loader from loading.io

Peacemaker S2E4 | Portals, Rooker, and a Not-So-Perfect World | feat Jen of Distance Nerding

Challenge Accepted

Release Date: 09/12/2025

Thank you and Goodbye. show art Thank you and Goodbye.

Challenge Accepted

In this final episode of Challenge Accepted, Frank and Thomas Law reflect on what the show became over three years and 250-plus episodes, and why ending it now feels like the right move. They talk about the grind of weekly reviews, the fun of theme months, the lessons they’re carrying forward, and how the best parts of this podcast will live on through Geek Freaks and what’s next for the network. Thomas also shares where Sick Burn is headed, why the message matters more than the metrics, and how storytelling and vulnerability have become a core part of the work. Timestamps and Topics 00:06...

info_outline
2025 Year in Review: Superman Takes the Crown, Thunderbolts Surprises, and Big 2026 Hype (Supergirl, Doomsday, Odyssey) show art 2025 Year in Review: Superman Takes the Crown, Thunderbolts Surprises, and Big 2026 Hype (Supergirl, Doomsday, Odyssey)

Challenge Accepted

Thomas and Frank look back on the movies and TV that defined their 2025, from why Superman hit so hard to how Marvel’s three-film run landed with Thunderbolts, Fantastic Four, and Captain America: Brave New World. They also talk about the stuff that disappointed them, why TV felt like it “won” this year, and the shows they could not stop thinking about, including IT: Welcome to Derry, Alien: Earth, and Andor. To close it out, they shift into 2026 mode: what’s got them genuinely excited again, which upcoming releases feel like “event” movies, and how they want to evolve Challenge...

info_outline
Night of the Living Dead | The 1968 Classic That Wrote the Zombie Rulebook show art Night of the Living Dead | The 1968 Classic That Wrote the Zombie Rulebook

Challenge Accepted

Frank revisits Night of the Living Dead (1968) and breaks down why it still feels ahead of its time, even with a shoestring budget and simple setup. He walks through the full plot from the cemetery opening to the brutal ending, calls out the movie’s “proto zombie rules” (headshots, fire, escalating panic), and digs into the constant clash between Ben and Harry Cooper over how to survive. Frank also shares a handful of behind-the-scenes trivia, then closes by asking listeners to help pick the next holiday movie review. Timestamps and Topics 00:00:05 Welcome to Challenge Accepted and why...

info_outline
Fargo | Snow, Schemes, and a Woodchipper show art Fargo | Snow, Schemes, and a Woodchipper

Challenge Accepted

In this single-player episode of Challenge Accepted, Frank bundles up with the winter classic Fargo and breaks down why this 1996 Coen Brothers film still hits so hard. From Jerry’s desperate spiral and Gaear’s cold brutality to Marge Gunderson’s calm, quietly heroic presence, Frank walks through the story, performances, music, and snow-covered Midwest setting that make the movie timeless. He also talks about how the Fargo TV series connects back to the film, why the woodchipper scene has become legend, and how the Coens turn empty white fields into one of the most effective...

info_outline
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm | Fresh Look at the 90's Cult Classic show art Batman: Mask of the Phantasm | Fresh Look at the 90's Cult Classic

Challenge Accepted

In this solo episode of Challenge Accepted, Frank finally sits down with the iconic animated film Batman Mask of the Phantasm after years of calling it a major Batman blind spot. He shares his deep love for Batman The Animated Series, breaks down Bruce Timm’s distinctive art style, and explores why Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill’s performances still define Batman and Joker for entire generations. After watching the movie for the first time, Frank gives his immediate reaction, digging into Gotham’s timeless look, the horror-inspired presentation of the Phantasm, and the emotional core of...

info_outline
Bob’s Burgers Thanksgiving Throwdown - Ranking The Best Holiday Episodes show art Bob’s Burgers Thanksgiving Throwdown - Ranking The Best Holiday Episodes

Challenge Accepted

In this Thanksgiving special of Challenge Accepted, Frank and Jonathan celebrate the Belchers by ranking their top Bob’s Burgers Thanksgiving episodes and crowning a definitive winner. They break down why the holiday episodes hit so hard, talk about the emotional gut punches hidden inside the jokes, and revisit the wild chaos of turkeys, hoarding, broken ovens, and cursed outdoor cooking. The guys also reveal the results of their “Turkey Brawl” social media tournament and wrap up with a few extra Thanksgiving watch recommendations to keep your holiday cozy and geeky. Bob's Burgers...

info_outline
Stranger Things Seasons 1–4 Recap – Getting Ready For The Final Battle show art Stranger Things Seasons 1–4 Recap – Getting Ready For The Final Battle

Challenge Accepted

On this episode of Challenge Accepted, Frank Lourence (@franklourence79) teams up with Jonathan to walk through Stranger Things seasons 1 through 4 so you are fully refreshed before season 5 lands. The two revisit the early days in Hawkins, the rise of the Mind Flayer, the Starcourt Mall showdown, and Vecna’s terrifying curse, mixing clean plot recaps with personal memories and reactions. Along the way they talk about why the show’s ’80s nostalgia still works, how characters like Hopper, Billy, Max, and Eddie evolved, and what they hope to see in the final season. They close by sharing...

info_outline
The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs | Death and Legends show art The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs | Death and Legends

Challenge Accepted

In this solo Thanksgiving episode of Challenge Accepted, Frank breaks down The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, the Coen Brothers’ Netflix Western anthology that has quietly become one of his holiday staples. Story by story, he digs into how each vignette wrestles with death, chance, and human nature, from Tim Blake Nelson’s singing gunslinger to Tom Waits’ stubborn prospector and that iconic “First time?” hanging meme. Along the way, Frank talks about why the film feels so cozy despite its bleak themes, how the Coens use digital cinematography to shape tone, and what these stories say...

info_outline
Gen V Season 2 | The Boys’ Campus War, Wins, and What’s Next show art Gen V Season 2 | The Boys’ Campus War, Wins, and What’s Next

Challenge Accepted

On Challenge Accepted, we break down the Gen V Season 2 finale and how it tees up the last chapter of The Boys. We talk about the big reveal around Cipher, the season’s mid-section slowdown, and why Godolkin works best when the story actually stays on campus. We dig into standout arcs for Marie, Jordan, Emma, and Sage, the villain’s core weakness, and why those Starlight and A-Train beats matter. We also highlight the effects work, tributes woven into the story, and what we expect to carry over into The Boys. Timestamps and Topics 00:00 — Welcome and gut reactions to the finale 00:37...

info_outline
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (1995) | Morphin’ Time at the Movies! | Feat. Becca Peterson show art Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (1995) | Morphin’ Time at the Movies! | Feat. Becca Peterson

Challenge Accepted

On this episode of Challenge Accepted, Thomas welcomes critic and lifelong Ranger fan Becca Peterson (The Critic Buffet) for a fast-paced, fun deep dive into the 1995 feature film. We cover why this movie still hits for ‘90s kids, the charm of Ivan Ooze, the switch to ninja powers and new Zords, and how the film fits into the broader multiverse of Power Rangers stories. Becca brings great trivia, from casting changes to Sentai influences, and shares why the movie’s core message still lands. Timestamps & Topics 00:00 – 01:10 | Cold open, show intro, and guest welcome; Becca’s...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

Frank and Jen break down Peacemaker Season 2, Episode 4, from the wild Michael Rooker cameo to that portable-dimension device that might not be what it seems. They dig into the alternate Earth, what it reveals about Chris, Keith, and Auggie, and why Adebayo might be the real center of the 11th Street Kids. The conversation hits possible DCU ties like Creature Commandos, Mr. Terrific, Blue Beetle, and whether the “boom tube” theory holds water. Plus, a thoughtful look at Harcourt’s arc, Argus pressure, and how the show balances crude humor with real character growth.

CA

Timestamps and Topics

00:00 Welcome and coffee-fueled kickoff
00:24 First impressions of Episode 4 and the “family affair” watch
04:27 The portable dimension and how Auggie really got his tech
05:21 Series shift: Argus pressure, new location, and a relentless hunter
05:55 Michael Rooker goes all-in as an eagle tracker
08:14 “X-rated corner of the DCU” and the opening flashback read
09:49 Keith’s role as heart vs. Auggie’s shadow
13:16 Is the portal a boom tube or something new
16:29 Creature Commandos, Corto Maltese nods, and DCU connective tissue
19:38 Cameo watch: Mr. Terrific, Frankenstein, the Bride, or Weasel
24:26 Waller’s name-drops and why she might show up
26:27 The coded “perfect world” that’s not perfect at all
29:18 Adebayo as the team’s glue and Chris’s reality check
34:20 Harcourt and Rick Flag Sr. show a different side of both
35:58 Age, casting, and why Flag Sr. reads more “father-in-law” than “dad”
39:20 Why peacemaker is the easy scapegoat for a grieving Flag Sr.
40:07 Where this could go: reluctant father figure and hard choices
41:11 Enchantress, Rick romance, and what that means for Harcourt and Chris
42:15 Final cameo predictions and the Blue Beetle/Ted Kord angle
44:44 What if Dave Bautista played Peacemaker
47:44 James Gunn, Michael Rooker, and that dance
48:43 Guest plugs: Distance Nerding shows and Lego giveaway

Key Takeaways

  • Episode 4 plants a big flag for the back half of the season by moving the fight to a controllable space and tightening the Argus noose.

  • The portal tech reframes Auggie’s “genius” and hints at a broader toolkit that could connect to other DC corners.

  • The alternate Earth isn’t aspirational. It puts Chris’s growth in focus and undercuts his nostalgia for a world he’s better off without.

  • Adebayo is the emotional center and likely leader in practice. She’s the person everyone calls, and the one who grounds Chris.

  • Harcourt’s conversation with Rick Flag Sr. shows who she was before the walls went up, and why Argus keeps pulling her back.

  • Expect a meaningful cameo tied to portals or Argus operations. Mr. Terrific, Waller, or a Creature Commandos face are all in play.

  • The show keeps mixing crude laughs with character work that lands, which is why the heavier scenes hit.

Quotes

  • “Peacemaker is the X-rated corner of the DCU.” — Jen

  • “This episode felt like a gear shift. Argus is coming, and the portal changes the board.” — Frank

  • “Adebayo is the glue. She keeps everyone honest and points them back to reality.” — Frank

  • “They didn’t show that flashback for nothing. One choice can change a universe.” — Jen

  • “Rooker only does that scene because Gunn is the one on the other end of the phone.” — Frank

Call to Action

If you dug this breakdown, subscribe and drop a quick review. Share the episode with a friend who is catching up on Peacemaker and tag us with #ChallengeAcceptedLive.

Links and Resources

Follow Us

Listener Questions

Send questions, hot takes, or challenges for future episodes to challengeacceptedgfx@gmail.com. We might feature your note on the show.

Apple Podcast Tags: Peacemaker, Peacemaker Season 2, James Gunn, John Cena, Michael Rooker, DCU, Vigilante, Adebayo, Harcourt, Rick Flag, Creature Commandos, Boom Tube, Multiverse, Challenge Accepted, Geek Freaks Podcast