James Gunn’s Peacemaker Season 2 has faced criticism for uneven pacing, but the last three episodes, withheld from early reviewers, are expected to deliver significant plot advancements with lasting effects on the DC Universe (DCU). Fans have been reassured by Gunn and the cast that these episodes shift gears dramatically, addressing lingering frustrations and setting up crucial storylines that will extend beyond the series into future DC projects.
The show’s blend of humor and intense character moments continues to engage viewers, with notable performances including Tim Meadows’ welcome addition to the cast. Unlike similar attempts by Marvel on their Disney+ shows, Peacemaker Season 2 appears poised to avoid the common pitfalls of delayed storytelling, maintaining its unique tone while expanding the DCU’s scope.
An Intense Start to the Season’s Climactic Story Arc
The episode “Ignorance Is Chris” marks the beginning of the final story arc, delivering the chaos and charm that originally made Peacemaker a fan favorite. It opens shortly after the trio’s kaiju battle victory in an alternate dimension, where the group shares a family meal. Peacemaker (John Cena) sits beside Trad Wife Harcourt (Jennifer Holland), watched fondly by Auggie (Robert Patrick) and Keith (David Denman), who display genuine joy at the couple’s reunion. Unexpected visitors—blonde-haired, blue-eyed children—ask Auggie for selfies, presenting an alternate version of a kinder, more genial grandfather.
However, the scene quickly turns surreal as the characters’ faces melt digitally, hinting at darker consequences beneath this seemingly perfect reality. The episode then shifts back to Earth Prime, where the 11th Street Kids are determined to retrieve Peacemaker. Vigilante (Freddie Stroma), operating without ARGUS knowing his identity, provides a vital safehouse for opening a portal to the Quantum Unfolding Chamber (QUC), initiating the journey into the alternate universe.
Portal Adventures and Suspicion of an Alternate Earth
Consisting of Adebayo (Danielle Brooks), Economos (Steve Agee), and others, the team activates the portal despite an explosive shockwave that covers them in cocaine powder. Upon arrival, tensions quickly rise as Keith encounters Harcourt in Peacemaker’s room, mistaking her for the Trad Wife version. The Harcourt encountered is more rebellious, dressed in leather, and reluctantly agrees to head to ARGUS for paperwork. Meanwhile, Vigilante isolates himself to seek out his alternate self, whose identity and role prove to be critical.
The trip to ARGUS is fraught with danger as a drug-sniffing dog detects cocaine residue on Harcourt’s jacket, leading to her immediate detainment. Peacemaker soon follows after a row with Trad Wife Harcourt, signaling complications ahead. This sequence intensifies the mystery around the alternate Earth, with subtle but ominous clues indicating the world is drastically different from their own.
Superman Sequel Connections and Introducing New Villainy
James Gunn’s teasing comes to fruition with plot threads from Peacemaker Season 2 directly tying into the upcoming Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow. A surprise cameo from David Corenswet signals this connection, but the greater shock comes when Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo) meets Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) in Belle Reve prison. Flag proposes using Luthor’s intellect to locate Peacemaker’s portal device, offering him an exit from prison in return. The arrangement hints at darker deals beneath the surface, promising additional complications in the expanding DCU storyline.
Complicated Relationships and Emotional Confessions
In the alternate ARGUS interrogation room, Peacemaker confronts Badass Harcourt, who expresses her mixed emotions. She resents being seen as a betrayer but admits genuine feelings for him despite her complicated past, including entanglements with Rick Flag Jr. Meanwhile, Peacemaker grapples with his own contradictions—his love for Harcourt contrasts with revelations of him having just come from her alternate self’s bedroom. He clarifies that while the other Harcourt is fine, his real connection is to Badass Harcourt.
Despite this emotional breakthrough, Peacemaker remains conflicted about leaving the alternate world, drawn by the existence of a caring father and a living brother—relationships he lacks on his original Earth. His sense of guilt over killing a character named Chris adds depth to his hesitation, revealing the personal stakes that influence his decisions.
Vigilante Faces His Dark Counterpart
Meanwhile, Vigilante discovers his alternate self in this dimension, identical but driven by hatred rather than friendship. This alternate Vigilante leads the Sons of Liberty, a group labeled as terrorists who have caused significant upheaval. While the reasons for this divergence remain unclear, it foreshadows critical conflict and provides context for earlier mysterious events on the show.
Signs Point to a Nazi-Controlled Earth X
Adebayo and Economos, left behind at the Smith residence, begin to sense danger. The neighborhood’s residents exhibit hostile behavior, notably when a woman abruptly flees for safety and Keith loudly warns about an escaped individual. This gathering of frightened civilians, combined with eerie racial homogeneity, strongly supports the theory that the team has landed on Earth X, an alternate world where the Nazis triumphed in World War II. The atmosphere conveys looming threats as Adebayo finds herself running for her life.
Dark Reality of the Alternate ARGUS and Stark Revelations
Badass Harcourt helps Peacemaker navigate ARGUS offices where the absence of people of color and the discovery of a swastika emblazoned on a small American flag confirm the grim nature of this Earth. However, the fragile truce shatters when the Trad Wife doppelgänger appears, ordering Harcourt’s arrest, escalating the conflict.
Compounding the tension, Auggie catches Economos trespassing and threatens him with a knife. Faced with imminent danger, Economos reveals their origin from another world and confirms Peacemaker is not truly Auggie’s son, a revelation that adds emotional and narrative complexity.
Fan Reaction and Series Highlights
Vigilante’s expanded role has drawn praise, with Freddie Stroma’s performance described as chaotic and entertaining, marking a return to the comedic vigor of Season 1. The interwoven production of Peacemaker Season 2 and the Superman sequel has resulted in seamless cameos, avoiding the jarring disconnect seen in other franchises and enhancing the DCU’s interconnectedness.
James Gunn’s distinct vision continues to mix dark humor with serious storytelling, blending unexpected elements—from superhero conflicts to adult themes—underscoring the series’ unique place within the DC landscape and teasing future narratives involving iconic characters like Lex Luthor.
