The Peacemaker 2 finale delivers major plot twists and sets the stage for the wider DCU Chapter One saga. We break down the ‘Full Nelson’ episode, the introduction of Salvation, and the potential Man of Tomorrow villain.
The eighth episode of Peacemaker season 2, titled ‘Full Nelson’, has officially dropped, concluding the latest chapter of the fan-favorite HBO Max show. While the near-hour-long finale felt somewhat accelerated in its pacing, it undeniably succeeded in one critical area: laying down significant groundwork for the future of the new DC Universe (DCU) under the leadership of DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn.
For viewers seeking answers following the episode’s abrupt climax—specifically the fate of Chris Smith, the identity of Salvation, and whether we’ll get a Peacemaker season 3—this detailed analysis will explain all the crucial developments. Full spoilers for the Peacemaker season 2 finale follow.
Key Events: Casualties and Survivors
A major finale often means major character deaths, yet Peacemaker season 2’s final episode surprisingly spares its core cast.
While numerous ARGUS agents meet grisly ends during the agency’s chaotic interdimensional explorations—including the unfortunate Agent Clyne, who becomes a snack for tiny, flesh-eating entities in a dimension described as Willy Wonka-like—the main ensemble remains intact.
The 11th Street Kids—Peacemaker (Chris Smith), Emilia Harcourt, John Economos, Leota Adebayo, and the ever-present Eagly—all survive. Additionally, characters newly introduced in the show, like Rick Flag Sr., Sasha Bordeaux, and Langston Fleury, also make it through the ordeal.
However, the titular anti-hero, Chris Smith, is not entirely safe, as the final moments of ‘Full Nelson’ set up his greatest challenge yet.
Salvation Explained: Peacemaker’s New Prison
The episode’s climax sees Smith captured by ARGUS agents and transported back to headquarters. Here, the acting director, Flag Sr., reveals the stunning twist: Smith is being used as a human guinea pig. He is promptly sent through a dimensional doorway to a new world known as Salvation.
Flag Sr.’s motive is pure revenge for Peacemaker killing his son, Rick Flag Jr., in 2021’s The Suicide Squad. The doorway closes, leaving Smith isolated in this seemingly tranquil but dangerous new environment, with a mysterious roar echoing from the nearby treeline—a classic cliffhanger.
The True Purpose of Salvation
Salvation is not merely a discovery; it is being repurposed. Flag Sr., with the backing of the US government and the suspicious influence of Lex Luthor, intends for Salvation to serve as a permanent penal colony for metahumans who pose a threat to Earth. Smith is its inaugural inmate, but the world’s introduction is clearly positioned as a major narrative lynchpin for the forthcoming DCU Chapter One.
Salvation Run DC Comics Connection
The concept of Salvation is deeply rooted in DC Comics lore. It stems from the seven-issue limited series Salvation Run (November 2007–June 2008), a series based on a pitch by Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin. In the comics, countless captured supervillains were exiled to a planet named Salvation. This is where they are forced to band together or fight for dominance in a desperate bid to escape.
James Gunn DCU plans confirmed the world’s importance on The Official Peacemaker Podcast, stating that Salvation “is where we’re sort of beginning part of the larger story in the DCU.” The planet’s science-designated name is Cygnus 4019, and in certain comics continuity, it serves as a ‘training world’ for the New Gods of Apokolips, ruled by the tyrannical Darkseid.
How Salvation Sets Up Man of Tomorrow
The inclusion of Salvation is arguably the most significant piece of connective tissue for the broader cinematic universe, potentially directly impacting the Superman sequel, currently titled Man of Tomorrow.
While Darkseid is likely a ‘Thanos-level’ threat reserved for the end of the DCU Chapter One saga—Gods and Monsters—Salvation could introduce an earlier foe.
DeSaad: A Potential Man of Tomorrow Villain
It is plausible that DeSaad, one of Darkseid’s lieutenants who manages the New Gods’ training programs on Cygnus 4019, could be the primary antagonist in Man of Tomorrow. This would pivot away from popular speculation that Brainiac would be the first major adversary teased by Gunn.
Gunn has already confirmed that Man of Tomorrow will be “a story about Lex and Superman having to work together.” If DeSaad, discovering a new planet ripe for conquest (Earth) via the Salvation portal, becomes the threat, it would necessitate this unlikely alliance. Superman and Luthor might even find themselves marooned on Salvation at some point, forced to confront the cosmic horrors within.
The Birth of Checkmate
Another major development in ‘Full Nelson’ is the formation of a new anti-ARGUS organization.
After tracking down the fugitive Peacemaker, the 11th Street Kids—Adebayo, Harcourt, Economos, and Vigilante (Adrian Chase)—convince Smith that he is still capable of being a hero. With this renewed sense of purpose and a massive cash injection from Vigilante’s hidden stash, they establish a new agency to act as a moral counterpoint to the increasingly compromised ARGUS.
Checkmate Explained
This new covert operations agency is named Checkmate, founded on Adebayo’s spy agency blueprint and Chase’s funds. Its initial roster includes Smith, the core 11th Street Kids, and disillusioned ARGUS agents Sasha Bordeaux, Langston Fleury, and Rip Jagger/Judomaster.
Checkmate is another pre-existing DC Comics organization, first appearing in Action Comics #598 in March 1988, established by Amanda Waller. Its comic roster has been extensive, including Peacemaker, Vigilante, Bordeaux, and even characters slated for other DCU projects, such as Mister Terrific (Superman) and GI Robot (Creature Commandos).
The establishment of the Checkmate TV show—even if not officially announced—seems like a natural progression, especially given the increasingly unlikely prospect of a direct Peacemaker sequel.
The Question of Cameos and Season 3
Were There Any DCU Cameos?
Despite fervent fan theories and some online speculation, the Peacemaker season 2 ending explained is simple regarding cameos: there were none.
Neither Superman, Robert Pattinson’s Batman, nor any other major established DC hero made an appearance in ‘Full Nelson’. This absence has caused considerable debate among the DCU fanbase, with some criticizing the final episode for failing to deliver on the hyped, “crowd-pleasing” moments.
Will There Be a Peacemaker Season 3?
In short, not with that exact title.
Gunn has been clear that a Peacemaker season 2 sequel is improbable. On the final episode of The Official Peacemaker Podcast, he reiterated: “This is the final episode of Peacemaker season 2… [and] maybe the final episode of Peacemaker, really.”
However, the introduction of Checkmate and Gunn’s assurance that the series’ core cast “will be back… in the future of the DCU in not too long” strongly suggests a continuation. A Checkmate TV show could very well serve as Peacemaker season 3 in everything but name, with the initial storyline potentially revolving around the team’s mission to locate and rescue their founding member, Chris Smith, from the prison planet Salvation.
Post-Credits Scenes: Just for Laughs
Like the show’s first season, the final episode includes a pair of amusing end-credits stingers that serve as extensions of earlier jokes rather than major plot reveals.
- The first features Flag Sr. explaining the security of Salvation to Pentagon officials, only to be hilariously interrupted by General Mori, who asks for a “bug-zapper-style barrier” to prevent escapes.
- The second is a continuation of Economos’ awkward office conversation with ARGUS employees, which includes additional improvised, funny lines from actor Steve Agee.
While these scenes offer no further clues regarding the Man of Tomorrow villain or the future of the DCU Chapter One, they provide a final, much-needed injection of the show’s signature dark humor.