The second season of Peacemaker continues the DCU’s invigoration of projects under the leadership of DC Studios co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran. Season 2 hits the ground running, showing a clear improvement over the first with bigger ideas and Peacemaker’s signature humor.

Every episode in season 2 features a post-credits scene.

Season 2 follows vigilante superhero Christopher “Chris” Smith/Peacemaker (John Cena), as he keeps pursuing his often-misguided mission to vanquish evil in the name of peace. When he stumbles upon an alternate dimension that embodies everything he’s ever wanted, he must face his traumatic past and take charge of his own future.

HBO Max sent the first five episodes of the eight-episode season for review. While it would have been nice to watch all the episodes in their entirety, the first five already show an improvement over the first season. It helps that the season is tackling a different storyline after last season’s alien invasion. Much like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. would thematically touch on whatever was happening in the latest MCU film, Peacemaker is now doing the same through its synergy with the larger DCU. Superman dealt with a dimensional rift, so it’s only natural that Peacemaker would confront a parallel dimension.

While I haven’t checked to see if reshoots were edited into the season 1 finale, the previously-on recap has already retconned it. It makes sense—season 1 premiered before Superman’s release, and no one knew exactly what the future of the DCU or the former DCEU would hold. The earlier Justice League mention is now Justice Gang, featuring noticeable appearances by Kendra Saunders/Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) and Guy Gardner/Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion). Peacemaker’s audition was teased in the teaser, but let’s just say Maxwell Lord (Sean Gunn) isn’t exactly tech-savvy.

As for this newly discovered dimension, Peacemaker finds that everything about it is better. Auggie Smith (Robert Patrick) is still alive—whether he’s just as racist in this universe remains to be seen. Meanwhile, A.R.G.U.S. director Gen. Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo) is still furious with the vigilante over the death of Rick Flag Jr. in The Suicide Squad. His anger makes sense, but it leads Flag Sr. to waste resources surveilling Peacemaker—complications multiply when John Economos (Steve Agee) and Sasha Bordeaux (Sol Rodríguez) detect a dimensional opening.

Peacemaker is also full of the signature humor James Gunn’s projects are known for. Langston Fleury (Tim Meadows) delivers much of it. A veteran of Chicago’s improv scene, Meadows brings his comedic timing and character-actor chops to the series. Paired with Agee’s Economos during the surveillance scenes, the result is a clever, humorous battle of wits.

Without spoiling anything about the opening credits (which features “Oh Lord” by Foxy Shazam), I have to say I wish more shows would put this much effort into them. Too many series simply put all credits at the end, even on streaming platforms where runtime isn’t an issue. It is not that hard to have some fun once in a while! Fred Raskin edited the title sequence, and it’s just as fun this season as it was in the first. I imagine HBO Max will upload it to YouTube soon.

I’m curious to see how the remaining three episodes unfold. Will new characters enter the DCU that we haven’t met before? How will discovering this new dimension impact Peacemaker’s relationships in the current universe? While some questions remain unanswered, the series is in a strong place after the first five episodes of season two.

CREATOR/SHOWRUNNER/WRITER: James Gunn
DIRECTORS: James Gunn (1, 6, 8), Greg Mottola (2-3), Peter Sollett (4), Alethea Jones (5)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: James Gunn, Peter Safran, John Cena
CAST: John Cena, Danielle Brooks, Freddie Stroma, Jennifer Holland, Steve Agee, with Frank Grillo and Robert Patrick, Tim Meadows, David Denman, Sol Rodríguez, Nhut Le, Reinaldo Faberlle, Brandon Stanley, and Michael Rooker

HBO Max will stream season 2 of Peacemaker on August 21, 2025 at 9 PM ET. New episodes will premiere weekly through October 9. Grade: 4/5

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