Peacemaker Season 2 Ending Continues a Divisive James Gunn Trend

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The ending of Peacemaker Season 2 follows a pattern seen in other works by James Gunn, such as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and the first season of Peacemaker. Gunn, who became known for superhero films with his 2014 Guardians of the Galaxy debut, frequently explores complicated relationships within unconventional families and uses impactful deaths to serve the story’s emotional core.

James Gunn’s superhero films often include the death of a hero’s father or a father figure. This recurring theme seems to be Gunn’s way of exploring characters overcoming difficult or damaging relationships with their parents, allowing them to grow and change. This happened again in the second-to-last episode of Peacemaker Season 2, with the death of a key character.

The seventh episode of Peacemaker Season 2 continues a pattern established by James Gunn: killing off a father figure in front of the main character. In this episode, Peacemaker witnesses Auggie from Earth-X being killed by Vigilante. This is particularly painful because Peacemaker finally discovers that Auggie was a good person, not the Nazi he seemed to be.

Auggie’s death was a major turning point in Peacemaker’s story during Season 2, leading his brother, Keith, down a villainous path. It also gave Chris a chance to deal with his past mistakes by turning himself in to ARGUS to protect his friends.

Similar to what happened earlier, Chris experienced a powerful moment in Peacemaker Season 1 when he witnessed Auggie’s death. Though heartbreaking, Auggie’s violent end ultimately helped Chris escape the damaging effects of his upbringing.

Yondu’s death in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 was deeply moving because it showed Michael Rooker’s character finally changing his ways. It broke the pattern of harmful behavior he’d shown before, and proved he was capable of genuine love and selflessness as a father figure, despite his troubled history.

Also in that film, Peter Quill’s father, Ego, was defeated when the Guardians of the Galaxy teamed up to plant a bomb in his core. Quill watched as Ego died, which ultimately led him to fully commit to the Guardians as his true family, rejecting Ego’s influence.

James Gunn’s tendency to kill off father figures isn’t limited to Marvel and DC; the 2019 horror film Brightburn, a twisted take on the Superman story, also features this trope.

In the film, Brandon, an alien with extraordinary powers, used his heat vision to kill his adoptive father, Kyle, after Kyle attempted to abandon him.

While losing a father figure isn’t typical in James Gunn’s films, the bond between a father and son is central to the story of the new Superman movie starring David Corenswet.

The second season of Peacemaker, created and directed by James Gunn, is almost over. The show follows what happens after the government organization ARGUS recovers a mysterious device called the Quantum Unfolding Chamber. Starring John Cena, Jennifer Holland, Robert Patrick, Freddie Stroma, Steve Agee, Danielle Brooks, and Elizabeth Ludlow, the season finale—Episode 8—will premiere on HBO Max on October 9, 2025, marking a significant event for the DC Universe before its planned changes.

James Gunn Continues Trends in the DCU: Here’s Why It Matters

As a big fan of James Gunn’s work, I’ve noticed a pattern – he often has characters lose their fathers. It seems harsh, but honestly, I think it’s a really effective way to push those characters forward and make them grow. It also really emphasizes the core ideas in his movies – things like learning to deal with change, finding your own path, and building a new family when you lose the one you had.

It’s no surprise James Gunn’s creative style is strongly felt throughout the DC Universe, giving his new shared world a distinctive flavor. Continuing a trend he’s known for, the new Superman movie also features dynamic, action-packed fight scenes set to music.

James Gunn consistently uses music to deepen the storytelling in his films and shows, a signature style that helps distinguish his DC Universe from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

So far in the DC Universe, we’ve seen a consistent and effective team dynamic in shows like Creature Commandos, Superman, and Peacemaker. James Gunn is particularly skilled at bringing characters together, and it’s really exciting to imagine how he’ll build the relationships within a future Justice League team.

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2025-11-03 10:05