Despite a mixed critical reception, the DCU standout remains one of TV’s best

“Peacemaker,” the latest installment in the revamped DCU, has just concluded its second and potentially final season, drawing a mixed reaction from fans and critics alike. 

Some felt the season as a whole was a let-down, while others reserved their ire for the season’s perceived underwhelming finale episode, which served more to set up the next plot points of the DCU as a whole rather than put the finishing touches on the more grounded and character driven plot elements that fans so adored in the first season. 

Many of these complaints can be attributed to “Peacemaker” being the foundation upon which the DCU is being built, thus raising the stakes, both emotionally and logistically. 

What once was a light-hearted, character driven, dark comedy now must set-up future plot points, flesh out the world and also build upon those smaller, more intimate character moments that defined the first season. 

 A tall task for 8 episodes of television, which James Gunn and co. managed to pull off quite spectacularly. 

The show is still funny, depraved and irreverent, but this season brings with it the added emotional baggage that our characters have been trying to run from since the first season began. 

Having established the character flaws and shortcomings that prevented the characters from growing in the first season, Gunn was free to explore just what would happen if running was no longer an option. 

If each member of the “11th Street Kids” had to face the thing that scares them the most, what might happen? 

What would happen if the workaholic Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) could not retreat into her work and instead had to find out who she really is? 

What if the anxiety riddled John Economos (Steve Agee) had to put himself in harm’s way to protect his friends? 

What happens to Leota Adebayo (Danielle Brooks) when her career and her relationship cannot co-exist?

These questions and more were examined to great effect in season 2 of “Peacemaker,” which, for my money, is the most intimate and heartfelt piece of art that Gunn has ever created. 

The heart of “Peacemaker,”unsurprisingly, is Peacemaker himself. 

John Cena shines as Chris Smith, the titular anti-hero, in the most demanding dramatic role of his Hollywood tenure thus far. 

Able to pull off the dichotomy of  buffoonish immaturity and wounded vulnerability from scene to scene, Cena’s performance is a true career defining moment that will likely earn him a few nods come award season.

Despite the inclusion of a multiverse that no doubt has become tiresome for some fans of comic book adaptations, “Peacemaker” remains grounded with interpersonal connections and deeply felt emotional scenes. 

Too often, comic book media utilizes massive scale events like alternate dimensions to increase tension and stakes, often impossibly high, leaving audiences unable to emotionally invest, because if the heroes fail in their mission, the world as they know it will end and thus end the entire cinematic universe. 

Gunn is able to use familiar concepts like the multiverse and alternate worlds to both expand the scale of the DCU but also keep it firmly grounded in the ongoing arcs of our beloved characters. 

The show is by no means perfect, sometimes struggling with pacing and feeling a bit bloated at times when Gunn is attempting to fit all manner of future plot points into a single episode. 

Some fan favorite characters like Vigilante (Freddie Stroma) and Eagley get the short end of the stick as far as screen time goes and are relegated to sub-plots that don’t amount to all that much in the end. 

The show’s success was established by the chemistry and relationships between the cast and characters alike and season two builds upon that model beautifully. 

Despite it all, “Peacemaker” remains one of the best shows on television and sets a high standard for the DCU to chase in the future. 

You can never please everyone, but “Peacemaker” season two definitely left me satisfied. 

Official Score: 8/10

Categories: Arts & Entertainment