Peacemaker has wrapped up its first season, and we’re celebrating by counting down the ten best moments from season one. Since this TV-series spin-off of The Suicide Squad premiered, it has become the highest-rated addition to the DCEU lineup, and for good reasons. As we follow Christopher “Peacemaker” Smith (John Cena) and his mismatched crew as they fend off a major alien threat, we cannot help but root for this whacky team despite all their flaws. Only James Gunn can make us hate a character so much and then create a spin-off in which we fall in love with him, and he pulled it off with season one of Peacemaker. So without further ado, here are the best moments of Peacemaker season one.
(NOTE: There will be spoilers).
10. The Opening Credits
We’re gonna make a bold statement and say that this intro has dethroned Game of Thrones as the best TV intro ever. This is one of those rare instances where you cannot skip the intro because it’s too much fun, and it’s the best way to get hyped up for what each episode has to offer. Seeing each cast member dance crazily while still keeping a stern face is so fitting for the series, as it has these characters dealing with life-threatening situations in hilarious ways. The intro is set to the tune of Wig Wam’s “Do Ya Wanna Taste It,” which is a great question, as the audience may not be ready to taste the insanity of what each episode of Peacemaker has to offer.
9. Adebayo Exposes Amanda Waller
There was quite a bit of buzz when Danielle Brooks was brought in to play the new character Leota Adebayo. Who would have guessed Adebayo would turn out to be the daughter of Amanda Waller (Viola Davis)? But our shock was nothing compared to Waller’s shock in the season finale when her daughter turned on her and told the press all about the Task Force X initiative. Interestingly, Peacemaker killed Rick Flagg in The Suicide Squad for turning on Waller. Here, he smiles proudly at his new best friend as she does the right thing, which only makes this moment sweeter. There are several reasons that Waller is rightly seen as a villain, and seeing her realize her perceived power can’t even cover her own daughter has a sweet sense of satisfaction to it. This makes for one of the best moments of Peacemaker season one.
8. Eagly Hugs Peacemaker
Peacemaker’s cast and crew hinted that the title character’s pet and companion Eagly would be the star of the show, and he’s definitely a standout. This bird of prey with a dog’s personality can be quite fierce, such as when he fights off several cops who are after Peacemaker and Vigilante. But he’s most lovable when he’s loyal and tender, which is most evident when he wraps his wings around Peacemaker in a hug. Gunn based this on an article he read that described an eagle hugging a vet who mended its broken wing. We see this moment happen twice in the series, once in episode one when he is reunited with Peacemaker after his jail sentence and in episode seven when Eagly recovers from an injury at the hands of Peacemaker’s father. Peacemaker doesn’t have a lot of friends when the series starts, which we can initially understand. But there’s something about Eagly’s affection that instantly makes us realize that The Suicide Squad’s most hated character has a soft side and that he’s human.
7. Every Vigilante Moment
With all due respect to Eagly, Freddie Stroma’s Adrian Chase, a.k.a. Vigilante, is the show-stealing breakout star of Peacemaker. Only James Gunn can take a violent sociopath and make him a lovable goofball. Picking Vigitlante’s best moment is almost impossible since he’s got so many great ones. From his weak attempts at masking his identity to his ringtone being Aqua’s “Barbie Girl” to his weird inability to pee with clothes touching his butt (which is why he pees with his pants all the way down), you just don’t know what to expect with this whackjob. All of his craziness aside, there’s some sort of childlike innocence and naivety about Vigilante that makes him a more human and sympathetic character. Stroma faced a major challenge of replacing Chris Conrad halfway through production, but he lived up to the challenge, and we couldn’t have gotten a better actor for this role. Even after roles in Harry Potter, Bridgerton, and Pitch Perfect, this is Stroma’s true breakout role.
6. Peacemaker Stands Up To Father
We knew that Peaemaker’s father wasn’t going to be kind, but we weren’t ready for this level of wickedness. Peacemaker’s father, Auggie Smith, a.k.a. White Dragon, is abusive to an unprecedented level. This cult leader used his adolescent sons Chris (Peacemaker) and Keith as entertainment for his friends by making them fight each other. Essentially, this was a dog fight with young boys as the dogs. An accidental punch gone wrong resulted in Keith’s death, which Auggie blamed on Chris even though any sensible human would rightly blame Auggie. It is this moment that makes Chris make a vow to promote peace, even if that means more killing. A messy way of thinking, but can you blame a child who is that warped by his father’s abuse?
Thankfully, once Auggie is ready to kill him, Peacemaker finally snaps out of it and beats his father to a bloody pulp, and tells him off for the monster he really is. Even after this, Auggie continues to mock his son before Peacemaker fires the gun that truly wipes out pure evil and promotes peace. Granted, Auggie appears to still be haunting Peacemaker at the end of season one, but it seems likely that Peacemaker is gonna overcome his jerk of a father again in this mental war.
5. Rockin’ Out in the Van
Peacemaker season one kicks off with the crew not feeling all that enthusiastic about being teamed up. The title character is angry that he’s not really free, and the rest of the crew feels this assignment is a punishment for their actions at the end of The Suicide Squad. However, a mission in episode five makes them begin to bond and actually become friends rather than workers on a mission. It’s awesome to see Economos (Steve Agee) develop some confidence after killing a butterfly-controlled Gorilla, but the true highlight is seeing stonecold Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) smiling sincerely and taking a photo of her newfound compadres as they rock out to “11th Street Kids” by Hanoi Rocks. Seeing this team truly develop a fondness for one another is a real highlight of the show, and it makes you excited for what the next season has in store for all of them.
4. Peacemaker’s Exchange With Jamil
One of the first and funniest scenes of Peacemaker features the title character waking up in a hospital where he has a heated conversation with the janitor, Jamil (Rizwan Manji). While it starts with Peacemaker wondering why he isn’t returning to jail, it ends up going to some strange places. This includes accusations of Aquaman having a fish fetish, Peacemaker believing everything he reads on the internet, and, the funniest of all, Jamil’s accusation that Peacemaker is guilty of racial profiling in his killing. “Fine,” Peacemaker says. “I will trust white people less in the future and kill a higher percentage of them. Are you satisfied?” To which Jamil replies “Yes” with a nod and a smile. This is a moment of comedic exchange you can’t put a price on.
3. The Battle With the Butterflies
While this battle’s awesomeness is slightly dampened by the philosophical repercussions that are discussed soon afterward, the sequence remains impressive nonetheless. Set to the show’s theme song, we witness Peacemaker, Vigilante, and Harcourt invade the butterfly camp and tear the place apart in a violent extravaganza fitting for the series. Gunshots and severed heads fly freely as the trio begins to massacre the butterflies and the “cow” that they are depending on for sustenance. It’s a final battle that’s fitting for wrapping up Peacemaker’s first season.
2. Peacemaker’s List of Names
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In episode five of Peacemaker season one, still not ready to accept the reality of who his father is, Peacemaker is not happy that Economos chose to frame his father for murders he committed in self-defense. He then runs through a long list of more than 30 people that would have been more appropriate. What’s impressive about this scene is the fact that, according to Freddie Stroma, this list wasn’t in the script. Apparently, James Gunn told John Cena to just round off as many names as he could, and Cena delivered. This scene stands as one of the best moments of Peacemaker in that it is a testament to Cena’s talent and commitment to this role.
1. Peacemaker’s Show and Tell Presentation
Without a doubt, this is the most inappropriate, shocking, and hilarious scene in Peacemaker season one. In this scene, Peacemaker shows up at Jamil’s daughter’s “show and tell” presentation, where he is bombarded with questions. His answers are not safe for work, and it goes without saying that they are not safe for kids. With his prejudiced and stereotype-driven nicknames for the kids, an insinuation that Wonder Woman was once “eye-effing” him from across the room, and a girl revealing that he may be her real dad, Peacemaker’s presentation to these children should make us outraged. Instead, it makes us laugh our butts off, and it makes this scene the funniest and best of the best moments in Peacemaker season one.
Those are our picks for the best moments of Peacemaker season one. Do you agree with us? Was there a moment we left out? Are you looking forward to Peacemaker season two and the next spin-off of The Suicide Squad? Share your thoughts at The Nerd Stash Facebook page or @TheNerdStash on Twitter. And don’t forget to like and follow.
