Peacemaker (2022-Present)

*Premise spoilers.*

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special made me think of another James Gunn property that I watched but never got around to reviewing. At the start of this year, HBO Max put out this spin-off series from The Suicide Squad and delivered some really topnotch superhero television. Hopefully, season 2 will be along sooner rather than later.

After the events of The Suicide Squad, Christopher Smith, a.k.a. Peacemaker, is rather forcibly recruited into another mission for A.R.G.U.S. He’s attached to a small team researching the Butterflies, a suspected alien takeover of prominent human public officials. The violent, buffoonish vigilante is annoyed about being conscripted but eager to do his patriotic duty, but as the mission goes on, matters get much more complex and he starts to question some of his foundational principles.

I really enjoy getting deeper into the character of Peacemaker. We knew from The Suicide Squad that, like Bloodsport, he was trained from a young age to be a deadly killing machine and he has a righteous belief that his killing is both justified and necessary. The series explores some of that background, his relationship with his demanding white supremacist father and the core “values” instilled in him from childhood. Most of the folks on the A.R.G.U.S. team he’s assigned to are put off by his casual misogyny, bigoted attitudes, and “obliterate first, ask questions later” philosophy, and they view him more as a lethal means to an end than a bona fide team member.

Over the course of the first season, Peacemaker’s black-and-white view of the world is shaken. As he and the team start getting to know each other, the beliefs he’s always relied on are challenged and questioned, and the rest of the team starts to see some of the damage that shaped Peacemaker into the man he became. This meaty character and relationship work comes alongside outrageous one-liners and ad-libs, stylish and comedic ultraviolence, and impeccably placed music choices.

John Cena rises to the challenge of tackling Peacemaker here. By turns repulsive and sympathetic, ridiculous and honest, he follows the meandering path of Peacemaker’s journey, growing and stumbling in almost equal measure. Danielle Brooks, who always makes a project better, is both funny and warm as Adebayo, a newer member of the team and Peacemaker’s unofficial wrangler. From the start, she refuses to write Peacemaker off and tries to show him how he could be better. Chukwudi Iwuji does a nice, subtle job as team leader Murn, and Jennifer Holland and Steve Agee round out the group as agents Holland and Economos. For me, the real revelation of the show is Freddie Stroma (who I was surprised to realize I knew from the Harry Potter films from his brief turn as Cormac McLaggen.) Stroma plays Vigilante, Peacemaker’s needy, unhinged wannabe partner. He steals every scene he’s in, and while I’m excited to see more of Peacemaker’s journey in season 2 and see what the whole team is up to, I also can’t wait to see what’s next for Vigilante.

Warnings

Graphic violence, language (including racist insults and sexist/homophobic slurs,) disturbing images, sexual content, drinking/drug use, and strong thematic elements (including child abuse and white supremacy.)