James Gunn has publicly addressed the mixed reactions to the Peacemaker Season 2 finale. The director and DC Studios co-chief acknowledged that while he personally loves the finale, he understands that not every fan feels the same way. The final episode, which aimed to set up future stories for the DC Universe, left some viewers disappointed by its lack of closure for the main character.
How James Gunn Addressed the Backlash
When asked on social media if he had seen the criticism aimed at the Peacemaker Season 2 finale, Gunn replied directly. He stated that he is aware of the fan reactions and accepts that not everyone will love his work.
“Definitely! Not everyone can love everything. I love the episode but I understand not everyone does which is completely fair.”
He also addressed a specific complaint from fans who were disappointed by a perceived lack of major reveals in the finale. Gunn pushed back on this notion, pointing to two significant introductions for the wider DC Universe.
“He’s not but I don’t get that people don’t think there aren’t big reveals here, including Checkmate and Salvation.”
The finale showed Chris Smith and his team, the 11th Street Kids, forming their own peacekeeping agency called Checkmate. It also featured the first appearance of the planet Salvation, a location known in the comics as a prison planet for metahumans. Gunn has confirmed that these elements will be important in upcoming DCU projects.
Why Some Fans Were Disappointed
The Season 2 finale concluded with the titular hero, John Cena’s Christopher Smith, in a precarious situation, stranded on the planet Salvation. With Gunn stating there are no immediate plans for a third season, many fans felt the ending was an unsatisfying cliffhanger that failed to provide a proper conclusion to the character’s current story.
Some viewers expressed that the finale felt more like setup for other movies and shows rather than a dedicated ending for Peacemaker’s own journey. Online discussions revealed that some fans found the introductions of Checkmate and Salvation confusing, as these are more obscure elements from DC Comics lore that casual audiences might not recognize.
Audience review scores for the finale were lower than for previous episodes. The season also saw a noticeable drop in viewership. Data from Samba TV indicated that the Season 2 premiere was watched by 712,000 U.S. households, but by the time of the finale, that number had fallen to 435,000 households—a drop of nearly 40%.
Peacemaker’s Role in the Wider DC Universe
Gunn has consistently emphasized that Peacemaker is a key piece of the new DC Universe. He described the character as “important” and explained that a goal of his leadership is to build up lesser-known characters into major properties.
The story elements from the finale are designed to connect directly to other announced projects. Gunn has confirmed that the planet Salvation will be a significant setting in the upcoming Green Lantern series, Lanterns. This approach shows a deliberate effort to weave Peacemaker’s story into the larger narrative fabric of the DCU, even if it means his own television series does not get a traditional ending.
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Credits: IGN, Cinema Blend
