Writer/director James Gunn explains why fans should never skip Peacemaker’s opening dance sequence when watching new episodes on HBO Max. Peacemaker episodes 1 to 3 premiered on January 13, with the remaining five episodes dropping weekly afterward. The series follows John Cena’s “douchey Captain America” in Christopher Smith/Peacemaker, who first appeared in 2021’s The Suicide Squad. The spinoff series’ cast includes Jennifer Holland, Danielle Brooks, Robert Patrick alongside familiar DC characters making their DCEU debut, including Freddie Stroma as Vigilante and Nhut Le as Judomaster.
Similar to The Suicide Squad, Peacemaker is sardonic and absurd in the best way possible — something that becomes apparent from the series’ opening sequence involving the whole cast robotically dancing in a ridiculous manner to Wig Wam's "Do Ya Wanna Taste It,” while maintaining serious, emotionless expressions. Gunn has said that the intent of the dance number, which he wrote into the script, was to subvert expectations. Although HBO Max gives audiences the option to skip the 90-second Peacemaker intro every episode, apparently, they definitely shouldn’t.
During a discussion on Podly: The Peacemaker Podcast, Gunn talked about hiring choreographer Charissa Barton to help him design something very, very weird for the show’s opening dance number. According to the writer/director, the Peacemaker opening credits, which appear to be “ridiculous,” tell a deeper and darker story with each episode of Peacemaker. Read what Gunn had to say about the hidden meaning behind Barton’s choreography below:
“One of the fun things that you'll see as you watch the episodes of the series is [the opening credits] plays a different role in every episode ... I know people are going to be able to skip over it — I hope they don't — because it plays a different role in every [episode]. It just always tells a different story. You'll see as our story gets darker, deeper, and more sad, that the dance itself kind of becomes more sad and more serious and less funny. So it's interesting to see in that way."
At the end of The Suicide Squad, Peacemaker betrayed Task Force X, killing Rick Flag and seemingly cementing himself as the twisted, villainous patriot he was suggested to be from the jump. That film’s post-credits scene revealed Peacemaker had survived the events of Corto Maltese and was needed to help “save the fucking world.” Despite his previous assertion that he’d kill countless “men, women, and children” for peace, Peacemaker makes him a more sympathetic and conflicted character in its first three episodes. From his bigoted and abusive father to a desire for acceptance, it’s clear there’s more to Christopher Smith than originally thought.
As the first live-action DCEU show to debut on HBO Max, Peacemaker will pave the way for a DC takeover. On top of the Batgirl movie, Gotham PD, and Penguin shows, Gunn has hinted at more spinoffs taking place in his The Suicide Squad/Peacemaker corner of the universe, which will likely be teased in the latter series’ final episode 8. With its dance numbers, bald eagle sidekick, classic rock soundtrack, and surprising commentary, Peacemaker is already getting rave reviews for being a different kind of comic book series. And just like it’s ever-evolving interpretative dance, it’s not something fans will want to skip.
Source: Podly: The Peacemaker Podcast
