DC Television James Gunn's Suicide Squad’ Spinoff Series ‘Peacemaker’ Starring John Cena on HBO Max

[Mr. Peanut]

Let me put it to you this way… aside from one scene at the very end (which was just retconned) and a couple of jokes here and there, very little in Peacemaker season 1 connects to the DCEU. And a lot of the things that do (like Amanda Waller’s appearances) are also canon to the DCU. So if you skip it, you’ll be missing out on some great DCU material. Not to mention that if you just watch season 2, you’ll miss out on all the character growth and development in season 1, so scenes in season 2 won’t have the same impact. And again, these are all DCU characters now so skipping season 1 just avoids DCU content more than anything else.

But it's still not the DCU, it's events in another universe that are very similar to offscreen events in the DCU. Doesn't matter how closely it aligns with the offscreen events of the DCU that we don't see, it's still a different universe and I don't feel like watching that universe and doing the whole "knowing more or less what happens in the DCU by proxy" thing, I only want to watch what's officially and directly part of the DCU, IE the universe with Corenswet's Superman and the Justice Gang in it, IE Creature Commandos and onward. So with that in mind, how well does season 2 hold up as a jumping on point? Does it at least provide us with all the information we'd need to know to understand the plot?

 

[BobJM]

I haven’t seen S1 and felt totally caught up with the “Previously On” & the context of Episode 1 (and The Suicide Squad). Seems pretty straightforward to me as to what’s canon / what’s not.

I like this approach; and hope it bodes well for Blue Beetle. Give that the DC Studios logo & it works.

 

[WatchProtect]

But it's still not the DCU, it's events in another universe that are very similar to offscreen events in the DCU. Doesn't matter how closely it aligns with the offscreen events of the DCU that we don't see, it's still a different universe and I don't feel like watching that universe and doing the whole "knowing more or less what happens in the DCU by proxy" thing, I only want to watch what's officially and directly part of the DCU, IE the universe with Corenswet's Superman and the Justice Gang in it, IE Creature Commandos and onward. So with that in mind, how well does season 2 hold up as a jumping on point? Does it at least provide us with all the information we'd need to know to understand the plot?

I've seen the first season and while it's worth it I totally get what you're asking.

At the beginning of Season 2 they play a short Recap of the "relevant" information from Season 1. In the context of the DCU this recap will give you any information you may need. Then you can jump right into Season 2. Any questions that may arise you'll have answered either through context or through a straight up acknowledgment.

So you're good to go ahead and start S2

 

[Mr. Peanut]

I've seen the first season and while it's worth it I totally get what you're asking.

At the beginning of Season 2 they play a short Recap of the "relevant" information from Season 1. In the context of the DCU this recap will give you any information you may need. Then you can jump right into Season 2. Any questions that may arise you'll have answered either through context or through a straight up acknowledgment.

So you're good to go ahead and start S2

That's good to know. Thanks!

 

[FrankenCastle]

I haven’t seen S1 and felt totally caught up with the “Previously On” & the context of Episode 1 (and The Suicide Squad). Seems pretty straightforward to me as to what’s canon / what’s not.

I like this approach; and hope it bodes well for Blue Beetle. Give that the DC Studios logo & it works.

The 40 minutes recap on the offical DC Youtube channel is also a good way to get up to date.

 

[Sawyer]

 

[Pennywise]

 

[FrankenCastle]

Booster Gold & Blue Beetle are 100 % in it, maybe Supergirl, since her edgy teenage girl tendencies fit the tone of Peacemaker.

 

[J.Drangal]

I really enjoyed the start of the season.

It was amusing to see everyone doing mental gymnastics in advance about possible retcons and such. It never seemed difficult to me and, as expected, Gunn handled it in the simplest way possible.
I didn't have any issues with the orgy scene either, I come from a place where nudity was quite common on TV, but I'd say the casting of the extras isn't going to help certain clichés... (it's a joke, just in case...)

The thing I generally have a problem with, however, is multiverse stories. I've always found them boring, and the literal “double” cliché annoys me even more (Ultraman was one of the parts of Superman that I found less inspired, even though I can understand that it showed us the Kal-El that his Kryptonian parents imagined). HOWEVER, I'm happy to see that here, this double has already been removed and that the alternate universe seems to be primarily here to pose a dilemma for Peacemaker.
I guess the character will have to choose between joining a world that has everything his heart desires—a still living brother and a romance with Harcourt—but which is probably a far-right utopia ("The Top Trio defeats the Rainbow Creature" as the newpaper said...), or staying where he's from, and learn to live with sacrifices to eventually become a true hero... In any case, the hook worked for me...

...and it worked especially because of John Cena. He already showed that in the first season, but here he confirms that he can move us as easily as he can amuse us, which is no small feat. As someone who is more and more critical and snobbish when it comes to comic book adaptations, I'm really excited about the pairing of this obscure character with this increasingly compelling actor. I think Gunn has something special here, and I think he understands it.

Speaking of Gunn, even though he surprisingly managed to rein himself in for his Superman movie (I still haven't posted a review here...), you can sense that he's letting loose with his humor again here... but no worries, this is also the right place for it.

I wish I could binge that whole season and that says a lot!

 

[dhandler01]

And see, I find stories like these to be the more cliche. Oh main character is sad but finds the alternate world where everything is great...UNTIL ITS NOT!!! That is in like every sci fi show (and hundreds of comics I would guess) that has ever been made.

Make no mistake, I don't mind, but the multiverse has so many options to play with which is why it isn't boring. (the people who use it tend to be but that is a different problem) This "what could have been/crisis of faith" stuff can get old real fast if it isn't paced right.

No matter though, this is going to be a fun ride

 

[J.Drangal]

And see, I find stories like these to be the more cliche. Oh main character is sad but finds the alternate world where everything is great...UNTIL ITS NOT!!! That is in like every sci fi show (and hundreds of comics I would guess) that has ever been made.

Make no mistake, I don't mind, but the multiverse has so many options to play with which is why it isn't boring. (the people who use it tend to be but that is a different problem) This "what could have been/crisis of faith" stuff can get old real fast if it isn't paced right.

No matter though, this is going to be a fun ride

Oh, it's true.
My idea was more about how this multiverse story would at least serve something else than being nostalgia bait or a blatant money grab. Which is already a lot!

You also certainly have a point about multiverse concept having a bad reputation, mainly due to its poor use most of the time. But before we can eventually verify this, I'm pretty sure what Marvel Studios is currently doing will probably be the final nail in the coffin for this trend...

 

[Sawyer]

Teenage Me, 2009: The blonde jock that’s into Hermione in the new Harry Potter movie is giving me the strangest sensation… what are these feelings…?

Me, 2025: My God, he’s still got it…

 

[FrankenCastle]

Deep into Peacemaker S02E02, safe to say I'm rooting for Rick Flag Sr. on this one.

 

[Deck Rickard]

Yeah I mean you can’t help but feel for Flag Sr. given everything that happened. But you also have to think that he eventually would want to go after Waller too. And that might not end well for him, because Waller never really goes away.

 

[donuts]

Spoiler

I was and still am so worried for Eagly.

 

[FrankenCastle]

Yeah I mean you can’t help but feel for Flag Sr. given everything that happened. But you also have to think that he eventually would want to go after Waller too. And that might not end well for him, because Waller never really goes away.

God I wish to see Waller face some sort consequences for her despicable action too. Being demoted from her position as head of ARGUS isn't enough, I want to see her locked up in Belle Reve.

 

[Deck Rickard]

God I wish too see Waller face some sort consequences for her despicable action too. Being demoted from her position as head of ARGUS isn't enough, I want to see her locked up in Belle Reve.

Yeah but she’s a slippery one hahaha

 

[DCDAVE]

Eagly!!!!!!!!! Best DCU Super pet. We need Eagly vs Krypto.

Tim Meadows is a delightful addition to the cast. Man I can’t do this week to week. Wish we could binge. Gotham keeps getting named dropped. Vigilante is always a delight. What a psycho.

 

[J.Drangal]

I'll be honest, after a very effective first episode, I found this one a little bit of a filler in the sense that it didn't really advance the plot much. But it was still very enjoyable to watch and, most importantly, had the merit of raising public awareness about bird blindness.

 

[donuts]

Yeah, it's a character driven episode. And I think this is overall going to be more of a character driven season.

 

[DCDAVE]

It seems like every DCU movie or show will have a different tone. It will interesting to see how these characters come together in other projects. For example Rick Flagg Sr is nothing like his Creature Commander character. Guy will be the true test in Laterns.

 

[Still Wynning]

Is it just me, or does this season feel like it has more of a balance between the funny and serious moments? I notice that they haven’t been as liberal with the humor and gags and are playing it a little more straight in places that probably would’ve had a funny quip or visual gag in the previous season. They’ve been much more deliberately and intentionally placed at just the right moments, and even some of those seem to be a bit more subdued. Not that I didn’t enjoy what they did in season one.

Maybe it’s just the nature of the story and themes this season is trying to tackle, but this season feels a bit more…melancholic and introspective, like there’s this undercurrent of encroaching and growing level of sadness and darkness lying just beneath the surface and this unshakeable feeling of inevitability and dread that something terrible and tragic is going to happen. Like the Sword of Damocles is slowly falling right in front of us in real time and we don’t even notice it.

And, honestly, I appreciate that. It’s interesting to see James Gunn grow and mature as a writer and person in real time and challenge himself to pull back on some things and go a bit outside of his comfort zone.

 

[donuts]

Yeah, it is.

The GOTG sequels are similarly increasingly darker, more melancholic and introspective compared to the first movie.

 

[Herolee10]

So, are the events of "The Suicide Squad" now considered canon to the new DCU? If that's the case, wouldn't that make it the first official DCU film as well?

 

[FrankenCastle]

Is it just me, or does this season feel like it has more of a balance between the funny and serious moments? I notice that they haven’t been as liberal with the humor and gags and are playing it a little more straight in places that probably would’ve had a funny quip or visual gag in the previous season. They’ve been much more deliberately and intentionally placed at just the right moments, and even some of those seem to be a bit more subdued. Not that I didn’t enjoy what they did in season one.

Yep, looked like they switched up humor, first season heavily emphisized around political correctness, a character makes a somewhat inappropriate comment, the other characters correct him, and that's the joke (the asian/oriental debate). This season, with agent Fleury, for instance, the whole point of the joke is him being offensive to his colleagues, then sh*ttalking them when they try to correct him. I just love this irreverent, unapologetic type of humor reminiscent of the raunchy comedies of the late 2000s. S02E02 made me laugh more than the entirety of S01, I might add, a perfect mix between dark humor and drama.

(I'll call you Barely Legal )