The DCU’s newest installment, Peacemaker season 2, shot its way onto HBO Max Sep. 21 and brought an explosive first episode.
Peacemaker follows Chris Smith, played by John Cena, as he battles being the titular superhero while dealing with his mental health and past actions. Season one focused on Peacemaker dealing with Project Butterfly and uncovering an alien invasion.
Season 2 follows Peacemaker as he traverses the implications of murdering his father in the first season, as well as saving the world. Throughout the trials, he finds a portal to another dimension offering a life better than his own.
Chris is not the only character the season follows; Leota Adebayo [Danielle Brooks] battles the ramifications of exposing her mother, Amanda Waller, and her involvement in Project Butterfly to the US government.
John Economos [Steve Agee] has been tasked with surveilling Chris by Rick Flag Sr. [Frank Grillo], who is the father of the man whom Peacemaker killed in The Suicide Squad.
Emilia Harcourt [Jennifer Holland] is told by her therapist that she is suffering from toxic masculinity, and goes on her own journey to deal with it.
Adrian Chase [Freddie Stroma] does not have a huge tie to the overall plot of the first two episodes of the season, but still offers some needed comedic relief while also being a comforting force from Chris.
With the recent change in hand to James Gunn as the producer of the DCU, some reshoots were needed for the first season. The last season ended with Zach Snyder’s Justice League appearing to the sight of the alien farm, including Jason Momoa’s Aquaman and Ezra Miller’s Flash.
Season 2 episode one recaps this scene, but replaces the Justice League with the Justice Gang from “Superman,” including Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner and Isabela Merced’s Hawkgirl.
These reshots were much needed to keep continuity with the new DCU Gunn has begun to create.
The reshots do create confusion in the validity of what is canon in this DCU. One of the most obvious confusing movies is “The Suicide Squad.” Bloodsport’s story about fighting Superman, while the movie of the same name suggests they never could have met.
These plot holes can easily be fixed by a statement from Gunn himself or another member of the production team.
Speaking of other DCU projects, other characters appear in this show, along with Rick Flag Sr., Maxwell Lord [Sean Gunn], who finances the Justice Gang, finds his way into the cast.
A very memorable part of the first season was the intro, where every character dances to “Do Ya Wanna Taste It” by Wig Wam. I am happy to report that season 2 has a just as good, if not better, intro, including the whole cast dancing to “Oh Lord” by Foxy Shazam.
The first two episodes are also shot in darker tones, creating a depressing atmosphere for the audience to feel with the characters.
Peacemaker season 2 is being released every Thursday on HBO Max.