‘Peacemaker’ recap: Episode 4 -“Upping the (Vigil)ante”

Thursday’s episode of Peacemaker was entertaining and served as a bridge to what’s to come later in the season. Some might not be as entertained by this week’s episode, but it certainly did lay some necessary groundwork for what’s to come. This week did have a few classic James Gunn moments, but not like in the first three episodes. While some might feel rushed to tell Christopher Smith’s (John Cena) story, no one will ever rush Gunn. He is a master storyteller. Gunn can take the littlest details about a character and use them to create an emotional connection with the audience. In Guardians of the Galaxy, he uses Starlord’s Walkman to develop a link to his past (it stirs up memories of his mother). Peacemaker seemingly highlights Smith’s emotional immaturity and the guilt he carries after what he did to Rick Flagg. Both characters are ultimately dicks, but we can’t help loving them. Here are five takeaways from today’s episode.

5. Did Nazi that coming

Gunn’s doing a great job of building up this villain. Casting Robert Patrick as Smith’s father and a super racist villain known as “The White Dragon” was a stroke of brilliance. In the 4th episode, they even use Vigilante’s scheme to kill Peacemaker’s father in jail as a means to build up the eventual conflict with his son. In this episode, they make a point to point out again how he won’t kill dear old dad (even if he is horrible) because of the love a son has for his father. Something deliberately stated such as this can only be interpreted as foreshadowing.

4. It’s not a question at this point

No one can deny the chemistry between these two, and it’s reached a point now where there’s no way Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) and Peacemaker don’t hook up. Of course, there will be some twist from Gunn on this budding romance. I guess that Harcourt decides that they should have sex out of the blue.

3. These two…and Peacemaker too

Adrian aka Vigilante (played by Freddie Stroma), Leota Adebayo (Danielle Brooks), and Peacemaker have the best chemistry with one another on this show. Adebayo is the perfect foil for these nutty “heroes.” She’s level-headed and calm, which is something neither of those men can claim. The car scene between Vigilante and Peacemaker discussing the dynamics of torture and their friendship is hysterical. Adrian is trying to be sarcastic, and Peacemaker is entirely oblivious. Adebayo essentially gaslights Peacemaker’s sidekick into trying to murder Chris’s dad in prison. I hope we see more of them in the weeks ahead.

2. Oh bleep

Judomaster (Nhut Le) woke up after being run over by Economos (Steve Agee) at the end of episode three and proceeded to beat everyone’s ass. During his escape, Peacemaker manages to catch up to him and square off. This fight comes to a screeching halt when a “team” member shoots him in the chest. Will he survive? Will he share with us what these butterflies are? Time will tell –

1. Blast from the past

We are starting to learn more about his past and how his father manipulated him into doing horrible things. What’s eating at him is the death of his brother, which he was involved in. I can’t shake the feeling that his death could be a lie. Maybe Dad used it to control him. That would fit right with what we’ve seen from Christopher’s father.

Photos: Katie Yu/ HBO Max