Fans of Peacemaker Season 2 were shocked when the show revealed that the seemingly perfect alternate universe John Cena‘s character had escaped to was actually Earth-X, a world where the Nazis won World War II. What left many viewers scratching their heads was how Peacemaker, who had been living there for days, completely failed to notice the glaring Nazi symbolism everywhere. Now, showrunner James Gunn has explained the surprising reason behind this character choice.
The Big Twist and the Unseeing Hero
The second season of the DCU show saw Christopher “Peacemaker” Smith discover an alternate dimension where his deceased father and brother were still alive and they were all beloved superheroes. However, in the season’s sixth episode, the shocking truth was unveiled: this “perfect” world was actually Earth-X, a Nazi-controlled planet. The reveal was highlighted when agent Emilia Harcourt immediately spotted copies of Mein Kampf on office desks and a large Hitler mural, things Peacemaker had somehow overlooked during his entire stay.
James Gunn confirmed that this was a deliberate character choice, not a plot hole. On the official Peacemaker podcast, Gunn broke down the psychological reason for Peacemaker’s blindness to the obvious signs.
“He is not a racist, but he was raised in a certain way, and he doesn’t notice that there aren’t any people of color anywhere around him!” Gunn explained.
This adds a deeper layer to the story, suggesting that our upbringing can shape our perceptions in ways we don’t even realize.
Raised by a White Supremacist
To understand why Peacemaker was so unobservant, you have to look at his past. In the main DCU continuity, Peacemaker was raised by his father, Auggie Smith, who was a violent white supremacist and a known Nazi. This toxic environment was a central part of the first season. Even though Peacemaker actively rejects his father’s hateful ideology and fights against it, the conditioning of his childhood left a mark.
Gunn’s explanation points to this background as the root cause. Having grown up surrounded by racist imagery and rhetoric in his own home, Peacemaker was subconsciously desensitized to similar symbols in the alternate world. The absence of people of color, a major red flag for many viewers, did not register as unusual to him because it subconsciously mirrored the homogeneous world he was raised to see as normal.
Actress Danielle Brooks, who plays Leota Adebayo, supported this view on the podcast, adding a real-world perspective.
“which a lot of people don’t though. I mean, a lot of people do not, like, understand there’s people that have a different walk of life than they do,” Brooks said.
Hiding the Secret in Plain Sight
James Gunn is known for carefully planting clues for attentive viewers, and this season was no exception. Long before the official reveal, eagle-eyed fans on social media had pieced together the Earth-X theory based on details in the show. The biggest clue was that every background extra in the alternate universe scenes was white. The show intentionally presented a stark contrast between the diverse population of the main DCU and the all-white crowds of Earth-X.
Further hints were hidden in the show’s catchy opening title sequence. Some fans noticed that John Cena‘s dance moves in the intro briefly formed a shape resembling a swastika, and other movements could be interpreted as a Nazi salute. This clever choreography meant the show’s big secret was literally dancing in front of audiences every week.
The twist was so significant it even impacted the video game Fortnite. Epic Games temporarily disabled a Peacemaker dance emote based on the intro after the Nazi connection was revealed. The company later announced it would modify the emote’s choreography to avoid any association with the storyline.
A Delicate Storyline
Gunn did not shy away from the sensitive nature of this plotline. He stated that he received some pushback from within the production structure but felt it was important to tell the story without pulling punches.
“We’re dealing with a very sensitive subject. We’re dealing with racism and, at the same time, there’s humor in this episode. And so, you’re dealing with something very delicate and yet we’re not being delicate about it,” Gunn told GQ.
He also mentioned that he made sure to consult with his cast, including Danielle Brooks, to handle the subject matter thoughtfully. The goal was to create a narrative that was both entertaining and meaningful, challenging both the characters and the audience.
The Peacemaker Season 2 finale is scheduled to release on October 9, 2025, on HBO Max, and will continue to explore the complications of this revelation.
Also Read: Peacemaker Season 2 Character Reportedly Joins Superman’s Next Movie
