Peacemaker Season 2, Episode 7: Chaos, Cameos, and a Crushing Twist!

Before you read on, be warned: this review contains full spoilers for Peacemaker Season 2, Episode 7 – titled “Like a Keith in the Night.”

Following last week’s explosive episode, which delivered a surprise Nicholas Hoult cameo as Lex Luthor and unveiled the shocking truth about the “Best Dimension Ever,” Peacemaker’s second season is now hitting its stride. James Gunn, who penned the entire season (with Alethea Jones directing this installment), continues to prove his mastery of unexpected plot twists, ensuring that even the most dedicated fans can’t predict every turn.

While many theorized that John Cena’s Chris was living a fabricated life on the Nazi-controlled Earth-X, and that prediction largely came true, few could have anticipated Robert Patrick’s alternate Auggie Smith being a hero instead of the monstrous Nazi we know. Early in the episode, there’s a subtle hint when he remembers seeing what could only be his prime-Earth counterpart in the Quantum Unfolding Chamber, describing him as “something cruel, like he came from a world that was a dark version of ours.” Then, just before chaos erupts at the alt-Smith residence in the episode’s climax – as the unlikely team of Ads (Danielle Brooks), both Vigilantes (Freddie Stroma), and Judomaster (Nhut Le) attempt to rescue Chris and Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) – alt-Auggie delivers a powerful speech about combating “the madmen, murderers and monsters in front of me, because that’s all I can control.” This reviewer certainly didn’t see that twist coming!

Tragically, alt-Auggie is killed moments later by one of the Vigilantes, a moment played for dark humor. This season has, at times, felt like it was treading water for the first five weeks. With brief episode runtimes, we’re now hurtling towards the finale with just one week remaining. A bit more time exploring alt-Auggie’s character and Gunn’s deeper intentions behind this surprising twist would have been welcome. Was it to show that good can exist even in the darkest eras? Or perhaps that one remains complicit, even when fighting perceived good fights, if greater evil persists? The message remains somewhat ambiguous.

Season 2 masterfully balances the crazy notion of a fascist world with the show’s signature funny and wacky tone.

Despite these lingering questions, “Like a Keith in the Night” stands out as one of the season’s strongest episodes. It’s packed with hilarious moments (like the “His favorite Pokemon is also Infernape!” line) and genuinely emotional beats. The scene with Harcourt resting her head on Chris’s back, and him taking her hand on the Peace-Cycle, set to a rock ballad while being chased by the police, is a standout. John Cena continues to deliver an impressive performance, especially during Chris’s poignant breakdown over the lives he’s taken.

Since the shocking revelation of the Nazi-dominated Earth – where, yes, they won World War II, causing this entire predicament – Peacemaker Season 2 has brilliantly navigated the tricky balance between a fascist alternate reality and the show’s signature comedic and wild energy. Gunn’s work consistently blends strong character development, absurd scenarios, and profound emotional depth. Managing to portray a Black actress being pursued by a mob of white supremacists while maintaining a “light” tone is a remarkable achievement, particularly when the scene culminates in that mob being comically electrocuted in a swimming pool.

The episode begins exactly where the previous one left off. As Harcourt highlights the unmistakable signs of a “Nazi planet” – omnipresent copies of Mein Kampf, a mural of Hitler on the A.R.G.U.S. wall – Chris awkwardly tries to break up with alt-Harcourt. This scene, which could easily have been dark, ominous, or frightening, is instead played for pure comedic gold.

Much of this week’s runtime is dedicated to the 11th Street Kids escaping their predicaments from the last episode, leaving other characters somewhat underdeveloped. For instance, Frank Grillo’s Rick Flag Sr. encounters Lex’s assistant (Stephen Blackehart’s Sydney Happersen, a rather subdued cameo compared to last summer’s Superman), who promptly finds Peacemaker’s dimensional portal. However, Rick Sr.’s scenes offer little insight into his true agenda or his obsession with these portals.

Following alt-Auggie’s unexpected heroism, alt-Harcourt’s allegiances remain unclear. Is she a genuine Nazi, or merely surviving amongst them? And does it even matter, much like the questions surrounding alt-Auggie’s choices? With only one episode remaining, it’s uncertain if we’ll get concrete answers. Meanwhile, David Denman’s Keith, also known as Captain Triumph, is understandably fueled by rage over his brother’s death. Now that alt-Auggie, a moderating influence, is gone – and Harcourt failed to neutralize Keith before returning home – the looming final confrontation between Keith and Chris promises to be intense.

Final Musings from the Quantum Unfolding Chamber:

• “You thought I wanted a piece of string!?” – A truly memorable line.
• It was a relief to see the two Vigilantes remain allies, fighting side-by-side!
• Ads, Judomaster, and Scrobble make a surprisingly effective team!
• Lochlyn Munro’s return as Detective Fitzgibbon, free from any butterfly control, was a delightful nod to Season 1, reminding us that in alternate realities, nobody truly stays dead.
• Chris and Harcourt demonstrated excellent teamwork in that opening fight, delivering bone-crunching action to a guitar soundtrack. The highlight? Harcourt knocking out a pursuer with a copy of Mein Kampf.
• The trailer for next week’s finale teases even stranger alternate dimensions. We can’t wait to see how it all unfolds.