The latest episode of Peacemaker Season 2 delivered one of its most brutal moments when Adrian Chase, aka Vigilante, killed the alternate-universe version of Auggie Smith. Series creator James Gunn has now explained the reasoning behind this sudden death, which serves as a pivotal turning point for John Cena’s Peacemaker.
In the episode titled “Like a Keith in the Night,” the alternate Auggie Smith, known as the Blue Dragon, was moments away from peacefully allowing Chris Smith and his friends to return to their home dimension. In a sudden and brutal act, Vigilante crashed through a window and stabbed him to death. Gunn described the moment as intentionally abrupt, emphasizing that the editing showed Chris seeing Vigilante in the window for a long moment before realizing what was about to happen.
James Gunn Explains the Sudden Death
On the official Peacemaker podcast, James Gunn explained his creative decisions behind the killing. He stated that the scene was designed to feel sudden and devastating, underscoring a central theme of the show.
Gunn noted that the moment reinforces that “nothing in Peacemaker is clean-cut.” He described it as an “intentionally abrupt and brutal moment.”
This version of Auggie, played by Robert Patrick, was a compassionate and virtuous father figure, a direct contrast to the racist White Dragon from the first season. This Auggie recognized that his own son was not a good man but still showed him love, operating on a belief that he could only fight the “madmen, murderers, and monsters” directly in front of him.
A Tragic Turning Point for Peacemaker
The death served as a massive emotional trigger for Chris Smith (Peacemaker). Gunn revealed that John Cena’s performance in the aftermath, which included a scream and a breakdown, was meant to show Chris reliving the trauma of losing his brother. In the aftermath of the stabbing, Chris pushes everyone away and declares, “It’s not my world that’s wrong… It’s me.”
This emotional climax is tied directly to Chris’s deep-seated guilt and his belief that he is the source of pain and destruction in every reality. The death of a father figure who was finally showing him compassion confirmed his worst fears about himself. For the character, Auggie’s death marks a significant turning point, forcing him to confront his own nature and the cycle of violence that seems to follow him.
How the Scene Shocked the Cast
The brutality of the scene was felt by both the characters and the actors portraying them. According to Gunn, co-stars Danielle Brooks and Steve Agee described the stabbing as being executed “so harshly” that it left both the characters and the audience in shock. Vigilante’s twisted justification for the murder was that Auggie had tied up Economos, proving once again that his moral compass is severely broken.
The death of the alternate Auggie Smith closes a door on a universe that Chris initially saw as a perfect escape from his troubled life. This Earth-X universe was later revealed to be one where the N**is won World War II, adding another layer of tragedy to Auggie’s claim that he did not support the regime and only wanted to make his world a better place.
Also Read: Peacemaker Season 2 Finale Confirmed to Be Extended Episode
