Cast: John Cena, Danielle Brooks, Freddie Stroma, Jennifer Holland, Steve Agee, Robert Patrick, Frank Grillo, Tim Meadows

Length: 8 episodes

Streaming Service: HBO MAX

Release Year: 2025

Audio Description Produced By: Zoo Digital

Written By:

Narrated By:

What Is it?: An opportunity to try and turn Peacemaker into not just more of a clear hero, but also aligned with the new DCU championed by James Gunn. The season centers around Rick Flagg Sr taking over Argus, has a clear vendetta against Peacemaker, but Peacemaker is playing around with a portal to another dimension which seems like there’s maybe a perfect world out there, but is it really? And could he leave his friends behind simply for an easier timeline where everyone sees him as a hero and his family is still alive?

What Works: After a three year hiatus, I barely remember the first season of Peacemaker, though I do have a positive emotion assigned to it. When the second season launched, it took me a minute to remember who everyone was and their connections within the show. This is a great role for John Cena, because it highlights everything that has worked about his career so far. he’s likable with an ability to command in both action and comedy. His characters aspirations of being the hero, and seen as the hero, often translate into dramatic beats for Cena, allowing him fleeting moments to showcase a different side of himself. This is a great role for him, and under the guidance of James Gunn, hopefully he’ll continue to evolve it.

The standout of the supporting cast this season for me was absolutely Tim Meadows as flurry, who just might be the most idiotic special agent, but as Meadows deadpans every line delivery, the confidence he exudes suggests that Flurry is perhaps regarded more than he should be. There’s a great gag about bird blindness, where he claims he can’t tell the difference between birds, even birds of wildly different sizes. He also gives weirdly offensive code-names to some agents, one of which sticks through the finale, making the audio description team stuck hilariously using that absurd name.

Of the returning cast, of course Danielle Brooks is great. She continues to seems to be searching for her place in this world, in terms of being a spy, or a contract mercenary, but also not stepping into the shoes left behind by her mother (a totally absent Viola Davis). Holland has a real showcase as Amelia Hardcort, because she’s stuck coming into the new season, and looking for purpose. Also, there’s an interesting play with her character being in another dimension which gives her a different side that we havent’ really focused on just yet. Softer, less angry, and more able to connect with Peacemaker on an emotional level.

Michael Rooker also pops up briefly as a cartoonish hunter brought in to tussle with Eagley. There’s also a handful of guest star appearances that work best if you’ve already seen james Gunn’s Superman, which is why he pushed it onto HBO MAX so quickly. Gunn wanted to make sure everyone had the opportunity to see Superman before Peacemaker, so contextually things make sense.as you should see The Suicide Squad before jumping into Season 1, you should see Superman ahead of Season 2.

James Gunn infused Peacemaker with all of his typical humor, the exact brand he brought to the Guardians Of The Galaxy, and the Suicide Squad. He seems most adept at dealing with easily discarded heroes, the ones people would count out, only to have them show up bigger and better than expected. While his direction of Superman is certainly memorable, perhaps it’s his ability to rope in a few wildcards that add some of his underdog flair into that story. Here in Peacemaker, it’s clear that this is not the first choice hero, and his crew certainly aren’t even the second choices. It works, because Gunn knows how to work on the fringe of society, and nowhere else.

The Audio Description: in addition to having to follow the silly names made up by Flurry, the AD team deals with a bunch of truly silly imagery, as Gunn is able to incorporate violence as well as other shocking moments, like sex. While the show is a second season, and I don’t necessarily believe it would have radically changed anything, there’s a bit at the end of episode 6 that suddenly makes race important. Most of these characters are returning, and trying to remember who is who from Season 1 might be asking a lot, but I wonder if I would have seen the twist coming if some of the clues had been kicked my way.

Why You Might Like it: If you like James Gunn’s style, John Cena, the first season of Peacemaker, or comic book superheroes in general, then this is your jam.

Why You Might Not Like It: You didn’t like Season 1, and the entire comic book craze eludes you.

Final Thoughts: If this turns out to be the last time we see Peacemaker and the gang, it certainly was one heck of a final It could easily be the role that defines John Cena’s career.

Fresh: Final Grade: 8.9/10