The new season of Peacemaker is unlike anything we’ve seen in the DCU or even in the DCEU.
I got to watch a few episodes of the second season and the first thing that hit me was that it is so much different from the first season. Yes, it’s the same characters and a lot of the things that happened in season one are still canon. The thing that changed is the tone.
The show feels more grounded and more serious. Yes, it still has some really funny moments, but the focus is more on the characters than the humour. At first, I didn’t like it, but I think it’s a better fit for the show and the DCU moving forward.
There are two themes that seem to define James Gunn’s DCU: family and misunderstood characters. It’s all about misfit characters just trying to find a family or a place to fit in. This is something that carries over from Peacemaker season 1.
Due to the shift in tone, the first episode feels a little slow, but only because I was expecting something different from these characters. Fortunately, halfway through episode one I was hooked by a gripping story. I don’t want to share what season 2 is about, but it connects directly to Superman and the larger DCU.
So, let’s talk about the show. It looks great and feels like something new. What I didn’t expect is all the cameos, apart from the Justice Gang. There are some awesome moments with the new cast that add value to the overall story.
Let’s talk about the characters and actors. John Cena is fantastic as Peacemaker and he really grew with the character. He perfectly encapsulates Christopher Smith’s vulnerabilities and weaknesses, while at the same time being a butt-kicker.
The biggest standout this season is Eagley, he is probably the best character. He also finally gets his own arch-nemesis, played by Michael Rooker, and this leads to some cool fight scenes. I think Eagley might have some better fight scenes than most of the main cast.
The biggest letdown when it comes to the characters is that we don’t see enough Vigilante. I love Freddie Stroma as Adrian Chase, he added something special in the first season. This season it feels like he is just there for comic relief, which he does great, but he could’ve done so much more.
Jennifer Holland as Emilia Harcourt is phenomenal; she shows us a new side of the character while still having some really great action scenes. The rest of the cast is awesome as well, but I don’t want to say too much about them and risk spoiling the story for you.
I’m excited for the rest of the season and how the show will expand the DCU. Peacemaker has easily become one of my favourite superheroes and TV shows. The show will officially debut on Showmax on 22 August and I’ll probably share a more in-depth video review on the day as well. I can’t wait for everyone to watch it. It’s definitely a show worth getting excited for — by the way, the opening sequence is once again a lot of fun.
