After a three year wait, Peacemaker is back and he’s got a lot of work to do. Peacemaker’s second season debuts today, giving us more over-the-top violence, yes-they-went-there raunchiness and you-will-believe-an-eagle-can-kick-ass Eagly action. It’s been three years since we saw Peacemaker and the 11^th Street Kids take down Project Butterfly, so it’s understandable if your memory is a little fuzzy. If you don’t have time to rewatch all of season one, don’t worry because we’ve got you covered. Here’s a quick breakdown of everything you need to know before diving into Peacemaker season two!
 

How Much of Season One is Still Canon?

The DC Universe has gone through some changes since Peacemaker landed on HBO Max in 2022. The first season was set in the DC Extended Universe, home to Ben Affleck’s Batman and Jason Momoa’s Aquaman. Since then, Peter Safran and James Gunn have become co-presidents of DC Studios and launched a new DC Universe for television and film. Peacemaker season two is set in this new universe, but what does that mean for season one?

According to James Gunn, the events of season one still occurred, nearly identical to what we saw onscreen. The only differences are the references Chris made to the other DC heroes (and those were suspect anyway) and the quick Justice League cameo in the finale. If you’re a longtime comic reader, this type of stuff should be familiar to you. If not, don’t worry, because once you begin watching season two, it will be pretty easy to understand.

For more information on the show’s continuity, I would recommend listening to Peacemaker: The Official Podcast, where James Gunn breaks down the canon status of each episode.
 

Father Flag

Remember when we said nearly all of Peacemaker’s DCEU adventures were still canon? This includes Chris murdering Rick Flag in The Suicide Squad, which is unfortunate for Peacemaker because someone very important is mad about that.

If you saw Creature Commandos or Superman, then you’ve already met Rick Flag Sr., who is played by actor Frank Grillo. Flag Sr. is currently serving as the Director of A.R.G.U.S. and he’s less than pleased about Peacemaker murdering his son. Now that the elder Flag has the weight of one of the most powerful agencies in the DC Universe at his command, he’s planning to do something about it. Look over your shoulder, Chris, because one of the best soldiers in all of the DCU is coming for you and he’s not letting this go.
 

Family Matters

When we met Peacemaker in The Suicide Squad, he seemed like a psychopath who was using his mission for peace as a justification for a lust for violence. However, once we met Auggie Smith in season one, it became clear why Chris is as messed up as he is. Peacemaker’s father trained him to be a weapon from childhood and never gave him any validation.

Auggie would also force Chris and his brother Keith to fight one another for sport, while Auggie’s friends watched and placed bets. One fight got out of control, with Chris accidentally landing a punch that killed his older brother. Chris has never forgiven himself for this and still carries guilt to this day. Oh, and as if that wasn’t already bad enough, Auggie Smith is also a white supremacist known as the White Dragon. Chris finally stood up to his father in Peacemaker season one, killing him during a violent confrontation.

Auggie may be gone, but Chris will spend the rest of his life dealing with the trauma he endured from his father. In fact, some of these family dynamics will be a major theme in season two…
 

Waller Exposed

Speaking of trouble with parents, Leota Adebayo has some issues of her own. At the end of season one, we learned that her mother is none other than Amanda Waller and they haven’t always seen eye to eye. Waller wanted Leota to frame Vigilante and Peacemaker for various crimes in an effort to cover up the government’s involvement in Project Butterfly.

However, Leota had come to care about Peacemaker (she could take or leave Vigilante) and didn’t want to use and discard people the way her mother does. So, instead of framing Peacemaker, Leota held a press conference where she exposed Waller’s various operations, including using supervillains as government operatives for Task Force X. If you think there aren’t going to be consequences for Leota, Chris and their friends, then you’re sadly mistaken.
 

Harcourt in My Heart

When Amanda Waller assigned Emilia Harcourt to watch over Peacemaker, he was instantly smitten.

The feeling was not mutual.

Harcourt found Chris Smith to be nothing more than a meathead and regularly told him how much he disgusted her. (Case in point, he’s listed as “Dumbshit” on her phone.) However, her attitude towards him began to cool as they worked together to take down the Butterflies. Harcourt saw the real Chris Smith and realized there was more to him than the superhero jock exterior.

Don’t get me wrong, her feelings aren’t romantic, but there’s a warmness that wasn’t there before. When Harcourt was injured during the final battle with the Butterflies, Peacemaker stayed by her side in the hospital. When she awoke, she actually looked happy to see him. Where will their friendship go from here? Let’s just say Chris’s unresolved feelings are a big part of Peacemaker season two.
 

Peacemaker and the 11^th Street Kids have a lot to deal with and their problems are only going to grow over the season ahead. And this is just the stuff we’re allowed to talk about! There’s going to be a lot of surprises, so make sure you tune in to Peacemaker season two starting today on HBO Max!
 

Peacemaker Season Two is now streaming on HBO Max. Look for new episodes every Thursday.

Joshua Lapin-Bertone writes about TV, movies and comics for DC.com, is a regular contributor to the Couch Club and writes our monthly Batman column, "Gotham Gazette." Follow him on Bluesky at @joshualapinbertone and on X at @TBUJosh.

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Joshua Lapin-Bertone and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.