This text comprises spoilers for “Peacemaker” season 2, episode 5, “Again to the Suture.”
“Peacemaker” season 2 likes to juggle fairly just a few balls on the identical time, and one which has been persistently flying increased than many is the “A.R.G.U.S. vs. Eagly” B-plot. As /Movie has famous earlier than, the entire thing comes throughout as James Gunn’s apology for his many sins in opposition to birds in tasks like “The Suicide Squad.” As if to again up this level, “Peacemaker” season 2, episode 2 just isn’t solely referred to as “A Man Is Solely as Good as His Chook,” however it incorporates a large Eagly battle that solely works due to the dumb, genius determination of utilizing a person’s hen blindness in opposition to him, a lot to Langston Fleury’s (Tim Meadows) chagrin. Cue Eagly completely wrecking a whole A.R.G.U.S. wetworks staff and celebrating the victory by energy strolling to the tune of Ida Maria’s “Soiled Cash.”
This ought to be an indication that Eagly isn’t any strange eagle, particularly after world-famous eagle hunter and obvious nutjob Pink St. Wild (Michael Rooker, glorious as ever) begins having dream quest visions about Eagly because the supernatural Prime Eagle. Even so, “Peacemaker” manages to play the Pink. vs. Eagly storyline as a wacky live-action Wile E. Coyote vs. Roadrunner state of affairs … that’s, till “Again to the Suture” reveals that Pink was proper.
Sure, Pink (R.I.P.) effed round and came upon … that Eagly really is the Prime Eagle who guidelines over all eagles. The twist that Peacemaker’s (John Cena) dumbass, bologna-obsessed, hug-happy pet is secretly a legendary, divine hen of prey is chuckle-worthy, positive sufficient. Nonetheless, it additionally underlines the “Peacemaker” sophomore season’s tendency to present its characters pointless power-ups, which is quickly changing into the largest of the present’s uncommon missteps.
Peacemaker characters want no power-ups however maintain getting them anyway
In hindsight, there have been loads of earlier Eagly antics that recommended it is no strange hen. The laser-focused dismantling of a number of law enforcement officials chasing Peacemaker and Vigilante (Freddie Stroma) within the season 1 episode “Murn After Studying” springs to thoughts, in addition to the best way Eagly readily locates an alternate dimension which may deliver pleasure to its beloved Peacemaker within the season 2 premiere. So, the Prime Eagle reveal ought to in all probability not be an enormous shock, and will very properly change into a supply of a lot merriment.
Sadly, the twist comes instantly within the wake of “Peacemaker” season 2, episode 4 (“Want I Say Door”), which revealed that Peacemaker is greater than only a self-pitying superhero wannabe with a tragic previous and a vaguely heroic streak. He is the one man who is aware of how one can management the quantum unfolding storage chamber, and due to this fact successfully the guardian of the DC Universe’s tackle the multiverse. Or reasonably, he was, as a result of “Again to the Suture” additionally grants the identical information to Leota Adebayo (Danielle Brooks). What’s extra, there’s some proof that “Peacemaker” season 2 could have teased one other alternate universe DC superhero — particularly, Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) changing into Peacewrecker.
That is quickly changing into an issue, as a result of these characters are particularly not meant to be highly effective doorkeepers of eternity. A lot of “Peacemaker” season 1’s charms come from the truth that the characters are non-powered dorks who nonetheless one way or the other handle to avoid wasting the world in opposition to overwhelming odds. But, for some purpose, season 2 appears hellbent on tinkering with a confirmed recipe by giving a number of characters pointless additional powers and skills. What’s subsequent, John Economos (Steve Agee) seems to be rumored “Superman” sequel villain Brainiac in disguise?
The Peacemaker characters’ power-ups are doubtless benevolent … however will they work in the long term?
I am being essential of a sure growth within the “Peacemaker” world, however let’s maintain issues clear: Between his “Guardians of the Galaxy” stuff within the Marvel Cinematic Universe and all the pieces he is carried out on the DC aspect of issues, James Gunn is simply in regards to the final man whose superhero adaptation credentials may be questioned. As such, I totally consider there is a chance that Gunn is handing out these upgrades out of real love for the present’s characters, with the doable intention to improve them to allow them to believably dangle with the opposite, virtually invariably stronger characters within the DCU’s “Gods and Monsters” stage. Or he may merely be establishing a bait-and-switch state of affairs the place everybody loses no matter edge that they had by the top of the season; in any case, the very tagline of the season is “In what world are they the heroes?” Maybe the console that controls the quantum unfolding chamber might be damaged. Perhaps Eagly will stroll away from its Prime Eagle duties to stay with its human good friend — or worse, finally ends up as a tragic entry on an avian equal of the “Does the Canine Die?” web site.
On the finish of the day, these individuals (and eagles) aren’t and really a lot should not be unstoppable powerhouses in any sense. Seeing them change into more and more formidable one after the other comes throughout as pointless and out of character — particularly since Peacemaker already has the enjoyable and really becoming “new dumb powers with each completely different helmet” cheat code at his disposal for every time he must work together with different metahumans.
“Peacemaker” season 2 is streaming on HBO Max.
