10 Things To Remember Before Peacemaker Season 2

10 Things To Remember Before Peacemaker Season 2

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re recapping things to keep in mind before watching the second season of “Peacemaker.” There will be spoilers, but that’s a given.

It’s Part of the DC Universe

James Gunn dipped his toes into the DC Extended Universe with “The Suicide Squad” and Season One of “Peacemaker.” Now the co-chairman and co-CEO of DC Studios, Gunn has launched a new shared universe. That doesn’t mean he’s erasing “Peacemaker,” however. Season two is part of the DC Universe, serving as something of a soft reboot. John Cena and the rest of the main cast will reprise their roles with many key events from the previous season carrying over to the DCU continuity. We can expect other moments to be retconned, like Peacemaker encountering Jason Momoa’s Aquaman and Ezra Miller’s Flash. With this being another universe, that means there are multiple versions of Peacemaker played by Cena. Don’t be surprised if they clash.

Peacemaker’s Allies

Peacemaker might’ve clashed with his fellow Suicide Squad members, but he forms an unlikely family with his new team in Season One. Like Peacemaker, Leota Adebayo is a newcomer, although she’s well-versed in A.R.G.U.S., being Amanda Waller’s daughter. Among the crew are two A.R.G.U.S. agents, the bumbling John Economos and the tough-as-nails Emilia Harcourt, the latter of whom eventually steps up as the team leader. Peacemaker also joins forces with his biggest fan, Adrian Chase, a masked vigilante who goes by… Vigilante. Of course, Peacemaker’s most loyal friend is his pet eagle named… Eagly. Where do they come up with these names? Speaking of names, Peacemaker has dubbed his team the 11th Street Kids for Season Two.

Peacemaker’s Daddy Issues

Peacemaker’s methods can be extreme, even morally reprehensible. Given his traumatic upbringing, though, Christopher Smith could’ve turned out much worse. During his youth, he accidentally killed his brother Keith in a fight. Considering that their father Auggie forced them to pull no punches, Keith’s blood is on his hands. That’s not the way Auggie sees it, placing the blame on Chris, who carries the guilt into adulthood. If that doesn’t make you hate Auggie, the fact that he’s a white supremacist dubbed White Dragon will. After decades of abuse, Peacemaker stands up to his father, putting a bullet in him. While he makes peace with what happened to his brother, Chris still can’t escape his dad, who appears to him via an amber liquid-induced hallucination.

Project Starfish

Like “Peacemaker” Season One, parts of “The Suicide Squad” will factor into the DCU despite technically stemming from another universe. The 2021 film saw Peacemaker and several other inmates recruited to destroy a research facility containing “Project Starfish.” Task Force X eventually finds that Project Starfish is pretty much what it sounds like: a giant starfish alien called Starro the Conqueror. Not only did the U.S. bring Starro to Earth, but they also played a role in the illegal experiments that Corto Maltese conducted on human beings. The team was sent to bury the truth. While there’s some disagreement on what to do with the evidence, America’s involvement is ultimately kept under wraps in exchange for the freedom of several teammates.

Project Butterfly

Five months after Bloodsport nearly shot him dead, Peacemaker is discharged from the hospital a free man. Well, not entirely free. If he wants to stay out of prison, Peacemaker must sign on for Project Butterfly. Again, the name speaks for itself, as butterflies are involved. More specifically, the Butterflies are aliens that can take over human hosts. This includes Clemson Murn, who initially leads the mission, but is killed for betraying the other Butterflies. Peacemaker’s team carries on, finding they can stop the Butterflies if they cut off their food source, the Cow. Despite their tactics, the Butterflies seek to save Earth by stopping the evils of humanity. Peacemaker nonetheless destroys the Cow, saving the world… and possibly destroying it.

The Justice Gang

Season Two won’t be Peacemaker’s DCU debut, as he previously dropped by a talk show in Gunn’s “Superman.” That film also introduced the Justice Gang, which is comprised of Kendra Saunders’ Hawkgirl, Guy Gardner’s Green Lantern, and Michael Holt’s Mister Terrific. By the end, Rex Mason’s Metamorpho is brought on board as well. Their sponsor is business Maxwell Lord, whose true intentions have yet to be revealed. Although there’s a Justice Gang, there currently isn’t a Justice League, which is among the most notable differences between “Peacemaker” Seasons One and Two. Of course, the Justice Gang is just a working title. They could evolve into the Justice League as more members are recruited, but don’t expect Peacemaker to be one of them.

Peacemaker Is Free… For Now

Chris earns his freedom by the end of the first season, with Adebayo clearing his name. He can thus go on job interviews and enjoy drinks with his friends. Just because he saved the world doesn’t mean people will start taking him seriously as a hero. It doesn’t mean that Peacemaker gets a permanent “Get Out of Jail Free” card either. Even if Peacemaker tries to be on his best behavior, he has enemies in high places, like Rick Flag Sr. In a way, Peacemaker is still a prisoner of his past, with his father’s shadow looming over him. The only way out is forward, but what’s Peacemaker’s purpose in a world of metahumans who are better-equipped to serve justice?

Amanda Waller Isn’t Head of A.R.G.U.S. Anymore

Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller is another DCEU holdover who we’ll be joining the DCU, albeit in a new role. Season One not only ended with Adebayo coming through for Peacemaker, but also exposing her mother’s abuse of power as the leader of A.R.G.U.S. In the DCU continuity, Waller’s first official appearance was in the animated series, “Creature Commandos.” While Congress has shut down Task Force X, Waller finds a loophole, enlisting non-human prisoners she dubs Task Force M. By the time “Peacemaker” Season Two begins, Waller will have been removed from her position as A.R.G.U.S.’ director. We can count on her crossing paths with Team Peacemaker again, though, especially with a Waller spin-off series in the works.

Rick Flag Sr.’s New Position

As for the person filling Waller’s shoes at the head of A.R.G.U.S., that would be the man she recruited to lead Task Force M, Rick Flag Sr. Although “Creature Commandos” presented Flag in a heroic light, his new position will find him in a morally gray area. This was exemplified in Gunn’s “Superman,” where Flag condoned the titular hero from preventing war while expressing suspicions about Lex Luthor’s true intentions. Once Superman turned himself in, though, Flag had little choice but to side with Luthor. In Season Two, Flag takes on a more antagonistic role as he pursues Team Peacemaker. In all fairness, Flag has a pretty good reason for wanting Peacemaker back behind bars.

Peacemaker Killed Rick Flag Jr.

Remember when we said that there was some disagreement on whether or not to share the Project Starfish evidence? Rick Flag Jr. was more determined than anyone to expose the corrupt government he felt had betrayed him. Peacemaker argued otherwise, not only obligated to carry out the mission, but feeling that concealing the truth would be the best way to preserve peace. Stabbing him in the heart, Peacemaker ensures the truth dies with Flag. In Season One, we see that Peacemaker has regrets about killing Flag. Of course, saying sorry isn’t going to bring Sr.’s son back. Sr. will be looking for an excuse to punish his son’s killer. Given Peacemaker’s destructive tendencies, it shouldn’t be hard for Flag to find one.

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