Why The Song At The Start Of Peacemaker Episode 7 Means More Than You Think
Contains spoilers for "Peacemaker" Episodes 6 and 7
Upon his first live action appearance in "The Suicide Squad," John Cena's Peacemaker — born Chris Smith — is little more than a morally objectionbale government-contracted killer. However, his titular HBO Max series, which serves as a sequel to the events of "The Suicide Squad," complicates this premise considerably. One key new element "Peacemaker" introduces to viewers is Chris' father, Auggie (Robert Patrick). While at the series' start Peacemaker's ideologies may be off-putting, they pale in comparison to his father's rampant toxicity. Chris' disposition thus becomes, if not relatable, understandable to viewers through this insight into the home environment that shaped him.
Episode 7 of "Peacemaker" flashes back to perhaps the most significant event from Chris' childhood with regards to the man he has become by the show's present. In short, what starts as a playful hangout between a young Chris (Quinn Bennett) and his brother Keith (Liam Hughes) becomes deadly when Auggie makes them fight for the entertainment of he and some friends. Chris then delivers a blow to his brother that ends up being fatal. This is all set to the song "Home Sweet Home" by Mötley Crüe, which some viewers may not realize is quickly becoming an important part of Chris Smith's superhero story.
Home Sweet Home reminds Chris of his late brother
Near the end of Episode 6 of "Peacemaker," Chris decides that he no longer wants to kill people for a living. In a contemplative moment in the decision's aftermath, he performs a quiet rendition of Mötley Crüe's "Home Sweet Home" on the piano. As pointed out by Reddit user your_mind_aches in a discussion thread about "Peacemaker" Episode 7, this moment, in combination with Episode 7's opening, reveal a genuine depth to Peacemaker's affinity for the Mötley Crüe song that was only hinted at previously.
Over the course of a few flashbacks detailing his character, Keith appears notably opposed to Auggie's violent ideologies. Given that "Home Sweet Home" plays as Chris witnesses and feels complicit in his brother's death, Episode 7 effectively reveals that he now associates the song with his brother. When he performs the song on the piano in Episode 6, then, he's not just contemplating his decision to walk away from killing, but actively connecting emotionally to the memory of his brother, who likewise represents a rejection of his father.
With this in mind, "Home Sweet Home" has cemented itself as an important symbol within "Peacemaker," given the significance it holds in Chris' psyche, and the ongoing role his connection to his brother seems to play even into his present day.