Best Friends, For Never

This episode had a lot more going for it then the first. More story, more interesting characters more of everything. Lets hope it keeps the momentum going.

When I first saw the teaser for Peace maker I was like "Oh God not again" The reason is all we know how DC universe has been pretty much ruined by some trashy movies and series with weak story plots... But later I found out that this series "Peace maker" is actually written and directly by James Gun who we all know who directed Guardians of the galaxy vol 1 and 2 which are very good. I have faith in everything he does ever since I saw those 2 films. So I just gave a watch of the first episode of the series and it was good. I got hooked up and start watching the other episodes. It is violent. It is brutal. It is totally different from what DC has done which makes it even better.

Check it out. It is worth it.

Sorry for such long review.

Another great time with Cartoon Schwarzenegger and his new pal, Psychopath Deadpool.

Boy this show is a filthy sitcom with great action bits. Cena's comedic timing is at the top of its game. Gunn takes his time to give us little nuggets of plot building on the season arc mystery. And for all the dumb haters criticizing the supposed wokeness of the show (as if racial, body and sexual diversity was an afterthought!) Gunn fires on all cylinders at racism in the best and genuine way considering his show stars a red white and blue meat head. Plus you have to love the Louis C. K. references when Peacemaker has shown us every parts of his anatomy except his P. If you've seen Blockers, you must be wondering if Cena had an exhibitionist tendency though!

Shout out also to Freddie Stroma who came a long way since his Hogwarts days. Great great show.

That is some opening. Good job that at least some body parts were covered!

Peacemaker's escape was both painful and well choreographed.

When he holds his fellow apartment owners hostage, it had shades of The Getaway.

The Butterfly Project is still hazy and the group are rather dysfunctional. Now they even distrust each other and have good reason to.

The scenes between Peacemaker and Vigilante did not do much for me. I guess it added to the comedy.

The most interesting part was Auggie Smith after he ends up in prison. Up to then he was just casually racist. Now he is more sinister as The White Dragon with his own followers.

The irreverent tones works well, Cena has the comedy chops and is happy to poke fun about his own body image. I would now want to see the plot to develop more.

James Gunn's second installment of Peacemaker solidifies the series as a masterclass in tonal balancing, weaving dark comedy with genuine emotional depth in ways that feel both surprising and inevitable. The episode operates as a pressure cooker of mounting tensions, allowing the central character dynamics to breathe while advancing the larger conspiracy plot with surgical precision.

John Cena continues to deliver a performance that transcends his wrestling origins, finding new layers of vulnerability beneath Peacemaker's aggressive exterior. The writing gives him space to explore Chris Smith's psychological fractures, particularly in moments where his carefully constructed worldview begins to crumble. His interactions with the ensemble cast reveal a character caught between his desperate need for acceptance and his inherent toxicity, creating a fascinating portrait of arrested development.

The cinematography deserves particular praise for its intimate character work. Director of photography Jules O'Loughlin employs tight framing during crucial emotional beats, creating an almost claustrophobic sense of internal conflict. The visual language shifts seamlessly between the heightened reality of superhero action and the grounded authenticity of family trauma, with lighting choices that emphasize the shadows lurking in every character's psyche.

Robert Patrick's introduction as Auggie Smith provides the episode with its most chilling moments. His performance radiates a quiet menace that speaks to decades of accumulated hatred, and the series doesn't shy away from the uncomfortable reality of how bigotry festers within families. The supporting ensemble - particularly Danielle Brooks, Jennifer Holland, and Steve Agee - continues to build compelling individual arcs while serving the larger narrative momentum.

What elevates this episode beyond typical superhero fare is Gunn's willingness to sit with uncomfortable truths about heroism, family, and redemption. The humor never undermines the serious themes, instead providing necessary relief from genuinely heavy material. The pacing allows for both explosive action sequences and quieter character revelations, creating a viewing experience that feels both entertaining and substantive.

The episode's exploration of consequences feels particularly relevant, as characters grapple with the real-world implications of their actions. This isn't a series interested in clean moral victories, instead presenting a world where every choice carries weight and every relationship bears scars from past decisions.