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Speculation about the significant season 2 surprise in Peacemaker have been spreading online ever since the first episode. Viewers early on suspected that the other dimension where Peacemaker ended up wasn't as perfect as it appeared. Plenty of predicted it would be an alternate Earth, a grim comic book world where Nazi Germany won the Second World War and the United States becoming a racist regime.

The Big Twist Is Revealed

Exactly what happened. Once our version of Harcourt crossed over to this alternate world during the sixth episode, Harcourt immediately observed everything Chris failed to see—including the glaring lack of people of color as well as a literal mural of the Nazi leader displayed in the ARGUS headquarters. This type of narrative isn't revolutionary: Parallel worlds where Nazi forces conquered the world have long been a classic trope. Even popular shows like The Man in the High Castle explored this concept. But, due to the current era, Peacemaker nonetheless succeeded in ignite a controversy among certain groups online.

The backlash are absurd. It's no surprise Nazis have been among the most popular villains in popular culture for almost a century: They embody absolute wickedness.

The Role of Nazi Villains

The Nazis of the 1930s and '40s were dictatorial, brutal, and violent. They murdered countless civilians while blamed a fabricated enemy from within in order to build and maintain their power. It's terrifying to picture a world where the Nazis won the war, explaining why they've been an easy foil in movies and TV since the mid-20th century. They represent among the rare villains that we all can agree are unforgivable, giving action stars and superheroes permission to unleash maximum force.

The Core Problem

Assuming everyone can continue to concede that Nazis from history were monstrous—which it's hoped we can—so the anger over Peacemaker the new season isn't really about the presence of fascists in fiction, rather about the uncomfortable mirror it presents. Some viewers appear annoyed because their brand of nationalism, what they view as patriotic pride, could be construed as fascism. The show's creator seems sympathetic with the mistake—it's easy to focus on the world and ignore everything else—but lands with force on a point all of us must reckon with: Ethnic nationalism, no matter how it's framed, is a type of racism.

The Allure of a Perfect Life

As Peacemaker initially arrives in the alternate Earth, he discovers a flawless world in which his father and brother remain living and providing the loving family unit he always wanted, and the woman he desires is in love with him. These improvements in his private world blind him to the many obvious signs that he has stumbled into a dystopian, Nazified version of America.

Expanding on this idea, the show is arguing that it's easier for people to overlook bigger issues if we gain from them, or improve our personal situations. For instance, a person could be fine with a empowered militia targeting innocent civilians due to their race if they're told this will somehow improve their situation. Just the empty promise of a better job or a house can be enough to make us ignore to atrocities required to get there. The U.S. has always been a market-driven economy, but prosperity does not always have to come by causing someone else's suffering.

In other words: It's simple to miss the big picture if you're looking at a few appealing details.

Interpreting Gunn's Intent

It's understandable that certain people could think the show's creator is targeting them personally with Peacemaker season 2. Gunn is the series' sole writer and frequent helmer, with a track record of loudly condemning the former president and his MAGA movement. This even got Gunn dismissed from Marvel in 2018 after he attracted the ire of multiple far-right activists, who uncovered past, removed tweets as part of a campaign to discredit and fire him.

The director's well-advertised views have led to some extremely superficial critiques of his projects. The 2025 Superman movie got attacked as overly progressive and pro-immigrant. Additionally, another critic gained traction with an incorrect theory regarding one character as a swapped version of Cyborg—a claim that was not accurate. In this case, however, it's unlikely Gunn is equating the political right with Nazis. That would be oversimplified for Gunn, especially since Peacemaker the storyline is not actually a narrative of his creation: It is based on of a comic book from the 1970s.

The Broad Message

Instead, the show is simply using a classic superhero trope to deliver a theme about prioritizing equality and empathy over personal gain. This idea relevant for all people, irrespective of ideology, so it's a shame that the people who need to hear it the most are preoccupied trying to whip up more anger online to actually pay attention.