In the latest episode of Peacemaker, it was unveiled that the alternate reality featured in the show is Earth-X, a dystopian world where the Nazis emerged victorious in World War II. This darker version of America is marked by a white supremacist regime that imprisons minorities in camps, setting the stage for unsettling confrontations, such as when Leota Adebayo is hunted down after escaping captivity.
The Moral Ambiguity of Earth-X Revealed
James Gunn, speaking with GQ, clarified that Earth-X is not simply an evil world inhabited by villains. While its population is uniformly Nazi, many have lived their entire lives within this oppressive system and therefore lack a broader perspective. Gunn emphasized the complexity of the characters living in this reality, challenging viewers’ initial perceptions.
People think now it’s cut and dried and [Chris’s father] Augie’s a Nazi and this and that, and I mean you’re going to get the next episode—it’s not cut and dried,
Gunn said.
People are complex, people are people, and I probably shouldn’t have even said that sentence, but you’re going to get to the next episode and it’s not so cut and dried.
Building Toward an Emotional and Complex Finale
Gunn highlighted that much will be revealed about Earth-X throughout the season, especially in the eighth episode, which he is particularly proud of. This episode brings together the emotional core of the series by focusing on Peacemaker’s connections to the 11th Street Kids and Harcourt, deepening the personal stakes amid the larger conflict.
I mean, a lot of shoes about Earth-X drop, and then the season sums up in eight, which is the other episode that I really, really am proud of, and a lot of the emotional center—the relationship between Peacemaker and the 11th Street Kids and the relationship between Peacemaker and Harcourt, that all comes together in episode eight.
The Complexity Behind Justice and Revenge in Season 2
Despite some fans hoping for straightforward retribution, Gunn explained that the show will avoid a simplistic ending where the heroes eradicate all Nazis. Instead, the narrative will explore the moral challenges faced when confronting an entire society shaped by a horrific past.
People are like, ‘Oh, they all should die. They’re all Nazis. GI Robot should go kill ‘em.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah—if I was born in 1966 in a world where the Nazis won World War II, who would I be? How would I look at the world? And what grace or not grace, do you give someone like that?’ I don’t know.
I’m not giving answers out. I’m just saying things are complicated and we have a lot of things in our own world which people are putting up with every day, and by necessity because we can’t fix everything all at once.
Anticipating Future Twists and G.I. Robot’s Role
The season has several major revelations ahead, promising that the resolution will not come through simple violence or clear-cut victories. G.I. Robot, a character known for his combat prowess against Nazis, will play a role in the DC Universe’s future projects, though Gunn has not revealed the exact title of his live-action debut. Previous plans to include him in a Sgt. Rock project have stalled.
Peacemaker’s episode 7, titled Like a Keith in the Night, is set to premiere on HBO Max this Thursday, continuing the intense exploration of Earth-X and the difficult questions raised by its existence.
