The action sequences in superhero projects aren’t going to win many awards. Since most of the characters have magical abilities that mere mortals can’t handle with their fists, the scenes use a lot of visual effects and camera tricks. There are some outliers, such as Netflix’s Daredevil and The CW’s Arrow, but they are few and far between, leaving the genre fighting an uphill battle to be talked about in the same breath as other major action franchises. The one everyone is chasing, of course, is the John Wick series, which tosses Keanu Reeves’ assassin in impossible situations that only he can escape using unique methods of killing.
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With the John Wick franchise moving away from Reeves and allowing other characters to step into the spotlight, a void has been created. James Gunn’s DC Universe clearly thinks it can fill it because its most recent entry stole a move right from Wick, only it upped the ante a bit. The brutal moment could be an opening salvo in a conflict that decides which franchise is better at killing people.
Peacemaker Does His Best John Wick Impression in Season 2
Christopher Smith is down in the dumps at the start of Peacemaker Season 2. The Justice Gang wants nothing to do with him, and the woman he loves, Emilia Harcourt, has no room for him in her life. With nowhere else to turn, Chris enters his father’s pocket dimension and discovers an alternate reality, where his entire family is still alive. What makes the universe even more appealing is that Harcourt and he were an item at one point. The death of that dimension’s Peacemaker allows Chris to take over his doppelganger’s life, and his first order of business is winning Harcourt back. Chris visits her at work and tells her he’s changed, but their reunion gets cut short when the Sons of Liberty accidentally set off an explosive in the park. The duo quickly discovers their real target, and Chris decides the best way to prove himself to his beloved is to save the day.
After entering the building by jumping through a window, Chris starts to make quick work of all the grunts. He hits one with a copier and shoots a few others, but he saves his best trick for the most unassuming member of the Sons of Liberty. When the man enters the room, Peacemaker drops from above and stabs two pencils into his ears. The pain is overwhelming, and it only takes a few seconds for the man to drop dead. While John Wick made his name by killing a few guys in a bar with a pencil, he didn’t use two writing utensils. Peacemaker has fired its first shot at John Wick and could continue its assault for the foreseeable future.
The DCU’s Alternate Realities Aren’t Ready for Peacemaker
There is still a lot for Chris to learn about the world he’s thriving in. While it’s clear that the public loves him and the rest of the Top Trio, he doesn’t know what kind of hero he is. The gaps in his knowledge begin to show when he enters the building in Episode 3. The cop outside with Harcourt can’t believe Peacemaker is able to make such a jump without his suit, a sentiment Harcourt agrees with. The Sons of Liberty are also shocked by their enemy’s brutality, with Peacemaker being able to take them out with minimal effort. What appears to be happening is that Peacemaker is a big fish in a tiny pond, which is a situation John Wick knows a fair share about.
The next few episodes of Peacemaker are sure to put its titular anti-hero in difficult spots, and not wanting to blow his cover, he’ll have to find unique ways to escape. It remains to be seen whether he’ll jump on a horse with a sword or grab a library book to beat someone’s head with. Still, the whole world will be gunning for him, which means more opportunities to prove he’s every bit as capable as the most dangerous character in cinema history.
Peacemaker is streaming on HBO Max.
How did you feel about Peacemaker killing the guy with pencils? Do you think the action will get even wilder in the DCU? Let us know in the comments below!
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image courtesy of 20th Century Studios
