episode, “Another Rick Up My Sleeve.”
“This shit is getting goofy!”
So far, Eagly is still my favorite character on HBO’s Peacemaker.
On the one hand, I’m glad I watched all the previous eight episodes, as well as Gunn’s movie, but that all feels like background information now. As Chris approaches the pivotal two-way street of his life, moving into the new reality feels like a fresh approach to the character (one which Gunn now realizes he had to change, after taking over control of the DC Universe, alongside Peter Safran).
Chris Smith is more vulnerable in Season 2, so does that make him more likeable? I say, yes. And according to Gunn on the show’s official podcast, all of the characters evolve a little bit this season (with the exception of Vigilante), even Chris… if ever so slightly. But that’s not all. The show’s stunt coordinator declared Season 2 will really ramp up the combat sequences throughout.
That sounds great and all. But what’s the catch?
If Season 1 doesn’t count now (because it was technically a part of the DCEU), and you’re saying the English-speaking super gorilla that was killed with a chainsaw never happened? There’s already an expectation for topping that scene, even though I’d rather see Gorilla Grodd, anyway.
The Peacemaker was originally an antihero created by Charlton Comics, before DC Comics bought out the company. Now living in a world where Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman exist, I really don’t need yet another goody two shoes superhero. I also don’t need a show that goes out of its way to be irreverent, demanding every other sentence have at least one F-bomb for the entirety of a 40-minute-plus episode. The writing on Peacemaker is something else, entirely, and after so much of it, I tend to check out. Less is always more, but since nobody from Warner Bros. or DC, for that matter, pushed back, this is what we get.
I hadn’t really been a big John Cena fan — of his wrestling or his past Hollywood projects — but I do like him in this role. Tim Meadows appears as an A.R.G.U.S. agent who steals all the laughs, as Chris has now become more politically correct, so someone has to bring the inappropriateness. And the grizzly Rick Flagg Sr. (Frank Grillo) is afraid of an interdimensional rift tearing the planet apart, so he wants Peacemaker captured (but it’s mostly revenge he’s after, since Chris previously killed his son). Having Robert Patrick return for another season was a genius move, but out of all the characters, Eagly, Chris’ CGI sidekick/best friend with an attitude is my favorite.
I guess that says a lot about me. And this series. But Michael Rooker makes his presence felt for the next six episodes, so he could easily become my new fave! Now that the DCU has been officially set up, bring on the metahumans, already! I do like the direction where Season 2 is headed, though…
“Do you want to ask stupid questions, or do you want to live?”