After a few episodes hinting at his rough upbringing, Peacemaker seems to be seeking some peace with his past.
Peacemaker Season 1 Episode 4, “The Choad Less Traveled,” forces Peacemaker to begin to reckon with who is father is and the terrible things he’s done.
While still rich with outrageous laughs and action sequences, “The Choad Less Traveled” begins to dig deeper with its fantastic ensemble. Leota, Harcourt, Economos, and Vigilante all express varying levels of depth, which gives Peacemaker a richer feel.
Then of course there’s Murn, who (SPOILERS) turns out to be a butterfly!
Vigilante, especially, gets some time to shine. Freddie Stroma is truly doing his best work as Vigilante and alter ego Adrian Chase. Even though he and Peacemaker are opposites in some ways (and alike in others), their relationship really propels the show forward by giving Peacemaker both friend and foil.
Leota: Vigilante? That was Vigilante?
Peacemaker: Shut up!
The main theme of “The Choad Less Traveled” is Christopher/Peacemaker’s relationship with his father, and how his upbringing can influence his choices. More than that, though, is the theme that someone can overcome their upbringing or main life influences and be better.
Brilliant as Robert Patrick is, it’s no secret that August Smith is at his best a terrible father, and at his worst a white supremacist. This could create conflict within anyone, and clearly does so in Peacemaker.
“The Choad Less Traveled” begs the question — how do you reconcile your upbringing by a white supremacist with trying to do good in the world?
Peacemaker seems unafraid to tackle the gray areas, recognizing that Peacemaker’s father taught him some of the things that make him desirable for a black ops team, and that some good has come from that.
Peacemaker: He makes me helmets!
Conversely, it doesn’t shy away from the horrible man August Smith is or the terrible things he’s done himself, or through his son by proxy. Peacemaker grappling with both sides of this coin makes for a compelling, emotional story.
John Cena deftly navigates the shifting tones of the show. He moves deftly between introspection, action, and delivering deadpan punchlines. He’s a truly brilliant lead for the show.
That’s truly where Peacemaker strikes its balance. Exploring the depth of each character, combined with pulse-pounding action, and outrageous humor makes each episode of Peacemaker (so far) a truly compelling watch.
A few stray thoughts:
- Vigilante fighting white supremacists during his brief stint in jail is one of the show’s best sequences so far.
- HBO Max has to be kidding with the “skip intro” button on Peacemaker, right? It feels like an insult because the intro is delightful. Best intro of 2022.
- Robert Patrick is frustratingly good on this show. His character is an awful human, but so well acted.
- “I dunno dude. It’s a deep state thing.”
What did you think of this episode of Peacemaker? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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New episodes of Peacemaker air Thursdays on HBO Max.
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The post Peacemaker Review: The Choad Less Traveled (Season 1 Episode 4) first appeared on Tell-Tale TV.What to Stream in January: As We See It, The Afterparty, How I Met Your Father