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Theories regarding the big second season twist in Peacemaker have been spreading online since the first episode. Fans quickly guessed that the other dimension where Peacemaker ended up wasn't as wonderful as it seemed. Plenty of expected it would be Earth-X, a grim comic book world where Nazi Germany triumphed in World War II and America turning into a racist regime.

The Revelation Is Revealed

That's what happened. When the main version of the character Harcourt crossed over into this alternate world during the sixth episode, Harcourt immediately spotted all the clues Peacemaker had missed—such as the glaring lack of racial diversity and a literal painting of Adolf Hitler adorning ARGUS headquarters. This type of storytelling isn't groundbreaking: Alternate realities where the Nazis took over the world are a common device. Even popular series like The Man in the High Castle tackled this idea. But, given our present sociopolitical climate, Peacemaker still succeeded in spark a controversy in some corners of the internet.

The backlash are ridiculous. It's no surprise Nazis are among the go-to villains in popular culture for decades: They embody ultimate villainy.

The Role of Nazi Villains

The Nazis during World War II were authoritarian, oppressive, and deadly. They murdered countless civilians while scapegoated a fabricated enemy from within to help build and maintain their power. It's terrifying to imagine a world where the Nazis won World War II, which is why they became an easy villain archetype in film and television for decades. Nazis represent among the rare enemies who we all can agree were irredeemable, giving heroes and protagonists permission to do their worst.

The Real Issue

Assuming everyone can continue to agree that the Nazis of WWII were monstrous—which I really hope that's the case—then the anger over Peacemaker the new season is not actually about the presence of Nazis in fiction, but about the unsettling mirror it holds up. Some viewers appear peeved that their version of patriotism, what they view as love of country, might be construed as Nazism. The show's creator seems sympathetic with this confusion—it's simple to enjoy the world and ignore everything else—but lands strongly on the idea everyone must reckon with: Ethnic nationalism, no matter how it's framed, is a form of racism.

The Allure of an Ideal Life

As Chris initially arrives in the alternate Earth, he sees an ideal existence in which his dad and sibling remain alive offering the loving family life he always wanted, while the woman he desires returns his affection. These improvements to his personal life blind him to the many obvious signs showing he has stumbled into a dystopian, Nazified incarnation of America.

Expanding a bit further, the show posits that we find it easy for all of us to ignore bigger issues if we gain from them, or improve our own lives. For instance, someone could be okay with a empowered paramilitary force targeting innocent civilians based on the color of their skin if they're told it will in some way improve their situation. Just the vague hope of a better job or a house is sufficient to make us ignore whatever atrocities required to achieve it. The U.S. is a market-driven economy, however prosperity doesn't necessarily have to come by causing others' pain.

Put simply: It's simple to miss the Nazi forest if you're focused on a few appealing details.

Understanding the Creator's Intent

It makes sense that some individuals might assume James Gunn is coming after them directly through Peacemaker season 2. He's the series' only writer and often helmer, with a long history of loudly condemning the former president and his MAGA movement. That previously got the director fired by Disney in 2018 when he attracted the ire of multiple far-right activists, who dug up some old, removed posts in a campaign to smear and fire him.

The director's well-advertised politics have inspired some extremely superficial critiques of his work. His recent Superman movie was attacked as too woke and pro-immigrant. Additionally, a different critic became popular by spreading an incorrect theory about a character as a swapped version of Cyborg—which is not accurate. In this case, however, I don't think the writer is comparing the political right to fascists. That would be too simple for the writer, especially since Peacemaker the storyline isn't even a narrative of his creation: It's based on on a DC comic decades old.

The Broad Lesson

Rather, the show is just using a classic superhero trope to deliver a message of valuing fairness and empathy above personal gain. This idea that applies to everyone, regardless of ideology, so it's a shame that the people who should listen most are preoccupied stirring up more anger online to heed the message.