The DC Universe just got a whole lot darker. Fans are reeling from the major twist in Peacemaker Season 2, Episode 6, “Ignorance Is Chris,” which finally pulled back the curtain on the “perfect” alternate dimension Chris Smith (John Cena) chose to escape to: a world ruled by Nazis, a chilling nod to the classic DC Comics reality, Earth-X.
James Gunn, the show’s creator and director of this explosive episode, has delivered the most talked-about moment of the season, validating a long-standing fan theory with a gut-punching, horrifying reveal.
The Façade Crumbles: An American Flag with a Swastika
For much of the first half of Season 2, the parallel universe seemed like a dream for Chris Smith—his brother Keith was alive, his racist father Auggie Smith (the “Blue Dragon” in this world) was a celebrated hero, and he had a loving connection with a version of Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland). However, cracks began to show with the complete absence of people of color and an overall unsettling uniformity.
Episode 6, which aired on September 25/26, 2025 on HBO Max/Max, saw the rest of the 11th Street Kids follow Chris to this dimension. The truth was revealed through two terrifying, simultaneous events:
- Emilia Harcourt’s Discovery: While at the alternate ARGUS headquarters, Harcourt and Chris notice an American flag folded on a desk. Unfurling it, they are horrified to see that the stars have been replaced by a Nazi Swastika. This confirms that in this reality, the Nazi regime won World War II.
- Adebayo’s Peril: As the only Black member of the team, Leota Adebayo’s (Danielle Brooks) solo venture outside instantly highlights the racism of this world. Her confusion turns to terror as an angry, white mob forms and chases her down the street, forcing her to run for her life. This shocking sequence is a direct, visceral consequence of the world Chris chose to retreat to.
Expert Analysis: The Significance of Earth-X in the DCU
This is not a concept James Gunn invented for the show. The alternate dimension is clearly an adaptation of Earth-X, a major alternate reality in DC Comics first introduced in 1973’s Justice League of America #107.
- What is Earth-X? In the comics, Earth-X is a world where the Nazis won World War II, a reality often opposed by the Freedom Fighters, a rebel group led by Uncle Sam. The Arrowverse famously adapted this world in its “Crisis on Earth-X” crossover event.
- The Peacemaker Connection: The show subtly hinted at this. This universe’s Vigilante (Adrian Chase) reveals that he is an enemy of this dimension’s Peacemaker and is a part of the Sons of Liberty, a resistance group. This twist reframes the entire dynamic of the “Top Trio” (Peacemaker, Keith, and Blue Dragon/Auggie), exposing them as state-sponsored fascists in this reality. The tagline for the season—”In what world is he the hero?”—now has a disturbing answer: a white supremacist one.
A Major DCU Cameo and the Road to Man of Tomorrow
In a parallel plot thread setting up the wider DCU, Episode 6 also features a surprise, major cameo: Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor.
Following Chris Smith’s escape to the alternate dimension, Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo) visits Luthor, who is imprisoned at Belle Reve after the events of James Gunn’s Superman (2025) film. Flag seeks Luthor’s expertise to locate the dimensional portal, promising him a transfer to a non-metahuman prison in exchange for his help.
This strategic inclusion has huge implications:
- DCU Interconnectivity: It solidifies the connection between Peacemaker and the DCU’s flagship movie, following other cameos and references this season.
- Setup for Man of Tomorrow: As confirmed by reports, the ending of Peacemaker Season 2 will directly lead into the Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, which is rumored to feature a reluctant alliance between Superman and Lex Luthor against a larger threat. This deal with Flag Sr. seems to be Luthor’s first step back toward “redemption” and freedom.
Peacemaker’s Ultimate Test of Character
The shocking reality of the Nazi Earth forces Chris Smith to confront his father’s hateful ideology in its most extreme, victorious form. He chose this world because his family was alive and he was loved—a perfect, self-serving illusion. Now, he must choose: stay in the comfort of a lie where people like his friend Adebayo are hunted, or return to his messy, imperfect reality and fight for genuine peace and justice.
Episode 6 is a brutal test of Peacemaker’s growth, proving that becoming a true hero means rejecting the easy path, especially when that path is paved with bigotry and fascism.
What was your reaction to the Nazi Earth reveal? Do you think Peacemaker will choose to destroy the portal or save Adebayo first? Share your predictions for the final two episodes in the comments below!
