🔗 Share this article

Theories about the major season 2 surprise in Peacemaker have been spreading online ever since the premiere. Audiences quickly suspected that the alternate universe where Peacemaker ended up wasn't as wonderful as it seemed. Many predicted it would be Earth-X, a grim DC Comics reality in which the Nazis triumphed in the Second World War and America turning into a racist regime.

The Shocking Truth Unfolds

Exactly what transpired. Once the main version of Harcourt traveled to Earth-X in episode 6, Harcourt right away noticed everything Chris overlooked—such as the obvious absence of racial diversity as well as an actual mural of the Nazi leader hanging in the ARGUS headquarters. This kind of narrative isn't revolutionary: Alternate realities in which the Nazis conquered the globe are a common trope. Even major shows like The Man in the High Castle explored this idea. However, due to the current timeline, Peacemaker nonetheless succeeded in ignite outrage in some corners of the internet.

The response were overblown. There's a reason Nazi villains are one of the most popular antagonists in media for decades: They embody absolute wickedness.

Why Nazis?

Nazi Germany of the 1930s and '40s were authoritarian, oppressive, as well as deadly. They executed millions of innocent people while blamed a fabricated enemy from within in order to build and maintain their power. It's terrifying to imagine a world in which the Nazis were victorious in the war, explaining why they became a clear foil in film and TV since the mid-20th century. Nazis are one of the few enemies who everyone agree were irredeemable, giving heroes and protagonists permission to unleash maximum force.

The Real Issue

Assuming we can all continue to concede that the Nazis from history were evil—which it's hoped that's the case—then the fury about Peacemaker season 2 isn't really about the presence of Nazis in fiction, rather about the uncomfortable mirror it presents. Some viewers seem irritated that their version of patriotism, what they see as patriotic pride, could be construed as fascism. The show's creator appears sympathetic toward this confusion—it's easy to focus on the world and ignore everything else—yet comes down with force on a point all of us must face: White nationalism, however it's dressed up, is a form of racism.

The Temptation of a Perfect Life

As Chris first visits Earth-2, he sees a perfect existence where his dad and brother remain living offering the supportive family life he always wanted, while the woman he desires is in love with him. These improvements in his private world distract him to the many clear indicators showing he has wandered into a grim, Nazi-controlled version of the United States.

Expanding a bit further, Gunn is arguing that we find it easy for all of us to ignore larger societal problems if we gain from them, or improve our personal situations. As an example, someone could be fine with an emboldened paramilitary force targeting people due to their race when they're told this will in some way improve their situation. Even the vague hope of employment or a bigger home can be enough to blind us to horrible actions required to get there. America is a capitalist society, however financial success doesn't necessarily have to come by causing others' pain.

Put simply: It's simple to miss the Nazi forest if you're looking at some tempting details.

Understanding the Creator's Intent

It's understandable that certain people could think the show's creator is coming after them personally with Peacemaker the new season. Gunn is the series' only writer and often director, with a track record of loudly condemning Donald Trump and the political movement. This even got Gunn fired by Disney a few years back when he attracted the ire of several conservative activists, who dug up some old, removed posts as part of a campaign to smear and fire him.

The director's well-advertised politics have led to very superficial critiques of his work. The recent Superman movie was attacked as too woke and pro-diversity. More recently, a different online detractor gained traction by spreading a false claim regarding one character as a swapped version of Cyborg—which was not accurate. In this case, however, I don't think the writer is equating the political right with Nazis. That's oversimplified for the writer, especially since Peacemaker season 2 is not actually a plot line he invented: It's based on of a comic book from the 1970s.

The Broad Message

Instead, the show is simply using a classic superhero trope to convey a message about prioritizing fairness and empathy over personal gain. This idea relevant for everyone, irrespective of political beliefs, which is why it's unfortunate that those who should listen the most are preoccupied trying to whip up more anger on social media to actually pay attention.