John Cena returns as Peacemaker in his own HBO series after grabbing the show in The Suicide Squad. Peacemaker stars John Cena as the title character, Jennifer Holland as Emilia Harcourt, Steve Agee as John Economos, and Danielle Brooks as Leota Adebayo, and premieres in January 2022.
Peacemaker was a huge hit, with many critics hailing it as the finest superhero series ever. As a result, it was impossible to escape comparisons to the Marvel Cinematic Universe's shows. Although everyone's tastes differ, there are a few things that Peacemaker performed better than its Marvel competitors.
#1 Peacemaker possessed a distinct creative voice.
Simply speaking, the first season of Peacemaker is an eight-hour James Gunn film. Although eight hours of Gunn's unique combination of schlock and humanity may not be for everyone, this is what sets his debut streaming series apart from the rest of the MCU. It's clear that Gunn, not a committee, chose Peacemaker.MCU series, on the other hand, are indistinguishable. Despite the knowledge involved, Marvel series are visually similar and merge in with the MCU as a whole. Netflix's series were all gritty in tone, but Disney+'s episodes are lengthy MCU films. Peacemaker, on the other hand, is plainly the work of a writer/director who has left an indelible stamp on the shared universe.
#2 In One Season, Peacemaker Told A Complete Story
Every edition of the MCU appears more like a promise for the next big stage than a stand-alone story, which has long been a source of criticism. WandaVision is an obvious example of this since it weakened its tragedy by setting up Wanda for Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness instead of properly resolving her faults in Westview.Even though Peacemaker's first season finished on numerous cliffhangers and was just renewed for a second season, the plot was correctly concluded. Unlike a Marvel series (particularly one on Disney+), Peacemaker was more concerned with ending its namesake character's origin narrative than with setting him up for further DCEU adventures.
#3 Every episode of Peacemaker advanced the plot.
One of the most serious flaws with the Marvel series is that many of them could have been made into two-hour films. Around half of every Marvel episode feels like fluff that extends the season artificially. The Punisher, an otherwise clear revenge-driven vigilante thriller that went in circles for 26 episodes, is a notable case of this.Peacemaker, on the other hand, did not squander a single episode. Each episode was a fully formed chapter in a bigger plot, rather than setting up the next major twist or cameo. Instead of a movie proposal that was extended out to accommodate serialization, this resulted in a tightly paced episodic program where every action built up to the attack on the Cow's stronghold.
#4 Peacemaker made the correct decision to ignore the bigger picture of the shared universe.
Because they're part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, every Marvel film and television series has a connection to The Infinity Saga and what follows after it. Loki, for example, was both a sequel to The Avengers and the beginning of the universe, which will be important in Phase 4. The problem is that this worldbuilding periodically interfered with Loki's own growth.Peacemaker was a sequel to The Suicide Squad, however, unlike Loki, it didn't bother to tie itself to the previous film's common universe. Instead, it stayed in its own little nook of the DCEU, where it could be itself without having to worry about continuity. Peacemaker, in effect, received a fully developed and season-long character journey.
#5 To Work, Peacemaker Didn't Need DC Comics Or DCEU Lore
Most Marvel series require a certain degree of prior knowledge of the MCU and Marvel comics to truly enjoy and comprehend them. Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D., for example, is strongly based on MCU and Marvel Comics mythology, whereas Hawkeye is mainly based on Clint Barton's past crimes and sins from his MCU roles.It's not necessarily a negative thing, but it may turn off novices and casual viewers who are looking for a good superhero tale rather than another piece of the Marvel puzzle. Meanwhile, Peacemaker makes only the broadest nods to DC Comics or the DCEU, making it more accessible to anybody who simply wants to enjoy the show.
#6 The Villainous Protagonist, Peacemaker, was a true villain.
Christopher Smith was unlikable from The Suicide Squad until the season finale of Peacemaker. He's a reformed supervillain who still has a lot of growth to go. His flaws and unredeemable history, however, made him a captivating figure that people readily identified with.In contrast to his MCU colleagues, Peacemaker was not hesitant to commit to Christopher's villainy and compel him to reform. Loki and Wanda, for example, whose show went to great lengths to reassure viewers that they weren't all wicked, making their fast redemptions appear warranted regardless of what they had done previously.
#7 Peacemaker Wasn't Afraid Of Getting Dirty
MCU episodes would occasionally reference contemporary events, although they typically merely skimmed over them. The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, for example, avoided delving into the most heinous aspects of racism, refugee crises, terrorism, and other issues because doing so would jeopardize the MCU's family-friendly popularity.Peacemaker, rather than taking a toothless attitude, made its ideology obvious. Peacemaker had to relearn his father's nasty habits because of Auggie Smith's (aka White Dragon) intolerance. In the comics, on the other hand, John Walker's (aka US Agent) passionate nationalism was reduced so that he wouldn't be too pure evil.
#8 The Side-Characters of the Peacemaker Were Actually Important
The well-balanced crew was one of the greatest aspects of Peacemaker. Peacemaker had a tiny ARGUS crew and the ferocious Vigilante on his side, in addition to his beloved pet eagle Eagly. Peacemaker's allies were given ample opportunity to shine and grow on viewers, while enemies like the Butterflies and White Dragon made the most of their brief appearances.The casts of Marvel productions are usually larger than those of Peacemaker, and they all suffer as a result. Hawkeye, for example, had a slew of new and returning MCU figures, yet they all competed for screen time. The most heavily impacted were the glorified appearances, such as Wilson Fisk and Yelena Belova, who, although entertaining to see, were not really vital.
#9 The Action of Peacemaker Is Simpler, But More Effective
The action in Peacemaker is dialed back, just like in The Suicide Squad. Scuffles and gunfights made up the infrequent confrontations, which only utilized electronic effects when absolutely necessary. As a result, the battles in Peacemaker had a gritty quality to them that suited the series' grounded tone and theme.In contrast, the MCU series contrasted with what was described as smaller-scale character pieces, with effects-heavy set pieces. They had outstayed their welcome if these CGI projections weren't overwhelming. While the Netflix MCU programs didn't feature as much CGI as Peacemaker, they did have a habit of going overboard with their too protracted battles.
#10 Peacemaker Made Good Use Of Its R-Rating And Edge
The R-rating does not guarantee excellence, but in the superhero domain, it may be a refreshing change. The MCU's PG-rated boundaries may grow tedious after dominating the genre for almost two decades, which is part of what made the unashamedly profane and brutal Peacemaker so exciting.Peacemaker is a fantastic example of adult-oriented superhero culture not because of the existence of gore and nudity, but because of how they're handled. Peacemaker never crossed the line for the purpose of shock effect, and it reveled in its obnoxiousness. Netflix's Marvel programs, on the other hand, exploited their R-Ratings to appear dramatic but not precisely for entertainment.