Full Nelson (Peacemaker)

"Full Nelson" is the eighth episode and season finale of the second season of the American black comedy superhero drama television series Peacemaker. It is the sixteenth and final episode overall. It was written and directed by series creator James Gunn. It originally aired on HBO Max on October 9, 2025. The episode received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its performances and emotional moments, but were polarized over its cliffhanger conclusion and criticized the slow pacing.

"Full Nelson"
Peacemaker episode
Episode no.	Season 2 Episode 8
Directed by	James Gunn
Written by	James Gunn
Featured music	"Someone Special" by Hardcore Superstar "Fucking My Heart in the Ass" by Steel Panther "We're Not Gonna Take It" by Dee Snider "Only My Heart Talkin'" by Alice Cooper "To Get Back to You" by Nelson "Oh Lord" by Foxy Shazam "Reckoning" by The Cruel Intentions
Cinematography by	Sam McCurdy
Editing by	Gregg Featherman
Original air date	October 9, 2025 (2025-10-09)
Running time	57 minutes
Guest appearances
Stephen Blackehart as Sydney Happersen Terence Rosemore as Otis Berg James Hiroyuki Liao as Secretary Stephen Mori Gunnar Nelson as Himself Matthew Nelson as Himself Elizabeth Ludlow as Keeya Adebayo
Episode chronology

In the episode, after his imprisonment Chris Smith / Peacemaker (John Cena) has given up on being a hero and the 11th Street Kids try to get back to normal, while Sasha Bordeaux (Sol Rodríguez) discovers the true plan of Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo) with the Quantum Unfolding Chamber.

Plot

Chris and Harcourt talk at a diner. Harcourt claims she is no longer "special" now that she has been forbidden from returning to A.R.G.U.S., which Chris disputes. Chris decides to take Harcourt to a nearby Nelson concert in a boat. They dance, culminating in a kiss. However, Harcourt leaves immediately, disappointing Chris.

One month later, Chris is incarcerated while awaiting his court date and refuses to accept visits from the 11th Street Kids. A.R.G.U.S. has seized ownership of the alien device, allowing them to access and lock doors in the Quantum Unfolding Chamber. Harcourt and Fleury are sent to inspect a universe in a door, but they are attacked by small creatures that end up killing A.R.G.U.S. agent Kline, forcing them to retreat. Economos grows disillusioned with the project, as Flag Sr. is using Lex Luthor's team and informs him about the doors. Using Adrian's supply of confiscated drug money, Adebayo bails Chris out, but he simply takes Eagly, clears his house, and leaves town. After discovering many dangerous dimensions, A.R.G.U.S. eventually finds a habitable planet they name "Salvation", and Flag Sr. pitches this to the government as a prison for metahumans, feeling that prisons like Arkham and Belle Reve lack the resources. This is accepted, but Bordeaux dislikes the idea. She secretly meets with Harcourt to reveal the project, and cooperates with the Kids to locate Chris. They find his motel and talk to him about his importance in their lives. As they leave, Chris asks Harcourt if their night at the boat meant something. She finally admits it did, which he happily celebrates in private.

One week later, the 11th Street Kids have started a new agency, Checkmate, alongside Fleury, Bordeaux, and Judomaster. Chris and Harcourt are also dating and attend a Foxy Shazam concert together. As he returns to his motel, Chris is kidnapped by A.R.G.U.S. operatives and brought before Flag. They take him to the door to Salvation, with Flag revealing he faked Chris's signature so he could be used as a test before any metahuman is brought in. They shove Chris through the door and close it on him, leaving him stranded as monster sounds come from the forest around him.

Production

Series creator James Gunn, the writer and director of "Full Nelson", on the set of Superman in Cleveland, Ohio, in 2024.

In February 2022, when Peacemaker was renewed for a second season, James Gunn was confirmed to serve as the writer for all episodes.^[1] "Full Nelson" was written and directed by Gunn. The episode marked Gunn's 16th writing credit and his eighth directing credit.^[2] Two weeks before the episode aired, he revealed that a third season was unlikely to happen, but there were still plans for the characters in other media.^[3] After the episode aired he stated that "Peacemaker will be back." He explained that the characters would be returning "soon" before added "that doesn't mean that there won't be. I don't want to… never say never. But right now, no."^[4][5] The episode introduces the concepts of Checkmate and the planet Salvation, which originates from the 2007 limited series comic book Salvation Run by Bill Willingham and Lilah Sturges. Gunn stated that he had mapped out the story arc of Peacemaker's first and second seasons prior to signing on as co-chairmen of DC Studios. He noted the introduction of Checkmate and Salvation in particular, saying, "those were things that I had pitched to everybody before we ever came into DC and then after we came into DC and we met with the writers room and worked things out a little bit more." He also stated that the two would be "instrumental" to the overarching story of the DC Universe (DCU),^[6] particularly the upcoming Lanterns television series.^[7]

Several songs were featured in the episode including "Someone Special" by Hardcore Superstar, "Fucking My Heart in the Ass" by Steel Panther, "We're Not Gonna Take It" by Dee Snider, "Only My Heart Talkin'" by Alice Cooper, "Reckoning" by Cruel Intentions, "To Get Back to You" by Nelson, and "Oh Lord" by Foxy Shazam.^[8] Additionally, Nelson and Foxy Shazam make cameo appearances in the episode.^[9]

Gunn pitched to Ryan Reynolds the idea of having his X-Men film series and Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) character Wade Wilson / Deadpool make a cameo in the episode. Had the idea gone forward, the Peacemaker characters would have opened a door in the Quantum Unfolding Chamber to find Wilson. While Reynolds was on board with the idea, Gunn could not do it as they would've needed to "go through some pretty, pretty big hoops to do that".^[7] "Full Nelson" originally aired on the streaming service HBO Max on October 9, 2025.^[10]

Critical reception

"Full Nelson" received mixed reviews from critics. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 50% of 8 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.7/10.^[11] Scott Collura of IGN gave the episode rated the episode 6 out of 10 and wrote in his verdict, "Peacemaker's second season finale is a mixed bag that manages to wrap-up the Chris/Harcourt relationship dilemma in a finely acted and emotionally satisfying way, while short-changing most of the rest of the cast, with the face turn of Frank Grillo's Rick Flag Sr. in particular feeling like an unearned stretch. The episode does set up what are presumably important future DCU situations, including the birth of Checkmate and Chris being stranded on Salvation. They're interesting concepts that I look forward to seeing more of, but in the context of "Full Nelson", that's all they are: concepts."^[12]

Jarrod Jones of The A.V. Club gave the episode an "A" grade and wrote, "With "Full Nelson", James Gunn provides closure while ripping open new rifts in the status quo, saving the best for last, and once again leaving us in his grip. This development will certainly suck for Chris. For us, his latest calamity is a promise: Peacemaker's story is far from over."^[13]

Scott Meslow of Vulture rated the episode 2 out of 5 stars and wrote, "Okay, great news about the future of the DCU — but what about the present of Peacemaker? "Full Nelson" does its best to close out the season's emotional arcs, but it's hard not to feel like this episode is an extended teaser for whatever Gunn is cooking up next."^[14] Joe George of Den of Geek wrote, "if there's one thing Gunn knows how to do, it's surprising us with his comic book takes. The existence of Salvation in the DCU proves that."^[15]

Kendall Myers of Collider rated the episode an 8 out of 10. She felt that the episode was both "emotional" and "terrifying". Myers wrote that the episode made "the most of everything the series has to offer."^[16] Felipe Rangel of Screen Rant wrote, "The Peacemaker season 2 finale was different from what many DC fans expected, going for emotional payoff rather than shocking action, though there were still plenty of twists along the way."^[17]