Peacemaker’s Big Twist Was Done 8 Years Earlier In Another TV Universe

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The show just did something completely unexpected in the latest episode of its second season. This popular series on HBO Max is actively developing James Gunn’s DC Cinematic Universe, continuing the story started with Superman and setting up even more thrilling projects, including Man of Tomorrow, planned for 2027. As the season progresses toward its finale, a significant discovery brings in a surprising element from the comic books and gives viewers a clue about what’s coming next for the DCU.

Fans have been discussing an episode of Peacemaker called “Ignorance is Chris” online for weeks. The season started with John Cena’s Christopher Smith finding a new dimension that seemed perfect – a place where his father and brother were still alive, and where Emilia Harcourt might return his feelings, something she doesn’t do in his own world. However, as viewers guessed and Chris eventually learned, this dimension is actually Earth-X, a timeline where the Nazis won World War II and conquered the planet. Following this shocking discovery, there’s another popular DC story that explores the dangerous world of Earth-X that fans might want to check out before the final episodes of Peacemaker air.

The Arrowverse Did Peacemaker’s Big Twist 8 Years Earlier

The Arrowverse actually did a twist similar to Peacemaker‘s “Earth-X” storyline eight years earlier, in a huge crossover event that really shaped the CW’s superhero TV world. This happened well before the creation of the DCU, when four shows were running at the same time in 2017: Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, and Legends of Tomorrow. “Crisis on Earth-X” was the second yearly crossover to bring all four series together. It all starts with a wedding celebration for Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) and Iris West (Candice Patton), where the Arrowverse’s biggest stars gather. But the fun is quickly ruined when an invading army arrives from Earth-X – a world controlled by Nazis. In this take on the Earth-X story, the alternate universe filled with Nazis is even more threatening, with evil counterparts of popular Arrowverse heroes leading the attack on Earth-1. These include the Dark Archer, an evil version of Green Arrow (Stephen Amell), Overgirl, a dark version of Supergirl (Melissa Benoist), and Barry Allen’s longtime enemy, the Reverse Flash (Tom Cavanagh). The heroes of Earth-1 must team up to defeat the invading forces from Earth-X in a four-part crossover that was more ambitious than anything the Arrowverse had done before.

“Crisis on Earth-X” was an enjoyable event that really demonstrated the scope of the Arrowverse. The crossover even featured character deaths, showing that even some of the franchise’s most popular heroes weren’t immune to danger. Interestingly, the Arrowverse’s version of Earth-X is quite different from the one seen in Peacemaker. The DCU’s portrayal of Earth-X is very understated, largely mirroring Earth-1. You have to look closely to see that this society isn’t the perfect place that Christopher Smith thinks it is. In contrast, the Earth-X from the Arrowverse is a destroyed, nightmarish world that no one (not even Peacemaker) would confuse with a peaceful dimension. The evil nature of the characters on Earth-X is immediately clear, giving the Arrowverse heroes no hesitation in fighting their evil twins. James Gunn’s take on Earth-X seems to be heading in a more subtle direction in the storyline of Peacemaker Season 2, although the show hasn’t shown much of the alternate dimension beyond Evergreen.

“Crisis on Earth-X” is the Arrowverse’s Best Crossover

The Arrowverse was known for its impressive team-up events, but “Crisis on Earth-X” is widely considered the best. It wasn’t the first time the heroes joined forces – the previous year’s “Invasion!” storyline saw them defend against an alien invasion by the Dominators. However, “Invasion!” didn’t make the most of its large cast. Supergirl and her supporting characters had a limited role, with the Green Arrow and the Flash carrying much of the weight. “Crisis on Earth-X,” on the other hand, demonstrated that the Arrowverse had mastered the art of balancing multiple storylines and characters, creating a truly epic crossover that satisfied fans of all the shows. Though not as expansive as the later “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” this 2017 crossover boasts a more focused narrative with fewer plot inconsistencies. Despite featuring a large number of heroes, the event never feels crowded, unlike some parts of “Crisis on Infinite Earths.” Even after eight years, “Crisis on Earth-X” still delivers the same excitement it did upon its original release, cementing its place as the Arrowverse’s greatest crossover event.

While “Crisis on Earth-X” was excellent, the Arrowverse never quite lived up to that level again, and fans were let down in the following years. Both of the franchise’s main shows, Arrow and The Flash, saw a noticeable drop in quality soon after the Earth-X storyline ended. The other series within the universe didn’t manage to attract as much of an audience. Shows such as Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, Batwoman, and Black Lightning all gradually lost viewers and were ultimately cancelled. Arrow and The Flash continued for longer, but weren’t able to recapture the success they once had. The Arrowverse’s final major event was “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” which stands out as the last truly great piece of content from a franchise previously celebrated for its compelling stories. The only remaining show worth watching from that universe is Superman and Lois, but it’s important to note that it exists in its own separate universe with no ties to the other series.

How Will Earth-X Affect the DCU?

The surprising twist involving Earth-X in Peacemaker. James Gunn suggests that the conclusion of Peacemaker‘s second season will dramatically change the direction of the franchise and connect with future projects such as Man of Tomorrow. Although he hasn’t confirmed it directly, the idea of Earth-X – an alternate dimension overrun by Nazis and evil versions of DC’s strongest heroes – feels like a significant enough danger to be explored further. Earth-X could be the massive, potentially world-ending threat that compels Lex Luthor and Superman to work together in Man of Tomorrow (though some reports suggest Brainiac will be the primary villain). Or, a full-scale invasion of Earth-1 by the evil counterparts from Earth-X could be the catalyst needed to finally unite the Justice League within the DCU. Revealing Earth-X could therefore serve as the event that sparks the DCU’s version of Marvel’s The Avengers, launching a new era for the franchise with heroes like Superman, Batman, Supergirl, and Green Lantern joining forces as the world’s leading team of metahumans.

This would further establish Peacemaker Season 2 as a crucial part of the new DC Universe, just as James Gunn and his team have predicted. The hit HBO Max series might have already hinted at the main storyline for “Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters,” suggesting a large-scale conflict between different worlds that will unfold across various DCU projects. This echoes one of the most successful television crossovers ever, solidifying the Arrowverse’s importance in shaping the future of the DCU.

New episodes of Peacemaker premiere Thursdays at 9:00 pm EST exclusively on HBO Max.

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2025-10-03 01:54