Peacemaker season 2 finale fails expectations despite DCU setup tease

The long-awaited finale of Peacemaker Season 2 has left many fans underwhelmed, despite months of anticipation and heavy promotion from series creator James Gunn. The episode, which premiered on HBO Max, was billed as one of the “wildest and most insane” installments yet, but early reactions suggest it fell short of those promises.

Gunn had previously stated that the final three episodes were withheld from the press to preserve surprises, further fueling speculation about major twists or cameos. However, when the finale aired, audiences were met with a story that focused more on emotional closure for Christopher Smith (Peacemaker) than on explosive revelations.

The episode’s final act sees Peacemaker sent to an interdimensional prison known as Salvation, a concept tied to DC Comics’ JLA: Salvation Run storyline. In that comic arc, iconic villains like Lex Luthor and The Joker are stranded on a hostile planet and forced to form alliances to survive. While the inclusion of Salvation hints at broader DC Universe connections, the narrative’s buildup felt uneven, with much of the episode serving as setup rather than payoff.

References to DC elements such as Big Belly Burger and Checkmate, a secret organization central to several comic arcs, were included to tease future developments. Gunn has confirmed that the Peacemaker Season 2 finale is designed to connect directly to his upcoming film Superman: Man of Tomorrow, though the specifics of that link remain unclear.

Despite a few intriguing reveals, critics and fans have described the finale as lacking the grand spectacle Gunn had promised. For long-time DC followers, the episode offered subtle nods to deeper lore, but for casual viewers, it was seen as confusing and anticlimactic.