Here’s a bold statement: Peacemaker Season 2, for all its brilliance, stumbles on one of its most intriguing subplots—and it’s a miss that’s hard to ignore. But here’s where it gets controversial: while the season masterfully weaves character growth across dimensions, from Nazi-ruled worlds to candy imp-infested realms, it inexplicably drops the ball on Eagly’s Prime Eagle arc. Yes, the same Eagly who, in a jaw-dropping reveal, is confirmed to be the most powerful member of Team Peacemaker—only to be reduced to a lunch meat-loving sidekick moments later. What gives? Let’s dive in.
James Gunn’s storytelling genius shines in Season 2, where even the most absurd settings—like Earth-X—serve to deepen relationships. Judomaster (Nhut Le) and Adebayo (Danielle Brooks) wouldn’t have had their heart-to-heart, and Vigilante (Freddie Stroma) and Langston Fleury (Tim Meadows) wouldn’t have bonded over their shared love of animal trivia without these wild adventures. And this is the part most people miss: the chaos isn’t just for laughs; it’s a tool to explore the characters’ vulnerabilities and strengths. But when it comes to Eagly, the show seems to lose its nerve.
After the epic Eagly fight in Season 2, A.R.G.U.S. hires the unhinged eagle hunter Red St. Wild (Michael Rooker) to take down the bird. What follows is a hilarious cat-and-mouse chase, with Red becoming increasingly obsessed with the idea that Eagly is the mythical Prime Eagle—a belief that turns out to be true. But just as the stakes are raised, the show abruptly abandons this thread. Why? Here’s a thought-provoking question: Did the writers realize Eagly’s powers were better suited as a running gag than a central plot point? Or did they simply run out of ways to integrate it into the larger narrative?
The truth is, Eagly’s Prime Eagle status works best as a low-stakes joke. The audience knows he’s capable of summoning an army of eagles or unleashing a flaming aura, but Peacemaker (John Cena) and the 11th Street Kids remain blissfully unaware. This contrast is comedy gold. Imagine Eagly, the all-powerful Prime Eagle, begging for processed meats or riding in a car with his head out the window like a goofy dog. It’s hilarious precisely because it’s understated. But here’s the counterpoint: What if the show had leaned into Eagly’s powers, exploring their implications for the team? Would it have elevated the story, or would it have felt forced?
Red’s arc is also key here. His eccentric rants about Eagly’s powers are meant to seem absurd, making the reveal of his own mystical abilities—and the fact that he was right about Eagly—all the more satisfying. Once Red meets his end, though, the Prime Eagle plot loses its momentum. Without him, there’s no natural way to revisit Eagly’s powers without derailing the main story. And this is where the controversy lies: Was abandoning this subplot a missed opportunity, or a wise decision to keep the focus on the characters’ emotional journeys?
Eagly, after all, is a minor character whose charm lies in his unpredictability. Whether he’s taking down enemies with surprising efficiency or showing affection to his human companions, his actions are more impactful when his true power remains a secret. Maybe some mysteries are better left unsolved—at least for now. What do you think? Did Peacemaker Season 2 make the right call, or should Eagly’s Prime Eagle status have been further explored? Sound off in the comments—let’s debate!
