Don’t misconstrue this review; I love Peacemaker. But criticism is important and I think this season definitely needs to be criticized for several reasons. Though many probably don’t share any of the opinions that I’m about to voice, I’m not sugar coating any of this. Or glazing as the kids say. It was a very disappointing season in more ways than one.
After waiting three years for the show’s return, fans and casual viewers alike were excited for the anticipated second season. With the teaser trailer and the trailer both drawing attention, how could you not be excited? It’s been three years. That’s a hell of a wait for HBO Max’s most watched show of 2022 (not a Game of Thrones level wait but still a long one regardless). So now that the show is over, why are so many fans feeling the way they feel? Where did it fall short?
SPOILERS AHEAD
Let’s start with the pros of this season. First off, it’s already established that this season takes place a month after the events of Superman, we begin immediately with a timestamp. Awesome. As usual we get some gorgeous shots, incredibly well choreographed fight scenes, amazing costumes/outfits and beautiful dialogue at times. But that’s about where the pros end. The season, while it lacked in many areas, did make up for it in heart, friendship and found family. The most criticized parts though….well let’s just say I’ve seen so many people share the same thoughts throughout the entire second season. To summarize many of those thoughts without making this review the length of an encyclopedia, I jotted down in point form some positive and negative thoughts that myself and many other fans share with the final season.
Positives
- This season is about mental health, learning how to overcome it and reach out when you absolutely need to
- Relationships; seeing characters bond with each other and those outside their group
- Learning to accept all the good and all the bad about yourself; accepting all your past experiences that made you who you are today alongside the people that love and support you through your worst moments
- Character driven. We see resolutions in almost all the characters (Chris learning to love himself, Adebayo learning to let go of those she loves when they weren’t meant for each other, Harcourt learning she is capable of being loved, Economos overcoming his fears and standing up to do what’s right)
- Seeing everyone else outside the 11th Street Kids grow and become better versions of themselves
- Seeing Nazis have their butts handed to them (that’s always a positive)
Negatives
- Pacing felt very odd at times (either rushed or taking too long) and often underwhelming buildups
- “not enough Vigilante” was a common complaint, with people feeling that he was sidelined heavily and became a comic relief crutch instead of being fleshed out like the rest of the team
- The season didn’t feel like its own separate entity, being just a stepping stone for Man of Tomorrow
- Oftentimes there was no sense of resolution with many plot holes, leaving viewers with more questions than answers though most can be open for interpretation
- According to some, two full length music videos felt like a filler and waste of time
- Fillers. Another thing viewers found frustrating. It felt like nothing was happening and the first five episodes were merely fillers
- Episode lengths. A lot more story could’ve been added if the episodes were longer in length. In James Gunn’s words, he wanted to “trim the fat” but sometimes a little bit of fat is good
So as you can see, viewership is pretty divided on what to think about this season and its finale. Some people liked it. Some people didn’t. As for myself, I’m going to give it another watch and maybe I’ll understand a bit more of what Gunn was going for. The first watch through is usually just for entertainment purposes and everything after that is hopes that I’ll understand more and catch onto things that I more than likely missed the first time. So maybe the season will eventually grow on me.
One thing I do want to bring up are the after credits scenes. A user on Threads suggested that instead of giving the big reveal of Chris being thrown into Salvation before the credits rolled, they should’ve made it the very last scene after everything else. Now that would’ve been a jaw dropper of an ending. That slight editing could’ve made all the difference and perhaps even changed the opinions of people in regards to how the show ended.
All in all, it was a decent season. Yes, it’s bound to feel different to the first because we’re being introduced to a new universe. And like all art, it’s subjective. People will have opinions (good or bad) and it’s okay to have discussions and criticisms. That doesn’t take away from the enjoyment of what you’re watching. You’re allowed to say something, so go ahead and say it.
When will we see our 11th Street Kids again? Who’s to say. There’s speculation of a Checkmate spinoff but there’s no confirmation on that at the moment. We’ll just have to be patient and hope that they’ll bless our screens again soon in the near future.
Peacemaker season two is available now to stream on HBO Max.
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