Surprise! Peacemaker on HBO Max is actually a must-watch DCEU show

(Image credit: HBO Max)

I absolutely love Peacemaker, the new DC show on HBO Max starring the pro wrestler-turned-histrion John Cena. And that's non just considering I'm a fan of Mr. Cena himself. A serial of factors combine to make Peacemaker the first live action DC show (I can't await for Harley Quinn flavour 3) that I've really been able to care almost in forever.

Having watched Peacemaker's first three episodes on Thursday night, I found myself experiencing a grade of euphoria (no, not the HBO Max prove), considering it felt fresh and worth caring nigh.

This isn't meant to throw shade at the fans of previous DC forays in television, but Peacemaker just hits differently. So I thought I'd explain why.

Peacemaker will actually (probably) matter more to me

Upwardly front end, I'll acknowledge that we all have different measures of what makes something thing. I remember working in an part (remember that?), and hearing multiple colleagues rave about the latest episodes of DC shows. And, and then, those shows mattered to them.

So, I say the following with no crime to the Arrowverse acolytes, which include fans of The Flash and the legions who follow DC'southward Legends of Tomorrow. But Peacemaker belongs to a bigger puzzle that isn't just other shows. Peacemaker, if you lot oasis't caught what I'thou throwing, is the offset ever Idiot box series in the DC Extended Universe canon.

Peacemaker alongside Harley Quinn and others in a The Suicide Squad poster — (Epitome credit: Warner)

That ways it exists alongside the first-class Birds of Prey, and some pretty fun movies such as Aquaman and Shazam!. On peak of that, the DCEU has some exciting movies in the schedule, virtually notably The Wink (2022), which volition feature Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck every bit Batman, and Black Adam starring Cena'southward erstwhile in-ring rival Dwayne Johnson. Connections with these movies matter a whole lot more than to me than to other shows on The CW, because ... well, CW shows have rarely e'er hit for me.

If only this could accept been the programme all along.

If I watched those aforementioned Arrowverse shows, which spawned out of the Stephen Amell-led Arrow, I bet I'd be as annoyed with DC every bit I am happy with Peacemaker. Those shows were made without any connective tissue to the DC films that were being pumped out at the same time, and were passively made to look unimportant as a outcome.

And this is all probably a side-effect of being a Marvel movie fan. I just look all backdrop that came from the same universe to tie together, and if a show doesn't, I tend to retrieve "time is precious, let's move on." I bet I'one thousand probably missing out, and that if I could appreciate a piece of work of art for itself, and not for thinking "this will be important," I'd exist able to open my mind. But this is how my brain works at the moment.

James Gunn's name is a hope

The cast of The Guardians of the Galaxy — (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Peacemaker arrives with an informal seal of approval. It'due south merely similar how James Gunn directing 2022'southward The Suicide Squad (where Cena's Peacemaker spins out of) gave people reason to trust a movie with "Suicide Team" in the title after the trainwreck that was 2022's Suicide Squad (burdened with the problem that is Jared Leto's Joker).

Since Gunn (who also gave us the Guardians of the Galaxy movies) wrote every episode of Peacemaker — and directed v episodes including the beginning — the series feels exciting because a DC show is finally in the hands of an auteur. No crime to Greg Berlanti, who worked on lot of the Arrowverse shows and programs like Dawson's Creek, just I accept a lot more faith in Gunn when information technology comes to making me care.

And Peacemaker started off with exactly the kind of quality that I expected. The banter crackles with humor; Peacemaker continues to surprise with the stupid things he says; and the evidence's soundtrack is too skillful to exist surprising (especially, once again, because of the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtracks). But like how Gunn made us intendance about a raccoon who wants to steal body parts, he's got me riveted by a problematic C-level DC comics character in Peacemaker.

Oh, and Robert Patrick's in it as well

Robert Patrick and John Cena in Peacemaker on HBO Max — (Image credit: HBO Max)

Peacemaker'south got an excellent supporting cast, but then far I'm most excited by what Robert Patrick (yes, the T-g from Terminator) is up to every bit Peacemaker's dad.

Herein, in fact, lies ane of my favorite things virtually Peacemaker. Just like WandaVision and other Marvel shows, this serial is allowing a grapheme (this time, Christopher Smith, the man under the shiny basin-looking helmet) to gain greater dimension.

And and then Robert Patrick is portraying Baronial "Auggie" Smith, the homo who (equally Gunn'south The Suicide Squad told united states) trained his son to kill from a very young age. No spoilers from the show, but it seems similar Chris inherited some of his worst traits from his father, who we chop-chop learned is a really dark dude.

Peacemaker makes HBO Max Thursdays must-see

In the start Peacemaker episodes, the titular himbo has often referenced DC'southward biggest heroes, reminding the states that this series could bring in the next DCEU Batman or Superman (neither is bandage all the same, for what it'due south worth). And those starting time three episodes proved and then fun that I at present have appointment TV on Thursdays for the first fourth dimension in forever. If just this could have been the plan all forth.

And if that's not enough, Peacemaker has a pet eagle named Eagly. Who is adorable.

Defenseless upwardly? Go ready to watch Peacemaker episode v online with us.

Henry is a senior editor at Tom's Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past half dozen-plus years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Mag. He's too covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.