Peacemaker returned for another round, and not much changed on the surface. It still looks wild, strange, and a little off-balance by design. The dance number at the start of each episode is part of that rhythm. It doesn’t explain anything. It doesn’t connect directly to the story. It just exists. And somehow, it fits.
In the second season, something about that opening sequence came into focus again. A detail that had nothing to do with the plot or continuity. It involved Frank Grillo, one of the new cast members, and his reaction to being asked to join the choreography. For a moment, he wasn’t sure it made sense. For him, it didn’t feel like the kind of thing he normally did.
The hesitation was real
Frank Grillo plays Rick Flag Sr. in the second season of Peacemaker. The connection to The Suicide Squad is clear, since his character is the father of Rick Flag Jr. That alone brings weight to the role. But before anything about the character came into play, there was the matter of the dance.
In a post shared by Culture Crave, Grillo admitted he was hesitant. He called himself a serious actor. That was the reason. Not the choreography itself, but what it represented. He wasn’t used to starting a performance like that. He said he was reluctant.
Later, he added that he became the best dancer of everyone in the group. Whether he meant that seriously or not wasn’t clarified. But the quote made the rounds and became part of the Peacemaker season 2 conversation.
The sequence stayed the same
That dance routine isn’t new. It started in season 1 and was designed to feel strange. Everyone moves in sync. No one smiles. The music plays, but the faces stay blank. It’s not polished or graceful. The rhythm is stiff, almost mechanical.
The result became one of the most talked-about choices of the series. Viewers remembered it. Some skipped it; others rewatched it. It didn’t matter. It set a tone. It created a rule for the world they were entering. Peacemaker wasn’t going to follow the usual steps.
In season 2, the sequence returned. New faces were added. Returning ones stayed in place. The style didn’t shift. Nothing about the awkward timing or stiff gestures was softened. It remained part of how the show introduced itself.
New character, same world
Bringing in Rick Flag Sr. connects the show back to its earlier roots in the DC film universe. The death of Rick Flag Jr. wasn’t small. It left a gap. Now, that gap becomes a doorway for something new.
Grillo's character walks into a world already shaped by loss and unfinished business. That storyline carries a different kind of weight. It doesn’t cancel out the humor or chaos, but it adds layers underneath it. The show still leans on noise and color, but it also deals with what happens after things fall apart.

Returning roles and shared space
Alongside Grillo, the show brings back its familiar core. John Cena continues in the lead. Danielle Brooks, Steve Agee, and Jennifer Holland return as key figures. Their relationships were central in season 1. That dynamic continues.
There are new cast members, like Tim Meadows. And just like the others, they were placed in the dance. No exceptions were made. The idea was the same for everyone. Stand in place, hit the marks, stay in sync. Whether trained or not, whether comfortable or awkward, each actor became part of the visual pattern.
That structure matters. It shows that even the new characters don’t get special treatment. Everyone moves together, even if it’s uncomfortable.
Peacemaker season 2 keeps the same tone
The series didn’t reset. It picked up where it left off. The events of season 1 carry over. There’s still fallout. There’s still damage. The characters are still figuring things out. And the show doesn’t separate that from its sense of humor.
This isn’t a parody of superhero stories, but it plays with the frame. It bends expectations. That’s part of what makes the dance so effective. It’s not a joke, exactly. It’s more of a signal. If that opening feels strange, it’s because the story is built to stay strange.

When it arrives
The new season of Peacemaker is scheduled to debut on August 21, 2025, on HBO Max. Marketing has stayed quiet so far, with few official materials released. As the premiere date gets closer, more trailers and images are expected to surface.
Until then, details remain limited. The return of the cast, the presence of Rick Flag Sr., and the choice to repeat the dance are among the few solid points already confirmed.
A moment worth noting
Grillo’s resistance says something about the project as a whole. It doesn’t matter whether the actors come from serious drama, comedy, or action. Once they enter the world of Peacemaker, the rules shift.
Dancing in silence, without expression, isn’t easy. Especially for performers used to intensity and movement with a clear purpose. But that’s part of what makes it effective. It feels out of place. That tension is the point.
Peacemaker isn’t about balance. It leans into contradiction. It uses rhythm and stillness in the same frame. And sometimes, even the people inside the story need a minute to adjust.