Peacemaker is an HBO original series. Part of the DC Extended Universe, the plot centers around Christopher Smith (John Cena), also known as the antihero Peacemaker, following his hospitalization in The Suicide Squad. In Season 1, the show fleshes out Peacemaker’s growth through difficult internal struggles and external pressure, mainly related to the sexism, homophobia, and toxic masculinity that his father impressed upon him. After the dramatic conclusion of Season 1, Season 2 shows Peacemaker struggling with the aftermath, alongside some quirky other-dimensional nonsense. Overall, the show is funny, somber, thought-provoking, and unpredictable.
The most significant example of bisexuality in Peacemaker is the title character himself. He is initially portrayed as hypersexual toward women, though subtle indications suggest that he may also have sexual interest in men. In the pilot episode, Peacemaker discusses bisexuality positively during a conversation about Aquaman, showing no issue with Aquaman’s relationships with both men and women, but finding it odd that Aquaman is rumored to engage with fish.
Throughout Season 1, Peacemaker’s dynamic with Adrian Chase (Freddie Stroma) aka Vigilante — an overly attached superfan — suggests a potential deeper connection between the two. Though their relationship is never explicitly defined as romantic or sexual, Vigilante frequently gazes at Peacemaker with apparent affection, deepening the implication of a more intimate bond. At one point, they are even seen in bed together with a woman. In Season 2, Peacemaker and Vigilante participate in orgies together, but Vigilante admits that “Dude, I’m not into sex because it’s sex. I’m into sex because, like a lot of people, it’s an opportunity to bond with my best friend”. This creates more confusion around their relationship.
Peacemaker’s bisexuality is confirmed in the first season during a confrontation with his father. In their emotional fight, Auggie condemns Peacemaker’s sexuality, saying, “I knew when you slept with the whores of polluted blood! And men!” This explosive moment underscores the tension in their relationship and highlights Peacemaker’s struggle with his father’s toxic views.
In Season 2, Peacemaker’s bisexuality is further confirmed in Episode 1. Peacemaker goes for an interview to join the Justice Gang. They ask, “what skills would you bring to the Justice League?” One of the interviewer’s microphones is left on as a prank, and Peacemaker overhears one of the interviewers saying, “besides blowing dudes”. Once he gets out of the interview, he is venting with a former associate and says, “Apparently one of my skills is sucking dick. That’s not a put down, it’s a fucking compliment”. At this point, he now embraces and fully identifies as bi.
In an interview with Empire Magazine, show creator James Gunn commented on Peacemaker’s sexual identity:
Peacemaker is an interesting character because he’s so f*****-up in so many ways, and then in other ways, he is kind of weirdly forward-thinking, Gunn explained. John does improv all the time, and he just turned Christopher Smith into this hyper-sexualized dude that is open to anything sexually. I was surprised by that. But I thought, ‘I guess it makes sense that this guy isn’t one-dimensional.’
Peacemaker is an excellent piece of bi representation. In experiencing ridicule from his father and the interviewers for the Justice Gang, Peacemaker discovers what it means to be out in a culture that values hypermasculinity. He also has to overcome his internal judgments and find acceptance in himself, too.
