# Peacemaker S2 Episode 8 FINALE - DID it STICK the Landing?! - Angry Review

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUiktWb9-Kk
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/TUiktWb9-Kk
Generated: 2025-10-11T17:05:18.018+00:00

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## Quick Overview

The Season 2 finale of Peacemaker, titled "Full Nelson," ultimately disappointed the reviewer because it felt rushed, dedicating too much time to slow-motion rock concerts and focusing excessively on setting up future DCU elements like Checkmate rather than providing a satisfying conclusion for the season itself, resulting in a 7/10 score for the episode.

**Key Points:**
- The reviewer felt the episode was rushed, stating, "it needed another one or two and then just do it like it did here, but flesh it out," leading to disappointment despite character resolutions being satisfying.
- A major criticism was the inclusion of "not one but two full rock concert songs," consuming significant runtime, with the reviewer noting, "20 minutes of that is [ __ ] slow-mo rock concerts and stuff."
- The finale heavily set up future DCU elements, particularly Checkmate, which one reviewer felt made it feel like "half a pilot episode for a series that I don't want to watch because it's not confirmed."
- Chris (Peacemaker) ends up in a different prison, essentially in the same place he started, separated from his team, though Adabio and others achieved clearer personal resolutions.
- Rick Flag Senior executed a hard turn into villainy, revealed to be seeking alternate dimensions to imprison metahumans, possibly manipulated by Lex Luthor for revenge over his son's death.
- The reviewer stated that James Gunn confirmed he is "making sure that Peacemaker is taken care of and is a part of this [DCU]" integral piece alongside Superman and Wonder Woman.
- The overall season 2 received scores between 7 and 8 out of 10, with critics noting it was not as strong as Season 1, especially lacking resolution for the alternate universe storylines.

**Context:** The video is an angry review of the Season 2 finale of the HBO Max series Peacemaker, titled "Full Nelson," focusing on how effectively the episode wrapped up the season's plotlines, especially concerning Chris Smith's incarceration and the introduction of new concepts like Checkmate and the Salvation universe. The discussion contrasts the finale's execution against the potential set up by previous episodes, particularly the exploration of alternate dimensions and the fate of characters like Keith (Peacemaker's brother).

## Detailed Analysis

The review concludes that while the character resolutions for Adabio (who develops into a 'mini Waller' figure ready to lead Checkmate) and Harcourt were positive, the finale failed as a season conclusion because it felt like it was setting up too much future content, specifically Checkmate and the implications of the Salvation universe, without resolving the current season's arcs properly. The episode's 55-minute length was hampered by lengthy musical sequences, described as repetitive rock concerts that felt like music videos rather than advancing the plot significantly. The reviewer strongly criticized the cliffhanger nature of Chris being thrown into the Salvation dimension, especially since James Gunn recently indicated there is no confirmed Peacemaker Season 3, leaving the audience with an unresolved hook. Rick Flag Senior's sudden turn into a full villain, aiming to imprison metahumans, was also deemed too quick, suggesting it needed more setup or resolution within the season. Ultimately, the season was graded slightly lower than Season 1, with the finale receiving a 7/10 score because it felt like a pilot episode connected to the main story rather than a true end cap.

### Episode Reception and Pacing

- The finale earned a 7/10, criticized for feeling rushed and dedicating too much time to two rock concerts
- The reviewer felt the finale needed one or two more episodes to flesh out the resolutions properly.

### Character Arcs Resolved

- Adabio found closure, developing into a leader inspiring Checkmate, essentially becoming 'Amanda Waller but good'
- Harcourt and Chris resolved their past, though Chris ends up separated and imprisoned again.

### Future DCU Setup

- The episode heavily introduced Checkmate as the 11th Street Kids forming their own agency, separate from Argus
- Peacemaker was thrown into the Salvation universe, which comics fans associate with New Gods lore and Lex Luthor's presence.

### Criticism of Gunn's Style

- James Gunn's love for glam rock and music videos was highlighted as taking up time better spent on plot exploration, specifically regarding the alternate universes.

### Season 2 Overall Verdict

- The season received scores between 7 and 8 out of 10, considered good but not great, and not as good as Season 1 primarily due to unresolved potential in the alternate universe storylines and pacing issues in the middle episodes.

### Viewership Concerns

- The reviewer noted that viewership for Season 2 was low, hovering outside the top 10 streaming charts, suggesting the likelihood of a Season 3 is low, which exacerbates the disappointment over the unresolved finale hook.