This review contains full spoilers for Peacemaker Season 2, Episode 6 – “Ignorance Is Chris.”
And just like that, it’s a Nazi planet.
The internet’s predictions from weeks ago are finally confirmed as we dive into the season’s crucial final chapters. John Cena’s Peacemaker’s so-called “Best Dimension Ever” is, in reality, a world dominated by Nazis—or at least a nation within it. They’ve even got a chilling Nazi American flag to prove it!
However, the Nazi reveal is just the tip of the iceberg in “Ignorance Is Chris.” After what felt like a rather slow-paced season, the episode slams the accelerator in its last ten minutes, thrusting each major character into dramatic and perilous situations. Let’s delve into the most shocking.
Rick Flag Sr., played by Frank Grillo, has struck a deal with the devil. As he starkly puts it, A.R.G.U.S. is now “partners with Lex Luthor.” Indeed, Nicholas Hoult makes a compelling appearance, stepping directly from this past summer’s Superman movie, to provide Rick Sr. with a method to track Peacemaker’s dimensional portal. The buzz around this episode was intense, with HBO holding back advance screeners and James Gunn himself engaging in interviews—a clear sign something monumental was about to unfold.
Did anyone else notice Lex’s demeanor in this episode? Hoult’s portrayal felt distinctly colder, more serious, and undeniably scarier than his performance in Superman. Perhaps it’s the darker, more mature canvas that Peacemaker provides its characters, or perhaps it stems from Lex’s deep-seated resentment. From his twisted viewpoint, he attempted to rid the world of “the metahuman blight” only to be condemned to Belle Reve for a lifetime (or 265 years, whichever comes first) among the very super-powered individuals he despises.
So then who is the real villain of this season?
Despite Rick Sr.’s initial reluctance to revisit dimensional rifts following the events of Superman, it’s becoming increasingly evident he harbors a grander scheme. He subtly reveals to Lex that he has “another idea” for what to do once he finds Chris’ tech. What could it be? The scene between Hoult and Grillo is masterfully executed, emphasizing that Rick Sr. isn’t a straightforward villain, but rather a man navigating a morally ambiguous landscape where even good intentions can pave the way for disastrous choices.
So, if not Rick Sr., who exactly is the season’s true antagonist? It appears to be the Nazi dimension itself. While Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) immediately recognized the absence of people of color upon their arrival, it’s Danielle Brooks’ Ads who becomes the immediate target. What begins as curious stares from a passing driver quickly escalates into a chilling “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” scenario, with the entire neighborhood, including Chris’ seemingly kind brother Keith (David Denman), pursuing her. Keith’s sudden hateful outburst, yelling “One got out! A black!”, is a stark and disturbing transformation of a previously lovable character into a monster.
This shocking reveal, though widely predicted by fans, is expertly cross-cut with the rest of the 11th Street Kids facing their own dire predicaments. Steve Agee’s Economos, caught in a rather ill-conceived plan to simply wait at the Smith house, encounters alt-Auggie instead of Chris. The formidable Blue Dragon, despite his age, proves his speed, swiftly incapacitating Economos and injuring his hand. This forces Economos to divulge every detail about Chris Prime… who of course killed Auggie’s Chris.
Meanwhile, Adrian (Freddie Stroma), finally back in his Vigilante suit, achieves a bizarre dream: meeting his alternate self. Their uncanny resemblance leads to a series of classic Gunn-style oddities and awkward laughs, until alt-Adrian drops a bombshell: his hatred for Peacemaker, which led him to join the Sons of Liberty!
The Sons of Liberty, the very group Chris lethally stopped in Episode 3, were a terrorist organization in his home dimension. Now, speculation suggests they are freedom fighters in this Nazi-dominated world. If true, this means Chris didn’t just kill his alternate self, but also a group of genuine heroes in this dimension. It truly is the Worst Dimension Ever.
And then there’s the deepening entanglement between Chris and Harcourt. Not only does Chris confront the horrifying Nazi flag – a truly crushing moment for any hero and patriot who believed he’d found an idyllic life – but the complex dynamic between him and Harcourt, and the emergence of the other Harcourt, reaches a critical point. Their relationship, in particular, is now exquisitely complicated:
Chris: “I know you don’t hate me.”
Harcourt: “I know you know I don’t.”
Chris: “But I’m in love with you, Emilia.”
Harcourt: “Yeah, I know.”
Chris: “Yeah, I figured.”
This is yet another brilliantly executed scene in an episode full of them, showcasing remarkable emotional range from John Cena and Jennifer Holland, especially considering Peacemaker’s origins in The Suicide Squad.
And all of this unfolds before alt-Harcourt has our Harcourt Prime arrested…
Deep Dive from the Quantum Unfolding Chamber:
- It’s amusing that Lex Luthor hasn’t even heard of Peacemaker!
- Was Lex’s cane a result of Krypto’s attack in Superman, or is he simply still recovering? Could this foreshadow the power suit teased by Gunn for “Man of Tomorrow”?
- Where has Judomaster gone? He also crossed dimensions last episode. Given the nature of this “Nazi planet,” it’s unlikely to be a welcoming place for him either…
- Who is the mysterious prisoner Lex refers Rick Sr. to in next week’s preview?
- And what is Rick Sr.’s ultimate objective? Is he genuinely trying to reconnect with a version of his son, even if it’s an alternate one? This would certainly add a poignant layer to the season’s overarching themes.
Verdict: Peacemaker Season 2 had been a slow burn, enjoyable but deliberate. This episode, however, reignites the momentum, delivering a cascade of exciting events: a highly anticipated cameo, the chilling revelation of the “Best Dimension Ever,” and the entire 11th Street Kids crew finally thrust back into thrilling action after a period of relative calm.