Full Nelson (Peacemaker)

"Full Nelson"
Peacemaker episode
Episode no.Season 2
Episode 8
Directed byJames Gunn
Written byJames Gunn
Featured music
Cinematography bySam McCurdy
Editing byGregg Featherman
Original air dateOctober 9, 2025 (2025-10-09)
Running time57 minutes
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
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Peacemaker season 2

"Full Nelson" is the eighth episode and season finale of the second season of the American black comedy superhero drama television series Peacemaker. It is the sixteenth overall episode of the series, and was written and directed by series creator James Gunn. It originally aired on HBO Max on October 9, 2025.

In the episode, the 11th Street Kids try to get Chris Smith / Peacemaker back to his senses, while Sasha Bordeaux discovers the true plan of Rick Flag Sr. with the Quantum Unfolding Chamber.

The episode received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its performances and emotional moments, but were polarized over its cliffhanger conclusion, while criticizing the slow pacing.

Plot

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One month prior, Chris and Harcourt talk at a diner. Harcourt claims she is not "special" now that she has been forbidden from returning to A.R.G.U.S., which Chris disputes. Chris decides to take Harcourt to a nearby Nelson concert in a boat. They dance, culminating in a kiss. However, Harcourt leaves immediately, disappointing Chris.

In present day, Chris is incarcerated while awaiting court in three months, and refuses to accept visits from the 11th Street Kids. A.R.G.U.S. has seized ownership of the alien device, allowing them to access and lock doors in the Quantum Unfolding Chamber (QUC). Harcourt and Fleury are sent to inspect a universe in a door, but they are attacked by small creatures that end up killing A.R.G.U.S. agent Kline, forcing them to retreat. Economos grows disillusioned with the project, as Flag Sr. is using Lex Luthor's team and informs him about the doors. Using Adrian's supply of confiscated drug money, Adebayo posts Chris' bail, but he simply takes Eagly, clears his house, and leaves town.

After discovering many dangerous dimensions, A.R.G.U.S. eventually finds a habitable planet named "Salvation", and Flag Sr. pitches this door to the government as a prison for metahumans, feeling that prisons like Arkham and Belle Reve lack the resources. This is accepted, but Bordeaux dislikes the idea. She secretly meets with Harcourt to reveal the project, and cooperates with the Kids to locate Chris. They find his motel, and talk to him about his importance in their lives. As they leave, Chris asks Harcourt if their night at the boat meant something. She finally admits it did, which he happily celebrates in private.

One week later, the 11th Street Kids have started a new agency, Checkmate, alongside Fleury, Bordeaux, and Judomaster. Chris and Harcourt are also dating and attend a Foxy Shazam concert together. As he returns to his motel, Chris is kidnapped by A.R.G.U.S. operatives and brought before Flag. They take him to a door to Salvation, with Flag revealing that he faked his signature so he could be used as a test before any metahuman is brought in. Chris is put through the door and left there as Flag closes the door on him and monster sounds come from the forest around him.

Production

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Development

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In February 2022, when Peacemaker was renewed for a second season, James Gunn was confirmed to write all episodes.[1] The episode was written and directed by Gunn. It marked Gunn's 16th writing credit, and eighth directing credit.[2]

Writing

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The episode introduces the concepts of Checkmate and the planet Salvation, which originates from Bill Willingham and Lilah Sturges's seven-issue limited series Salvation Run (2007–2008). Gunn said, "when we sat down, even before I sat down with the writers room in DC, I had sort of mapped out what I thought the general story was, and two important aspects to that were Checkmate and especially Salvation, so those were things that I had pitched to everybody before we ever came into DC and then after we came into DC and we met with the writers room and worked things out a little bit more. That was always pretty instrumental in the overall, overarching story that I'm telling in the DCU, but also connected to it as well".[3]

Two weeks before the episode aired, Gunn said that a third season might not happen, "that doesn't mean there aren't plans for these characters, but it's not necessarily Season 3 of Peacemaker".[4] After the episode's airing, he said, "We are true believers in Peacemaker the television show and these characters. Peacemaker will be back. As this TV show? We'll see exactly what form. We have plans, but you'll see all these characters in the future of the DCU, and not too long".[5] He further added, "that doesn't mean that there won't be. I don't want to… never say never. But right now, no. This is about the future of the DCU".[6]

Gunn also revealed that he pitched Ryan Reynolds the idea of having his X-Men film series and Marvel Cinematic Universe character Wade Wilson / Deadpool make a cameo appearance in the episode. The idea revolved around the characters opening a door in the Quantum Unfolding Chamber, where they would meet him. While Reynolds was on board with the idea, Gunn could not do it as "we would've had to go through some pretty, pretty big hoops to do that".[7]

Reception

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"Full Nelson" received mixed reviews from critics. Scott Collura of IGN gave the episode an "okay" 6 out of 10 and wrote in his verdict, "Peacemaker's second season finale is a mixed bag that manages to wrap-up the Chris/Harcourt relationship dilemma in a finely acted and emotionally satisfying way, while short-changing most of the rest of the cast, with the face turn of Frank Grillo's Rick Flag Sr. in particular feeling like an unearned stretch. The episode does set up what are presumably important future DCU situations, including the birth of Checkmate and Chris being stranded on Salvation. They're interesting concepts that I look forward to seeing more of, but in the context of "Full Nelson", that's all they are: concepts."[8]

Jarrod Jones of The A.V. Club gave the episode an "A" grade and wrote, "With "Full Nelson", James Gunn provides closure while ripping open new rifts in the status quo, saving the best for last, and once again leaving us in his grip. This development will certainly suck for Chris. For us, his latest calamity is a promise: Peacemaker's story is far from over."[9]

Scott Meslow of Vulture gave the episode a 2 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "Okay, great news about the future of the DCU — but what about the present of Peacemaker? "Full Nelson" does its best to close out the season's emotional arcs, but it's hard not to feel like this episode is an extended teaser for whatever Gunn is cooking up next."[10] Joe George of Den of Geek wrote, "if there's one thing Gunn knows how to do, it's surprising us with his comic book takes. The existence of Salvation in the DCU proves that."[11]

Kendall Myers of Collider gave the episode a 8 out of 10 rating and wrote, "Peacemaker's season 2 conclusion is simultaneously emotional, terrifying, and outright strange, making the most of everything the series has to offer."[12] Felipe Rangel of Screen Rant wrote, "The Peacemaker season 2 finale was different from what many DC fans expected, going for emotional payoff rather than shocking action, though there were still plenty of twists along the way."[13]

References

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  1. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 16, 2022). "'Peacemaker' Renewed For Season 2 By HBO Max". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  2. ^ "Peacemaker - WGA Directory". Writers Guild of America West. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  3. ^ White, Peter (October 10, 2025). "'Peacemaker': James Gunn Breaks Down Season 2 Finale And Says No Plans For Season 3, Talks DCU Strategy & Teases How Deadpool Might Have Appeared". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  4. ^ McPherson, Chris (September 27, 2025). "'Peacemaker' Season 3 Might Not Happen According to James Gunn [Exclusive]". Collider. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  5. ^ Nelson, Samantha (October 10, 2025). "Will there be a Peacemaker season 3? Here's what James Gunn says". Polygon. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  6. ^ Yin-Poole, Wesley (October 10, 2025). "'He's Really Important to Me' — James Gunn Rules Out Peacemaker Season 3, but Says Peacemaker Himself Is Now Set Up for a Broader Role in the Wider DCU". IGN. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  7. ^ Loving, Casey (October 10, 2025). "James Gunn Says He Pitched Ryan Reynolds a 'Deadpool' Crossover for 'Peacemaker' Finale". TheWrap. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  8. ^ Collura, Scott (October 9, 2025). "Peacemaker Season 2 Finale Review - 'Making the World Better'". IGN. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  9. ^ Jones, Jarrod (October 10, 2025). "Peacemaker goes out on a series high with "Full Nelson"". The A.V. Club. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  10. ^ Meslow, Scott (October 10, 2025). "Peacemaker Season-Finale Recap: Keep on Keeping On". Vulture. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  11. ^ George, Joe (October 9, 2025). "Peacemaker Finale Sets Up Superman 2 By Referencing a Forgotten DC Comic". Den of Geek. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  12. ^ Myers, Kendall (October 10, 2025). "'Peacemaker' Season 2 Finale Recap: Flag Sr. Finally Gets His Revenge in an Epic Cliffhanger for James Gunn's DCU Show". Collider. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  13. ^ Rangel, Felipe (October 10, 2025). "Peacemaker Season 2 Ending Explained & How It Sets Up Man Of Tomorrow". Screen Rant. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
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