James Gunn is losing no time diving again into the weird, blood-filled, and largely heartfelt world of Peacemaker with season 2, marking the primary main returning live-action undertaking in his newly rebooted DC Universe. Once we final noticed the eleventh Avenue Children – Peacemaker (John Cena), Vigilante (Freddie Stroma), Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland), John Economos (Steve Agee), and Leota Adebayo (Danielle Brooks) – they’d simply stopped an alien invasion whereas concurrently upstaging the Justice League, turning into heroes in their very own proper. Nonetheless, season 2 arrives in a totally completely different panorama.

Gunn is now co-CEO of the newly minted DC Studios alongside Peter Safran, and his full-scale DCU reboot has begun with the animated Creature Commandos and the brand new Superman film starring David Corenswet. That makes Peacemaker each thrilling and dangerous. It additionally leaves the viewers with a query: How do you proceed a present whose authentic continuity technically now not exists? Gunn’s reply is a “gentle reboot,” a fever dream model the place reminiscences are damaged, timelines are hazy, and something goes. Having seen the primary 5 episodes of Peacemaker, I can formally say that the way in which they outline DCU continuity is definitely good, and I couldn’t consider how good the brand new season is all through.

DC Studios feels poised for a generational run after the vital and field workplace success of Superman, and now Peacemaker is seeking to capitalize. Season 2 does what most comedian ebook tv sequence can’t: ship a follow-up that surpasses the primary season inside its first 5 episodes. From surprising multiversal sequences to completely timed humor, it’s bloody, action-packed, and downright hilarious. Peacemaker season 2 is arguably the most effective superhero undertaking of the yr, and that’s in all probability on account of its fantastically written storyline that blends irreverent comedy, high-stakes journey, and surprisingly emotional character moments.

Peacemaker season 2 picks up after the occasions of each the primary season and the current Superman. Along with his identify cleared, Peacemaker is set to develop into a hero in his personal proper – even going as far as to audition for the Justice Gang. That try doesn’t pan out, however the anti-hero stumbles right into a multiversal journey that Marvel Studios would envy. It begins when he discovers a door inside his father’s Quantum Unfolding Chamber, resulting in an alternate actuality the place each side of his life – and his father – is best. Sadly, that very same discovery places him within the crosshairs of Rick Flagg Sr. (Frank Grillo), A.R.G.U.S., and the U.S. authorities. Whereas the plot delivers loads of surprising twists, what actually makes Peacemaker season 2 shine are the heartfelt, standout performances from its forged.

John Cena as soon as once more leads Peacemaker’s ragtag forged of misfit heroes, and as we noticed in Superman, he hasn’t missed a step. He’s nonetheless the oblivious, obnoxious, naive sociopath we all know and love – however with a deeper layer of character improvement that makes him way more likable. Peacemaker is making an attempt to show his life round, but his previous transgressions dangle over him, and Cena performs that inner battle completely. His most susceptible and emotional moments come when he’s paired with Danielle Brooks, who returns as Leota Adebayo. Brooks stays as a lot the guts of the sequence as ever, holding the eleventh Avenue Children collectively regardless of their dysfunction. This shines particularly in her moments with each Adrian Chase a.ok.a. Vigilante and Emilia Harcourt, the place her heat grounds the chaos round her.

Peacemaker followers might be blissful to listen to Adrian Chase a.ok.a. Vigilante made it by the DCU reboot, and he’s simply as wild as earlier than. He will get extra display screen time this season, and Freddie Stroma has enjoyable taking part in him once more, delivering a efficiency that may rival that of Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool. Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) is in a rougher spot than final time – nonetheless poisonous, nonetheless violent, nonetheless a badass, however making an attempt to get it collectively. John Economos (Steve Agee) is again too, as curmudgeonly as ever, and his scenes with the brand new characters (particularly Tim Meadows) find yourself being a number of the funniest within the sequence.

We additionally meet a bunch of latest faces: Sasha Bordeaux as Sol Rodriguez, Langston Fleury as Tim Meadows and David Denman as a thriller character whose identification we gained’t spoil right here. Frank Grillo returns as Rick Flagg Sr., who ties Creature Commandos, Superman, and The Suicide Squad collectively – particularly since Peacemaker killed Flagg’s son. The brand new forged is nice throughout the board, however Meadows’ Langston Fleury is the standout, even when he can’t inform birds aside. Peacemaker pushes the DCU in instructions followers gained’t count on, and I’m prepared for no matter comes subsequent.

General Ideas: Peacemaker season 2 could be the absolute best manner for James Gunn to hold his DCU reboot ahead. Serving as a pseudo-sequel to this summer season’s Superman, it does nothing however heighten anticipation for what’s subsequent from DC Studios. Gunn crafts a multiversal story that even Marvel Studios could be jealous of, proving that he’s nonetheless a grasp of balancing humor, coronary heart, and excessive stakes. This season will depart followers longing for extra from Peacemaker and the eleventh Avenue Children — a wild, hilarious, and heartfelt trip that calls for to be seen the second it lands on HBO Max.

Ranking: 9/10