One of the funnest shows of recent years is back with 2nd season streaming now

The second season of the hit action series currently holds a near-perfect 99% Rotten Tomatoes score.

Created and written by James Gunn (the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, Superman) - who also directs several episodes - the series stars John Cena as Christopher Smith aka Peacemaker, who begins the story as an aggressive and obnoxious vigilante.

He got his name from his obsessive pursuit of peace, "no matter how many people he has to kill to get it".

Faced with the choice of prison or working for a black ops squad on a mysterious mission, Peacemaker chooses the latter.

Teamed up with a gang of similar outcasts (played by Danielle Brooks, Freddie Stroma, Jennifer Holland and Steve Agee), over the course of the secret operation, Peacemaker gradually begins to see the error of his ways.

Peacemaker season one premiered in 2022 and was beloved by audiences and critics, holding a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Earning particular praise were Cena's oddly endearing lead performance; the sparkling chemistry between the show's leads; the series' blend of action, sweary humour and genuine heart; as well as its hair metal soundtrack.

Over three years later, we now have a second batch of episodes, the plot synopsis for which reads: "In season 2, Peacemaker discovers an alternate world where life is everything he wishes it could be.

"But this discovery also forces him to face his traumatic past and take the future into his own hands."

Having watched the first five episodes, JOE is happy to report that the second season of Peacemaker is as good, if not better, than the first.

Yes, S2 starts a little rocky, with Gunn heavily retconning the finale of the first season to fit into his new DC Universe, which also includes the recent Superman film (where Cena's Peacemaker made a memorable cameo).

However, once this throat-clearing is out of the way, the series settles back into its unique, highly entertaining groove - mixing big action set-pieces, irreverent humour and surprising emotion.

In fact, season two doubles down on the emotion by delving deeper into Peacemaker's dark past and forcing him to reckon with his mistakes.

It also helps that S2 is filled with great new cast additions, including David Denman, Frank Grillo, Michael Rooker, Sol Rodríguez and Tim Meadows. This is alongside a whole host of very fun cameos.

Critics in general seem to agree, as Peacemaker season two holds a near-perfect 99% Rotten Tomatoes score.

You can check out a sample of some of its glowing write-ups below:

Consequence: "It all works well enough to prove that Gunn is capable of operating within somewhat different tones, even within the same universe. And no matter what the angle, he’s prioritising comic book fun — a true relief."

Empire: "Anchored by great work from John Cena, Peacemaker’s second season raises its already high bar with a well-judged blend of heart, madness, and an ass-kicking eagle."

The Guardian: "Gunn clearly loved these damaged characters enough to carry them over to his shiny new universe, but he is also never afraid to put them through the wringer. It makes even the tiniest victories in their lives feel momentous."

MovieWeb: "James Gunn remains true to form in a bonkers second season of Peacemaker that doubles down on the carnage, raunchy shenanigans, and a struggling hero's desperate search for belonging. John Cena's tremendous here in a multifaceted performance."

RIOTUS: "I never expected Peacemaker to give me an It’s a Wonderful Life-style story for a superhero, and especially one like Peacemaker. Yet with Gunn and Cena’s reinvention of the character, it works... the right amount of humour and drama."

The first episode of Peacemaker season two is currently streaming on the service NOW in Ireland and the UK, with the rest of its eight-episode season dropping weekly on Fridays.

Peacemaker S1 is also available to watch in its entirety on NOW.