Starring: John Cena, Danielle Brooks, Freddie Stroma
Creator: James Gunn
Rating: TV-MA
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Superhero
Release date: Aug 21, 2025
Where to watch: HBO Max

Overall Score

Rating Overview

Story/Plot/Script

Visuals/Cinematography

Performance

Direction

Non-Wokeness

Rating Summary

Peacemaker spends all of its stored goodwill on episode after episode talking about feelings, leaving Eagely to provide two out of the only three action scenes worth watching. Despite a consistently surprising performance by John Cena, season 2 is largely a waste of time.

In Season 2 of Peacemaker, Christopher Smith, the vigilante anti-hero, navigates a new mission in the rebooted DC Universe following the events of Superman (2025). Tasked with confronting a vengeful adversary and exploring an alternate dimension, Peacemaker grapples with his past while working alongside his A.R.G.U.S. team, including familiar faces like Leota Adebayo and Emilia Harcourt. The season blends high-stakes action, multiversal twists, and personal growth across eight episodes.

Peacemaker (season 2) REVIEW

Peacemaker Review (S1:E1)

This initial episode introduces a Peacemaker with a new perspective and a very new, very surprising John Cena, one whose performance will have you looking at the WWE superstar in an entirely different way. It's a good thing, too, because much of the B and C plotlines bracketing his story are weak and stupid.

No one cares that Agent Unlikable Girl Boss feels useless and is filling the void in her soul with MMA-style bar brawls, and even fewer care that pre-Ozempic Lizzo broke up with her girlfriend. However, neither subplot gets much screentime, so any damage is somewhat mitigated. Whether that remains true for the rest of the season is anyone's guess.

The core story, that of Peacemaker's longing for the unconditional love of a family, is rather touching and emotional. Regrettably, most of the episode's potential poignancy is leached away by James Gunn's pathological need to out Joss-Whedon Joss Whedon at nearly every turn. Gags and jokes punctuate most serious moments, and they're usually as sophisticated as... well, as a massive orgy filled more swinging schwansons than season 1 of Game of Thrones.

I'll say this: the previews for episode 2 look promising, and Cena was impressive enough in this one to justify giving Round 2 a go.

Peacemaker Review (S1:E2)