'So great but tragic': stunned Peacemaker fans react to season 2 episode 7's killer twist of an ending

• Peacemaker season 2 episode 7 is out now
• Fans have been left stunned by the HBO Max show's latest episode
• It includes a character death that nobody saw coming

Peacemaker season 2 episode 7 is out now – and fans have been left reeling by its shocking ending.

Titled 'Like a Keith in the Night', Peacemaker season 2's penultimate chapter has been called the best episode of the season by many, and it's all down to its highly emotional final 10 minutes.

I cannot stress this enough: full spoilers immediately follow for the DC Universe (DCU) TV show's latest entry. Turn back now if you haven't seen it.

Peacemaker kills off Auggie Smith II / Blue Dragon, but not in the way you'd expect

That's right, the alternate universe version of Auggie Smith – I'll call him Auggie II from now on – dies in Peacemaker's latest episode.

Some fans had predicted Auggie II would meet his end before the HBO Max show's second season came to a close. After all, he lives in a reality, one dubbed Earth-2 / Earth-X, where the Nazis won World War II. That's a wild fan theory that viewers have had since Peacemaker season 2 episode 3, which was confirmed when the truth about Earth-2 was revealed in Peacemaker season 2 episode 6.

But, there are more big twists to come. As 'Like a Keith in the Night' reaches its climax, it's revealed that Auggie II isn't a white supremacist. He says as much during an incredibly tense conversation between him, Keith Smith II / Captain Triumph, the DCU's Chris Smith / Peacemaker, Emilia Harcourt, and John Economos. Auggie II says he doesn't agree with how his world operates, before admitting he doesn't have the strength to combat every injustice in his reality, which clearly strikes a chord with the DCU contingent.

Furthermore, Auggie II is even willing to let the latter trio return to their universe unharmed. That's in spite of the DCU's Smith killing his Earth-2 variant, aka Auggie II's other son, and Keith II's furious reaction to the very notion that Auggie II doesn't want to enact revenge on the man who killed his youngest child.

It's Auggie II's unexpectedly rational stance on all of the above that makes what happens next all the more tragic.

As he delivers his reason-laden speech to the group, the two versions of Adrian Chase / Vigilante crash through one of the Earth-2 Smith household's windows. Unaware that Auggie II is letting Smith, Harcourt, and Economos go, Vigilante I (i.e. the DCU variant) leaps on Auggie II and stabs him to the death.

In the chaos that follows, Keith attacks Chris as the group try to escape back through the interdimensional portal in the Earth-2 Smith household's library. As Keith prepares to shoot Chris in the head, though, Eagly attacks Keith, which gives the gang the opportunity to team up and attack Keith as an emotionally frozen Chris watches on.

Unwilling to see his older brother, albeit an alternate universe's variant, die once more – remember, Chris accidentally killed Keith in the DCU when they were still kids – he screams "Stooooop!", which shocks the group into halting their attack.

"What's wrong with us!?", Chris adds, before screaming: "What the f**k is wrong with all of us!?" as his allies look on in stunned silence. Leaning over a severely injured Keith, a teary-eyed Chris says: "I'm sorry... I'm so f*****g sorry! It's me... everything I touch... it's not your world that's wrong or mine... it's me," before breaking down completely.

Comment from r/DCULeaks

In the hours since the DCU Chapter One TV series' latest episode aired, fans have taken to social media, Reddit, and forums to comment on Auggie II's death, the increasingly fraught sequence of events that follows, and John Cena's emotionally powerful acting.

"Chris’s breakdown hit me so hard emotionally, I am actually crying," Redditor ryham5 wrote. "Best episode of the show, bar none."

"John Cena has developed into a great actor, his breakdown scene was incredible," The Commish-17 said, while GillGruntFan53 wrote: "RIP Blue Dragon, you were too good for this world."

Crazycraft24 also opined: "Did not expect feeling bad for the death of Auggie Smith!", before Dirtysocks53 posted: "The first five minutes were hilarious, the middle had great action and the end made me feel like crying", and Petunianator said: "That was maybe my favorite episode of the series but holy shit I'm emotionally exhausted."

Cena’s acting in Ep 7 wrecked me from r/DC_Cinematic

Over on ResetEra, user MadLaughter wrote: "That episode went from like a 6.5/10 to a 10/10 once Vigilante jumped through that window. Jesus Christ", while Shrennin said: "Cena's acting in this episode was absolutely phenomenal. I teared up when he screamed out in anguish."

Meanwhile, Jaded Photographer posted: "Earth X Auggie being a better person than the other one was not on my bingo card" before KalBalboa wrote: "Fantastic episode. I screamed once at my TV, and I haven't done that in years. Damnit, Vigilante! Chris's 'Stop' got me bad, as someone who lost a brother when he was a kid."

Of course, there's plenty of discuss about what this episode's final montage sets up for next week's season finale. Based on said montage and the season 2 episode 8 teaser, I'll offer my thoughts on what could happen in another article. In the meantime, let me know what you thought of 'Like a Keith in the Night' in the comments.

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