The DCU Has Already Ruined a Major DC Character in Their First Appearance

The DC Universe is taking big swings with its characters. In Superman‘s first solo outing, he shows off his vulnerable side when he delivers a passionate speech to Lex Luthor about his humanity. Another member of the El family, Kara Zor-El, is also far from perfect, drowning her sorrows in booze while attending parties across the universe. James Gunn clearly doesn’t want to be accused of creating one-note characters, to the point that he’s fleshing out everyone who crosses paths with Christopher Smith in Peacemaker. As the titular anti-hero deals with his own identity crisis, all of his friends are also wrestling with issues, ranging from employment to feeling inadequate.

Peacemaker Season 2, Episode 3, “Another Rick Up My Sleeve,” reveals a bombshell about Emilia Harcourt, the apple of Chris’ eye. It turns out that there’s more to her beef with Peacemaker than a clashing of personalities. Unfortunately, by shining more of a light on Harcourt’s backstory, the DCU does serious damage to a character that, by all accounts, is a stand-up person.

Rick Flag Has a Dark Side in the DCU

The opening moments of “Another Rick Up My Sleeve” travel back to the moments before Task Force X ships out to Corto Maltese in The Suicide Squad. Rick Flag is in bed with Harcourt, and the two are talking about their relationship after spending the night together. Harcourt is concerned about Flag stepping out on his girlfriend, June Moone, aka Enchantress, and doesn’t want to lose him as a friend. Flag doesn’t seem all that bothered about the situation, though, wanting to have his cake and eat it, too. Of course, Flag doesn’t get to pursue a relationship with either woman because he dies at the hands of Peacemaker.

What’s tough about Peacemaker‘s Flag scene is that he’s usually the guy everyone looks to in dire times. In Suicide Squad, he allows Task Force X to go free, but they have so much respect for him that they help him save his girlfriend and the world. Flag also does his best Captain America impression in The Suicide Squad, pushing back against the government he serves because they’re experimenting on children. That righteous attitude puts him in an early grave, and just when it seems like Peacemaker is going to give the character a second chance, it pulls the rug out again.

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Peacemaker is struggling so badly at home that he seeks refuge in another universe. When he arrives, he realizes his doppelganger was in a relationship with Harcourt at one point, which is his dream. It takes him little time to reach out to her and spark up a conversation, with her inviting him to visit her at work. But heading to A.R.G.U.S. headquarters proves to be a foolish move because Flag is there, and he’s the one currently seeing Harcourt. However, just when it seems like a fight is going to break out, Flag hides in a corner and allows his partner to walk out the door with her ex.

This alternate version of Flag doesn’t have the backbone that his dead variant does, which means it’s only a matter of time before he’s dead or out of the picture for another reason. The DC Extended Universe doesn’t do a lot right, but it knows how impactful a character Flag can be. The DCU doesn’t share that sentiment, ruining the reputation of a once-bright light in a dark tunnel.

Peacemaker Season 2 is streaming on HBO Max.

How did you feel about the DCU making Rick Flag a cheater? Do you think less of his character now? Let us know in the comments below!