Watch out, there is a new superhero TV show in the ring. Created by James Gunn, Peacemaker had its first 3 episodes released on January 13. It follows after The Suicide Squad (2021) with Peacemaker, AKA Chris Smith, as the leading man. Peacemaker is tasked to work with a black ops team to take down ‘the Butterflies’. I can’t really say much else without spoiling some key points of the story. But, what I can assure you is that James Gunn has done it again! Peacemaker is one of the most heartfelt, hilarious, and enjoyable TV shows I have seen in a while. 

I have been saying for years that John Cena is a good actor and everyone laughed. Now who’s laughing? John Cena shines as the role of Peacemaker with having great comedic timing, and being able to really sell the emotional scenes. After watching John Cena, I don’t think anyone else could play the peace-loving, oblivious, rock and rolling maniac. Another standout from the cast was Freddie Stroma who plays Vigilante, Peacemaker’s ‘best’ friend and is overall a sociopath who has no qualms with killing. Peacemaker and Vigilante’s banter really sells this as a friendship, and a reflection of Peacemaker himself. 

The greatest thing this show achieved is introducing me to Eagly, Peacemaker’s pet eagle. I don’t know how, but this show made me love a CGI bird.  Somehow, Peacemaker and Eagly’s friendship is conveyed so well I almost shed a tear. It expresses the absurd parts of comics that many modern day superhero movies and tv shows ignore for more ‘serious’ stories. Yet Peacemaker, with all its zaniness, surpasses them with a pet eagle as the cherry on top. 

In The Suicide Squad, the best way to describe Peacemaker in that movie in the most PG way possible is a jerk. That is why so many people were uneasy about Peacemaker getting his own TV show. Peacemaker gives reasons, not excuses, for why he acts this way. This show gives a very in depth look at how trauma can affect a person and how they view the world. It shows how they close off the other people in their life as a shield to prevent any more pain. But, it also shows how a person can start healing. Especially with Peacemaker’s growing friendship with Adebayo (played by Danielle Brooks), and the realization that his father, who is devilishly played by Robert Patrick, is a really horrible person (he is a white supremacist supervillain with a KKK themed suit).

Instead of going down an even darker path, Peacemaker goes through changes where he questions his former belief of peace above everything else. He discovers a found family that gives the overall message that you can find the people that you need in your life if you open up and are willing to change. 

Now, fair warning. This show gets really graphic, but also keeps with the comic zaniness that seems to follow James Gunn’s projects. Since the show doesn’t take itself too seriously, it can really explore those out of this world scenarios but still make it enjoyable. So, if you don’t think you’ll like blood, white supremacist supervillains, or mind controlling butterflies, this show wouldn’t really suit your style. 

If you want to watch a show on HBO Max that feels like a rollercoaster, is action packed, heartfelt, and has a lot of songs to add to your playlist, then this one’s for you. I rate this 4/5.

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