EPISODE CONTEXT

Landing at episode 20 of 26, this episode arrives directly after 'The Lake Bottom Trap,' which pushed the protagonists through high-stakes physical conflict, and uses that momentum to pivot toward a more introspective register. 'Peace Settlement' sits at a critical juncture in the final stretch of the season, recontextualizing the rivalries and alliances built over the series before the narrative transitions back toward action in the upcoming 'Nostalgia.' It is a foundational bridge episode — the kind that reframes what came before and quietly loads what is still to come.