Peacemaker Season-Finale Recap: Keep on Keeping On

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The ending of *Peacemaker* might seem confusing if you don’t consider the bigger picture of James Gunn’s plans for the DC Universe. The finale quickly introduces Checkmate, a new organization dedicated to improving the world – and likely will be explored further in a future *Peacemaker* spin-off. Similarly, the planet Salvation, revealed through the Quantum Unfolding Chamber, comes from the comics and will be important in a future DC project. James Gunn himself confirms this, stating it will be “an incredibly important thing” for the DC Universe’s future, as revealed in the documentary following the episode.

The latest episode of *Peacemaker*, “Full Nelson,” wraps up the season’s storylines, but feels more like a preview of what James Gunn has planned for the DC Universe going forward. While it tries to bring emotional threads to a close, it largely serves as a setup for future projects.

This episode finally explains what happened between Chris and Harcourt on the infamous party boat. After a night of drinking at Big Belly Burger, they accidentally ended up on a rock cruise hosted by the band Nelson, where they shared a dance and a kiss.

Currently, Chris is in prison, isolating himself and refusing to see anyone because he believes being close to him will lead to tragedy for others. At the same time, A.R.G.U.S. is searching for a habitable planet using the Quantum Unfolding Chamber, but the mission is dangerous and results in several agent deaths. Throughout this, Gunn enjoys hinting at the many bizarre alternate realities within the *Peacemaker* universe, showcasing worlds like a deceptively sweet paradise filled with killer imps and a grim zombie apocalypse.

Okay, so here’s what bugged me about the latest installment. Remember Earth-X from *Peacemaker* season two – that alternate reality where the Nazis won the war? It felt completely dropped. I wasn’t expecting Peacemaker’s crew to suddenly become a full-blown resistance movement, but honestly, not *anyone* seemed to feel even a little bad about escaping to our universe while millions were left suffering under a Nazi regime? It just felt like a missed opportunity to add some real emotional weight.

In “Half Nelson,” the 11th Street Kids explore a familiar idea for Gunn: a group of damaged individuals becoming a chosen family. After helping Chris with money recovered from Vigilante, Adebayo helps him realize his issues aren’t personal failings, but stem from ignoring his gut feelings. His life has been negatively shaped by people like his father and Amanda Waller, but now, together, the 11th Street Kids have a chance to build the lives they want.

The new series, Checkmate, will feature a team assembled from characters introduced in the second season of *Peacemaker*. While the show suggested potential for redemption for Judomaster, Fleury, and Sasha Bordeaux, it feels sudden and unconvincing to see them quickly join forces with Chris, Harcourt, Adebayo, Vigilante, and Economos in a fast-paced montage. Their teamwork doesn’t feel properly developed or justified.

The episode also resolves the question Chris has been repeatedly asking throughout the season: was there a connection with Harcourt on the boat? Finally, Harcourt lets her guard down and gives him the answer he wanted to hear: “Yes, of course it did. It meant everything.”

This scene lets Gunn play the song “Oh Lord” one last time as Chris happily dances alone. However, it’s likely the happiest moment he’ll have for a while. The season ends with a shocking turn: Rick Flag Sr. suddenly takes Chris and imprisons him through a secret doorway A.R.G.U.S. found. Chris is the first inmate on Salvation, a prison that will soon hold all the metahumans A.R.G.U.S. wants to remove from Earth. But that might not even be his biggest worry – the episode closes with Chris hearing a terrifying, monstrous howl and otherworldly growls. At least things aren’t as bad as being stuck in a Nazi-controlled reality.

Stray bullets:

Alt-Keith didn’t appear in the season finale, but it’s probably safe to assume we haven’t seen the last of him. A third season seems very likely, even though Tim Gunn has a lot on his plate right now, but it hasn’t been officially confirmed yet.

It’s hard to say how many people were hoping to see Adebayo and Keeya’s relationship resolved, but their breakup is handled with nuance in the writing by James Gunn and brought to life by strong performances from Danielle Brooks and Elizabeth Ludlow.

Similar to much of the season, the finale didn’t have a lot of comedic moments, but Steve Agee deserves praise for a particularly hilarious scene. He played Economos brilliantly as he awkwardly tried to make casual conversation, hoping to distract A.R.G.U.S. from Harcourt and Sasha.

I’m interested to see how the second season of *Creature Commandos* handles the conflicting portrayals of Rick Flag Sr. The show initially presented him as flawed but well-intentioned, while *Peacemaker* showed him as a vengeful and corrupt leader. While I can understand him being driven by grief, it’s difficult to reconcile those versions of the character, especially considering his actions – like using a government agency to support a war criminal and illegally kidnapping Chris and abandoning him on another planet.

The season finale featured a diverse range of songs, including Hardcore Superstar’s “Someone Special,” a simplified version of Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” and Steel Panther’s explicit track, “Fucking My Heart in the Ass.” Additionally, Nelson performed a lengthy, heartfelt rendition of their ballad “To Get Back to You,” and Foxy Shazam delivered a powerful performance of “Oh Lord,” a fan-favorite song from season two.

• Big Belly Burger, an homage to Bob’s Big Boy, has its own rich history in DC Comics.

I noticed something really cool – James Gunn apparently put a little Easter egg in *The Suicide Squad*! James Harcourt has a new desk figurine that’s actually a nod to the pattern on Rick Flag Jr.’s shirt in the movie. It’s those kinds of details that I absolutely love as a film fan – a fun little connection for those who paid attention!

I’m making a lot of progress in *Princess Peach: Showtime!* It’s challenging, and it’s not simply because the main character is female.

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2025-10-10 19:07