Season 1 E1-8
Created by James Gunn (based on the Charlton comic character by Joe Gill and Pat Boyette)
Starring John Cena, Danielle Brooks, Freddie Stroma
Now that’s how you write a redemption arc.
Break the character down to their core values, examine what those beliefs are and how they were formed, place said character in emotional trauma so they are forced to look at themselves and work out what is actually of value to them, and then rebuild them from the ground up so they re-emerge stronger. If you’re James Gunn then throw in some retro tunes that have kitsch appeal, and a band of misfits bonding in a van (or a bus….or a space van?), and you’ve got yourself some solid entertainment. Peacemaker is certainly that, with a surprisingly emotional central performance from the loveable lug that is John Cena.
After recovering from being shot and having a building collapsed on him in The Suicide Squad, Peacemaker ( John Cena) is once again recruited by ARGUS to carry out black ops. This time a small group is formed to deal with ” The Butterflies” , a secret cabal that has infiltrated all sectors of society. However, with various members of the taskforce pursuing their own agendas, and Peacemaker suffering a degree of self doubt over his actions in Corto Maltese, it’s questionable if they can succeed.
In The Suicide Squad Peacemaker was more of a satirical allegory of the American military’s willingness to commit atrocities in the name of peace. In his own show he’s given a personality and made into a character. There’s a reason for his childish jock mentality, his toxicity, and why his quest is seen in such simplistic terms. We are given an insight into Christopher Smith (Peacemaker’s alter ego) as a person, the tragedy of his upbringing, and what the arrogant bravado hides. The audience is allowed to empathise with him as a character and feel for him, as much as we groan at his douchiness.
It also opens up new opportunities for Cena as an actor. He’s obviously shown his competency in action, and has a remarkable tendency for broad physical comedy, but it’s surprising to see him sink his teeth into something dramatically. There’s a scene in episode six where everything is pretty much in tatters and he takes a moment to sit at a piano and play Mötley Crüe’s ‘Home Sweet Home’. Cena’s genuine imperfect performance is tinged with sorrow and wistfulness, rendered even more poignant when we find out what memory that tune represents in the following episode. It’s a surprising moment, showing us something unexpected in the actor as well as the director’s confidence in allowing that quiet moment to speak so loudly.
If we’re highlighting the dramatic it’s because there’s an unexpected depth here. Sure, James Gunn as a director is capable of making audiences empathise with groups of lovable misfit losers, but here it feels like he’s gone above and beyond his usual fare, but that is not at the expense of the humour and action that has been his trademark. Cena’s earnestness in delivering some extraordinary detailed descriptions of DC heroes supposed sexual proclivities are hilarious, as is the twistedly optimistic view expressed by Freddie Stroma’s Vigilante. Similarly Cena and Stroma bring a substantial physicality to their roles, making the fight choreography a thing of beauty to behold.
Given the talent involved, I think we all expected Peacemaker to be good, but I don’t think we were expecting it to be this great. A joy of a series with some decent dramatic heft in there as well, Peacemaker manages to over deliver on expectations.
