Mondays from 25 August, first on Showmax
(International release: 21 August 2025)
I had the privilege of getting an early watch of episodes 1 to 5 of the eight-episode second season of Peacemaker — and trust me, I’m still grinning like an idiot. This is your spoiler-free review, and I’ll say it upfront: if you’re in South Africa and don’t have Showmax yet, now is the time to sort that out. From 25 August, a new episode will drop every Monday, and you’re going to want to be there from day one.
A quick Season 1 refresher
Back in January 2022, Peacemaker surprised everyone by proving that a hyper-violent, foul-mouthed spinoff of The Suicide Squad could have a real beating heart. We followed Christopher “Chris” Smith — aka Peacemaker — freshly bandaged from his brush with death, reluctantly joining Project Butterfly to stop an alien invasion. Alongside the chaos, there was a strong undercurrent of character growth. By the end, Chris was still absurd, still reckless, still rocking the shiny helmet… but he’d also made connections, faced personal truths, and gained the loyalty of a giant, hug-giving eagle named Eagly.
Enter Season 2 – and the DCU connection
This time, Peacemaker stumbles into an alternate world that looks exactly like everything he’s ever wanted… but to keep it, he must confront the darkest parts of his past. And here’s the big shift — Season 2 isn’t just a continuation of his story, it’s a major part of the new DC Universe (DCU) under James Gunn and Peter Safran. If you caught 2025’s Superman, you’ll remember Peacemaker’s cameo. Several characters introduced there now appear in this season, making Peacemaker a direct follow-up and a crucial piece of the larger DCU narrative.
John Cena himself summed it up best when speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at the season premiere: this season isn’t about “topping” Season 1 — it’s about furthering the overall story of the DCU. It’s connected, it’s deliberate, and it’s helping chart where the universe is heading. Gunn has made it clear that this is not a side quest; it’s core canon.
The cast – old favourites and fresh blood
John Cena is once again magnetic as Peacemaker — equal parts ridiculous, brutal, and surprisingly vulnerable. Danielle Brooks (Leota Adebayo), Jennifer Holland (Emilia Harcourt), Freddie Stroma (Vigilante), Steve Agee (John Economos), and Robert Patrick return to form a killer ensemble. The newcomers slide in effortlessly: Frank Grillo (Tulsa King) brings a hard-edged presence, David Denman (The Office) delivers both warmth and tension, Sol Rodriguez (Star Trek: Picard) lights up every scene she’s in, and Emmy nominee Tim Meadows (Mean Girls) proves once again why his comedic timing is unmatched.
Episodes 1–5 – the verdict so far
The first half of Peacemaker Season 2 is nothing short of a blast. The pacing is razor-sharp, balancing character-driven moments with bursts of explosive action that feel ripped straight from a high-end comic panel. Visually, it’s stunning — big, bold, and brimming with style without tipping into cartoon territory. The humour hits harder than ever, the emotional beats sneak up on you, and then there’s Eagly. If you liked him before, you’re going to adore him now. He’s still ridiculous, still absurd, but somehow manages to deliver more heart than half the live-action characters on TV.
It’s also great to see that Peacemaker’s closest relationships remain at the heart of the show. Danielle Brooks returns as Leota Adebayo, still that grounded, caring friend who manages to challenge Chris without losing her warmth. Jennifer Holland is back as Emilia Harcourt, the love interest whose mix of strength, wit, and quiet vulnerability continues to pull Peacemaker in ways he doesn’t fully understand. And then there’s Vigilante — well… he’s Vigilante. Still unhinged, still strangely lovable, and still capable of making you laugh at the most inappropriately violent moments.
Now, let’s address the NSFW elephant in the room — this season does not hold back. There are scenes so gloriously, unapologetically inappropriate that you’ll be laughing while questioning your own sense of humour. A few moments had me howling and shaking my head at the same time. If you’re planning to watch this with your parents… honestly, WTF are you thinking?
James Gunn’s creative fingerprints are everywhere. Just as he’s given us a Superman that fans have fully embraced, he’s taken Peacemaker and fine-tuned it into something wild, heartfelt, and essential to the DCU’s bigger picture. This is the DC I fell in love with years ago — messy, bold, full of grit, and delightfully unhinged.
And yes, it helps if you’ve seen The Suicide Squad to understand Project Starfish — the alien starfish kaiju incident still echoes in Peacemaker’s world. You don’t need to know every detail, but having the basics will make the callbacks and references land even better.
The torture of waiting
Here’s my problem: I’ve seen the first five episodes, and now I have to wait for the last three. It’s killing me. The story is clearly building toward something massive, and the suspense is going to be unbearable until the finale drops on 9 October. I don’t know how it ends… and that’s both thrilling and infuriating.
Why South African viewers should care right now
For us here in South Africa, Peacemaker Season 2 lands on Showmax from 25 August, with new episodes every Monday. If you haven’t subscribed yet, this is the moment to do it. You’ll not only be watching one of the funniest, sharpest, most unexpectedly heartfelt superhero series in years, but you’ll also be keeping up with one of the central storylines shaping the DCU’s future.
International viewers — you’ll find it on HBO Max (formerly Max or HBO Max, or whatever they are calling themselves when you read this lol) from 21 August. But for local fans? Set your calendar reminders now. This is not the season you want to catch “when you get around to it.” It’s one to experience with everyone else, week by week, as the madness unfolds.
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