This publish comprises spoilers for “Peacemaker” season 2, episode 6, entitled “Ignorance is Chris.”
Ever for the reason that second season of “Peacemaker” premiered, DC Studios co-CEO and creator of “Peacemaker” James Gunn has been hyping up the tip of the season. On the sequence’ premiere in August, Gunn advised Brandon Davis that episodes “6 and eight could also be my favourite issues I’ve ever completed of all time.” A number of days in the past on social media, Gunn replied to a publish by saying that episode 6, entitled “Ignorance is Chris,” would include John Cena’s “finest appearing ever.” Followers and journalists alike have been asking themselves whether or not Gunn was being on the extent or was taking part in the ballyhoo huckster for the plenty. In any case, Gunn made some extent to not ship the final three episodes of the season out to the press, so was this only a publicity stunt or not?
Now that “Ignorance is Chris” has dropped on HBO Max, I can safely say that Gunn was not simply blowing smoke. The episode works on a formidable variety of ranges, like the best way it drops a large twist that, regardless of being guessed by a number of individuals in the course of the season, nonetheless feels stunning in its boldness in addition to its connection to character. The alternate dimension which Christopher Smith aka Peacemaker (John Cena) has been visiting all season, the one the place his father Auggie (Robert Patrick) and brother Keith (David Denman) are nonetheless alive and Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) loves him overtly, is the DC Universe’s model of Earth-X from the comics, an alternate historical past Earth the place the Nazis gained World Conflict II. This revelation feels akin to an M. Evening Shyamalan movie, the place all the varied clues peppered all through the earlier episodes come to gentle, in addition to varied darkish alternate historical past tales like “Patterns of Pressure” from “Star Trek.” It additionally factors out simply how selfishly ignorant Chris is, having not realized this. As well as, the episode proves that Gunn’s DCU tapestry could also be working exceptionally effectively, and comprises a scene that does certainly include one in all Cena’s best-ever performances.
The Lex Luthor cameo demonstrates Gunn’s deft dealing with of an interconnected universe
Apart from the Earth-X twist, the opposite huge occasion seen in “Ignorance is Chris” was the shock look of Lex Luthor, as performed by Nicholas Hoult. In fact, the prospect of an actor portraying their character from the function movies in a streaming sequence is nothing new, because the Marvel Cinematic Universe has pioneered that crossover method quite a few instances now. But how they’ve completed it have not all been profitable, as some characters have ended up wasted on the small display screen, whereas others established on the small display screen have felt awkwardly inserted into big-screen adventures afterward. Utilizing characters all through varied media ought to work in idea, however in observe, it has not all the time been easy crusing.
Actually, the jury remains to be out in relation to the DCU’s dealing with of crossover characters and different materials. Solely time will inform if the DCU will proceed to carry collectively or collapse underneath its personal weight like many of the cinematic universes earlier than it. That mentioned, Luthor’s look appears like one more occasion of Gunn chopping by the cinematic universe purple tape, so to talk, and utilizing the character as a result of it is acceptable and serves the story greater than the rest. In different phrases, Luthor does not really feel inserted into the scene in a method the place his look would possibly’ve been modified pending Hoult’s schedule, nor does the scene really feel too constructed round him. It is so easy and pure in the best way it serves each “Peacemaker” in addition to begins to plant the seeds for “Man of Tomorrow.” Gunn’s dealing with of the DCU has been impressively savvy to this point, and I am unable to wait to see how effectively this method continues to work.
John Cena and Jennifer Holland do their finest work to this point within the episode
Whereas using “finest ever” to explain something is actually hyperbole, Gunn actually wasn’t exaggerating on this case. Towards the tip of the episode, Chris and Emilia encounter one another after the latter has been detained by A.R.G.U.S., they usually have a dialog that Harcourt has been avoiding and Chris hasn’t been in a position to articulate all season. Gunn’s writing is extremely refreshing right here as a result of most episodic tv tends to play moments near the chest and depart quite a bit unsaid to maintain individuals tuning in. As a substitute, the scene feels remarkably unreserved, each on the a part of the filmmakers and the characters. Chris and Emilia converse their minds plainly, even because the heated feelings and pressure between them deliver them to tears. Cena and Holland are sensational, each actors taking this chance to let unfastened and permit these guarded characters to reveal extra of their souls to one another and us.
This scene is not only a spotlight of the episode and the sequence as a complete; it is also a excessive level for Gunn’s oeuvre. The filmmaker has all the time had a very good ear for dialogue, and his ability with daring, borderline offensive non-sequiturs and quips is arguably what made his profession. But he hasn’t gotten as a lot credit score for the best way he handles romantic pressure. It is appeared all through his profession, in films like “Slither,” the “Guardians of the Galaxy” trilogy, and even “Tromeo and Juliet.” But it is the one-two punch of “Superman” and “Peacemaker” that demonstrates his skill to write down clever character-based dialogue in addition to his eager eye for casting. The scene between Clark (David Corenswet) and Lois (Rachel Brosnahan) in “Superman” and the Chris and Emilia scene in “Peacemaker” really feel like two sides of the identical coin, moments the place the story slows down and lets the characters actually have their say. It is this richness which makes “Peacemaker” season 2 episode 6 actually sing, making it certainly probably the greatest issues Gunn has ever completed.