Episode 5 of "Peacemaker" kicks off with Murn delivering a briefing to the team about the Butterflies, his tone laced with an unmistakable undercurrent of tension. This tension reaches its boiling point when Peacemaker confronts Economos, accusing him of locking up his father. Peacemaker reads out an excruciatingly long list of celebrities he could have framed instead, only for Murn to interrupt and steer the conversation back on track, focusing on the Butterfly plan. He assigns the team a mission: to investigate Glan Tai, a company that serves as a distribution hub for the aliens' food supply. This could very well be the linchpin in unraveling the mystery of the Butterflies and assessing the scope of their infiltration.
As the team prepares their gear, Leota enters the scene, urging Peacemaker to show some leniency towards Economos and ease up on his harsh treatment. However, Leota is grappling with her own dilemmas; her tumultuous relationship with Keeya is clashing with her professional commitments. She took on this role with the intention of navigating a temporary rough patch, but it's evident that it's becoming far more consuming than she anticipated. It seems she's at a crossroads, faced with the monumental decision of prioritizing her career or her partner. Only time will tell which path she chooses.
Arriving at Glan Tai, the team readies itself for infiltration. Leota and Peacemaker form an alliance, opting to enter through the main entrance. Despite Peacemaker's agreement to remain calm, he promptly shoots the receptionist and guards in the head. In a startling revelation, Peacemaker discloses that his current helmet grants him the extraordinary ability to detect Butterflies nestled within their human hosts.
Meanwhile, Vigilante and Emilia sneak in through the rear, discovering thousands of boxes filled with alien food. The magnitude of the operation dawns on them, far exceeding their initial expectations. Unfortunately, they're soon spotted, prompting the Butterflies to mobilize. Dozens of them, possessing humans who screech and lunge at the pair, descend upon Vigilante and Emilia, plunging them into a harrowing ordeal.
Recall that gorilla that made a splash on TV several episodes prior, the one that had slipped its bonds? Indeed, it now lurks in the bowels of this operation, squarely within Peacemaker's line of sight. As it prepares to strike down our valiant hero, Economos intervenes with a chainsaw, slicing it to smithereens with precise ferocity.
Behind bars, Auggie implores Detectives Song and Fitz for justice, asserting that Peacemaker has framed him and vowing to prove his innocence. The detectives promptly take his fingerprints, cross-referencing them with those found at the crime scene, only to discover a mismatch. Prompted by this revelation, they decide to confront the eyewitnesses firsthand, seeking clarity on their respective alibis.
It scarcely takes moments for the perpetually squabbling couple from earlier to corroborate that Peacemaker is indeed the culprit, seemingly paving the way for White Dragon's release. However, a curveball is thrown when a superior authority reverses the order. Enter Caspar Locke, Murn's enigmatic connection, who strolls into the precinct to unveil himself as their new captain. He tidies up the confused situation and confronts Song, probing into her findings. Instead of engaging directly with Locke, Song turns to Fitz, leveraging her connections to pursue a search warrant for Peacemaker, subtly undermining the hierarchical chain.
Covered in blood and adrenaline, Peacemaker and his team undergo a debriefing following their factory fray. As everyone scatters, Peacemaker extends an invitation to Leota, urging her to share a drink with him at his abode, the evening glow casting an eerie yet inviting ambiance.
Upon arriving, Leota reaches out to Peacemaker, gently urging him to shed his rugged facade; she explains that jesting at others' expense and belittling them is not the path to take. She implores him to emulate Chris instead, revealing a poignant and heartfelt moment that peels back another layer of his complex character.
Yet, this compassion is merely a veil, as Leota slyly conceals the diary within Peacemaker's trailer. Upon returning to the office, her curiosity gets the better of her; she picks up Peacemaker's helmet and dons it, marveling at the world through his enhanced vision. Brimming with excitement, she pivots towards Murn's office, eager to share her discovery with him... only to abruptly discern that he is, in fact, a Butterfly. As he dashes after her, the episode draws to a cliffhanger, leaving viewers on the edge of their seats.
