Copyright slashfilm
While the use of "best ever" to describe anything is literally hyperbole, Gunn certainly wasn't exaggerating in this case. Toward the end of the episode, Chris and Emilia encounter each other after the latter has been detained by A.R.G.U.S., and they have a conversation that Harcourt has been avoiding and Chris hasn't been able to articulate all season. Gunn's writing is incredibly refreshing here because most episodic television tends to play moments close to the chest and leave a lot unsaid to keep people tuning in. Instead, the scene feels remarkably unreserved, both on the part of the filmmakers and the characters. Chris and Emilia speak their minds plainly, even as the heated emotions and tension between them bring them to tears. Cena and Holland are sensational, both actors taking this opportunity to let loose and allow these guarded characters to bare more of their souls to each other and us. This scene isn't just a highlight of the episode and the series as a whole; it's also a high point for Gunn's oeuvre. The filmmaker has always had a good ear for dialogue, and his skill with bold, borderline offensive non-sequiturs and quips is arguably what made his career. Yet he hasn't gotten as much credit for the way he handles romantic tension. It's appeared throughout his career, in movies like "Slither," the "Guardians of the Galaxy" trilogy, and even "Tromeo and Juliet." Yet it's the one-two punch of "Superman" and "Peacemaker" that demonstrates his ability to write intelligent character-based dialogue as well as his keen eye for casting. The scene between Clark (David Corenswet) and Lois (Rachel Brosnahan) in "Superman" and the Chris and Emilia scene in "Peacemaker" feel like two sides of the same coin, moments where the story slows down and lets the characters literally have their say. It's this richness which makes "Peacemaker" season 2 episode 6 really sing, making it indeed one of the best things Gunn has ever done.
