Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Peacemaker

  • ‘Peacemaker’ Episode 8 Primer

    ‘Peacemaker’ Episode 8 Primer

    The very first series set within DC’s extended universe is about to reach the end of its first season. Peacemaker gave us a chance to get even closer to the character we once only considered “douchey Captain America” (John Cena’s words, not mine) and over the past seven episodes, we’ve seen some fantastic development with the titular character, winning over the hearts of many skeptics who’d held a grudge since the murder of Rick Flag. Now the finale is almost here and soon enough we’ll be pining for more.

    The penultimate episode, ‘Stop Dragon My Heart Around’, finally answered the question we’ve been wondering since early in the season: what happened to Christopher Smith’s brother? The answer: Chris happened. In a pit match between the two brothers, set up by Auggie and his friends, in an attempt to look tough and not let his father down, Chris wailed on his brother a little too hard, injuring his brain and killing him.

    The present day saw Christopher Smith on the run with Vigilante and Economos, split off from the rest of the group to face the “cow” on their own. This plan was blown to pieces as the White Dragon and his group followed them, striking first and throwing the mission off course. Vigilante bravely provided a distraction for Chris and Economos, by unpinning a grenade and being caught in the blast, nearly killing himself.

    Elsewhere, the rest of the team fell into shambles as Harcourt clashed with Adebayo after her betrayal (she planted the fake diary in Peacemaker’s trailer) was revealed. Things were cut short when the Butterflies arrived, presumably after Murn. Goff quickly dispatched of Murn and the Murn butterfly in sight of Harcout and Adebayo. And just when it seemed things could not possibly get worse, they do indeed as Judomaster returned! giving Harcourt and Adebayo a good fight before eventually escaping again.

    The White Dragon and his followers find Peacemaker and one of the show’s biggest conflicts finally came to a head. This fight is a big moment for the character, as he faced the source of his abuse, ending in Peacemaker shooting his father in the head, and ending the torment he’s faced since he was a child.

    The team regrouped at a local vet where Eagly is given medical care after being backhanded by the White Dragon and they decide to put aside their differences and finish the mission. The final scenes revealed the “cow”, which wasn’t actually a cow at all, but rather a giant slug-larva that’s the source of the amber fluid.

    However this ends, it’ll surely be quite outlandish. Lets just hope we don’t have to wait too long to see Peacemaker officially renewed for season 2 at HBO Max.

  • Jame Gunn Teases New Genre for Next ‘The Suicide Squad’ Spinoff

    Jame Gunn Teases New Genre for Next ‘The Suicide Squad’ Spinoff

    James Gunn‘s The Suicide Squad spinoff, Peacemaker, was just renewed for a second season but that isn’t all the director has been actively working on. He’s teased that there are other projects in some form of development, but never gave away what exactly it might end up being. In an interview with Deadline, the director did avoid a joke question about Peter Capaldi‘s Thinker becoming the main focus, he joked around but ended up teasing the next spinoff that might explore a different genre altogether.

    I can’t say anything. It is connected to this universe, and I don’t think it will be the same genre as Peacemaker, it won’t be as much a comedy as Peacemaker, but it will be in the same universe.

    It makes sense for the director to try out new things, he is no stranger to exploring different genres. I would love to see him return to his horror roots with DC characters. His latest two projects did include the ongoing theme of body-snatching – a curious recurring theme there Gunn – but there’s a lot of potential for him to fully embrace those roots. We’ll probably still have to wait for a bit until we get an actual announcement but it’ll be exciting.

    Source: Deadline

  • James Gunn to Direct and Write Every ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 Episode

    James Gunn to Direct and Write Every ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 Episode

    Peacemaker is the very first TV spin-off series set within the DC Extended Universe and has been quite popular with fans. The series featured the return of John Cena in the titular role, following the post-credit scene in which his character was revealed to be alive. With the series being praised by critics and fans, it seemed like a definite to get a second season. James Gunn has taken to Twitter to confirm that Peacemaker will indeed be returning for a second season on HBO Max. Not just that, it turns out that he’ll also be writing and directing every single episode.

    https://twitter.com/jamesgunn/status/1494020020980097024?s=21
    itr

    This news comes just hours before the finale of the first season, which will see the conclusion on the butterfly’s invasion. It’s also unknown just who will be returning for the second season, but the upcoming episode may offer up some hints for that. Gunn tackling directing every episode is a first, as he worked on five of the eight episodes in the first eipsode. He did write every script, however.

    It may be a while before we see the second season as the director is still in production of both the The Guardians of The Galaxy Holiday Special and Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 3. Gunn is also still developing another spin-off to The Suicide Squad, but just who it will follow and plot details on that remain under wraps for now. The first seven episodes of Peacemaker season one are streaming right now on HBO Max, giving you just enough time to catch up before tomorrow’s big finale.

    Source: Twitter, Twitter

  • Hall of Murphy: Episode 14 – ‘Peacemaker’ 104 – 106

    Hall of Murphy: Episode 14 – ‘Peacemaker’ 104 – 106

    Joe and John are back to discuss episodes four to six from Peacemaker, as James Gunn reinvents what it means o be a hero and John Cena convinces them that the season just shouldn’t end.

  • REVIEW: ‘Peacemaker’ Episode 7 – “Stop Dragon My Heart Around”

    REVIEW: ‘Peacemaker’ Episode 7 – “Stop Dragon My Heart Around”

    Peacemaker’s penultimate episode resolves one of the two major series storylines, which exposes the strength of the Auggie storyline but also makes it feel like it was gone too soon. Stop Dragon My Heart Around hits peaks in terms of emotional impact with Peacemaker’s relationship with his father and leaves the Project Butterfly plotline as the clear, ultimate threat for the finale. 

    The Auggie/White Dragon/Peacemaker’s dad storyline turns out to be quite the sleeper. After being almost exclusively a racist piece of garbage on the sidelines, Auggie steps into his White Dragon supervillain suit one last time to kill his son. While from the series alone it is not entirely clear what exactly the White Dragon got up to in his prime, now is apparently his moment to rock a killer suit while lightly jogging through the woods with an army of discount white-pillow-case-wearing skinheads. While pretty cool to look at, a more keen eye would notice that the White Dragon suit is more reminiscent of a KKK-inspired Frank rabbit from Donnie Darko.

    The ending of the White Dragon story packs more of a punch than anything else in the series. While Peacemaker’s dad was interesting until now, his role was mostly to passively provide context for Peacemaker’s existence and redemption. Early in this episode, we get the full picture of how Peacemaker caused his brother’s death when they were children, providing ample motivation for Peacemaker to do what he does—unceremoniously and abruptly execute his father. The cold nature of the killing combined with the emotional impact it clearly has on Peacemaker is a wonderfully-staged moment where the character truly has to decide who he is. It is underscored by conversations throughout the series that Auggie is beyond all saving, yet Peacemaker could never kill him. Considering that Peacemaker is simultaneously coming to terms with how he does not want to kill anyone, it’s a very strong moment for Peacemaker.

    At this point, it is all too clear that the Auggie aspect of the series carried likely much more weight and impact than pretty much anything else going on. It feels a bit like there is lost potential—had this storyline been given more attention the combination of the darkest corners of White Dragon, the brightest spots of Peacemaker, and the greyest spaces of the real world surrounding them could have been electric. Giving a relatively new character a white supremacist-based story (one where he willfully ignores his dad’s famous racist beliefs and crimes) right off the bat probably is not the best strategy. But it just doesn’t fully find its place within this series, which is a shame. 

    While the Butterfly Project plot is off to the races, it still is not exciting. And now, compared to the resolution of its companion plotline, it looks even less inviting. As generic as it has felt, Murn’s death this episode is it at its best. After butterfly Murn got a bit more of the spotlight last episode, it feels like it matters a bit that the character is gone. The final moments with Murn as the sad and crumpled butterfly are actually heartbreaking, even if only because we have more sympathy for a dying animal-type creature than a human. Either way, Murn’s death is a classic “we’re really a team now” tragedy—Phil Coulson would be proud. 

    While Episode 7 is strong, a few elements of Peacemaker still feel out of place. Top of that list still is Judomaster, who once again ends up unconscious after fleeting moments of screen time. The character is great, but what is his point? How is he related to anything other than working as security for the Goffs? Why did he “ding dong bitches” our main team after hanging out at a gas station? Another is Adebayo and her Amanda Waller connection—it is too significant of a thing to not have greater meaning or consequences, but it has only served as extremely minimal background information for Adebayo’s character. Amanda Waller is a major character in this universe, but quite frankly, Viola Davis herself is on another level. Surely cameoing in a FaceTime conversation is not the full extent of her involvement. 

    Honestly, the finale of Peacemaker might end up being less interesting than this episode. The penultimate installment rightfully draws a hard line between its two stories but it ends up highlighting the strength and the greater potential of the one it ended. Project Butterfly as we know it falls short in comparison, but perhaps it still has some meaningful surprises up its sleeve. The finale is set to feature some violent, over-the-top, last-stand-type action no doubt, which could be phenomenal. In any event, after Murn’s death, Task Force X is in its best place in terms of team dynamics going into the final battle. 

  • ‘Peacemaker’ Episode 7 Primer

    ‘Peacemaker’ Episode 7 Primer

    It seems like just a week ago we got the first few episodes of Peacemaker, featuring the return of John Cena as the titular character. As we enter this new week, we grow closer and closer to the finale with the penultimate episode set to premiere tomorrow on HBO Max. Throughout this season, we’ve seen the secrets of Project Butterfly unravel and Murn\ come clean about his true identity… and that there’s a giant cow?!

    Picking up directly after the cliffhanger ending of ‘Monkey Dory’, the last episode opened with Murn confronting Adebayo in the streets following her learning he is one of the butterflies, but not before Harcourt seemingly pulls up the rescue. Harcourt explains that she figured it out early on, realizing Murn took a hell of a hit at the Goff residence with little damage. Murn reveals that the butterflies were initially here peacefully before the queen and others began planning ulterior motives, plotting world domination. Murn is a defector who inhabited the past mercenaries’ bodies to put a stop to them and save the earth. He reveals the pain he wakes up with daily, living with Murn’s memories of his past heinous actions.

    The previous episode also saw Detective Song and Fitzgibbons go over Locke’s head in order to get a warrant to arrest Peacemaker and free Auggie Smith. Mission accomplished, as the White Dragon was freed and the Evergreen police department readies to lead an assault on Peacemaker’s trailer. Learning of this at the very last second, Peacemaker and Vigilante escape through the skylight with Eagly and Goff, climbing through trees to evade the cops. Vigilante ends up falling, freeing an encased Goff, who flew into the mouth of Detective Song and took over her body.

    Vigilante and Peacemaker escape through the woods, with Eagly swooping down and taking out cop after cop. The two of them are then aided by Locke, who killed the remaining cops and left a getaway vehicle for the duo at the edge of the woods, pinning the crimes on an assailant vaguely similar to the Hamburglar.

    New Butterfly Sophie Song returned to the police station and used their equipment to reach out to the others, summoning them all to Evergreen. The Butterflies converged on a hill near the station, exiting their ships and following Goff inside to which ‘Monster’ by Reckless Love plays over the butterflies swarming the police station, inhabiting all within.

    The final moments saw Peacemaker’s faux diary read to the country as he’s framed for countless murders, as the secret of the butterflies remains as a conspiracy to the world. As Peacemaker deals with this, the White Dragon suits up as his followers have rallied to his side, and just like that it seems just about everyone is after Peacemaker.

  • ‘Peacemaker’ Episode 6 Primer

    ‘Peacemaker’ Episode 6 Primer

    At the tail end of Peacemaker‘s fourth episode, Leota Adebayo made a breakthrough in Project Butterfly, connecting multiple dots to one place: the Glan Tai Bottling Company. The team believes that the Butterflies may be using the factory as a plant to ship the amber fluid seen consumed by multiple Butterflies in the previous episode. They believe they’re getting closer and closer to the truth, and if they can cut off the supply of the Butterflies nourishment, they can end their attempted secret invasion. 

    On top of the Glan Tai situation, they’ve still gotta deal with Auggie Smith, aka the White Dragon, who was previously framed for the murder of Annie Sturphausen, the first butterfly Peacemaker encountered. The framing of Auggie has led to some internal conflict within the team between Economos and Peacemaker. To deal with the White Dragon issue, Murn brings in Caspar Locke, placed within the Evergreen police as its new chief to deter Captain Song and Fitzgibbon.

    Arriving at Glan Thai, the team is still unsure if the factory is indeed being operated by the Butterflies. With the aid of Peacemaker’s X-Ray helmet, the team is able to quickly figure out the place is overflowing with infected. Not only is it full of Butterflies, but it also looks to be the main hub of distribution for the amber fluid.

    Upon further investigation, the team becomes aware of the guardian angel of the factory, Charlie, the gorilla that escaped from the Evergreen zoo. The ape gives the team quite the beatdown, throwing them through desks and walls. Things seem grim as they are seemingly defeated by the enhanced ape, until the revving of a chainsaw and a fountain of blood covers the team, revealing Economos as the hero after all.

    A successful vision that leads to some great moments, and even better development between the characters, brings them closer together as they learn to have each other’s backs. Much of the team’s conflict has come from their anonymity to one another, they’d been so focused on getting the mission at hand done as quickly as possible that it took the heat of battle to bring them closer together.

    The episode brought its core characters closer together, with all of them believing themselves to be nothing like one another. It’s Peacemaker and Leota who are much more similar than they think. Leota is still feeling the pressure from her mother, Amanda Waller, to plant the forged diary in Peacemaker’s trailer, betraying her team with yet another Waller alternative goal, most likely to use Peacemaker as a scapegoat if things go awry. The two are blinded by the perception they have of their parents; Auggie and Amanda are bad people, but to Leota and Chris, they’ll also be their mother and father. It’s hard to accept the fact that the people who created and raised you aren’t the idols you looked up to as a child, something both of them will need to face.

    Leota plants the diary, something she’d dreaded doing and something that will obviously weigh down on her conscience. She returns to the base of operations to clear her mind and get some work done, but not before taking the X-ray helmet for a test run. This leads to Leota finding out Murn is a butterfly and him chasing her into the street where her fate remains unknown.

  • REVIEW: ‘Peacemaker’ Episode 6 – “Murn After Reading”

    REVIEW: ‘Peacemaker’ Episode 6 – “Murn After Reading”

    In the latest episode of Peacemaker, the Butterfly Project plot takes center stage and begins to envelop much of the series’ story, which is a welcome change of pace that gives the final leg of the series significantly more plot momentum than it’s had in the previous five episodes. This story development and the laughs from the Vigilante-Peacemaker dynamic make Episode 6 one of the most enjoyable episodes of the series. While inner-character turmoil acts as a strong undertow for the episode, unfortunately, Peacemaker’s main arc fails to meet its own expectations.

    “Murn After Reading” continues to intensify its redemption theme for Peacemaker’s titular character. Peacemaker is continuing to vocalize that he does not actually want to kill people anymore. Whether it’s the fact that he can’t stomach Murn’s creepy friend murdering unconscious people or dramatically playing the piano, one thing is for sure—the guy has feelings. On one hand, the series is pushing a generic and fairly expected “he’s a good guy now” story. The fact that that is so standard on its own is a bit of a disappointment given the show’s propensity to try and push barriers and comic book media norms. 

    On the other hand, this arc was built to be pretty easy and flat for our main antihero. While the series assumes you know every detail of Peacemaker’s development of The Suicide Squad, the supposed super-killer actually doesn’t do much of that in the series itself. He hasn’t killed anyone that wasn’t a butterfly and has hesitated from the beginning. So, the fact that his change of heart takes up as much space as it does, it’s monotonous. 

    The actual inner turmoil moment that gleams in this episode is Murn’s mini-monologue after confessing that he is a butterfly. Luckily, after the last episode’s cliffhanger ending, the knowledge that Murn is a butterfly does not remain a lingering issue for more than a few seconds — he is a butterfly working for the greater (human) good. His emotional recognition that he took from his host (a very bad man, apparently) even something as hypothetical as the opportunity to change hits harder than Peacemaker’s personal revelations. Chukwudi Iwuji’s moment better encompasses the “I have feelings, but killing is necessary sometimes” theme.

    Vigilante is still the best character of Peacemaker. The character’s scenes, dialogue, and interactions with Peacemaker and Butterfly Goff make Episode 6 a genuinely funny episode, even compared to the rest of the series. If Freddie Stroma’s character went away, Peacemaker would have a huge absence that seems like it would be difficult for the series to overcome. 

    So while Peacemaker’s character arc feels generic, Murn and Vigilante are star players that shine and give Episode 6 the extra coat of paint that it needs. Probably the best moment of the episode—and series—comes when Eagly starts homicidally divebombing police officers. Hopefully, more gloriously CGI Eagly moments are to come in the final two episodes. 

  • ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 Will Likely Happen Says James Gunn

    ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 Will Likely Happen Says James Gunn

    What do you do if the first season of your show is the biggest streaming series currently? If you’re HBO Max, you’d make a second season happen ASAP. At least it seems that’s what the streaming service is doing for the aforementioned biggest show on TV right now, Peacemaker. According to James Gunn, “there’s a really good chance” that a second season happens.

    Besides the monstrous metrics this show has been ticking, Peacemaker happens to be a really well-written, heartfelt, and outrageously funny show. The show deserves a second season on that merit alone. Once more, Gunn has created a smash hit from a wildly unknown IP with a cast of characters that will surely endure as the years go by.

    Peacemaker is currently streaming on HBO Max. The latest episode, “Monkey Dory,” dropped earlier today, with our critic, Mary Maerz, calling it the best episode of the series to date. With three episodes left, here’s to hoping HBO Max announces a second season sooner rather than later.

    Source: Deadline

  • New ‘The Suicide Squad’ Spin-Off Show In Early Development at HBO Max

    New ‘The Suicide Squad’ Spin-Off Show In Early Development at HBO Max

    It looks like Peacemaker won’t be the only anti-hero getting his own live-action series on HBO Max. James Gunn has confirmed to sources at Deadline that he’s in the very early stages of developing another DC Comics-based series for the streaming service. It’s unknown what or who the show would center around, but Gunn did reveal that it would be another spin-off of his hit film The Suicide Squad. Deadline’s report clarifies that whatever the project is, it’s still a long way from officially happening. Nothing has been written or greenlit, but HBO Max is supposedly enthusiastic about Gunn‘s pitch.

    The Guardians of the Galaxy director didn’t drop much info in his short statement regarding the currently-unproduced series, saying only that it was being worked on:

    We’re working on something else now, another TV show that’s connected to that universe. I can’t quite say.

    James Gunn

    Peacemaker, the first Suicide Squad-adjacent project from Gunn, is currently the number one show in the world. It seems likely that this would be motivation enough for HBO to give their new premiere creative whatever he wants going down the line. Fans on social media have clamored for new shows based on the likes of Idris Elba‘s Bloodsport and Daniela Melchior‘s breakout character Ratcatcher 2, though knowing Gunn, they’re just as likely to get a whole series based around Nathan Fillion‘s The Detachable Kid. However, they should expect to remain in the dark for a little while longer until the director finishes his work on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and its companion Holiday Special.

    Source: Deadline