Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 4 Recap And Easter Eggs

Loyalties are tested in the fourth episode of the second season of Peacemaker, as ARGUS’ hunt for Chris puts the 11th Street Kids in a tough spot. Previously, a flashback set before the events of Project Butterfly highlighted the bond that Harcourt shared with Rick Flag Jr. Fleury’s failure to extract intel about the QUC prompted Bordeaux to bring a cavalry of ARGUS agents to raid Chris’ place, along with Judomaster and Red St. Wild, an eagle hunter. On the other hand, Chris spent a day in the alternate universe, and the experience of having all his desires manifested further gravitated him to the allures of reality. Economos, who had to accompany Bordeaux and co. in the raid, was put in a moral crisis, which gains focus in the fourth episode, “Need I Say Door.”

Spoilers Ahead

A Bitter Beginning

Something that has baffled viewers from season one is how Chris’ racist scumbag of a father, who never quite seemed the scientist type, was able to create a gateway to other universes through QUC, along with the rest of the advanced costumes and gadgets. This episode clarifies that, as it is revealed that he didn’t create the QUC gateway after all. The episode opens with a flashback set 35 years ago, when Auggie is giving hunting lessons to his sons, Chris and Keith, as they venture into the wilderness. Detecting a motion, Auggie shoots at its target, which, much to their shock, turns out to be a miniature humanoid alien. The severely injured creature pleads for its life, which prompts a young Keith to ask his father not to shoot it. However, Auggie, being the jerk he is, kills the alien by blowing up its head and slaps Keith for insubordination. The alien was carrying a metallic box with itself, which young Chris takes, and soon enough, the trio comes across the gateway to QUC for the first time. As it is revealed later, the box acts as a carrier of the QUC access, which means it can open up a gateway to the interdimensional crossroads. Auggie was never smart enough to build something like this on his own; he was just lucky enough to get his hands on the QUC gateway carrier by killing the alien whom it belonged to.

Economos Protects Chris and Eagly

The narrative shifts to the present, where Economos is begrudgingly accompanying Fleury, Bordeaux, Judomaster, and Red St. Wild as they head towards Chris’ place, where ARGUS agents are already waiting. Needless to say, the comedic element involving the interactions among them is off the charts. From Economos and Judomaster bickering about their past encounter, to a Native American appropriator, Red St. Wild, being a clueless racist idiot, to Bordeaux questioning Fleury’s annoying antics—their conversation grows increasingly unhinged by the time they reach their destination.

Getting the first opportunity to text Chris, Economos warns him about the raid just moments before Bordeaux and co. enter. Still, this gives Chris enough time to escape with Eagly, taking the QUC access box with him, and text Adebayo for an emergency extraction. While fleeing, Chris is chased by Judomaster, and after a grueling rematch, Chris is able to come out on top, very literally, knocking out Judomaster by falling over him. Red St. Wild eats dried Eagly droppings as a part of his tracking routine and, quite unexpectedly,, spots Eagly hovering above the nearby woods. Economos, who was fortunately paired up with the eagle hunter, shows his true allegiance as he saves Eagly by shoving Red St. Wild, who gets knocked out for a while after falling headfirst on a rock. Despite appearing the most cowardly among the 11th Street Kids, Economos proves his mettle time and again through his bravery and loyalty. As St. Wild wakes up in confusion, Economos feeds him a cock-and-bull story about another eagle hitting him from behind. Strangely enough, St. Wild seems  convinced and considers Eagly as the Primal Eagle foretold in myths, who must be killed at his hands to absolve the nation’s soul for all the transgressions committed against Native Americans. Economos is as bewildered as the viewers upon listening to St. Wild’s nonsensical rambling. 

Chris Moves the QUC

Adebayo was having a moment after the advertisement of her private security agency got published in a lousy pro-soldier magazine when she had to head out after getting Chris’ text. As she takes Chris and Eagly to Settlers’ Hill at a derelict cabin that belonged to Chris’ grandfather, Chris shares details about the QUC access box, as he has to move the gateway portal from his house before ARGUS agents unlock it. Like the viewers, Adebayo too assumed that Auggie was a genius; upon learning the truth about QUC, she becomes curious as to how Auggie got hold of the advanced costumes and gadgets in that case. Chris doesn’t reveal anything about it, just mentions that it is a story for another time, which I guess will be revealed later in the series or in the next season. 

Chris further reveals that he has visited that the alternate universe where his father and brother are alive, where the Smith are celebrated as heroes, and Adebayo initially finds it hard to believe; she remembers that following Auggie’s death, Chris was in a troubling mental state, as he was hallucinating his presence around him. However, Chris keeps maintaining that his experiences in the alternate world were real, which, by his account, was sort of his personal utopia. Chris and Adebayo reach the cabin in Settler’s Hill, and on the other hand, following Chris’ request, Economos keeps stalling the ARGUS agents from unlocking the door at Chris’ place. Fleury’s attempt to provoke Economos by calling him Ginger Cool one more time results in John hilariously spitting on him. Also, we learn that Economos apparently hacked the CIA when he was fourteen years old! No wonder ARGUS still kept him in the force despite being a part of Waller’s exposé. Anyway, Economos’ desperate attempts to delay provide Chris enough time to set up the access carrier in the cabin and shift the gateway of QUC from his place in an instant. Chris and Adebayo maintain their distance from the door during the shifting process, as a surge of energy builds up around it, which affects the vicinity. The consequence of tinkering with the delicate balance of the space-time continuum was vividly shown in Superman, and if the energy emanating from the access carrier is any indication, the same can happen if QUC’s shifting process is somehow hampered. 

Flag Sr.’s Proposal To Harcourt

With the QUC gone from Chris’ place, Bordeaux informs Rick Flag Sr. about recent developments, who decides to approach Harcourt to join the party. Also, Harcourt was a good friend of his late son, so it is easier for Flag Sr. to draw upon their connection to get Harcourt in a defensive position. Their conversation references major events from Creature Commandos, where Flag Sr. was assigned by Waller on a mission to Pokolistan with Task Force M. As Harcourt mentions, during the same time, Flag Sr. got his back broken, and viewers who are familiar with the animated series will remember that it was Clayface who pulverized Flag Sr. back then. Flag Sr. mentions how Harcourt consoled him during his son’s funeral by mentioning Chris was following Waller’s orders. He cannot relate to the ideal blind soldier-type ideology, as, just like his son defied Waller’s order in Corto Maltese during Project Butterfly, he too did the same in Pokolistan. Flag Sr. has no inclination to act understanding towards Chris’ motive and predicament. As it was quite apparent throughout this season, Harcourt got her life and purpose taken away from her after falling from Waller’s grace, and while paying a visit to her place, Flag Sr. salts her wounds by mentioning that she has been blacklisted by Waller. As Harcourt can’t hide her frustration over being wronged by Waller, Flag Sr. takes this chance to propose her a deal to snitch on Chris in exchange for rejoining ARGUS. 

Adebayo’s Warning to Chris

On the other hand, the more Chris opens up about his experience in the alternate universe to Adebayo and his willingness to find a life there, the more Adebayo grows wary of this make-believe world her best friend has stumbled upon. Learning that Chris has killed his alternate self, is exploring the possibility of getting into a relationship with alternate Harcourt, and even has a loving family life with his brother and father, Adebayo can’t help but wonder whether Chris has found himself in a Twilight Zone-esque location. The reference alludes to the sci-fi fantasy series, where the titular setting, a surreal land of imagination, took people to a fifth-dimensional setting filled with objects of their desires and manifested unfulfilled dreams. The fifth dimension has been a topic of discussion in James Gunn’s DC lore for quite a while now, and I can’t shake off the possibility that Adebayo is onto something. Also, this could also act as a reference to the effects of Black Mercy, the mystical plant that allows users to experience their deepest desires, as poignantly showcased in Alan Moore’s classic Superman comics, “For the Man Who Has Everything.” This acclaimed comic was adapted in various DC media through the years, with the most beloved version being the adaptation in “Justice League Unlimited.” Again, mention of Black Mercy connects with infamous Superman villains like Brainiac and Mongul, who have used it in the past to torment the Man of Steel. As the second season has already been mentioned as a prequel to the upcoming Man of Tomorrow, such connections aren’t totally improbable. 

Anyway, back to the narrative, Adebayo tries to make Chris act sensible by pointing out the myriads of obvious ethical issues with his decision of just replacing his alternate reality counterpart. She firmly believes that no matter how tantalizing the promise of a better life is on the other side, Chris belongs here, with his people. She is not knowledgeable. In cosmic/interdimensional jargons, she believes God has put her in this world for a reason. Chris seems nearly convinced that his jerk counterpart deserved to be in the prime reality, where his life is all sorts of messed up. And he, who reached the edge of his desperation to have a second chance at life, deserves to be there. Chris had asked Adrian to bring the door and hinges to cover the new QUC access, and he makes a hilarious entrance, interrupting the conversation in the process. 

Does Harcourt betray Chris?

Chris texts Harcourt to meet him at a rendezvous point, possibly to share everything that has happened. Harcourt decides to turn her back on Chris by agreeing to Flag Sr.’s deal. From chastising Adebayo in the first season for betraying Chris to doing the same to save her career—the tables have indeed turned on her. Economos’ disappointing look tells everything Harcourt needed to hear. 

On the other hand, Red St. Wild’s ramblings about Native American myth turn out to be more than gross cultural appropriation, as he performs a mystical ritual that allows him to venture to an astral plane and track Eagly’s current location in Chris’ grandpa’s cabin in Settler’s Hill. Chris sets out to meet Harcourt, not knowing that Flag Sr. and his cavalry are waiting for him, while Judomaster regains his senses and is probably heading to Settler’s Hill as well. It is going to be an altogether different ball game from the next episode onwards, and things are about to get intense.

In a post-credits scene, snippets of the hilarious exchange between Red St. Wild and Economos are showcased as the eagle hunter lists every single food he can taste from Eagly’s stool and comes to the conclusion that the bird gets better food than him.

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