‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 Review: James Gunn and John Cena Bring Laughs and Heart in Season Two

season 2 of peacemakerPicks up one month after the events of supermanAfter destroying terrifying, mind-boggling alien butterflies (I never trusted fluttering beauties), 11^th Street kids are scattered everywhere.

The first episode, “The Ties That Grind,” (the episode titles are great) lets us know what everyone is up to, introduces an antagonist, a retcon, a multiverse, and a catchy song, which sets the tone for the season.

The opening theme for Season 1 was Wig Wam’s ‘Do or Wanna Taste It’ with its bizarre dance. For Season 2, creator, showrunner and writer, James Gunn, has chosen Foxy Shazam’s ‘Oh Lord’, which is a certified earworm.

Peacemaker/Chris Smith (John Cena) has softened a bit in the second season and when he discovers an alternate universe in the Quantum Unfolding Chamber where his brother, Keith, (David Denman) and father, Augie, (Robert Patrick) are alive and thriving, he sees a way to put his guilt-ridden demons to rest. Naturally, this doesn’t work out exactly as planned.

After Adebayo (Danielle Brooks) reveals herself to be completely horrible to her mother and ARGUS Director, Amanda Waller, things aren’t going well for her or the rest of the gang. Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) hasn’t been able to find another job and there’s some history between her and Peacemaker.

Economos (Steve Agee) is hanging by a thread and Argus’ new director Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo) is breathing down his neck. Since Peacemaker killed Flagg’s son, Flagg Sr. has a very strong motive for revenge under Peacemaker’s constant surveillance.

A scene from ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 Photo Credit: HBO Max

After the non-stop action of Episode 7, “Like a Keith in the Night”, where Earth-2 is presented not as paradise but as a world where the Nazis won World War II, Episode 8, “Full Nelson” (also directed by Gunn, like the premiere) lets off the gas a bit. Flagg Sr.’s cunning plans are exposed, Checkmate, a group formed to fight injustice, is established, as well as the prison planet of salvation.

Harcourt and Peacemaker have referenced the boat incident throughout the season, where the two danced to ‘Oh Lord’ and shared a kiss. Peacemaker is convinced it’s toxic and involves 11^th The Street Kids convince him he’s not, and Vigilante (Freddie Stroma) gives him drug money to get him out of jail. Flagg Sr. sends ARGUS agents through the portal to find alternatives to Earth where they die in a variety of inventive ways – from zombies to being bitten by cute devils.

The finale ends in a cliffhanger and while Gunn hasn’t said anything about a season 3, we’re expected to tie up all the loose ends as well as get a certain square-faced guy out of a monster-infested prison planet.

Season 2 is fun for all the same reasons that Season 1 worked, from the absurd dialogue, jokes, and action to the 80s-style rock and metal soundtrack (Queensrÿche rocks!) and the easy chemistry between our favorite band of misfits.

Peacemaker is currently streaming on Jio Hotstar