In the latest installment of the series, Christopher Smith (John Cena) finds himself trapped in an alternate dimension where familiar faces like his brother Keith (David Denman) and father (Robert Patrick) are alive, and Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) tolerates him more than usual. This seemingly perfect world tempts Chris, who has endured constant hardship since the 11th Street Kids prevented the Butterfly invasion last season, to embrace the illusion of happiness without questioning its authenticity. The episode aptly captures this dilemma with its title: Ignorance Is Chris.
However, James Gunn, resuming his role as director for this episode, quickly shatters any sense of comfort. Before the opening credits, a snapshot of Chris, August, and Keith celebrating a recent victory among Evergreen’s grateful locals dissolves into grotesque distortions, revealing the eerie nature of this alternate reality. Chris, Harcourt, Economos (Steve Agee), and Adebayo (Danielle Brooks) soon realize that beneath the surface lies a horrifying truth, as Gunn signals that conventional reality will soon be disrupted.
The Unsettling Domesticity of Vigilante’s Hideout
Meanwhile, on Earth-Prime, Emilia Harcourt, Adebayo, Economos, and Adrian Chase, also known as Vigilante (Freddie Stroma), arrive at Adrian’s secret base. Contrary to expectations of a grim lair, they find a cozy kitchen filled with kitschy decorations like a ceramic pig collection and vinyl tablecloths, creating an oddly warm environment for retributive operations. Ma Vigilante (Taylor St. Clair), Adrian’s mother, offers a surprising charm:
Adrian doesn’t bring his friends around very often—not since the D&D group broke up!
Taylor St. Clair
She humorously describes joining her son’s efforts as a 40th level cutpurse, showcasing a blend of affection and humor. However, tensions rise when Adrian reveals he has been misleading his mother, calling Harcourt his slutty girlfriend. Inside the hideout, the group is stunned by piles of money and drugs lined up like trophies. Adebayo challenges Vigilante’s apparent wealth:
Just last week, you told me you were broke and asked me to pay for your breakfast!
Danielle Brooks
Vigilante snaps back with his characteristic intensity:
[This is] blood money! Are you crazy?
Freddie Stroma
This tension escalates as Adebayo activates the dimensional gateway hidden in Vigilante’s Beanie Baby closet, causing an unusual snow to fall and signaling the portal’s power. This quantum nexus links their world to Christopher’s reality, as well as about ninety-seven others, reigniting the team’s mission to confront the multi-dimensional threats.
James Gunn’s Direction Elevates the Series Intensity
James Gunn’s return to the director’s chair intensifies the show’s atmosphere, as familiar elements blend with unsettling new developments. The episode exposes cracks in what appeared to be an idyllic alternate reality, compelling the characters to question their perceptions and confront painful truths. The presence of the quantum nexus introduces complex possibilities that expand the series’ scope, promising further multidimensional conflicts.
With Chris and his allies forced to navigate shifting realities, the narrative stakes escalate, reinforcing the series’ mix of dark humor and intense drama. This chapter represents a pivotal moment in Peacemaker’s journey, as the line between sanity and chaos blurs, and the team prepares to face challenges that could redefine their understanding of home and loyalty.
