Although we got an ever so brief taste of Peacemaker during the “Superman” movie (which is now available on digital), we haven’t gotten a proper dose of Christopher Smith (John Cena) since the “Peacemaker” season 1 finale – which broke the record for highest single day viewership of any HBO Max series. Due to the overwhelming popularity of the original series, James Gunn opted to move “Peacemaker” over to the DCU from the DCEU. The method in which Peacemaker would transverse universes has been up for debate and theorized over for some time now, but we finally got an answer as to how the beloved team of misfits would make their way to David Corenswet’s universe.
The answer to that question was sadly much simpler than anyone (including us) could have ever thought…. A retcon. The manner in which the retcon was done was maybe not handled in the best capacity, but one may argue it’s best to rip off the bandaid with retcons and move on. Warning, beyond this point there are heavy spoilers for anyone who is not up to date in HBO Max’s “Peacemaker” TV series and the DCU/DCEU as a whole.
The manner in which the retcon was done was maybe not handled in the best capacity, but one may argue it’s best to rip off the bandaid with retcons and move on.”
The episode starts with a 3+ minute recap of season 1, which we usually wouldn’t mention, except this is where the retcon is slipped in. Gunn changed the post climactic scene from the finale when Flash (Ezra Miller) and Aquaman (Jason Momoa) showed up with the rest of hate Justice League. In this ‘previously on’, Gunn changed the Justice League from the DCEU to the Justice Gang of the DCU, using a Superman, Supergirl and Mister Terrific body double but including real shots of Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) and Green Lanter Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion). In our opinion, this was a cheap and lazy way to bran the series into the new universe, but one could argue that it’s the simplest and cheapest way, which allows the team to dedicate their resources to the best series possible.
Moving on, the series checks in with Chris and Eagly, who are now living in his late father Auggie’s (Robert Patrick) house. Eagly pesters Peacemaker to go out but Chris says it’s too cold. As a compromise, they go into Chris’ dad’s Quantum Unfolding Chamber so Eagly can stretch his wings. We know Eagly isn’t real but we got mad love for that dude. Eagly leads Chris to a door that has a keypad similar to Peacemaker’s door, as well as some cool new Peacemaker helmets. Instinctively, Chris tries the code for his portal… and it works! Peacemaker ends up in an alternate dimension where Auggie is still alive and really kind to Chris! It’s every to hear this monster speak to his son with general concern, which also freaks Chris out who immediately runs. Gunn did a spectacular job of directing Cena here, who really emotes this feeling of being in a forbidden, better place.
Six months later, Chris and the team seem to be down and out due to the fact that Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) has blacklisted them form working with the government, with the exception of Economos (Steve Agee). Economos is stuck on an undesired surveillance gig, watching his buddy Chris due to the time he opened the quantum unfolding dimension in the opening of the episode. Peacemaker tries to join the Justice Gang but gets mercilessly ridiculed by Hawkgirl, Green Lantern and Maxwell Lord (Sean Gunn). Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) is completely unemployable and filled with rage or “toxic masculinity”. Adebayo (Danielle Brooks) is also not able to find work and is on the outs with her wife. Vigilante (Freddie Stroma) is still working his busboy job and apparently calling Economos and the gang very often. The whole team seems like they are at low points which makes everything a little more messy, chaotic and real. The dialogue and random jokes that Gunn has the cast effortlessly work in to the script are top notch.
A big reveal is that Harcourt and Peacemaker hooked up, but she seems to regret it and is not in the right head space for a relationship anyway. Even though the team has a funny rooftop reunion, the festivities end with harcourt once again slaughtering Chris’ feelings. Peacemaker is feeling pretty lost, so he goes home and has a full-on orgy! Cena does a great job here of reproducing a conflicted guy in the middle of a mental health crisis. Smith doesn’t find any solace in the orgy and ends up heading back to the alternate dimension where his dad is alive. This sets off Economos’ bosses at Argus, who want to contain any type of dimensional rifts after the events of “Superman” which could have ended the world.
Peacemaker goes and has a drink with his dad and his fully grown, living brother Keith, played by David Denman from “The Office”. The death of Keith is essential to Peacemakers origin, so the temptation of being able to erase his past is very tempting to someone who is already in such a bad place. After a nice night, Chris lingers in the alt-dimension a bit too long and is confronted by that dimensions rightful Peacemaker. This leads to a brutal fight that spills into the pocket dimension. DCU Chris is getting wound pretty bad when he manages to turn his doppelgängers costume against him and he accidentally kills his alt-self. This is a huge “oh sh*t moment that predictably kicks the credits in.
This turn of events leads us to believe that Peacemaker might end up leaving his current reality for this new one, especially because he was with Harcourt in the alt-dimension. There are a lot of possibilities and the series already high RT scores n the 90’s is climbing.
What do you think? Who will the team face off against this season? How did you like the new intro music? Will peacemaker save the world in season 2, or just himself and the team? Will we get any more metahuman cameos like the White Rabbit? Did Gunn make the right call with the retcon? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
