TV Review: James Gunn Teases A Potential Multiverse In ‘Peacemaker’ Premiere

Helming the new and improved DC Cinematic Universe — DCU for short — James Gunn returns to Peacemaker after a three-year hiatus. Apparently, the show is picking up where Superman (2025) left off. Gunn expands his sandbox with some light retconning to give us a little peek at what his DCU is going to look like. Basically: an irreverent The Boys (2019) with hair metal and a heart of gold.

For those who haven’t had a chance to rewatch Season One, I offer a quick recap. Peacemaker, aka Christopher Smith (John Cena), returns home following a deadly encounter with Colonel Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman) immediately after the events in The Suicide Squad (2021). After prison and killing for the government, he’s tasked with saving the world from bodysnatching butterfly-like aliens who want to steer humanity away from self-destruction by infiltrating the highest levels of government.

On his road to self-discovery, Chris grapples with his hand (or fist) in the accidental death of his younger brother, Keith (Liam Hughes). His father, Auggie (Robert Patrick) — a racist villain known as White Dragon — spends the rest of his life bullying Chris as a result. Now home, Peacemaker questions why his vow for peace at any cost involves so much murder.

After such a long hiatus, it’s understandable that the premiere, “The Ties That Grind,” spends most of its time catching up with the team. Thanks to a press conference spilling government secrets, saving the world got the team exactly nowhere.

Peacemaker’s bestie Leota Adebayo (Danielle Brooks) is out of work and now living in a local motel. On the outs with her wife, she’s reluctant to go back to a normal life in Gotham. Sidekick Adrian Chase, aka Vigilante (Freddie Stroma), is still an enthusiastic busboy who knows literally nothing about anything. Especially owls.

Team lead Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) is blacklisted from every intelligence agency in the country. Diagnosed with “toxic masculinity” by the CIA, she takes her displaced feelings out on a car radio and a biker bar. The only team member that seems to be doing okay is the man-in-the-chair, John Economos (Steve Agee), who now works with A.R.G.U.S. surveilling Peacemaker at the direction of Rick Flag Sr (Frank Grillo).

Saving the world was supposed to bring Peacemaker some legitimacy in the superhero world. Unfortunately, Chris is still not quite taken seriously by the big leagues. His interview for the Justice Gang goes about as expected. Harcourt denies him again after a boat hook up, he killed his dad, and is now living in his house. I do miss the America-themed trailer, though.

Opportunity literally knocks when Eagley (Dee Bradley Baker) identifies a door that looks a lot like his. Auggie’s pocket dimension storage room is shared by aliens and alternate dimensions, apparently. Including one that leads to the life Chris wishes he had.

In this new universe, Auggie is alive and seemingly not a racist asshole. Surprise, his younger brother, Keith (David Denman), is alive too. Peacemaker is a successful hero with A.R.G.U.S., rich, and he even dated Harcourt. Things invariably go awry when he’s found by Alternate Peacemaker, which has ramifications for both universes.

Gunn gently welcomes us back into Peacemaker’s antics with cool fight choreography, crass humor, and two whole scenes bashing the Jared Leto-fronted band 30 Seconds to Mars. We’re treated to cameos from Justice Gang members Guy Gardner/Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion) and Kendra Saunders/Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced). No doubt for continuity, including a weirdly retconned Season One finale flashback. And an orgy. Can’t forget the orgy.

I didn’t see a multiverse of sadness plotline coming so soon. This new universe feels like looking at an ex’s Instagram who’s doing far better than you. Peacemaker’s existential crisis may be a one-off dimension, but the potential for a larger multiverse remains. The obvious lessons aside, I fully expect our favorite bi-disaster to handle the situation with his usual grace. That’s to say, hilariously.

Welcome back, Peacemaker.