By William Ludwig
Coming off the heels of James Gunn’s Superman, which marked the start of a new era for the DC Cinematic Universe, Peacemaker Season 2 faced heavy speculation about its success. Most of the concern was surrounding how this new season would fit into Gunn’s reimagined DCU considering the series’ heavy ties to the previous DC cinematic universe, the DCEU. Within the opening minutes of Season 2, however, Gunn makes the connection clear by retconning previous cameos and effectively erasing Zach Snyder’s characters from continuity, replacing them with new characters from Superman to firmly establish the show’s place in the new DCU.
Considering the major success that was the first season, Peacemaker season 2 had pretty large boots to fill—and it filled them flawlessly, even needing to go one size larger than before. Peacemaker’s second season is funnier, more heartfelt, and somehow even crazier than the first season’s alien invasion storyline. In a scene where modern day superhero projects seem to focus more and more on their action and spectacle than their writing, Gunn brings us projects built on character dynamics and their bonds—where the heart of the show lies within its story telling and the stellar performances from its actors.
Speaking of performances, John Cena once again delivers an outstanding portrayal of Christopher Smith (Peacemaker)—continuing to set the standard for future pro wrestlers and entertainers-turned-actors. While returning cast members like Freddie Stroma (Vigilante), Danielle Brooks (Adebayo), and Steve Agee (Economos) bring the same energy and charm that made them fan favorites in Season 1, they take more of a back seat this time around and act more in service of Cena’s story than their own. Though this shift could be seen as a drawback, the season still feels well balanced, with each character getting their moments to shine and having their own developments outside of the main storyline.
That said, one performance stands out from the rest—Danielle Brooks as Leota Adebayo. She gives a heartfelt and emotionally rich portrayal, carrying much of the show’s emotional weight. Adebayo’s relationship with Peacemaker continues to evolve beautifully—from being the first person to truly see him as a good man, to giving a moving speech in the Season 2 finale that stops him from isolating himself completely.
This continuation of the series cranks the story up to eleven—introducing the multiverse into the new DCU early on to create a seemingly “perfect” world where Peacemaker is actually taken seriously. This concept ties directly back to Rick Flag Jr.’s iconic line from The Suicide Squad, “Peacemaker, what a joke.” In this season, Cena’s character faces that idea head on—haunted by guilt, and believing himself to be a failure as both a hero and a person. So when he stumbles into an alternate universe where he’s beloved, his brother is alive, and his father actually loves him, it’s no surprise that Peacemaker clings to this universe—even going as far as to take over the life of his alternate self after a tragic accident that killed his variant. Once his friends arrive, however, the alternate dimensions true colors start to show, revealing that this “perfect world” is actually Earth-X, a universe where the Nazi regime won World War 2—setting up major conflicts for the final few episodes of the season.
Peacemaker’s choice to assume the life of his alternate self drives the season’s main conflict, as Peacemaker’s friends set out to bring him home. This also sets up his relationship with the alternate-universe Emilia Harcourt, where Chris is no longer getting the cold shoulder he’s used to. James Gunn cleverly ties the series back to the larger DCU through cameos from Justice Gang members, and most notably, by turning Rick Flag Sr. into the series’ main antagonist. In Superman, Flag reluctantly defended metahumans against Lex Luthor, but in Peacemaker, Flag’s character takes a complete turn after discovering that Peacemaker was responsible for the death of his son. Flag bargains with Luthor and his crew to track Peacemaker down, even with Smith not being a metahuman, now fully buying into Luthor’s dangerous rhetoric against metahumans.
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While this season’s strengths definitely outweigh its weaknesses, there is one major flaw, that being its ending. With the finale leaving Peacemaker trapped by Rick Flag Sr. in an dangerous alternate dimension, fans questioned whether or not this would facilitate a third season. The finale acts as the start of a whole new series, not the end of one, and with James Gunn confirming there will not be a third season, it’s difficult not to question this decision as it leaves the series feeling unfinished. Gunn did, however, confirm that the story will be continued within the broader DCU, meaning that this will not be the last we see of the titular character, and that it will work in favor of building his vision for this new universe.
That being said, the second season of Peacemaker still sits at a 9.5/10 on my scale. Overall, this season feels like a step up from the first—captializing on character dynamics and doubling down on the show’s themes and craziness. While it has a few drawbacks, its positives far surpass them. Between its wacky plot and stellar performances, Peacemaker Season 2 makes for an amazing addition to the new DC Universe.