PEACEMAKER SEASON 1

Peacemaker Season 1 is a gonzo triumph. It's a humanist tale juxtaposed against a B-movie narrative and black humor. Themes of parental abuse, trauma, redemption, deconstructing hypernationalism, and toxic masculinity drive the narrative.

Parental abuse is a key theme explored in the arcs of Peacemaker and Adebayo. Peacemaker's dad, being a white supremacist, abuses Peacemaker for not living up to his image. This examination of Peacemaker leads to him having a clear-cut arc for growth and change.

Subtly, Waller coerces Adebayo to be remade in her image. This conflict ripples throughout the entire season. However, it ends with Adebayo willing to expose her parents' actions and finding community and love.

Peacemaker interrogates masculinity and vigilantism in its narrative. It's conveyed in Peacemaker and Aggie Smith's arc. Peacemaker examines the genesis of toxic masculinity perpetuated by abuse and violence.

However, this is all anchored by redemption and change. The Butterfly visual motif signals growth and change. And reflected in each character's clear-cut arcs earned through narrative beats.

Peacemaker's B-movie narrative leads to an indie sensibility from Gunn. Peacemaker is more in spirit with Gunn's earlier works Slither and Super, and a lot of the delight comes from seeing a streaming TV show embracing the absurd B-movie sensibility and comic-book plotting.

Technically, Peacemaker is stylized. Its direction balances tones and genres, remaining cohesive. The cinematography embraces its low-budget limitations and consists of pans,natural lighting, tracking shots and focus.

Peacemaker maintains an episodic structure and its editing provides momentum, tight pacing and structure. The impressive sound design consists of well-timed needle drops, combat, genre elements and ambiance.

The production design embraces its comic-book aesthetic with its costumes, prosthetic design while maintaing a real-world semblance to it. The casting consists of talent,diversity and fit and medium starpower.

The effects consist of prosthetics, blood,gore, alien design, animal props and practical stunt work. Overall Peacemaker Season 1 is a triumph for the comic book genre that embraces its comic book weirdness and eccentricity and it is all the better for it.

Writing: 9/10

Direction: 8/10

Cinematography: 7/10

Acting: 10/10

Editing: 8/10

Sound: 9/10

Score: 9/10

Prod Design: 7/10

Casting: 9/10

Effects: 8/10

OVERALL SCORE: 8.4/10