Hot off the heels of Superman earlier this year, James Gunn and Co. have successfully delivered another astonishing adventure into the newly constructed DCU with Peacemaker season 2.
Taking place shortly after the events of Superman, the season explores the inner turmoil of Chris Smith (Peacemaker) as he tries to find his place in the world, but after finding a door to another world that’s perfect for him, he is forced to choose between the world he knows, or another world he knows frighteningly little about.
Unlike the first season, or any of the other James Gunn helmed DC projects, Peacemaker season 2 almost exclusively focuses on the drama between the core cast, instead of the bloody action that has defined his style for some time now.
This shift in focus has been met with mixed reviews from many fans who were expecting more of the same, however by developing “The 11th Street Kids”(The core cast of Peacemaker), Gunn tells a far more compelling story about grief and the struggles of love.
John Cena, yet again, proves that he is the only man fit to play the troubled anti-hero Peacemaker. Though he spends a lot of time out of the chrome helmet during the season, he makes up for it by delivering the best performance of his career.
From heartbreaking monologues, to earthshattering emotional breakdowns, Cena plays Peacemaker with more heart than you’d think from the outset.
Not everything is doom-and-gloom in the world of Peacemaker, though; Freddie Stroma returns as the loveable psychopath Vigilante, Steve Agee continues to play the hilariously awkward John Economos, and the newly introduced Tim Meadows puts on a great show as the annoying Agent Fleury. All three act as the comedic hinges for the show when things get a bit too dark.
Jennifer Holland’s Emilia Harcourt and Danielle Brooks’ Leota Adebayo both bring up the more emotional aspects of the show, with a significant part of the season’s time being spent on the growing relationship between Harcourt and Peacemaker.
Each member of the cast is given at least one scene in which they exceed expectations, this is especially true for Freddie Stroma as he chews every scene he appears in.
Just as the first season rocked its viewers with the opening dance set to Wig-Wam’s ‘Do You Wanna Taste It?’. Every episode of season 2 opens with a new “dance of peace”, this time back dropped by Foxy Shazam’s incredible ‘Oh Lord’.
Both songs set the tone excellently for each respective season, as ‘Do You Wanna Taste It?’ was a full-on rock track that fit perfectly within season 1’s alien invasion story, ‘Oh Lord’ brings with it an introspective view that is reflected in Peacemaker’s story within the narrative.
It’s likely that Peacemaker season 2 will be the last season for the show, but with the DCU’s ever-growing world, there’s no doubt audiences won’t have to wait long before “The 11th Street Kids” make their return in some form.
Featured Image Credit: HBO
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