Editor’s note: The below recap contains spoilers for Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 6.
Peacemaker Season 2 has set up two major stories, and as it enters its final few episodes, there are more shocks than ever. After Chris abandoned his own world to live in the parallel universe in Episode 5, “Back to the Suture,” the multiverse chaos is in full effect. As the 11th Street Kids enter the other world, its ideal facade begins to crumble. However, one good thing comes out of the adventure when Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) and Chris (John Cena) finally have an emotional conversation that has been a long time coming. With an appearance from Superman‘s Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), increased focus on Adrian (Freddie Stroma), and the reveal that the alternate universe is far from what Chris believed, Episode 6, “Ignorance Is Chris,” never slows down.
‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 Episode 6 Brings the 11th Street Kids to the Alternate Universe
While Chris steals his doppelgänger’s life, the 11th Street Kids are on a mission to bring him back. They set up the portal in Adrian’s mother’s (Taylor St. Clair) basement, since ARGUS doesn’t know his identity, making them harder to find. This gives the audience new insight into Adrian’s character as his mother embarrasses him by talking about his lack of friends and revealing that Adrian lied to her about a failed relationship between himself and Harcourt. The look at his secret room also shows Adrian to be shockingly effective as Vigilante, as it’s full of cash and drugs that he has confiscated from gangs. The location choice backfires somewhat when Adebayo (Danielle Brooks) opens the portal, and the ensuing blast blows cocaine onto them. Yet, they have a path to the other dimension, and Adrian even happens to know the code to get them into the other world. After a season where Adrian hasn’t done much, it’s a relief when Episode 6 gives him a spotlight.
The group explores the house of Chris’s alternate family, but before they can do anything to find Chris, Keith (David Denman) comes home. He mistakes Harcourt for her doppelgänger despite her terrible excuses and offers her a ride to ARGUS, which she has no reason to refuse. This splits up the team and, though Adebayo does everything she can to keep the rest together, Adrian breaks off as well, leaving her with only Economos (Steve Agee), who desperately wants to return home. They may not stay together long, but even the brief teamwork of getting to the alternate world provides a taste of the group dynamic that has long been missing from Season 2. Between Adebayo and Adrian reacting to Harcourt’s inability to lie and Economos getting sick from the sheer strangeness of the situation, the group falls back into their old, hilarious habits easily, and it’s about time.
Adrian Finally Gets Some Screentime in ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 Episode 6
After the group separates, “Ignorance Is Chris” continues to highlight Adrian, as he is determined to meet the alternate version of himself. Fascinated by the small and seemingly insignificant changes, like the alternate spelling of Cheerios and his dad still living at home, Adrian makes his way into his basement, where he surprises himself. Unlike the two versions of Chris, the pair of Adrians get along well, understanding each other in a way few can, until the subject of Chris comes up.
Despite all the trust they’ve built, there is tension when alternate Adrian reveals he and Peacemaker are enemies, and he joined the Sons of Liberty to oppose him. Not only does the storyline highlight Adrian even more, but the twist adds the unsettling nature of this parallel world as the team tries to figure out what’s going on. It’s hard to imagine an Adrian who doesn’t idolize Chris, and given the similarities between these two doppelgängers, this reveal raises questions about the other Chris.
‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 Introduces a Disgraced Lex Luthor
Peacemaker Season 2 made no secret of its connection to the DCU’s Superman, with the Justice Gang’s appearance and references to the dimensional rift in the film’s climax, but Episode 6 includes another major connection as Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo) recruits the help of a Belle Reve prisoner who turns out to be Lex Luthor. Seeking a way to locate the portal, Flag tempts Lex with a transfer to a prison without the metahumans he hates, and though Lex wants more, he eventually agrees to this path to redemption, as Flag describes it.
Lex has a scanner that can locate the portal, while Flag claims to have a mutually beneficial idea, though the show doesn’t reveal what that is. The appearance of Lex is another exciting connection to the overall universe, and this one follows up with the villain, who’s in a much different place following the end of Superman, hinting at changes for the connected universe. It’s also worth noting that Lex makes a surprisingly smooth transition into the less restrained humor of Peacemaker, proving that the franchise’s tonal shift can be overcome.
Chris and Harcourt Have an Emotional Confrontation in ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 Episode 6
The only member of the group that actually accomplishes the goal of finding Chris is Harcourt, who reaches ARGUS only to have a run-in with the drug dog. Sensing the cocaine dusted over her clothes, the dog barks, forcing the officers to contain her, but Chris comes into the building just in time to see it happen. He is allowed to speak to her while they wait for a blood test, but it’s not the loving reunion they were hoping for. Chris is angry that she followed him, while she’s upset he thought she would betray him.
Despite all the hurt between them, Chris and Harcourt finally have the honest conversation they’ve needed all season. Chris confesses his love for Harcourt, but she can’t do the same. Instead, she acknowledges her own problems, saying she doesn’t have access to her feelings. Emotionally, they are in different places, and Chris accepts that, but still wants to stay in the alternate dimension, upsetting Harcourt. Between the growing feelings they share and Harcourt’s history with Rick Flag Jr. (Joel Kinnaman), this conversation has been a long time coming, but it didn’t go well for either party. However, with the truth out in the open, perhaps now they can begin to change things. Of course, that could be made more difficult by the ending cliffhanger. The alternate Emilia arrives at ARGUS, alerting the agents to something wrong. When she sees Harcourt, she calls for her arrest, leaving Harcourt’s safety in question.
‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 Proves the Parallel Universe Isn’t as Perfect as It Seems
While the others face their own issues, Adebayo and Economos wait for Chris to come home, but at least they find Eagly in the meantime. However, they split up as well when Adebayo wants to go for a walk, leaving Economos on his own. Auggie (Robert Patrick) discovers Economos in his house and attacks. He terrifies Economos, who easily reveals the entire truth about alternate Chris’ death and how Chris has replaced him. This seems a little too easy, as it makes the choice for Chris. He can no longer stay in the world that he chose, which prevents him from returning home due to personal growth. However, this twist does move the story forward.
Adebayo’s walk is even more enlightening, revealing the dark truth behind the alternate world. She gets strange looks from passersby, and even Keith stops his car to honk at her. Then the citizens run after Adebayo, forcing her to flee. The unsettling scene is interrupted with a cut to Harcourt and Chris, in which Harcourt points out the lack of people of color in this dimension, and Chris notices what looks like an American flag, but in place of the stars has a swastika. Though it isn’t fully explained, it’s not a leap to assume this dimension is what comics canon refers to as Earth-X, where the Nazis won World War II and took over the world. The stakes are higher than ever as the so-called better world turns out to be a horrific place, not safe for any one of the heroes now stuck in it.
Peacemaker Season 2 is streaming on HBO Max with new episodes on Thursdays.