The Ties That Grind

When during the first minutes the most tired of all superhero cliches entered the frame - aka: *The Multiverse* - I honestly thought it was meant to be satire. That's how good the first season was: It just could not be anything else.

Turns out, so far this is more like the first season was an all-you-can-eat buffet, and now we get all the stuff that was left over and that nobody wanted. The three main characters are basically reset by ignoring everything the previous season set up and destroying their lives, and in one case, even the face, so for a few minutes I thought: Maybe *this* is also an alternative universe. I mean, Green Lantern looks like Uncle Fester with red hair, so it's possible, right?

But after witnessing the least sexy orgy I've ever seen I won't get my hopes up, this is probably it, the sad new reality of my personal surprise hit from three years ago.

The boss was busy writing version 29 of the least interesting man on the planet, and this was more of a side project, it seems. I'll gladly wait until all the other episodes are out to give this another go, but the wait is indeed over, I can gladly forget about it until then.

They made tweaks and fixes but honestly it didn't feel like much really changed. One thing that bothered me was how forced some of the jokes felt, like they were just thrown in rather than flowing naturally. Still I'm excited to see where things go next and curious about what new characters might show up.

The ending was a great hook and there were some good emotional beats, but a lot of the jokes felt forced or fell flat, which is a shame because most of the jokes in Superman hit. Harcourt's character had some goofy lines that were supposed to be hardcore or something, I wasn't a big fan. Didn't like the opening dance number as much either. It worked better with a goofier song. There is potential for better episodes down the road though.

With the establishment of the new DC Universe under James Gunn and Peter Safran came inevitable questions regarding the integration of earlier properties. It was widely speculated that characters such as Peacemaker-and others shaped by Gunn in the previous continuity-would reappear, but the uncertainty lay in the manner of their incorporation. The arrival of the new season of "Peacemaker" provides a definitive, and perhaps surprising, answer to that question. If its first episode is any indication, the series remains as irreverent, incisive, and sharply attuned to its satirical edge as ever.

It was widely anticipated that James Gunn would explore the multiverse in this series, a prospect that generated considerable speculation. Yet Gunn deftly subverts expectations by employing the multiverse not as an external, genre-driven spectacle but as a narrative device aligned with Chris's internal conflict. Rather than unfolding on a cosmic scale, it is filtered through a personal lens, which deepens the emotional trajectory Chris undertakes across the season. This focus on interiority highlights the show's deeper struggles, with Gunn's script laying substantial groundwork in charting the emotional turbulence of multiple characters, most notably Chris and Emilia Harcourt. Each figure is introduced at a distinct juncture in their life-some more reconciled to their circumstances than others-creating fertile ground for compelling character development in the episodes to come. Despite this introspective dimension, the show retains Gunn's trademark irreverence, balancing sharp satire with genuine heart. Its humor and tonal playfulness coexist with sequences of dynamic action, particularly a climactic confrontation between Chris and an unexpected adversary. Just as notable is the series' integration into the broader DC Universe. While certain elements of continuity necessitate retconning, Gunn approaches these adjustments with a cleverness that minimizes potential inconsistencies. Finally, the series' opening audition scene stands out as a showcase of Gunn's precision, immediately establishing character dynamics with wit and clarity.

"The Ties That Grind" inaugurates a new chapter for the skilled marksman, one that is not only exhilarating but also deeply rooted in internal conflict. The narrative demonstrates a sophisticated engagement with the multiverse, deploying it with intelligence rather than excess, while also situating the series firmly within the DC Universe through deft retconning and a thoughtful integration of the franchise's central thematic concerns.

I was all in for this episode. They had a funny beginning. They did a good job explaining things and incorporating James Gunns universe. It was funny but then they threw in the orgy scene. It just seemed very sloppy and it was a weird cut in. It threw me out of the story and they didn't explain it at all. It took me till the very end of the episode to get back into the story. The bar fight scene wasn't good either. Big bad guys drinking bud light?! Don't forget to say it and show the label. Loved the stuff with his dad and brother. That was great. Not a very good start but decent.