Following last year’s The Suicide Squad, James Gunn is back on HBO Max with his latest DC project, Peacemaker, starring John Cena as Peacemaker, Danielle Brooks as Adebayo, Freddie Stroma as Vigilante, Jennifer Holland as Harcourt, Steve Agee as Economos, Chukwudi Iwuji as Murn, and Robert Patrick as Auggie Smith.
This HBO Max series is a breath of fresh air in this genre that can often feel really rigid and overly structured. Peacemaker is given the chance to let loose a little bit and be its own kind of fun. The storyline could’ve gone very predictable and played it safe, but what makes this special is how it really pushes it to the next level.
Is it for diehard DC fans? Yes. Is it for everybody else, too? Of course. It’s just an all-around great show that balances action with comedy and emotion with a lightning pace. You surely won’t be bored with this one.
James Gunn is behind massive films like Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad. One thing that’s consistent across all of James Gunn’s projects is their top-tier soundtracks.
As if The Suicide Squad wasn’t enough proof, John Cena is the perfect guy to play the role of Peacemaker. He sells these lines with perfect comedic timing that would come across beyond cringe-worthy from any other actor. Cena is the reason this show works at all. Peacemaker so unlikable as a character, but Cena draws out the purest emotions of the man that make him irresistible not to root for. I didn’t think a show about a superhero man-child would be so human and relatable.
The supporting cast — Danielle Brooks, Jennifer Holland, Steve Agee, Chukwudi Iwuji, and Freddie Stroma (oh, and Eagly, of course) — deserve a lot of credit, too, and this odd bunch of characters shouldn’t work together as well as they do. With conflicting personalities and different backgrounds, there are endless chances for things to go wrong, and they often do, but that’s what keeps it entertaining.
The opening credits alone let viewers know right away that this show is going to be a spectacle. That opening sequence was one of the best surprises, and it’s an instantly iconic aspect of the show right off the bat.
This soundtrack is sure to have you adding a few new stadium rock songs to your daily playlist in no time. The songs fit the vibe of the show and Peacemaker, and they are featured in such useful places that give each track their own moment to shine (it’s never simply treated as background music).
Now, let’s get into all of the songs featured in Peacemaker…
Episode 1: “A Whole New Whirled”
“Do Ya Wanna Taste It” by Wig Wam
Heard during the instantly iconic opening credits sequence shown during every episode
“Welcome to the Church of Rock and Roll” by Foxy Shazam
Heard when Peacemaker (John Cena) shows up at his dad’s house
“Come On Come On” by Nashville Pussy
Heard while Peacemaker (John Cena) and Eagly are driving off from the restaurant
“Summertime Girls” by Y&T
Heard when Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) is at the bar where Peacemaker (John Cena) shows up to join her
“Night of Passion” by The Poodles
Heard while Peacemaker (John Cena) is spending some… time… with a woman in her bathroom
“I Don’t Love You Anymore” by The Quireboys
Heard when Peacemaker (John Cena) puts on the record and sings and dancesto the song in his tighty-whitey underwear in the living room
“Love Bomb Baby” by Tigertailz
Heard playing over the end credits
Episode 2: “Best Friends, For Never”
“7 O’clock” by The Quireboys
Heard while Peacemaker (John Cena) is trying to get dressed and ready to leave
“Borderline Crazy” by The Cruel Intentions
Heard while Peacemaker (John Cena), Harcourt (Jennifer Holland), Adebayo (Danielle Brooks), and Eagly are in the car together
“Don’t Treat Me Bad” by Firehouse
Heard when Peacemaker (John Cena) plays the song on his record player and cries along to it
“Drag Me Down” by Santa Cruz
Heard when Peacemaker (John Cena) and Vigilante (Freddie Stroma) go shooting together
“Boots on Rocks Off” by Dust Bowl Junkies
Heard while Peacemaker’s dad, Auggie Smith (Robert Patrick) is being arrested
“Pumped Up Kicks” by John Murphy ft. Ralph Saenz
Heard playing over the end credits
Episode 3: “Better Goff Dead”
“Powertrain” by Enemies Swe
Heard when we see the team’s van speeding down the road
“Would You Love A Creature” by Sister
Heard while Peacemaker (John Cena) is on lookout with Harcourt (Jennifer Holland)
“Six Feet Under” by Kissin’ Dynamite
Heard while Peacemaker (John Cena) and Vigilante (Freddie Stroma) are tied up in the basement
“Choose Me” by BAND-MAID
Heard when Judomaster (Nhut Le) is listening to the song in his car
“Push Push (Lady Lightning)” by Bang Camaro
Heard when Peacemaker (John Cena) and Vigilante (Freddie Stroma) finally understand why it’s called “Project Butterfly”
Episode 4: “The Choad Less Traveled”
“Beat the Bullet” by Vain
Heard at the very beginning of the episode as we see the team’s van is seen driving down the road
“I Wanna Be With You” by Pretty Boy Floyd
Heard playing on the radio while Peacemaker (John Cena) and Vigilante (Freddie Stroma) are driving and talking together
“Jawbreaker” by The Cruel Intentions
Heard while Vigilante (Freddie Stroma) is seen walking through jail
“House of Pain” by Faster Pussycat
Heard when Peacemaker (John Cena) plays the song on his record player while smoking from his bong
“Enemy in Me” by Vains of Jenna
Heard playing over the end credits after a mind-blowing twist is revealed at the end of the episode
Episode 5: “Monkey Dory”
“Fight Song” by Sister Sin
Heard playing in the electrical van while Peacemaker (John Cena) is singing along to the song
“11th Street Kidzz” by Hanoi Rocks
Heard when Economos (Steve Agee) suggests they listen to the song in the van together, and then heard again later in the episode a couple of times
“Sick Adrenaline” by The Cruel Intentions
Heard while the Sophie (Annie Chang) and Larry (Lochlyn Munro) are comparing the fingerprints
“The Both of Us” by House of Lords
Heard when the team leaves to go take a well-deserved rest
“How Come It Never Rains” by The Dogs D’Amour
Heard while Adebayo (Danielle Brooks) is over at Peacemaker’s (John Cena’s) place for a drink
“Fallen Star” by Hanoi Rocks
Heard while Adebayo (Danielle Brooks) is on the way home from Peacemaker’s (John Cena’s) place
“The Human Paradox” by Dynazty
Heard playing over the end credits after Adebayo (Danielle Brooks) sees something she wasn’t supposed to see
Episode 6: “Murn After Reading”
“New Thing” by Enuff Z’Nuff
Heard while Peacemaker (John Cena) is feeding Eagly and the butterfly
“Barbie Girl” by Aqua
Heard as Vigilante’s (Freddie Stroma) ringtone when his phone rings
“Monster” by Reckless Love
Heard while Sophie (Annie Chang) is surrounded by the butterflies
“Kiss Me Deadly” by Lita Ford
Heard playing over the end credits
Episode 7: “Stop Dragon My Heart Around”
“Home Sweet Home” by Mötley Crüe
Heard during a flashback scene
“In My Dreams” by Wig Wam
Heard while Peacemaker (John Cena) is singing along to the song in the van
“Hot Cherie” by Hardline
Heard when Peacemaker (John Cena), Economos (Steve Agee), Vigilante (Freddie Stroma) and Eagly are in the car together
“By The Grace Of God” by The Hellacopters
Heard while the team is brainstorming ideas and formulating a plan
“Set the Night on Fire” by Pretty Boy Floyd
Heard playing over the end credits
Episode 8: “It’s Cow or Never”
“If You Really Love Me” by Steel Panther
Heard playing in the van at the very beginning of the episode
“Do Ya Wanna Taste It” by Wig Wam
Heard as the theme song of every episode, but in this episode, it is also head for the final time this season during a badass moment involving Adebayo (Danielle Brooks)
“Apologize” by The Last Vegas
Heard during a montage of scenes
“You Can’t Kill My Rock ’n Roll” by Hardcore Superstar
Heard playing as the final song of the season over the final shot of the episode + continues playing over the end credits
Season 1 of Peacemaker is now streaming on HBO Max, and it has already been renewed for a second season.
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