In Season 2, Episode 6 of James Gunn’s ‘Peacemaker’ series, “Ignorance Is Chris,” the show is able to open itself up to other possibilities as it develops the multiverse and its effects on Chris Smith and the 11th Street Kids. When the team follows Peacemaker back into the other reality as he locks the door on him in the last episode, they set up the Quantum Unfolding Chamber in Adrian Chase’s basement in preparation to avoid A.R.G.U.S., and this gives the viewer a sense that this is not going to be an easy task for the team.
The world that Chris is now in appears to be perfect at first glance. His father, Auggie, and brother, Keith, are alive and well and kind and heroic, and the town of Evergreen appears welcoming. However, for us viewers, it appears that Chris has everything he wants. However, Harcourt soon realizes that something is not quite right. There are no people of color anywhere, which is a shockingly different environment from the world we know in the main universe. Chris does not realize this at first, too caught up in his happiness. It hits him like a ton of bricks when he sees the American flag bearing a swastika, realizing that this world is indeed Earth-X, where the Nazis won World War II. What we thought was his “perfect universe” turns out to be one based on oppression and hatred.
Peacemaker’s Multiverse Challenges Force Growth, Reflection, and Connections Beyond His World
In this case, the multiverse does more than just facilitate action. It shows us that Peacemaker is a character who finds himself in a false escape from reality. He has everything he wants, but it is in a location that is morally reprehensible. This leads him to understand that he cannot escape the trauma that he harbors. He has to consider his ties with Harcourt and the rest of the 11th Street Kids. It is shown that he has to win back their trust. He cannot develop as a character if he chooses to escape his past by running away from his errors. The episode also gives us a glimpse into how circumstances can alter people. Adrian meets a different version of himself who is a part of the anti-Peacemaker group called the Sons of Liberty. In Earth-X, Vigilante and Peacemaker are on opposite sides of the battle, which is the complete opposite of how they are in the main timeline universe. Then again, a different version of Auggie kills Economos, leading to his confession that Chris in the main timeline universe killed the Peacemaker of Earth-X. All these factors show us that our identity is not fixed and that the multiverse may hold different facets of us. There are also some tie-ins with the larger DC Universe. There is also a surprising cameo appearance by Lex Luthor himself, voiced by Nicholas Hoult, as Rick Flag Sr. is negotiating his transfer from Belle Reve. This sets up further storylines within the DCU universe, connecting Peacemaker to the Superman universe. The multiverse story also references “Salvation Run,” where Flag plans on using the Quantum Unfolding Chamber to imprison metahumans in another dimension. This story is part of a larger storyline involving the comic book universe, which means that the actions of the 11th Street Kids and Peacemaker may have consequences that reach far beyond their universe. There are also some sound effects that indicate Darkseid and the New Gods, leaving us wondering about the threats to the DC Universe as a whole.
Fans Were Right All Along as Peacemaker Bridges Comic Lore and Character Drama in Earth-X
Viewers had also speculated that their universe might be Earth-X, and indeed it is confirmed in Episode 6. All these signs – a lack of diversity among the common populace, the quasi-heroic family line, and the Nazi flag – become indications well before it is openly confirmed. In the comics, Earth-X has been around since 1973, showing a world wherein Nazis reign supreme and hero Freedom Fighters fight for their freedom against this oppression. This is paid homage in this series while making it more intimate for Chris and the 11th Street Kids. Finally, we wrap up at the end of this episode with the realization that the portal is still open and the multiverse is in chaos. Chris, Harcourt, and the rest of the team are left facing not only the dangers of Earth-X but also the moral gray areas that accompany this new reality. The series is dealing with dark information with comedy but also leaves us wondering just how far they will push the boundaries of protecting their universe versus learning more about other universes.
