As the second season of HBO Max’s Peacemaker progressed, viewers of the DC series began to notice something strange. They realized that Peacemaker’s idea of the “best dimension ever” seemed a bit unsettling, lacking any people of color. Many fans-especially those who know the comics-started to think this alternate world was actually the grim Earth-X, and episode 6, “Ignorance Is Chris,” confirmed their suspicions (spoiler warning, if you haven’t watched the episode, you might want to stop reading now). The dimension where Peacemaker was doing so well turned out to be a terrible place controlled by Nazis, which was made clear by the version of the American flag in this world-instead of stars and stripes, it featured a disturbing swastika.
There’s a lot to consider regarding that surprising reveal-and everything else that happened in the episode as the 11th Street Kids reached the same terrible conclusion. For those interested in exploring dystopian themes, while the comics are a good starting point-Earth-X is a particularly dark, yet fascinating, alternate universe within the DC Multiverse-there’s another TV show you might enjoy that has an intriguing connection to Peacemaker: Prime Video’s The Man in The High Castle.
The Man in The High Castle Is An Overlooked Dystopian Masterpiece
First released in 2015 and lasting four seasons on Prime Video, The Man in the High Castle presents a dark, alternate version of history inspired by Philip K. Dick’s 1962 novel of the same name. The story imagines a reality where the Axis powers won World War II, resulting in the United States – and the world – being split into areas governed by either Nazi Germany or the Empire of Japan. The series follows a diverse group of characters, showcasing the lives of people living under both Japanese and German control, as well as those fighting against them. These opposing regimes are also locked in a tense, Cold War-style rivalry with each other.
Upon its release, the series was highly praised by critics and quickly became one of the most-watched shows on Prime Video. Throughout all four seasons, the show maintained positive reviews, and later seasons introduced a science fiction element with the appearance of a portal to other universes – a development that shifted the balance of power and offered a glimmer of optimism. Though it was very popular when it aired, the series has faded from memory somewhat in recent years. However, it’s worth revisiting due to its intricate and captivating story, and its skillful handling of real-world historical timelines, even within this alternate reality “what if” scenario.
The Man in The High Castle Also Has a Unique Connection to Peacemaker
Beyond being a fantastic show for those who enjoy dystopian fiction, there’s another reason why DC fans might be interested in The Man in The High Castle. James Gunn, the creator of the Peacemaker series, recently shared that the idea for the dystopian “best dimension ever” in Peacemaker didn’t come from DC Comics at all, but was actually inspired by Dick’s novel, The Man in The High Castle.
Gunn shared, “It comes from Philip K. Dick’s Man in The High Castle, a book I’ve always enjoyed.” He continued, “I’m a big Phil K. Dick fan, and that was the first of his books I ever picked up. The story is set on an alternate Earth where the Nazis were victorious in World War II, and that really influenced my work on this.”
Fans will also spot a visual link between the HBO Max and Prime Video series: the American flag appears in both, but with a disturbing twist. Instead of stars, the flags feature the swastika, creating a much more ominous and unsettling image.
Peacemaker season 2 is available to stream now on HBO Max. All four seasons of The Man in The High Castle are available for viewing on Prime Video.
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2025-09-30 16:16