Editor’s note: The below recap contains spoilers for Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 5. Peacemaker Season 2 is building to an epic finale, and Episode 5, “Back to the Suture,” takes several important steps in that direction. After Episode 4, “Need I Say Door,” left Chris (John Cena) in a precarious position as he walks into ARGUS’s trap, but the conflict between him and Rick Flag Sr.’s (Frank Grillo) organization has been a long time coming. Not only have they destroyed his house and sent a hunter after his pet and best friend, Eagly, but Flag Sr. blames Chris for the death of his son, making it personal on both sides. Episode 5 highlights Flag Sr. as he and Chris come face to face for the first time, but more importantly, the 11th Street Kids are well and truly back, making this Season 2’s best episode yet.
Harcourt Betrays ARGUS in ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 Episode 5

Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) sits alone in Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 5Credit: Image via HBO Max

Both Economos (Steve Agee) and Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) are caught between their friendship with Chris and their careers. Despite working for ARGUS, Economos chose Chris in the previous episode, though Bordeaux (Sol Rodríguez) and Flag Sr. don’t seem to have caught on yet. Meanwhile, Harcourt is offered one chance to return to the job she loves, but to do so, she must betray Chris. At the end of last week’s episode, she does what Flag Sr. asks, laying a trap for ARGUS to capture Chris, hinting that she isn’t the friend she seemed. Episode 5 builds on that story by showing a flashback to her at Rick Flag Jr.’s (Joel Kinnaman) funeral. As she speaks to Flag Sr., she cannot reveal what happened, but promises that the killer will pay, which, in the present time, seems to be coming true. But when Chris arrives, he is aware of ARGUS because Harcourt never betrayed him; he simply ignored her coded warning and came anyway. While Harcourt is frustrated at him for putting himself in danger, he wants to ask about their relationship. Harcourt tells him there isn’t anything between them, but any major important conversation between them is interrupted by ARGUS. As the agents swarm, Chris fights them off, but Bordeaux is ordered to take a kill shot, and Harcourt jumps in, choking Chris and allowing ARGUS to capture him. Despite how it looks to Chris, she saved his life. Though the slow romance storyline between them gets no significant development, the episode allows Harcourt to show her priorities, betraying ARGUS and Flag Sr. rather than Chris, and proving that the 11th Street Kids really are bonded for life.
‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 Episode 5 Reveals More to ARGUS’s Plan

While Chris is arrested, Harcourt fears Flag Sr.’s desire for revenge, and goes to Economos for help, asking him to book Chris so there’s a record to tie Flag Sr.’s hands. Though it angers Bordaeux, Economos does what Harcourt asked, reminding her that it is required by law. It’s hard to argue with Economos’ action, and in an uncharacteristically genuine moment, even Fleury (Tim Meadows) admits it was a good choice. Harcourt and Economos’ alliance to help Chris highlights how dark ARGUS can be, pushing the bounds of legality to the point that the pair has to use legality to justify their protection of their friend. Meanwhile, Flag Sr. turns off the camera to integrate Chris, beating him even though he won’t fight back. Chris expresses his regrets about killing Flag’s son, but the man isn’t swayed. The only thing that stops Flag is Bordeaux informing him about what Economos did, which means Chris has to be let go. However, when Adebayo (Danielle Brooks) and Adrian (Freddie Stroma) pick him up, Flag sends Judomaster (Nhut Le) to follow. Flag then reveals his entire plan to Bordeaux, saying that his priority is preventing another dimensional rift, and that it will be easier to locate the portal if Chris believes Flag is only out for revenge. Peacemaker has kept Flag in the background until now, allowing Bordeaux to do more of ARGUS’s dirty work, but this moment proves that he is a capable and intelligent leader. Flag anticipates Harcourt choosing to protect Chris and acts irrationally to hide his true intentions, making him a formidable enemy for Chris.
‘Peacemaker’ Season 2’s Eagly Storyline Concludes with a Violent Death

Eagly in Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 5Credit: Image via HBO Max

One of ARGUS’s plans fails epically in Peacemaker Episode 5. After Eagly overpowered their team, ARGUS hired Red St. Wild (Michael Rooker) to kill the bird, and Episode 4 shows the extreme lengths he will go to find Eagly, whom he believes to be the Primal Eagle. First, he lays a trap with a dead rat, hoping Eagly will eat it and be killed, but another creature steals the rat. Wild instead shoots at Eagly, but hits a different eagle. In fact, an entire flock of eagles appears, confirming that Eagly does have power. The eagles tear St. Wild apart, meaning Eagly is safe. This sideplot only lasts two episodes, and not only is it a strange addition, but it’s entirely rushed. Beyond St. Wild’s ramblings, the idea of a Primal Eagle is never explained, nor is it addressed how it became Chris’ pet. While it gives Eagly something to do for a while, the storyline is a strange choice that has added little to the overall series.
Chris Chooses the Parallel Universe in ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 Episode 5

Chirs (John Cena) and Eagly  go through the portal in Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 5Credit: Image via HBO Max

Peacemaker Season 2 sees Chris in a dark place, especially after he feels betrayed by Harcourt. Not knowing the truth of what happened at their meeting, Chris makes the life-changing choice to move to the parallel world. He leaves a letter for Adebayo with the dimensional portal panel and texts her goodbye before he and Eagly go through. He tells Keith (David Denman) that Eagly is his new sidekick and jumps into that life, even making up with the alternate Emilia Harcourt. This has been a long time coming, as the parallel world has interested Chris since he learned about it, but his choice to abandon his friends proves just how far he has gone. Fortunately, the storyline is far from over. Judomaster, who is still following Chris, reports to ARGUS, but with time running out, he follows Chris, leaving ARGUS a note of his own. It seems the two major conflicts are about to come together. But some good comes out of Chris’ choice as it brings the rest of the team together. Adebayo and Adrian rush back after receiving Chris’ text, but he’s gone. They see Judomaster’s note and realize that ARGUS is on the way, but before they get out of there, Adebayo finds Chris’ note to her. Taking the dimensional panel with them, they call Harcourt and Economos and reunite the team. Adebayo explains that Chris has gone to the alternate dimension where he believes he can be a better man. He also hopes that turning in the dimensional panel can get ARGUS off their backs and maybe restart their careers. Despite Adrian’s emotional reaction, Harcourt refuses to give up, declaring that they will use the dimensional panel to find Chris and bring him home. With that goal, the team, minus Chris, is once again working together. Season 2 has seen them divided, reuniting largely for social events, but now they are back to their Season 1 glory, and it’s about time. With this twist, the next episode should be even more exciting. Peacemaker Season 2 is streaming on HBO Max with new episodes on Thursdays.

Release Date

January 13, 2022

Network

HBO Max, Max

Directors

James Gunn, Brad Anderson, Rosemary Rodriguez

Pros & Cons

“Back to the Suture” brings Rock Flag Sr. to the center, making him a formitable enemy.
In saving Chris, the 11th Street Kids finally find a common goal, uniting the team in full.

Eagly’s primal eagle storyline is out of place and never fully explained.