‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 Midseason Recap & Review: Episodes 1–4

Halfway through the season, does Peacemaker’s second outing live up to the first season’s hype?

The hit DC Studios/HBO Max show has returned for a second season. New episodes air on Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET.

Debuting in 2022, ‘Peacemaker’ was a tremendous success for streamer HBO Max. According to data firm Parrot Analytics, the series was the most in-demand show in the world in the week of season one’s premiere. HBO Max themselves confirmed the finale viewership was up 44% over the premiere, highlighting a remarkable growth in audience. Season one’s finale also registered the biggest single-day performance for a Max Original series as of the date.

Season one followed in the heels of James Gunn‘s own 2021 film ‘The Suicide Squad’ (not to be confused with David Ayer’s ‘Suicide Squad’ from 2016). Following the events of the film and Peacemaker’s own recovery from his encounter with Bloodsport, Christopher Smith (played by John Cena) is recruited once again for a mission to save the world.

Having neutralized the “butterfly” threat alongside his crew, the 11th street kids, Chris Smith returns for a second outing while being hunted by new A.R.G.U.S. chief Rick Flag Sr (played by Frank Grillo). Fans of the first season will remember Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) was ousted from the agency by her own daughter when Adebayo (Danielle Brooks) revealed the existence of the covert government operations led by her mother.

The second season deals with Smith’s persecution by A.R.G.U.S. as Flag Sr. carries out a vendetta for Peacemaker killing his son during the events of Gunn’s ‘The Suicide Squad’. Multiverse and parallel earth shenanigans are also involved in a season that is very much about Smith’s own view of himself and whether or not he can forgive his past sins.

The season two retcon

The first question season one fans had on their minds going into season two was:

How will Gunn deal with retconning Peacemaker’s events to fit into his new DCU timeline?

Season one, set in the defunct DCEU, not only referenced extinct characters but also featured appearances from faces like Jason Momoa’s Aquaman and Ezra Miller’s Flash. Fans questioned how in the world Gunn would provide a valid explanation for all the continuity changes.

The DCU is very much a reboot of the DC cinematic universe, but old faces also carry on into this new universe (like Peacemaker himself), all the while with actors like Jason Momoa now playing the villain/antihero Lobo in the upcoming ‘Supergirl’ movie.

How do you explain such changes to the general audience who likely do not follow all of Gunn’s posts on social media? How is all of a sudden Momoa Lobo? Wasn’t he Aquaman as recently as in 2023’s sequel?

Instead of confusing the audience with complex explanations and plotlines, Gunn took the easy way out to surprisingly effective results. In the opening minutes of season two’s premiere, Gunn did all of the heavy lifting of retconning season one’s events through a retelling of contradicting events disguised as a simple recap.

(WARNING — Season two spoilers ahead)

For instance, instead of the DCEU Justice League appearing in the season one finale, the recap retcons Peacemaker to now interact with the “Justice Gang”, as featured in this year’s ‘Superman’ film.

Episodes 1–4 recap

Episode one effectively starts with Peacemaker going to a job interview for the Justice Gang. Green Lantern Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion) and Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) are all there, with mogul Maxwell Lord (Sean Gunn) leading the proceedings. It all goes hilariously wrong, hurting Smith’s already wounded ego.

This all goes with the season’s theme of Smith’s own capacity for self-forgiveness. As his whole world collapses around him, with Rick Flag Sr. hunting him and beloved sidekick Eagly down, Smith increasingly tries to escape his own reality, both figuratively and literally.

Through his “unfolding quantum chamber”, Smith accidentally enters a parallel reality where his whole life seems perfect. His dad is both alive and also now a caring parent, and his brother, Keith, is there too as a loving sibling. Together, they form the so-called “Top Trio”.

Harcourt, who repeatedly shuts down his romantic advances in his own reality, is Smith’s ex in this one, dating the shockingly alive Rick Flag Jr. Despite this, she seems open to a reconnection with Chris, something desperately distant in Peacemaker’s own world.

To further complicate matters, Smith unintentionally kills his doppelganger from this dimension, opening the possibility for Chris to act as his alternative self in this world. With his “real” world crumbling around him, Peacemaker dives into this “perfect” dimension wholeheartedly.

In the midseason finale, Rick Flag Sr. and A.R.G.U.S. execute a full-on invasion of Smith’s home. With characters like Judomaster and the comical expert eagle hunter Red St. Wild hunting Peacemaker (and Eagly) down, Chris manages to escape with the help of Vigilante and Adebayo.

This all promises an exciting, action-filled second half of season two.

Does it live up to the hype?

Although creator James Gunn has stated Peacemaker is his favorite project of his whole career, I wouldn’t go so far as to say the first four episodes are the epitome of his writing. Gunn’s projects, especially in recent times, have been critical and commercial hits alike. This year’s ‘Superman’ is a clear example of this.

Personally, I feel ‘Superman’ is a much more entertaining and polished project than these first four episodes of ‘Peacemaker’ season two. Despite this, it’s important to note that Gunn only directed the premiere (due to scheduling conflicts with the ‘Superman’ shooting and his busy agenda as DC Studios co-CEO overall). Also, ‘Peacemaker’, as a series of eight episodes, is much more of a slow burn with more time for plot and character development.

Personally, I liked season one more. It was one of my favorite shows of 2022. But this doesn’t mean that season two is weak. The first four episodes were strong chapters, displaying humor, heart and fun.

New additions to the cast, like Tim Meadows as Langston Fleury and Sol Rodriguez as Sasha Bordeaux (both A.R.G.U.S. agents), are strong highlights. Meadows’ recurring bit with “bird blindness” is laugh-out-loud hilarious, as absurd and creative as can be. It’s something that could only come out of the mind of someone like James Gunn.

In summary, season two is not weak. The issue, if you go so far as to call it that, is that the first four episodes are consciously designed as buildup for a second half payoff. What remains to be seen is if such payoff will occur. But, judging by Gunn’s recent track record, chances are pretty damn high.

Trill’s rating: 4/5 ⭐

On a lighter note, what do you think of the new opening dance number? I personally think season one’s opening is more iconic, but they definitely went bigger with this one!