Peacemaker season 2’s foray into multiversal storytelling simply bought a complete lot extra attention-grabbing within the newest instalment.
Whereas we’ve already seen Christopher Smith work together with alternate variations of his household, and even his personal doppelganger, episode three revealed somebody that followers weren’t anticipating – a blast from the previous, if you’ll.
Main spoilers for Peacemaker season 2 episode 3 comply with
Joel Kinnaman is formally again within the DCU as Rick Flag Jr.
We already knew that Rick Flag Jr. was a key driving power on this present, as his father, Rick Flag Sr., was set on discovering Peacemaker, seemingly compelled by the vigilante’s homicide of his son.
Nevertheless, having Joel Kinnaman truly flip up on display in ‘One other Rick Up My Sleeve’ was a pleasing shock. Not solely did he star because the now-deceased Rick Flag Jr. in a flashback, but additionally as an alternate, residing model within the weird parallel universe that Chris has found in his mysterious storage room. It’s two Rick Flag Jr.s for the worth of 1.
Rumours about Kinnaman’s look began circulating final 12 months after director Peter Sollett tagged Kinnaman in a present wrap publish, which he later deleted. Kinnaman then gave the next quote to Display screen Rant when requested about his involvement: “I don’t know what to say. That’s ridiculous. I might by no means. I might by no means be on a present like that. It’s not what I do. It’s not what I do.”
By no means consider actors beneath NDAs, youngsters.
Warner Bros. Discovery
When you want a recap, Kinnaman first entered the superhero universe again when it was the DECU, in David Ayer’s (admittedly horrible) Suicide Squad. He then reprised his position for The Suicide Squad beneath James Gunn: one among a number of actors to return, alongside Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn and Viola Davis’s Amanda Waller.
Flag was a former Colonel within the military and was recruited to guide Process Drive X within the discipline. Within the first movie, he was in love with Dr. June Moone (Cara Delevingne), who was reworked into Enchantress. The OG Suicide Squad managed to defeat Enchantress, and Moone survived.
In 2021’s The Suicide Squad, Flag was a part of the group despatched to work on Undertaking Starfish. Through the mission, he found that the federal government was conducting extremely secretive experiments on harmless folks. He supposed to launch this info, however was thwarted by Peacemaker, who believed that if Flag made this information public, it could trigger a world incident and disrupt his mantra of ‘peace in any respect prices’.
After a combat, Smith fatally stabbed Flag who, along with his dying breath, stated: “Peacemaker… what a joke” – a phrase that has seemingly haunted Chris all through each seasons of the HBO present in flashbacks.
There are two Rick Flag Jr.s that we see within the present, and each revealed important plot factors which have modified not solely the course of Peacemaker, however the lore of the DCU.
The deceased Rick Flag Jr.’s romantic connection to Harcourt
Simply after we thought that Peacemaker and Harcourt’s connection could also be growing, an enormous Rick Flag Jr.-shaped spanner has been thrown within the works.
The opening of episode three revealed that the pair had a friends-with-benefits relationship (with Harcourt advising him to return to June, a sign that they had been having an affair). Rick apparently needed extra, stating that he’d take the danger of his sorceress girlfriend burning a gap within the planet to be greater than buddies with Harcourt.
She dismissed him, as he was about to ship out… to Corto Maltese. That’s the place he’s killed by Chris Smith.
Harcourt is later quizzed by Adebayo on having a possible relationship with Chris, to which she replies: “Me and Chris isn’t a factor. It’s by no means gonna be a factor.”
Curtis Bonds Baker/Max
So, the query is, is Harcourt nonetheless harbouring some resentment in the direction of Chris over the demise of Rick Flag Jr.? May that imply that she’ll finally activate him, regardless of their sophisticated historical past? It’s a risk, and this potential romantic relationship is actually not so simple as Chris believes, and it actually explains why she was so frosty in the direction of him to start with.
This scene additionally has implications for one more character from Suicide Squad, which raises questions in regards to the universe as a complete.
Enchantress is canon within the DCU… so, who else is?
The opening montage in episode 1 of Peacemaker season 2 has already confirmed that whereas a lot of the occasions that befell within the first season (which was set within the DCEU) are the identical on this new universe beneath Peter Safran and Gunn, some issues have been altered.
For instance, The Justice League (with Superman, Aquaman, Marvel Lady and The Flash) doesn’t flip up on the finish, however somewhat The Justice Gang, with Mister Terrific, Inexperienced Lantern, Hawkgirl and Supergirl. Superman is there, however Henry Cavill has been swapped with a top level view of David Corenswet.
However clearly, one character who does exist on this universe is June Moone, AKA Enchantress – she’s talked about by Flag within the opening scene as she’s his girlfriend on the level that he’s about to move out on his mission for Undertaking Starfish.
So once more, this poses questions on which characters are and aren’t canon within the DCU. If Enchantress has been carried over, does that give hope for fan favourites equivalent to Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn or Idris Elba’s Bloodsport? It appears as if something may very well be attainable now.
What’s the take care of the parallel model of Rick Flag Jr.?
Chris is encountering ghosts of his previous left, proper and centre on this new universe. First, his dad Auggie, with whom he has a a lot hotter relationship. Then, his brother Keith, whom Chris by chance beat to demise (beneath the encouragement of his father). And now, Rick Flag Jr.
Within the parallel universe, this busybody model of the character confronts Chris within the A.R.G.U.S. workplace and is especially agitated that he’s proven as much as communicate to Harcourt (or Emilia, as she’s higher identified right here) – even creeping behind pillars to see what they’re doing… with little stealth, I’ll add.
Emilia admits that this universe’s Chris (Harcourt doesn’t realise she’s chatting with a unique model) actually harm her after strolling away, and that Rick isn’t the kind of man who will mess her round. Nevertheless, she nonetheless appears charmed by the person she thinks is her ex.
The query is, is that this the one purpose Flag dislikes him, or is there one thing darker at play? This episode additionally launched us to the Sons of Liberty, an obvious terrorist organisation decided to overthrow the US Authorities.
Whereas Peacemaker was hailed as a hero for taking them out, maybe not all the things is because it appears on this universe – particularly as we all know what a nasty piece of labor Auggie Smith, AKA The White Dragon, is in the principle universe.
And we additionally know the destiny of Rick Flag Jr. Has the opposite model of Peacemaker additionally tried to homicide Rick?
Hopefully, we’ll be taught extra as Peacemaker season 2 continues to roll out.
Peacemaker season 2 is rolling out now on HBO and HBO Max each Thursday night time at 9pm ET within the US. UK viewers can watch on Now from 2am BST on Fridays, with the episode airing on Sky Max and Sky Showcase at 9pm BST.
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