Something bad is about to happen on Peacemaker, isn’t it?
Peacemaker Season 1 Episode 5, “Monkey Dory,” is mostly a blast. The team is really working together and bonding well, and you can even see Peacemaker himself becoming more self-aware.
But “Monkey Dory” also carries a foreboding sense of what is to come.
Not only are the police hot on the trail of Peacemaker and the team after framing August for murder, but Leota just planted something in Peacemaker’s house. That can’t be good.
Not to mention the fact that (SPOILERS) Murn is a butterfly and now Leota knows.
So while “Monkey Dory” is a truly enjoyable episode, it gives viewers the sense that tougher times are ahead for the titular anti-hero and his band of misfits.
Make no mistake, though. “Monkey Dory” is a riot.
It’s becoming increasingly clear that John Cena has some level of freedom to improvise on the set of Peacemaker. The jokes fly further and faster throughout “Monkey Dory,” and frankly, the show is better for it.
Cena is a true comedic talent, but Steve Agee (Economos) and Freddie Stroma (Vigilante) deserve some credit for the chemistry they create alongside him. The ensemble as a whole is richer with each passing episode.
Peacemaker: I believe their preferred pronoun is ‘Long Live Rock!’ And you’re sounding pretty awesome-phobic.
What sets Peacemaker apart from other series is not just the inappropriate humor or the graphic violence, but the balance between multiple elements.
It’s the characters that truly set Peacemaker apart.
Peacemaker/Chris is a complex man who was raised by a truly vile man, but Chris shows growth in each episode. Leota (and Danielle Brooks’ masterful portrayal) is instrumental in shaping the way the audience sees Chris — not as an awful man but as someone who is capable of growth.
“Monkey Dory” fully realizes Peacemaker as an ensemble show, too. Harcourt and Economos start to come into their own as characters and even enjoy the mission, which only episodes ago would’ve seemed like a huge stretch. They’re almost having as much fun as the audience.
Peacemaker balances rich, complex, evolving characters with humor, action, and mystery to achieve a strong synergy. There’s something in it for everyone (over 18, that is).
Besides, in what other show would you get to see an alien-possessed gorilla killed with a chainsaw?
A few stray thoughts:
- Does anyone else sing “Do Ya Wanna Taste It?” for days after watching a new Peacemaker? No? Just me?
- It’s too obvious for Murn to just turn on the team. The butterflies might not be as bad as we think.
- Peacemaker’s long list of people Economos could have framed is hysterical, and also clearly improvised. John Cena is a true gem.
- “The signal was I shot her head off!”
- I’m going to take a leaf from Vigilante’s book and overuse the merman emoji.
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: Monkey Dory (Season 1 Episode 5) first appeared on Tell-Tale TV.What to Stream in January: As We See It, The Afterparty, How I Met Your Father