This text accommodates spoilers up by way of to “Peacemaker” season 2, episode 4, “Want I Say Door.”
The idea of an ongoing multi-franchise movie sequence — what we have come to consult with as a “cinematic universe” — continues to be comparatively in its infancy. Regardless of the decade-and-change existence of issues just like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Conjuring Universe, there may be nonetheless loads of experimentation and wiggle room as to how every property chooses to deal with its rising continuity. The longest working franchises, such because the James Bond films, the “Halloween” movies and others, have tended to decide on a second to interrupt continuity with the previous, presenting sure new installments as beginning factors, whether or not by way of the technique of a remake or a reboot. This may be the quickest and cleanest approach of beginning recent, however whereas this transfer frees up the narrative, it implies that among the thematic and emotional resonance {that a} property good points over time could possibly be misplaced.
James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe, born from the ashes of the DC Prolonged Universe, is a captivating case of an ongoing universe treading a brand new path relating to continuity. Whereas most of us initially assumed that Gunn’s “Superman” (and “Creature Commandos” earlier than it) would mark the breaking off level for the defunct DCEU, the second season of “Peacemaker” has confirmed these assumptions faulty. As seen within the season thus far, it appears like Gunn is taking a parallel universe method to merging the DCU and the DCEU. That’s to say that we will assume that occasions in that universe did transpire the best way we noticed them beforehand, until in any other case said. So, Gunn’s “Superman” acts as a reboot of that title character, because the movie makes clear that this isn’t the identical Superman who endured the occasions of “Man of Metal,” “Batman v Superman: Daybreak of Justice,” and so forth. But, “Peacemaker” has solely retconned a pair parts, and we have taken a take a look at what’s been modified. Here is what has remained the identical: “Peacemaker” continues to be very a lot a sequel to Gunn’s “The Suicide Squad,” not simply in lore but in addition by way of its emotional and thematic continuity as nicely. In actual fact, a big portion of this new season offers with the fallout of selections made in “The Suicide Squad,” particularly the homicide of Rick Flag Jr. (Joel Kinnaman), which is each an thrilling and narratively accountable choice on Gunn’s half.
Shifting from the DCEU to the DCU is not a get out of jail free card for Peacemaker
A part of the creative motivation for Gunn to make “Peacemaker” following “The Suicide Squad” is as a continuation of his career-long take a look at underdogs and misfit characters. As with “The Specials” and “Tremendous,” Gunn’s “The Suicide Squad” is a few group of B- and C-list superheroes and antiheroes whose morals are decidedly in every single place. Probably the most loathsome of the group, at the least relating to morality, is Peacemaker (John Cena) himself, who, with out query, follows the orders of the Squad chief Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) to cowl up all proof of American involvement in a secret authorities challenge. One of many methods during which Peacemaker makes an attempt to make sure that is by murdering Flag, who was ready to go in opposition to Waller’s orders as soon as he found the reality behind Mission Starfish. Whereas Peacemaker will not be the principle villain of “The Suicide Squad,” he is primarily the turncoat character, who in some methods is much more risible to audiences. So “Peacemaker,” then, is Gunn’s experiment to see if he can take such an unlikeable character and make him a beloved protagonist of one other challenge.
Given the reception to each the primary and now second season of “Peacemaker,” one may definitely say that mission has been achieved. What’s spectacular is how Gunn had an apparent and straightforward clear slate to make use of for the titular character (and the present’s complete ensemble of ne’er do wells) with the sequence’ transfer from the DCEU to the DCU. It could’ve been very doable for Gunn to say that “The Suicide Squad” by no means occurred to this new DCU Peacemaker, or that it occurred differently, and so forth. As an alternative, Gunn is leaning into the connection to the 2021 movie and is twisting the emotional knife even more durable. Now, Peacemaker would not simply must reckon with murdering Flag Jr. and take care of the following seek for revenge that Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo) is endeavor in opposition to him. He additionally should reconcile the truth that the girl he is fallen in love with, Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland), was Flag Jr.’s lover earlier than he died. Then there’s the matter of the alternate universe that Peacemaker has discovered because of his father’s stolen tech, during which Flag Jr. continues to be alive and is in a relationship with that universe’s Harcourt, who was concerned with that universe’s Chris AKA Peacemaker, whom our universe’s Peacemaker killed in self-defense earlier this season. By conserving the repercussions of Chris’ mistake alive whereas additionally introducing a parallel occasion of Peacemaker killing the fallacious man (a model of himself, rattling the subtlety), Gunn is utilizing the fabric made for the DCEU to feed the DCU in a intelligent and emotionally vibrant approach.
What else could possibly be retained within the DCU from the DCEU?
Whereas all of this may appear complicated, we usually know the place the occasions of “Peacemaker” and its core characters stand. The jury continues to be out, nonetheless, on which different characters and future tasks throughout the DCU will cherry-pick parts from the DCEU to hold ahead. The possibilities are that the massive marquee characters, i.e. Superman, Batman, The Flash, and so forth, will not be in any type of continuity with their DCEU exploits. But, Rick Flag Jr.’s admission of relationship June Moone aka Enchantress from 2016’s “Suicide Squad” (performed by Cara Delevingne) in “Peacemaker” begs the query whether or not that film can be nonetheless loosely a part of the DCU’s continuity. We all know that Gunn has gone on the document to substantiate that “Blue Beetle,” the 2023 DCEU movie, continues to be largely canon to the DCU, too. So, that is at the least two, and probably three, DCEU films that retain canon parts for the DCU going ahead.
The large query is whether or not this piecemeal method to constructing out the DCU will find yourself paying off or if it would turn out to be a much bigger headache than it is price. There isn’t any doubt that basic audiences are much more primed to know these superior storytelling mechanics than they’d’ve been a decade or so in the past, particularly because of the MCU’s multiverse saga bringing over a bunch of beforehand established heroes, like Patrick Stewart’s Professor Xavier and Wesley Snipes’ Blade, to its latest entries. Whereas it is doubtless that Gunn himself will get a headache or two upon talking to the media about who and what’s canon (if he hasn’t already), the key to all of this in the long term is one thing that the filmmaker has already found, which is that it in the end would not matter so long as the alternatives serve the story and character in a compelling approach. It is one factor to maintain continuity merely to appease the literal-minded. Nevertheless, “Peacemaker” illustrates that Gunn wasn’t all for taking any shortcuts or ticking off containers, however as a substitute wished to retain the ethical and emotional weight and pressure that makes “Peacemaker” so compelling. Whereas it is nonetheless unclear how a lot Chris might be trusted, it is apparent now that the viewers is in nice fingers with Gunn and “Peacemaker.”
New episodes of “Peacemaker” roll out Thursdays on HBO Max.
