If there’s one thing Peacemaker thrives on, it’s chaos. But the kind of chaos James Gunn and his team excel at isn’t just explosions and crass one-liners — it’s the mess of human emotions colliding with absurd comic book insanity.
Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 3 might be the clearest example yet, giving us brutal kills, laugh-out-loud comedy, shocking returns, and an unexpectedly emotional undercurrent that forces Chris Smith to wrestle with what “home” even means.
The opening flashback was an instant curveball. Seeing Harcourt and Rick Flagg three years earlier added layers I didn’t expect.
Their friends-with-benefits arrangement gave them more depth, and Rick’s desire for something serious was almost heartbreaking, especially when you remember his fate in The Suicide Squad.
Joel Kinnaman’s appearance was a welcome surprise, as his presence reframes Harcourt and Rick’s dynamic in a way that will ripple into Chris’s story.
The fact that Chris killed another version of Rick makes this more than just nostalgia — it’s a looming dilemma. Can he really avoid pissing off two different Ricks in two different worlds?
Chris’s multiverse hopping remains the heart of the season, and it continues to be handled surprisingly well. Dimension-jumping can get convoluted fast, but here, it feels purposeful.
Chris Has a Spring in His Step on Peacemaker Season 2
The second universe lets us see Chris in a world where his family is alive, he’s a recognized hero, and he has the chance to pursue a less-traumatized version of Harcourt.
It’s the kind of second chance that feels tailor-made for a character who’s spent most of his life messing everything up. Of course, it’s bound to get messy, but that’s what makes it so compelling.
Keith’s role in this episode is especially impactful. In Chris’s original reality, Keith is gone, leaving Chris without any family figure or anchor. So watching them interact in this universe adds emotional heft.
Keith’s concern — asking if Chris is drinking or using — lands with real weight. For once, Chris has someone genuinely looking out for him.
It’s touching, but it’s also precarious, because this isn’t really “their” Chris. He killed the Chris they knew, and that truth could come crashing down at any moment.
Then comes the twist no one saw coming: Chris running into this world’s Rick Flagg. He doesn’t confront him so much as stumble into his presence, but the shock is palpable.
The mix of tension and comedy in those scenes was perfectly on brand for Peacemaker. Rick awkwardly spying on Harcourt and Chris is both funny and unnerving, a reminder that this series can balance absurdity with real stakes like few others.
It also opens the door for some rich conflict — Chris is now forced to navigate a relationship with a man whose alternate self he killed.
Harcourt’s dynamic with Chris continues to be one of the show’s strongest elements. John Cena and Jennifer Holland sell the connection in a way that feels authentic, even when the writing veers into the outrageous.
A Tale of Two Harcourts
Their chemistry doesn’t feel forced; it feels messy, complicated, and believable. Harcourt’s offer at the end — that hint of wanting something more — felt earned.
This version of her hasn’t been broken down by years of trauma in quite the same way, so she sees Chris differently. Whether or not it will last is another question, but the potential is there.
The Sons of Liberty attack was a brutal escalation. The bombing sequence raised the stakes in a big way, with bodies piling up and chaos ripping through the city.
It reminded me that this show can go darker than expected without losing its humor. Chris’s rooftop infiltration and bomb-diffusing sequence was the perfect blend of who he is: part reckless chaos agent, part reluctant hero.
He makes mistakes, but when it counts, he steps up. That duality is why he works so well as a protagonist.
Keith saving the day in the climax added another punch. His existence alone is a reminder that Chris is playing with fire by clinging to this universe.
Keith shouldn’t be here. Chris knows it. But the fact that he is gives Chris another reason to want to stay in this world, where things make more sense for him.
Meanwhile, back in Chris’s original dimension, the A.R.G.U.S. subplot heated up. It makes perfect sense that they’d want to bring him down after Eagley’s attack on Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 2. A.R.G.U.S. has always been shady, so their plotting feels like a natural escalation rather than a tacked-on obstacle.
The added wrinkle of Rick Flagg Sr. leading the charge makes it all the more personal. Economos being forced to question his loyalty was another strong thread, showing how much this conflict is splintering the team.
And then there’s JudoMaster. His reintroduction was hilarious, shocking, and perfectly in character. His casually aligning with A.R.G.U.S. might feel random, but honestly, the agency isn’t exactly known for competence, so having a volatile wild card on their payroll fits.
His “hey, fatty” greeting to Economos was classic Peacemaker humor — offensive and blunt, but in a way that sparks genuine laughs.
Thematically, this episode hammered home the idea of belonging. Chris keeps calling this reality “the best dimension ever,” and you can see why. He has a family. He has respect. He has a possible shot at love with Harcourt.
Chris Has a Big Decision to Make
For a man who’s spent most of his life desperate for validation and connection, that’s intoxicating. But the show doesn’t let us forget the cost: he’s abandoning his real world, his real responsibilities, and possibly even himself.
The multiverse angle is paying off by deepening these themes instead of just creating fan-service cameos.
By the time the credits rolled, I found myself thinking about how much stronger this season has become since its shaky start.
The Peacemaker Season 2 premiere felt uneven, but these last two episodes have been fantastic. They’ve leaned into everything that makes Peacemaker special: the mix of gore and heart, the gallows humor, and the willingness to push the character into uncomfortable territory.
And then there was the standout kill of the week: Chris stabbing a man in each ear with pencils and swirling them like he was whipping up a meal. It was grotesque, over-the-top, and somehow satisfying given how despicable the Sons of Liberty were.
That’s peak Peacemaker — disgusting, violent, and impossible to look away from.
Three episodes in, Peacemaker Season 2 has found its groove. It’s more ambitious than Peacemaker Season 1, and while the multiverse storyline risks tipping into messy territory, right now it’s enriching Chris’s journey. If anyone deserves a do-over, it’s him.
The question is, which world will he choose — and how much blood will spill before he makes that decision?
What are your thoughts on where the series is headed and the multiverse being used for deeper themes as opposed to cameos?
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