PEACEMAKER - SEASON 2

 

Episodes viewed: 1-5

With the arrival of Superman in cinemas this summer, it's safe to say the DCU is thriving and there's a buzz about future DC projects once again. James Gunn is overseeing the future of DC Studios with Peter Safran, yet it's the creativity of Gunn that is in full flow with three projects written for the studio already; the animated Creature Commandos, the summer blockbuster Superman, and season two of smash-hit TV show Peacemaker. The latter two there even have his directorial stamp all over them too.

We last saw jingoistic mercenary Chris Smith/Peacemaker (John Cena) saving the world with the help of a heroic yet flawed team, including his trusty sidekick Eagly. Having also put an end to the shadow his awful father left over his life, Peacemaker has most definitely been through it, yet there's no time to rest in a season that coincides with Gunn and Safran's soft reboot of the DCEU to the DCU. Picking up soon after the events of Superman, this season sees Peacemaker being hunted by Rick Flag Sr., looking to take down the man responsible for his son's death. There's further problems in store as Peacemaker discovers an alternate world where life is everything he wishes it could be, a discovery that forces him to face his traumatic past and take the future into his own hands.

You best be paying attention to this show from the off, as even the recap of the first season shows just how they're going to handle the show's transition from the DCEU to the DCU. It's very much a buckle-up for the ride mentality from James Gunn and the show is better for it - not wanting to hang around and try to make things too complicated. The show takes a few wild turns in these opening episodes - none of which can be revealed due to spoilers - and Gunn ensures they are delivered in a manner suited to the tone, whether it being absurdly funny or emotionally moving. It's something that Gunn has excelled at when working with both Marvel and DC, and Peacemaker is no exception as a show that can have you howling with laughter one moment then hit in the feels the next.

When delving into a narrative that explores alternate worlds, it's easy to go absolutely nuts and lose focus on the main idea presented. There's plenty to get excited about but this isn't just Chris hopping from world to world for the sake of cameos - instead Gunn opting to take Chris on a personal journey that only makes the narrative stronger. To add fuel to the fire though, Rick Flag Sr. having a vendetta against Peacemaker provides the show with many moments to experience some hard-hitting and ultra-violent action sequences throughout - one with Eagly in particular against some A.R.G.U.S. agents a real showcase of the show being hilarious with its violence. DC has always felt more adult to me when it comes to films and television, so it's no surprise they can jump from something more family orientated like Superman to something definitely not for children like Peacemaker.

Of course the show returns with a dance number over the opening credits however, things are a little different to Do You Wanna Taste It by Wig Wam. At first, it felt jarring to have something so different yet, as the season goes on, the new song used and dance that accompanies it really does feel so suited to the season as a whole. It certainly features another banger of a song which is something James Gunn has become known for including in his films.

Leading the charge in Peacemaker is John Cena in the titular role, returning to a character that in such a short time he's made his own and almost impossible to see anyone else pull it off - the crowd reaction to his cameo in Superman tells you all you need to know about that. If you've ever seen Cena in the WWE then you'll know he can make an arena full of people laugh so comedy comes naturally to the man, but what is more impressive in this second season is how much emotional range he brings to the character. His performance marries so well with Gunn's writing that it's hard to not go along with the ride. 

The rest of the cast that join Cena here all play a part in making Peacemaker such an enjoyable show. Jennifer Holland as Emilia Harcourt is the returning actor who gets more to work with as she finds herself caught between two teams trying to get her life back on track, and she excels in the part. It's new cast members such as Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr. and Tim Meadows as Langston Fleury who make great additions to the ensemble; Grillo's hardened presence making him someone not to be messed with while Meadows is utterly hilarious with some of the shit he says throughout. Incredibly different characters but both fit the nature of the show seamlessly.

If the final three episodes are this level of quality, we are in for a season of superhero television right up there with the likes of WandaVision and Loki. It's so exciting to see where the DCU goes from here but, one thing's for sure, it'll be best to keep Peacemaker around for a while because this season is terrific.