The majority of superheroes strive to uphold their no-kill rule since it sets them apart from supervillains and, in turn, makes them more relatable. The weight of their acts torments those who have killed someone, whether on purpose or by mistake. But there is one individual who kills to keep the peace in addition to all these too cerebral superheroes. Because of his complexity, The Peacemaker cannot simply be categorised as a superhero or a supervillain. He has an identity dilemma because he juggles these two radically different identities, which puts him in the centre of them. However, that’s where one may find both comedy and drama, and James Gunn obviously has a knack for it. He doesn’t walk through the shadowy passageways without making jokes along the way. In any case, one should laugh off their concerns since life is already challenging for those experiencing an existential crisis.
The first episode of Peacemaker has all the qualities for which James Gunn is renowned. The man isn’t even close to becoming a superhero. He primarily seeks recognition from his father and from women. He might be the new Star-Lord, who performs a musical number just before a fight scene. The first episode is well-executed and succeeds in its primary goal of captivating and entertaining the viewer. It’s only a brief introduction to the entertaining Peace Guy’s life, but maybe there will be more to the tale in the forthcoming episodes. Let’s examine everything that transpired in Peacemaker Episode 1.
A Bit Of A Unnecessary Prologue
The first episode starts with a brief review to jog our recollections of the last time we saw Peacemaker. In The Suicide Squad, Amanda Waller employs Christopher Chris Smith (John Cena), a.k.a. Peacemaker, as well as other supervillains for Project Starfish. Chris was incarcerated in Belle Reve for 30 years because he killed people for the sake of peace. When Waller ordered him to Corto Maltese, where he attacked his teammates and killed Rick Flag in order to prevent him from disclosing government secrets to the public, he had only served for four years.
Chris was shot by Bloodsport at the end of the movie, but he pulled through and wound up at Mount Rogue hospital, where Peacemaker Episode 1 begins.
Project Butterflies Not Fighting A Mothra Now
Five months after the disaster in Corto Maltese, the first episode is set. Chris sneaks out of the hospital wearing his bloodied costume as soon as he learns that no one is looking for him or even bothers to look for him (sorry, uniform ). He worries that if he runs away, the authorities would return him to prison where he will have to complete the remaining 26 years of his sentence.
Chris comes at his trailer, which has a patriotic appearance, and promptly listens to his voicemail. The lonely man hopes that someone has thought about him, if not his father. He only receives voicemails from Vigilante, his BFF, though. However, a couple unwelcome guests point guns at Chris before he can feel sorry for himself about his life.
The team that Clemson Murn, a former mercenary turned government agent, brings includes desk worker Leota Adebayo, field handler Emilia Harcourt, and tech whiz John Economos (Waller s daughter, whose identity is concealed from the team).
Murn intimidates Chris on Waller’s behalf and forces him to take part in Project Butterflies, a brand-new operation. The authorities will use Chris in this new initiative to destroy undesirables or butterflies. Metahumans, supervillains, and those who speak out against the government are likely to be among these dangerous elements. The helmeted man doesn’t have much of a choice in this Godfather-style deal because rejecting it will result in his being sent back to jail. Additionally, if Chris tries to flee, Waller will activate the chip hidden inside his body and blow him to shreds.
Chris immediately signs up for Project Butterflies and is given a file for his initial target, US Senator Royland Goff. The mission briefing and execution will be thoroughly covered in the next episodes.
Peacemaker Episode 1: Ending Supervillain With Daddy Issues
The Peacemaker craves approval much more than actual peace throughout the show. Chris visits his father, August Auggie Smith, after being released from the hospital to retrieve his sidekick, Eagly, who has been nesting in his garage, as well as to get a new helmet after exchanging his previous one for a cab ride.
The typical American member of the Ku Klux Klan, Auggie holds racist and extreme views. In addition to his political beliefs, he also thinks his son is a disgrace to the family, which obviously explains Chris’s need for love and approval. Chris became a vigilante to bring peace to the world, even if no one asked him to, because Auggie never praised his kid or valued his successes. He still struggles with the early trauma of drawing a picture and expecting his father to praise it, but Auggie rips it apart and tosses it away. So, in Episode 1, a brief but significant father-son exchange highlights Chris’ nuanced personality qualities.
In James Gunn’s Peacemaker universe, Auggie is Chris’ Howard Stark, except Auggie isn’t rich or dead (maybe). In his home’s hidden laboratory, Auggie creates cutting-edge weapons for his son. Despite specifically telling Chris that he didn’t miss him while he was in jail, it is clear from the dialogue that Auggie had created some extremely cool helmets for him while Chris was away. These helmets can breathe underwater and have full-body force fields, which are extraordinary features. At the end of Episode 1, Chris is attacked by a wild metahuman freak with beast-like abilities. Chris chooses one with a supersonic blast and utilises its ability to destroy him. Her name was Annie Sturphausen, and she had a butterfly infection.
Chris continues to pursue Leota, his partner, Harcourt, and other women as he searches for love, affection, and approval. His only problem thus far has been trying to win over others and win their love or worship. Even small acts of admiration are apparent to him, such as the waitress complimenting his meal. However, due to their betrayal of Waller and assistance of Task Force X in Corto Maltese, Harcourt and Economos are stuck with this individual. Leota, Waller’s own daughter, is sent to spy on these outcasts and report back to her mother in order to keep the mission under control. She gives Leota the task of hiding Peacemaker’s diary in his trailer so that he won’t be able to find it. The diary bears the insignia of the Wayne Foundation, which suggests that future episodes may link it to Batman or Bruce Wayne. The plot will continue to unravel as more mysteries are uncovered.
Peacemaker Episodes 2 & 3: Recap & Conclusion
James Gunn created the action-comedy superhero series Peacemaker in 2022. On HBO Max, it is streaming.
