DC’s latest television series “Peacemaker” has finally concluded its first season. The series has been released weekly on HBO Max over the last six weeks. 

“Peacemaker” was both produced and written by James Gunn, who also directed five of the eight episodes. The series received extremely positive reviews from both fans and critics alike; the series has also already been renewed for a second season with Gunn returning to write and direct the entirety of the season.

“Peacemaker” follows up on the events of 2021’s “The Suicide Squad” and the character of Christopher Smith/Peacemaker, played by John Cena. Peacemaker struggles in coming to terms with his actions in “The Suicide Squad,” especially with killing Col. Rick Flag. Throughout the series, Smith is constantly presented with alternatives to his hero philosophy in order to earn the title of “Peacemaker.” 

Morality is an issue that Peacemaker does not face alone in the series, as Leota Adebayo (Danielle Brooks) also attempts to prevent any deaths within her black ops missions. The conflicts within these two characters are really interesting, as they are both similar in terms of childhood upbringing and development throughout the series. 

The entire cast absolutely nailed it throughout the season, and it would be pointless to try and celebrate one performance above the rest. Each actor brought something unique and charming to their characters. Jennifer Holland and John Agee also brought really great performances to their characters, Emilia Harcourt and John Economos, respectively. It was very interesting to see the dynamic between these characters and Peacemaker, as they struggle to become an actual team. There was just one character I was not completely on board with, and that was Freddie Stroma’s Vigilante. His performance was really good, but at times, he was just too wacky, and it took away from some serious moments that were happening. 

At first, the arrival of so many villains was a little daunting, but Gunn was able to incorporate both the White Dragon and the Butterflies well into the story. There was a true motivation behind the Butterflies that made their appearance very meaningful in terms of Peacemaker’s journey and story. The special effects for these villains were also really great, especially with their giant cow. Gunn also managed to include a few very special cameos toward the end in a very hilarious way.

Peacemaker still has a long way to go to fully heal from the events of the series and solve his internal conflict. It will be interesting to see where his journey goes in the next season. Hopefully, the other characters such as Adebayo, Harcourt and Economos will return as well. The finale seemingly placed all of the characters on their own paths, so it will be fun to see how they all come together again.

Overall, Gunn gave this show his all, as per usual. His projects often focus on the concept of found family and the relationships that the characters form, and “Peacemaker” was no exception. The show was full of heart and humor. Peacemaker was one of my least favorite characters in “The Suicide Squad,” but the series really expanded on his character in the best way. This is easily some of the best DC content in years.

Have you seen “Peacemaker?” What did you think of the series? Let us know in the comments below.