Peacemaker Season 2 Is Nonetheless Very A lot A Sequel To James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad

This text accommodates spoilers up by to “Peacemaker” season 2, episode 4, “Want I Say Door.”

The idea of an ongoing multi-franchise movie sequence — what we have come to consult with as a “cinematic universe” — continues to be comparatively in its infancy. Regardless of the decade-and-change existence of issues just like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Conjuring Universe, there’s nonetheless a whole lot of experimentation and wiggle room as to how every property chooses to deal with its rising continuity. The longest operating franchises, such because the James Bond films, the “Halloween” movies and others, have tended to decide on a second to interrupt continuity with the previous, presenting sure new installments as beginning factors, whether or not by the technique of a remake or a reboot. This may be the quickest and cleanest approach of beginning contemporary, however whereas this transfer frees up the narrative, it implies that among the thematic and emotional resonance {that a} property positive aspects over time might be misplaced.

James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe, born from the ashes of the DC Prolonged Universe, is a captivating case of an ongoing universe treading a brand new path on the subject of continuity. Whereas most of us initially assumed that Gunn’s “Superman” (and “Creature Commandos” earlier than it) would mark the breaking off level for the defunct DCEU, the second season of “Peacemaker” has confirmed these assumptions faulty. As seen within the season thus far, it seems like Gunn is taking a parallel universe strategy to merging the DCU and the DCEU. That’s to say that we are able to assume that occasions in that universe did transpire the best way we noticed them beforehand, except in any other case said. So, Gunn’s “Superman” acts as a reboot of that title character, because the movie makes clear that this isn’t the identical Superman who endured the occasions of “Man of Metal,” “Batman v Superman: Daybreak of Justice,” and so forth. But, “Peacemaker” has solely retconned a pair components, and we have taken a take a look at what’s been modified. Here is what has remained the identical: “Peacemaker” continues to be very a lot a sequel to Gunn’s “The Suicide Squad,” not simply in lore but in addition by way of its emotional and thematic continuity as effectively. In truth, a big portion of this new season offers with the fallout of decisions made in “The Suicide Squad,” particularly the homicide of Rick Flag Jr. (Joel Kinnaman), which is each an thrilling and narratively accountable resolution on Gunn’s half.

A part of the inventive motivation for Gunn to make “Peacemaker” following “The Suicide Squad” is as a continuation of his career-long take a look at underdogs and misfit characters. As with “The Specials” and “Tremendous,” Gunn’s “The Suicide Squad” is a couple of group of B- and C-list superheroes and antiheroes whose morals are decidedly far and wide. Essentially the most loathsome of the group, not less than on the subject of morality, is Peacemaker (John Cena) himself, who, with out query, follows the orders of the Squad chief Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) to cowl up all proof of American involvement in a secret authorities venture. One of many methods through which Peacemaker makes an attempt to make sure that is by murdering Flag, who was ready to go towards Waller’s orders as soon as he found the reality behind Undertaking Starfish. Whereas Peacemaker is just not the primary villain of “The Suicide Squad,” he is primarily the turncoat character, who in some methods is much more risible to audiences. So “Peacemaker,” then, is Gunn’s experiment to see if he can take such an unlikeable character and make him a beloved protagonist of one other venture.

Given the reception to each the primary and now second season of “Peacemaker,” one might definitely say that mission has been achieved. What’s spectacular is how Gunn had an apparent and straightforward clear slate to make use of for the titular character (and the present’s entire ensemble of ne’er do wells) with the sequence’ transfer from the DCEU to the DCU. It could’ve been very potential for Gunn to say that “The Suicide Squad” by no means occurred to this new DCU Peacemaker, or that it occurred otherwise, and so forth. As an alternative, Gunn is leaning into the connection to the 2021 movie and is twisting the emotional knife even tougher. Now, Peacemaker does not simply need to reckon with murdering Flag Jr. and cope with the following seek for revenge that Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo) is enterprise towards him. He additionally should reconcile the truth that the girl he is fallen in love with, Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland), was Flag Jr.’s lover earlier than he died. Then there’s the matter of the alternate universe that Peacemaker has discovered due to his father’s stolen tech, through which Flag Jr. continues to be alive and is in a relationship with that universe’s Harcourt, who was once concerned with that universe’s Chris AKA Peacemaker, whom our universe’s Peacemaker killed in self-defense earlier this season. By maintaining the repercussions of Chris’ mistake alive whereas additionally introducing a parallel occasion of Peacemaker killing the unsuitable man (a model of himself, rattling the subtlety), Gunn is utilizing the fabric made for the DCEU to feed the DCU in a intelligent and emotionally vibrant approach.

Whereas all of this could appear complicated, we usually know the place the occasions of “Peacemaker” and its core characters stand. The jury continues to be out, nonetheless, on which different characters and future tasks throughout the DCU will cherry-pick components from the DCEU to hold ahead. The possibilities are that the massive marquee characters, i.e. Superman, Batman, The Flash, and so forth, will not be in any type of continuity with their DCEU exploits. But, Rick Flag Jr.’s admission of courting June Moone aka Enchantress from 2016’s “Suicide Squad” (performed by Cara Delevingne) in “Peacemaker” begs the query whether or not that film can be nonetheless loosely a part of the DCU’s continuity. We all know that Gunn has gone on the report to substantiate that “Blue Beetle,” the 2023 DCEU movie, continues to be principally canon to the DCU, too. So, that is not less than two, and probably three, DCEU films that retain canon components for the DCU going ahead.

The massive query is whether or not this piecemeal strategy to constructing out the DCU will find yourself paying off or if it would change into an even bigger headache than it is value. There isn’t any doubt that common audiences are way more primed to grasp these superior storytelling mechanics than they might’ve been a decade or so in the past, particularly due to the MCU’s multiverse saga bringing over a bunch of beforehand established heroes, like Patrick Stewart’s Professor Xavier and Wesley Snipes’ Blade, to its current entries. Whereas it is probably that Gunn himself will get a headache or two upon chatting with the media about who and what’s canon (if he hasn’t already), the key to all of this in the long term is one thing that the filmmaker has already found, which is that it finally does not matter so long as the alternatives serve the story and character in a compelling approach. It is one factor to maintain continuity merely to appease the literal-minded. Nonetheless, “Peacemaker” illustrates that Gunn wasn’t excited about taking any shortcuts or ticking off packing containers, however as a substitute wished to retain the ethical and emotional weight and rigidity that makes “Peacemaker” so compelling. Whereas it is nonetheless unclear how a lot Chris might be trusted, it is apparent now that the viewers is in nice fingers with Gunn and “Peacemaker.”

New episodes of “Peacemaker” roll out Thursdays on HBO Max.