John Cena’s Peacemaker pushes boundaries again, but the shock value feels familiar.
When John Cena’s Peacemaker was introduced in The Suicide Squad, it felt like a clever addition to James Gunn’s chaotic anti-hero world. Cena played him brilliantly, but at the time, the idea of Peacemaker becoming one of the defining faces of the DC Universe seemed far-fetched. When the series was announced, I was stunned that it was chosen over countless A- and B-list DC characters. Still, I gave it a shot—and Season 1 delivered.
The debut season was bizarre, bloody, and unexpectedly heartfelt. Between the instantly iconic dance opening credits, Eagly’s antics, and the hilarious introduction of Vigilante, it managed to capture lightning in a bottle. It even ended with a tongue-in-cheek Justice League cameo that left fans buzzing.
A New DCU, an Odd First Step
Fast forward to the DCU reset. James Gunn’s universe began not with a mainstream hero but with Creature Commandos, a mature animated series—an odd move for a franchise with such strong kid and teen appeal. The series worked, but its overly erotic tone felt like an unusual kickoff when a Superman film designed for all audiences was just around the corner. That film reignited my childhood sense of wonder and gave me hope for the DCU’s balance of tones.
Which brings us back to Peacemaker Season 2.
Season 2: Bold, Brutal, and Over the Top
The second season wastes no time dialing things up. The action is intense—Eagly is wilder than ever, with gnarly attacks that stick in your head—but Gunn once again leans into provocative territory. A lengthy orgy scene overstays its welcome, and its ongoing gag feels overly immature, pushing boundaries more for shock than for story. Even the new dance sequence in the opening credits feels flat compared to the iconic first-season number.
On the positive side, the storyline is bigger, introducing another dimension and tying directly into Superman. The stakes feel heightened, and Cena continues to deliver as Peacemaker. Most importantly, we see a side of Peacemaker we’ve never seen before, which is what keeps me invested. But beyond that, I don’t think we need any more seasons—the freshness that made Season 1 so special can only be stretched so far.
Season 2 Details
The eight-episode second season of Peacemaker, from DC Studios and Warner Bros. Television, debuts August 21 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO Max, followed by one new episode weekly through October 9.
The cast includes John Cena, Danielle Brooks, Jennifer Holland, Freddie Stroma, Steve Agee, and Robert Patrick reprising their roles. New additions this season are Frank Grillo, David Denman, Sol Rodriguez, and Tim Meadows. All eight episodes were written by James Gunn, who also directed three, including the premiere.
The Bigger DCU Question
As entertaining as Peacemaker remains, I can’t help but feel that the time and resources could have been better spent building out family-friendly, four-quadrant projects. The balance of mature, TV-MA projects to TV-14-and-under content feels lopsided. For me, following Superman with something this extreme feels like tonal whiplash, especially since Gunn has always made it clear that this is an extension of his DCU world-building and a continuation of what we saw in the David Corenswet movie. I am so ready for Elseworlds titles, so projects don’t feel so tainted.
The inclusion of the Justice Gang, as seen in Superman this season, doesn’t help either. Rather than excite, it makes me dislike the team concept in this setting. When I tune into DC or Marvel, I want to feel like I did as a kid: full of wonder, excitement, and fun—not caught off guard by shock-value extremes.
Verdict
I give season 2 of Peacemaker 3.5 out of 5 stars. There’s plenty of entertainment to be had in Peacemaker Season 2, and John Cena is still perfectly cast in the role. The alternate world storyline is engaging, and Gunn’s sharp writing is undeniable. But the overreliance on erotic shock value, the dud of a new dance number, and the reliance on recycled gags keep it from reaching the heights of its debut season.
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Sean Tajipour
Sean Tajipour is the Founder and Editor of Nerdtropolis and the host of the Moviegoers Society and Reel Insights Podcast. He is also a member of the Critics Choice Association. You can follow on Twitter and Instagram @Seantaj.
