By [ad_1]
Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy had a most powerful scene on grief but HBO Max’s Peacemaker just outdid it in a heartbreaking moment.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Peacemaker Episode 4, “The Choad Less Traveled,” now streaming on HBO Max.
In Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy, one of the most memorable moments came when the Hargreave siblings reunited at the mansion following Reginald’s death. They came back to mourn, but while they still had disagreements before the funeral, they connected in a fun beat of togetherness set to Roxanne’s “I Think We’re Alone Now.” It was a unique take on grief, allowing them to temporary reform that kindred bond of old. However, as emotional as it was, Peacemaker outdid this musical scene of grief.
Now, this isn’t to knock the Hargreeves, as their distinct styles reflected their individual personalities, as well as how they were outsiders who never truly grew apart. It showed them that in angst and suffering, they still had each other and could draw from that dormant well of love.
However, Peacemaker’s scene spoke to desolation and heartache that might never be cured, and a loneliness John Cena’s Chris won’t ever escape. As Faster Pussycat’s “House of Pain” played, Chris got high in his trailer, remembering the past with his dad, Auggie, and his brother. Tight editing showcased him in the present singing and dancing, intercutting to scenes of Auggie having him kill a captive when he was younger, which were then juxtaposed to him and his brother rocking out.
It showed a duality and overall innocence to the character, which would rapidly be taken from Chris because as he fell to the floor wasted, and flashbacks switched to show him killing Rick Flag and his brother hitting the dirt in what seemed to be a fight club. The kid was left frothing, and this seemed to be the moment of death that haunted Chris for all his life, even hinting he might have done it by accident.
Ultimately, this sequence painted Chris as a flawed, vulnerable person — the total opposite to the macho jerk he puts on display all the time. Whilst the Hargreeves seemed to power up together for the war to come, this rendition weakened Chris, making him more exposed and human than ever.
Tied to the lyrics, it was clear Chris lost his sense of family that day ,as Auggie would hate and punish him ever since. He never recovered, and as he lay on the floor in tears, Peacemaker waded into the concept of tragedy in families, not as a savior, but as a poison. It didn’t heal Chris like Reg’s crew; instead, his grief turned him into his worst self.
To see how Chris’ grief outdoes The Umbrella Academy, Peacemaker is streaming now on HBO Max.
About The Author
[ad_2]
