The MCU has certainly done a marvelous job of bridging the gap between its feature films and television shows, keeping its long narrative of stories and characters intact while introducing new people and furthering those decade-long story arcs. Even though the DCEU has multiple timelines in their cinematic universe that do not coincide with their CW superhero shows, they are still fun in their own lanes. But when James Gunn came aboard with his version of The Suicide Squad, the DCEU knew immediately they had struck gold and had finally been able to reach the fans much like how the MCU had been doing for so long. One new character from Suicide Squad hit that amazing chord with audiences that conjured up its own TV Show titled Peacemaker, which follows the somewhat superhero played by John Cena and directed by Gunn. The results are nothing less than spectacular, thrilling, fun, and emotional - making this the perfect bridge from feature film to the small screen in the DCEU.
In flawless James Gunn fashion, his ability to evoke real genuine emotions along with some brilliant comedy is uncanny within the superhero genre. It was seen in Guardians of the Galaxy and every one of his previous movies. It's not mandatory to watch Suicide Squad before embarking on the Peacemaker journey, but it does help. But Gunn understands this and gives a brilliant and hilarious prelude before the first episode starts that showcases the titular character in Suicide Squad and how he ended up in the hospital at the end of the film. After being let out of prison and forced into this elite team to take out a giant starfish, Peacemaker starts out more or less the same way as Peacemaker (Cena) and whose character's civilian name is Chris Smith is forced yet again into a new elite team that will send him down a rabbit hole of emotions that will confront not only otherworldly aliens and wacky characters, but also his own family and personal demons from his past. And with Gunn at the helm both behind the camera and screenplay, these elements play out wonderfully.
If Chris didn't accept this mission and team, he would be sent back to prison by a former recognizable foe. The leader of this outfit is Clemson Murn (Chukwudi Iwuji), who tries to keep the intense details of this mission a secret from the Peacemaker for various reasons. Along for the ride and adding a ton of subtle, nuanced emotion are Emiia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) who is a weapon and martial arts expert, John Economos (Steve Agee), the computer and technology wizard, and Leota Adebayo (Danielle Brooks), the assistant to Peacemaker who is hired not only to help him but to keep tabs on the whole operation for better or worse. There are other fantastic characters that pop up, including Peacemaker's best friend who is a layered psychopathic superhero, and a small ninja who can't seem to stay down. This treasure trove of kooky characters is what Gunn does best and their eventual bonding over music and world-ending situations results in a fantastic look into the complex emotions of superheroes. This aspect has been written and shown for decades in comic books and movies, but not quite like here in Peacemaker.
Behind all of the action sequences, alien invasion, and big superhero types of sequences lies a much more grounded story about a group of people confronting their own past and bettering themselves. With Peacemaker himself, his outer shell is cold, frigid, and blunt to a fault. But underneath, his childhood trauma with his supervillain father (Robert Patrick) who consistently hates his son due to a freak accident from their past hits all the emotional chords as Peacemaker tries to navigate his own kindness and change through his new friends, trust issues, and of course his pet Eagle. And the transformation and payoff are so sweet and endearing. Peacemaker Season One is a welcome addition to the superhero universe and television in general because it shows that superheroes and big, strong, brash characters have a softer side. What a wonderful first season and let's all hope there's more.
Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray
Peacemaker Season One shoots its way to Blu-ray via Warner Bros with two Blu-ray discs and a digital code. Both discs are housed inside a hard, blue plastic case with a cardboard sleeve. The artwork features the cast of the show. The reverse artwork has the episode titles and bonus features on each disc.
Peacemaker Season One comes with a brilliant 1080p HD transfer that looks incredible. The color palette boasts natural primaries in the exterior settings of farmland or in small cities. The green pastures, beige hay bales, and blue skies contrast nicely with the brighter colors of the red, blue, and yellow of Peacemaker's uniform. The darker sequences at night or in caves showcase inky black levels that never reveal crush or bleeding. The secret lair underneath Peacemaker's childhood home has a sleeker and cooler look than the warmer nature of the rest of the show. Skin tones are always natural.
The detail is vivid and sharp in every lighting condition. Closeups reveal individual hairs, facial pores, practical makeup effects, wounds, gore, and other textures in costumes that look amazing. Darker sequences also showcase these fine details as well, especially on the alien skin which is heavy CGI, but it never looks washed out or pixelated. Wider shots are never soft either. There are no issues with banding, aliasing, or heavy noise.
This release comes with a lossless DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio mix and it sounds exquisite. The sound effects are boisterous and loud on all fronts. The explosions, gun blasts, vehicle engines roaring, and alien sounds are all well-balanced and dynamic. Those atmospheric sounds of people talking and yelling in the police station or in the barn sound fantastic through the surround speakers.
The low end of bass brings forth a wide range of low-end rumbles that never cross into rocky territory. The song cues and musical score always add to the thrills and entertainment value of the show that keeps in check with its great tone. The dialogue is always clean, clear, and easy to follow. There are no audio problems to speak of.
There is about an hour's worth of bonus materials here, all of which are super fun, and hilarious, and offer up some info on the making of the show. All are worth the time.
Disc One
Disc Two
Peacemaker The Complete First Season is a triumph of a show for HBO and the DCEU. The characters are all pitch-perfect and the performances are all top-notch and have emotional heft. John Cena is simply the best. The 1080p HD transfer and the DTS-HD 5.1 audio mix are both terrific. The extras are all worth watching and are just as informative as they are funny. Highly Recommended!
