The main cast of the HBO Max original television series “Peacemaker” poses on a promotional image for the show. “Peacemaker” is as hilarious as it is violent, making this show suitable only for a more mature audience. Photo fair use of HBO Max
“Peacemaker,” the first television show to be part of the DC Extended Universe, combines mature humor and violence with serious topics on morals and peace in a uniquely James Gunn way.
“Peacemaker” debuted on HBO Max on Jan. 13 with episodes releasing weekly until the final episode, which premiered on Feb. 17. With its dark humor and an engrossing plot, “Peacemaker” is sure to have an impact on anyone who watches it.
The show picks up a few months after the events of “The Suicide Squad,” and follows Christopher Smith (John Cena), also known as Peacemaker, as he works with Task Force X, a black ops team in charge of “Project Butterfly,” which aims to find and destroy parasitic, butterfly-like creatures.
“Peacemaker” is loud and proud about its TV-MA rating. Each episode features violence and foul language with some episodes also having graphic nudity and sexual content. If the viewer is sensitive to any of those topics, however, discretion is heavily advised.
Despite the sometimes heavy content of the show, it is a comedy at heart, and that genre is best shown through its colorful cast of characters, like Vigilante (Freddie Stroma), a lovable vigilante who has no hesitations when it comes to murder, or Judomaster (Nhut Le), an enraged martial artist who takes people down while enjoying Flaming Hot Cheetos.
Despite the sometimes heavy content of the show, it is a comedy at heart, and that genre is best shown through its colorful cast of characters.
The show would not be what it is today without James Gunn, who wrote all eight episodes and directed the majority of them. Most superhero fans got their first taste of Gunn through the two “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies, which he wrote and directed before parting ways with Marvel.
Gunn brought the same quirky humor in that movie to the DCEU but put a sharper edge to it. He turned convention on its head and frequently had his characters name-drop popular DC superheroes in disparaging or embarrassing ways, such as when Peacemaker claimed that Green Arrow frequently went to Brony conventions.
Despite the frequent jokes and humorous tones used in the show, “Peacemaker” also takes on heavy topics, such as what it means to have peace and what is a reasonable sacrifice to get there. Gunn masterfully adds these themes and questions so no part of the show feels out of place or jarring.
Though not for everyone, “Peacemaker” will have its viewers anxiously awaiting season two with its darker take on the superhero genre.
