After a bloody finale, the tales of the Suicide Squad have pronounced their intrusion into the DCEU with their most exciting chapter yet, and the apparent conclusion of the storyline in Season 1 means anything could happen next, even though no one has ended up the same as before. The core emotional center of the show lies in its leading character, who slowly unveils an inner crisis about how he has thought about his place in the world; unsurprisingly, his downright evil father is to blame. A tragic backstory for superpowered individuals rides a thin line between hero-making and villain-making in subversive prankster James Gunn's hands, and that tension makes the results dramatically cinematic. Yes, there is also nasty violence, mayhem, and profanity abounding, but audiences and critics will return for Peacemaker’s slowly mounting tension between characters and their developmental pathways. A careful balance between these elements creates a thrilling, ongoing growth for a character who seemed before to be a one-note supporting character to kill off in the movie. Through his efforts, entirely avoiding mawkishness and still bringing emotional and physical damage to everyone involved, Gunn has made a rare TV super-person worth following for both his fun and his complicated qualities.
Rating: 9/10
★★★★★★★★★☆