The MCU and I are barely on speaking terms since "Avengers: Endgame" (with the exception of "Thunderbolts" and maybe "Black Widow," but I'll love just about anything if you throw Florence Pugh in it). But the last thing I expected to fill the MCU-sized hole in my heart was HBO Max's "Peacemaker" series.
For starters, I'd never been a huge fan of any DC heroes outside of "Watchmen," which purists will tell you barely qualifies as DC. When I heard John Cena's (admittedly very funny) side character from James Gunn's "The Suicide Squad" was getting his own spin-off, I wrote it off as something I've been calling "Boy TV."
Boy TV features shows designed to be quoted endlessly by college freshmen and high schoolers trying to seem cool. Usually crass, occasionally entertaining, but overhyped by guys who just learned how to pronounce mise-en-scène. The kind of shows that girlfriends humor and quietly endure like that one scene in the "Barbie" movie where the Kens play guitar at them. When really they're thinking: "....so that's it?"
But while I barely remember most of Gunn's unnecessary reboot, Peacemaker stands out. His caricature of toxic masculinity and good 'ol boy shtick with Cena's deadpan delivery absolutely killed me, especially the line: "I cherish peace with all of my heart. I don't care how many men, women and children I need to kill to get it." After seeing a few clips of HBO Max's "Peacemaker" season 2 on TikTok that made me laugh out loud, I figured what the hell, I'd give it a shot. I've enjoyed some of Boy TV's greatest hits in the past; I've quoted "Rick and Morty" and "The Hangover" with the best of 'em (and yes, before you ask, boy movies do count as Boy TV. Don't think too hard about it).
Just a few episodes in, I began kicking myself for sleeping on a brilliant show that certainly deserves its spot on our list of the best TV shows of 2025. Yes, it's that good. Kinda dumb, not going to lie, but endearing as hell and an absolute treat to watch.
I've binged both eight-episode seasons ahead of this week's season 2 finale, and it's everything I've been missing from the MCU. So don't repeat my mistake of sleeping on "Peacemaker" — here's why you should watch this Boy TV that's actually good ASAP.
What is 'Peacemaker' about?
John Cena returns as "The Suicide Squad's" standout himbo, Peacemaker (secret identity: Chris Smith), who's still recovering from his injuries after his mission with Task Force X. He gets drafted into yet another top-secret and ill-conceived operation run by the mysterious A.R.G.U.S. to flush out a race of parasitic butterfly-like body-snatching aliens hiding among us a la "The Thing."
His crew is once again an utter mismatch of memorable personalities and people who'd rather be anywhere else. There's Jennifer Holland's angry gremlin nightmare-woman Emilia Harcourt, Peacemaker's self-proclaimed best bud Vigilante (Freddie Stroma), pencil-pusher John Economos (Steve Agee) who's been roped into this Avengers knock-off, and Chukwudi Iwuji's no-nonsense mercenary Clemson Murn at the helm.
Rounding out the team is "The Orange is the New Black's" Danielle Brooks as Leota Adebayo, the only normal one of the bunch. I can't gush enough about her performance here. Every C-list hero on this team ends up being an underdog you can't help but root for, but Brooks stands out with charm to spare.
It's clear from episode one that she's in way over her head with this whole "mercenary" business, like anyone who's gotten a job they're hopelessly under-qualified for, she opts to embrace the chaos, work hard, and hope for the best. And it makes for some genuinely heart-warming moments of growth and resilience for her character.
Why 'Peacemaker' is must-watch TV
With James Gunn, the same director behind the "Guardians of the Galaxy" films and the highly acclaimed first entry in the relaunched DCU "Superman," at the helm, I really shouldn't have been surprised by how great "Peacemaker" is. The banter is sharp and consistently funny, with Peacemaker always finding new, ridiculous things to say. And the soundtrack is just as excellent as you'd expect given Gunn’s track record with "Guardians of the Galaxy." Just like he made us care about a talking raccoon obsessed with stealing prosthetic limbs, he’s somehow made a problematic C-list DC character into a hero worth cheering for.
What "Peacemaker" does better than any previous DC adaptation is fully lean into the absurdity of its own premise — and it does so with sharp self-awareness. Adding to the chaos is the fact that Peacemaker is completely unaware of the absurdity around him. Despite being a wanted felon, he sees nothing wrong with strutting around in full costume in broad daylight, even as his teammates constantly call him out for it.
Still, as far as superhero standards go, he's downright ordinary. Sure, he’s been trained to kill since childhood by his dad, who's basically KKK Iron Man, and has the physique of a guy who lives at the gym, but he lacks the high-powered gadgets of Batman or the superhuman strength of Superman. And when it comes to brains, he's got about as much sense as a screen door on a submarine.
It's precisely because the show doesn't waste any time trying to whitewash this poor excuse for a hero that I found myself glued to my seat from the first episode. Or at least, not after I saw the intro: a fully choreographed dance number starring the entire cast. The theater kid in me lost their ever-loving mind at such commitment to the bit.
Over the course of season one, we watch him evolve from a total jerk into someone learning to grow from their mistakes, form genuine friendships, and really come into their own. Season 2 ratchets up the emotional stakes and puts Peacemaker's growth to the test with temptation after temptation to abandon everything he's worked for.
Stream 'Peacemaker' on HBO Max now
I didn't expect to like "Peacemaker" as much as I did, but after binging it ahead of the Season 2 finale, I can confidently say it's as good as the MCU at its peak. I was already excited for Gunn's plans for the DCU after "Superman," but now I can't wait to see what he cooks up next.
I'm far from the only one raving about this show. "Peacemaker" season 1 managed a near-perfect 93% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes before upping the ante with season 2's 97%.
"John Cena's still in solid form in Peacemaker, leading a bloody good time that gives writer-director James Gunn full permission to let his freak flag fly," reads the first season's critical consensus.
With only eight 45-minute episodes each season, "Peacemaker" makes for a great bite-sized binge session that'll also help get you up to speed with the latest superhero cinematic universe. And you won't have to wonder if you're investing in something that'll be canceled soon anyway.
Stream "Peacemaker" on HBO Max now
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