After two episodes of “Peacemaker,” we still don’t know what a “butterfly” is or how the crew plans to bring about peace. Thankfully, at least one of those questions is addressed in the third episode of James Gunn’s wild superhero-related series. Christopher Smith, AKA Peacemaker (John Cena), faces an adversary he cannot vanquish in the episode titled “Better Goff Dead”: his developing conscience.
The crew of Project Butterfly didn’t travel anywhere particularly crazy in the first two episodes, other than an apartment building or the neighbourhood Fennel Fields restaurant for some dope mozzarella sticks, but now they embark on their first official mission: to assassinate U.S. Senator Goff. Since the congressman is thought to be a butterfly, of course nothing goes as expected. Get ready for a shock, for this episode is more electrifying than a pair of jumper cables strapped to your genitalia.
From this point on, “Peacemaker” episode 3 spoilers will apply.
A Quick Recap
It was an adventure to save Peacemaker from the fallout from his hookup with a butterfly, but it wasn’t a Project Butterfly mission. Their first task is to assassinate Senator Goff, possibly together with his wife and two children. The team and Peacemaker have an awkward talk on the drive to the work that begins with climate change and concludes with Peacemaker describing the idea of “butt kids.” His older brother claimed that some infants were delivered vaginally and others anally, and that the latter group was invariably worse. He apparently believed his brother’s claims that he was a butt baby until he was 14 years old. When Peacemaker asks Adebayo (Danielle Brooks) about scissoring after learning that he is married to another woman, she responds that she had suspected him of being a butt baby all along. So much for fostering teamwork.
Through a window, Peacemaker, Harcourt (Jennifer Holland), and Adebayo watch as the Goff family develops proboscises and starts sucking something resembling honey from mason jars. Even though Peacemaker is aware that the things in front of him are obviously not humans, when the time comes for him to fire, he is unable to. He experiences a moral problem, and Vigilante (Freddie Stroma), who was lurking nearby, ends up shooting for him. Vigilante kills the mother, two children, and senator while humming, but Judomaster (Nhut Le) drop-kicks him before he can. The ensuing fight between Harcourt, Peacemaker, Vigilante, and Judomaster is another really insane one, and the bodyguard who enjoys martial arts defeats them all before getting into a car and driving off. Economos (Steve Agee), who is fortunately waiting in the van, rams Judomaster’s escape car before hitting him over the helmeted head with a pipe.
Goff manages to catch both Peacemaker and Vigilante in the interim. When Peacemaker won’t respond to his questions, he starts electrocuting Vigilante with jumper cables attached to his genitalia. Additionally, Goff tries to amputate Vigilante’s pinkie toe, but the bone is too tough for his garden shears to cut. We learn what butterflies actually are when they are able to break out of their restraints and Peacemaker shoots Goff in the face. A little alien creature that like a butterfly emerges from Goff’s still-smoking headhole. Why does Gunn seem to have brain parasites? As a result, anyone may be a butterfly or become one, and a map at the episode’s conclusion reveals that there may be thousands of them all across the world.
The Sweet
Although there isn’t much sweetness in this episode, the Project Butterfly members’ commiseration over being forced to live together is at least beginning to turn into something pleasant and less hate-filled.
The fact that John Economos had a chance to shine may be the episode’s most endearing feature. Gunn has always had a soft spot for outcasts and weirdos, and he frequently offers the least likely characters heroic journeys. It was entertaining to see Economos, a shining example of “The Suicide Squad’s” already superb cast, have a kickass moment.
Within Project Butterfly, a fascinating variety of people are represented, and it’s fun to see them attempt to be superheroes. It will always be funny whenever Adebayo gets a pistol or Economos is instructed to employ “whatever measures required.” The crew’s human members are pretty bad mercenaries, much like Peacemaker and Vigilante are bad at being human beings. Adebayo and Economos are working toward obtaining their own death warrants, but only Harcourt appears to have grasped the concept of balance.
The Spicy
In the midst of a mission briefing, Adebayo’s wife Keeya (Elizabeth Faith Ludlow) sends him a sext that contains a quick glimpse of full frontal nudity. Peacemaker’s numerous lesbian jokes only serve to embarrass her further. The two’s relationship, which had been developing since the previous episode, seemed to have taken a hit. Harcourt has lost all patience, even if she didn’t have much to begin with.
It’s very stunning to see the little green guy knock the crap out of two much bigger men in the fight with Judomaster, which is just as brutally hard-hitting as the one Peacemaker had in his hookup’s place. Even trying to flee from him, Vigilante, which is both wonderful and a little depressing. Although Vigilante was subjected to some gruesome torture, the attempted attempt to amputate his pinkie toe was unquestionably the worst. Throughout the questioning, Vigilante begs Peacemaker to provide “just a little” information, but Peacemaker keeps telling his friend that he won’t. The best method to harm people, who are “creatures of empathy,” according to Goff, is to harm their friends. Sadly, Peacemaker’s empathy is still extremely young and he allows Goff to abuse Vigilante for much too long without much resistance.
Although the deaths of the two children are not depicted on film, they do occur. Even while we are aware that they once had butterflies in their brains, those were once little children. It’s pretty sick when a vigilante kills someone while humming.
Best Lines and Post-Credits Sequence
Even though this episode lacked sweetness, the dialogue more than made up for it. Here are some of this week’s most memorable quotes:
- Adebayo questions some hilariously meta logic:“Why do all pro wrestling fans believe that climate change is a hoax? Not a scam, either.”
- Peacemaker shares his source on climate change facts:Yes, Facebook is lying to me every day without cause.
- Peacemaker explains that he’s not that shallow:I don’t want to kill that child just because he’s ugly, she said.
- Adebayo burns Peacemaker in more ways than one:
“Having a lesbian haircut doesn’t make you an ally.” - There’s really no context here, but:“It’s canon that Wookies have teeth on their a**hole.”
In the post-credits scene, Harcourt may be seen speaking with Vigilante after sneaking into the mission. She threatens to destroy his family if he botches the assignment. Vigilante gleefully responds, “Too late!” to that. I really hope Vigilante’s origin story is horrible and he didn’t murder his parents or whatever. However, I don’t think I would rule that out for him.
“Peacemaker” has its first three episodes available on HBO Max right now, and fresh episodes are released every Thursday.
