James Gunn remains true to form ina second season ofPeacemakerthat doubles down on the carnage, raunchy shenanigans and a struggling hero’s desperate search for belonging while expanding the series to shapehis nascent DC Universein theaftermath ofSuperman. Events from the blockbuster film play an important role, asChristopher Smith / Peacemaker (John Cena)and his former A.R.G.U.S. besties face unexpected fallout from saving the world. There’s also a significant price to pay as earlier misdeeds come back to haunt a team strained by competing agendas. It’s a complex narrative where everything doesn’t always work, but is sure as heck fun to watch.
Journalists were provided the first five installments of the eight-episode season for review, so there’s a chance of major changes before the conclusion. That said, it’s pretty clear where Gunn is taking the characters, giving all of them a chance to make their presence felt. The premiere, “The Ties That Grind”, has everyone on unsteady footing.Leota Adebayo’s (Danielle Brooks)decision to spill the beans on her mother, Amanda Waller, and Project Butterfly makes the team a pariah for everyone exceptJohn Economos (Steve Agee). He remains with A.R.G.U.S. because they need a snitch, but his cherished comrades are persona non grata.
A New Chance for Heroism
Peacemaker
Peacemaker now lives with Eagly at his father’s house. His efforts tojoin the Justice Gang and prove he belongsas a hero don’t go nearly as well as expected: He was instrumental in stopping an alien invasion, but no one seems to care. This leads him to deeper depression, made even worse whenEmilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland)rejects his advances. Peacemaker has no sense of direction until a chance trip through his closet (a.k.a. the quantum unfolding chamber) offers a change of perspective. Cena’s range as an actor continues to improve, and he’s tremendous here in a multifaceted performance.
Harcourt has turned her banishment from clandestine work into unfettered rage, as decades of service to her country have amounted to nothing. She’s broke, angry and won’t admit her true feelings for Peacemaker, and so every punk who crosses her path gets beaten to a pulp. She also takes her share of punishment with black eyes, cuts and bruises as badges of resentment. Harcourt needs a way back in, and a past superior now running A.R.G.U.S. may be her only path to redemption.
Frank Grillo increases the badass factoras Rick Flag Sr. The new A.R.G.U.S. director has Peacemaker squarely in his sights now that Flag has learned the truth about what happened to his son in Corto Maltese. This arc simmers to a devastating boil across multiple episodes. Peacemaker’s gnawing guilt and sincere remorse mean nothing to Flag. Peacemaker took what he treasured the most, and Flag has no compunction about returning the favor.
Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr.
Meanwhile, Flag’s leadership puts John in a terrible position. He’s lucky to have a job, but he’s now on Peacemaker surveillance duty. Flag’s not easily fooled. He doesn’t trust John and assigns him a truly irritating partner, Langston Fleury (Tim Meadows).Meadows gets some of the season’s biggest laughsas Fleury, who knows how to needle people and takes satisfaction in being a complete jerk. Fleury also has a specific weakness that’s an absolute gem. It’s a gag that never gets old.
Secrets and lies are critical to the plot’s progression. Peacemaker’s up to something incredibly dangerous that Flag and his A.R.G.U.S. goons are hellbent on discovering. Trust becomes a motivating principle as everyone has a reason to deceive. This is where the season shines in a surprisingly heartfelt way. Despite their complaints and perceived slights against each other, the team has a primal bond that strengthens under duress.
Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy, The Suicide Squad)wrote the entire season, and directed three episodes. Gunn has a specific sense of humor that’s hit-or-miss; he’s willing to push the naughty needle to get a lewd chuckle, which is usually successful. But there are times when the jokes run long and become painfully awkward. This is especially the case with Adrian Chase / Vigilante (Freddie Stroma), who’s got a few comedic bits that are near torturous to sit through. Any other showrunner would have truncated these scenes, but it’s obvious that Gunn enjoys twisting the proverbial knife. Audiences who don’t worship at the Gunn altar won’t be as enthused by Vigilante’s annoying quirks.
Still Besties
On the plus side, the action does not disappoint and is gnarly as ever. Peacemaker and Harcourt crack heads like omelets in a plethora of creative ways, but others are equally responsible for filling the morgue. Eagly raises his butt-kicking game with an absolutely bonkers subplot: He can attack from anywhere, has incredible speed and doesn’t always announce his presence before the slaughter. It’s gruesome stuff, but superbly done on a technical level. Eagly’s interactions with the cast look flawless. The visual effects producers do an amazing job integrating him into action scenes.
Peacemakerseason two has bombshell twists and epic reveals, a couple of which will have jaws scraping the floor. Stay away from spoilers and enjoy an unadulterated experience. There are a few outstanding issues from last season that are puzzlingly not addressed. These might come up in the last three episodes, so let’s see if they remain an oversight.
Peacemakeris a production of DC Studios, The Safran Company, Troll Court Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television. Season two premieres on August 21st, followed by new episodes weekly through October 9 exclusively on HBO Max.
