Peacemaker

I can't believe how much I loved Peacemaker! I've been looking forward to this ever since I first heard about it. I actually binged the entire first season over the a weekend. John Cena is a bonafide star now. He's so good in this, even better than he was in Suicide Squad. James Gunn has hit another home run with Peacemaker. It seems that every single thing Gunn touches is great. I read that he's taken over as the co head of DC studios. That's the best news to happen to DC in a long time. I'm sure he'll do a great job. Peacemaker has everything you want in a good superhero show...it has action, drama, comedy, twists, etc. I can not recommend this show enough.

DC is finding its lane as the anti, non family friendly, comedically dark (or just dark dark) alternative to Marvel and I'm here for it. Gunn continues on his raunchy, goofy take on super heroes and while I guarantee it won't be everyone's cup of tea I believe it will be a smart move in the long run to go full on with the dark, more adult adaption of comics to contrast with Marvels increasingly Disneyfied approach.

Peacemaker was every bit as good as I had hoped for. I'm case you were wondering this takes place immediately after The Suicide Squad and much like The Suicide Squad, this is absolutely a show for adults with all the violence, language, etc and I loved every second of it. John Cena has come so far as an actor, he continues to get better and has followed The Rock to be another A list actor from the wrestling world! Gunn definitely put his stamp on this having written all 8 episodes and directing 5. If you're looking for a great action Superhero show that will make you laugh out loud then this is the show for you. Can't wait til Season 2!

Season 1 was much more exciting. Season 2's story was no where close to as intriguing as season 1. There were some good elements but the long build up didn't have the payoff I was hoping for. I thought the acting improved, and there were great character moments. However, the story disappointed, finale could have been multiple episodes.

Season 1= 9/10 Season 2= 7/10.

Season 1 review (9/10): I loved 2021's Suicide Squad, but if you'd asked me who from the movie I would give their own series, Peacemaker would probably have been my last choice. Not that John Cena wasn't good, but who'd want to be stuck with that guy week after week?

But the brilliant James Gunn pulled it off. This Peacemaker is a surprisingly complex character with a backstory that puts his flaws *somewhat* in perspective, and also the series is hilarious and way out there (the opening credits are a first rate dance number).

The story is great, the action is great, there are terrific performances, more touching moments than you would expect, and a lot of amazing action sequences.

Highly recommended.

Season 2 review (7/10): Season 2 has the same excellent performances, plenty of action, and excellent performances. At times it's great. But it's vastly inferior to season 1. Even the opening dance number is inferior!

Much of the problem is this season is so trauma infused. Season 1 established that Peacemaker has a brutal backstory, but season 2 is almost exclusively devoted to that trauma - how it started, what it led to, and the impossible dream of rectification.

And that makes the season a bummer. In season 1 the trauma was background to action and plot, but here that's reversed, and it's tough going. And while the series picks up towards the end, the final episode ends so badly that I had to write a review of that episode going into how bad it was.

Much of it is still good, but there's a lot wrong with it.