Peacemaker Finale Explained: Butterflies, Task Force X, Shocking Cameo

Holy Cow. Peacemaker season finale was perfect, and it torpedo-ed into our hearts too.

When DC announced it was giving John Cena’s Peacemaker/Christopher Smith his own spinoff series after his The Suicide Squad appearance, a lot of folks questioned, “Who asked for this?”

Now that it had ended with a spectacular finale, we all want more of it. And if you’re still processing everything that happened, here’s the ending, explained.

1. What Happened to the Butterflies and the Cow?

After a lot of hubbub, from Eagly losing the Sonic Boom Helmet in the forest to Adebayo dropping the walkie-talkie at a crucial moment, the first few minutes are a total mess for the team.

However, it rains bullets and blood as Emilia Harcourt and Vigilante help Peacemaker slay all the butterflies in a badass sequence set to the series’ opening credits song.

When Peacemaker finally gets to the Cow, we understand the Butterflies’ true intentions. The Goff butterfly that took over Sophie Song explains they had to leave their planet because of their own version of climate change that eventually made it inhabitable.

Earth was habitable by the alien species except for the food source, and they wanted to take over humans as Goff believed that all humans were denying obvious signs of destruction and were on the same path as them.

She tells Chris that they’re not at all different from each other as they both believe in peace and asks him to help push one of the levers necessary to teleport the Cow.

Peacemaker, who’s having a battle of his own as he tries to cope with the visions of his brother, looks like he’s about to waver for a second. But his eyes tell he’s made up his mind as he activates the “Human Torpedo” helmet that Adebayo is wearing, sending her straight through the heart of the Cow and also shoots Sophie and Captain Locke.

He lets Goff’s butterfly go, knowing it wouldn’t survive much longer without the Cow’s food source. When he has a chat with Adebayo as they make up later in the hospital, he wonders if he just doomed the planet, to which she replies that even if humans die, they’ll do it on their own accord.

That sums it up perfectly, but it’s not why Peacemaker did it. He confesses that he decided to kill them because he knew they’d hurt his team/friends if he helped them.

(Don’t tell Vigilante, but Chris also mentions that Adebayo is his second BFF after Eagly.) 

2. What will Happen to Amanda Waller and Task Force X now?

Leota Adebayo is like her mother – but not in the way one would’ve expected. The only thing Adebayo has in common with Amanda Waller is that they’re both determined women who get things done their way.

Adebayo exposes Waller and the black ops projects assigned to Task Force X, revealing how criminals at the Belle Reve prison faculty are made to take on deadly missions in exchange for a reduction on their sentences.

It remains to be seen what happens to Waller now that her daughter has outed her in front of the whole press. This may or may not set up a basic plot for season 2 as we see John Economos return to work at Belle Reve.

3. What does the Shocking Justice League Cameo Mean?

When the whole battle is over, as Chris is carrying an injured Harcourt with Economos and Vigilante in need of medical attention too, we see four silhouettes enter the farm.

It’s Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, and Aquaman, dropping by just a little too late to help with the Butterfly situation, only for Chris to cuss them off.

However, the only faces we see are of Jason Momoa as Aquaman and Ezra Miller as The Flash. Gunn used a brilliant trick to hide Superman and Wonder Woman’s faces in the dark of the night… speaking of which, Batman is nowhere to be seen.

This decision makes sense as the fate of the Justice League is still uncertain in the DCEU. Besides, we all know Chris wouldn’t mind tackling Batman right there and then due to the tiny difference in their ideologies.

Still, my eyes were left searching for Cyborg, who didn’t even get an obscured appearance in the shadows. (The silhouettes looked so beautiful, though, I was basically yelling at my screen.)

Although the JL might not really be involved in Peacemaker season 2, this appearance is like a warm-up for Momoa’s return as Aquaman/Arthur Curry in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom and Miller as Barry Allen in The Flash later this year.

Now the only question we need Gunn to answer is – Does Aquaman f*ck fish or not? Only Arthur Curry denies it. Even Barry Allen agrees with Peacemaker… something’s definitely fishy.

4. Peacemaker Still Has a Long Way to Go Before He Achieves Inner Peace

Things finally seem okay for Peacemaker as he shares a sweet moment with Harcourt when she wakes up at the hospital. But when Chris is back at his trailer, we see the ghost of Auggie Smith is still there, bothering him.

As Eagly soars through the sky and Chris gives Goff the last of the butterfly juice he had left, the camera pans out with the father-son duo sitting outside his trailer.

Hopefully, with season 2, Peacemaker finally manages to win over his daddy issues and truly live the life of “peace” that he envisions.

5. Is Peacemaker getting a season 2?

 If you can’t already tell, Peacemaker is one of the best comic book series right now. It breathed life into the DCEU and made us care for a character we really wouldn’t have given a damn about otherwise.

So, no wonder the show was renewed for a season 2. HBO Max made the announcement via a press release just hours before the finale premiere, with Gunn returning to direct and write all episodes.

Creating Peacemaker has been one of the true highlights of my life, both professionally and otherwise, with John Cena and the incredible creative team around me, as well as our partners at HBO Max. To have something we all love so much be loved by the audience in turn has been a wonderful experience. I can’t wait for folks to see where Team Peacemaker goes in Season Two!

Gunn

As all our favorite characters except for Murn (rest in peace, tiny dramatic alien insect) made it out alive, it’s safe to assume they’ll all return for season 2, unfortunately also including the ghost of Auggie Smith.

Give peace a chance and watch all episodes of Peacemaker season 1, now available to stream on HBO Max.

6. About Peacemaker

Peacemaker is a DC Extended Universe series that will delve into the past of the titular character, who’ll make his cinematic debut in James Gunn’s DCEU film, The Suicide Squad (2021). The character will be portrayed by John Cena, who will reprise his role in the HBO Max series.

Other cast members include Steve Agee, Danielle Brooks, Robert Patrick, Chris Conrad, and Chukwudi Iwuji among many others.

James Gunn will also helm the HBO Max series for its second season.