Twisted Metal returns with Season 2, blending over-the-top violence, dark comedy, and emotional depth. Dive into our full review now!
Well, the wait is over, and Twisted Metal Season 2 is now streaming on Peacock. The popular video game adaptation revs its engines even harder. The second season amps up the vehicular craziness, action-packed excitement, disastrous comedy, and strangely moving character backstories. Whether you’re an avid follower of the franchise or you are just along for the ride now, Season 2 is an exciting continuation that is difficult to ignore.
Let’s break down why Twisted Metal Season 2 is more than just a wild ride—it’s a bold, brutal, and bloody funny evolution in video game storytelling.
Quick Recap: Season 1 Left Us Hanging
When Twisted Metal dropped last year, it took everyone by surprise. What was originally thought to be a brainless action-comedy was developed into a cult classic. Anchored by Anthony Mackie as John Doe, the first season introduced a dystopian world of loony-tunes psychopathic drivers, brazen factions, and ice-cream trucks with machine guns. Its manic energy and savvy humor quickly gained traction and established a devoted fan base.
Season 2 continues exactly where the chaotic Season 1 left off and ups the ante with higher stakes, bloodier battles, and a much darker (though still funny) tone.
What’s new in Twisted Metal Season 2?
Season 2 goes deeper into the lore of the Twisted Metal universe, with an even larger cast of drivers, even more shady deathmatch tournaments, and a more thorough understanding of how the tournament really happened.
Perhaps the biggest new feature this season is that we finally have the official Twisted Metal tournament and get to see the game’s iconic premise come to life. Survival is no longer the only concern in this wasteland: it’s about who can destroy the most to win the crown.
Highlights include:
The Tournament Arc: The season is hinged on a structured post-apocalyptic death race (though it’s really just a series of violent encounters), which provides each clash with purpose and suspense. The thrill isn’t just the random violence – it’s that we actually care about what the character is trying to achieve, the crown, and the consequences of losing.
New Characters: Fan favorites from the games, such as Axel, Mr. Grimm, and Krista Sparks (aka Bloody Mary), make their first appearances in the series. Each character brings their own savage twist to the battlefield.
Bigger Set Pieces: The scope and creativity of the action scenes throughout the season are really ramped up, from a flaming roller derby to blood-splattered battles in an abandoned casino.
Imagine Themes: More than just the quips and ice hockey, Season 2 has also dived into deeper themes of redemption, trauma, and self. Making it much more entertaining.
Anthony Mackie is Still the Captain
Anthony Mackie continues to be the absolute best as John Doe, the amnesiac milkman (with a ton of weapons and a heart of gold). His ability to play off of Stephanie Beatriz’s Quiet remains electric, just this time, the dirtbag found himself in more trouble and life-threatening experiences with her.
Mackie demonstrates an ability to hit both ends of the creative spectrum: slapstick and authenticity. His comedic beat is sharp, but the heart of the season belongs to the more vulnerable moments—where we see John coming face to face with his past. Mackie injects real pathos into a character that could have easily been flat.
Sweet Tooth is the Most Fun (Again)
If there’s one thing that Twisted Metal gets right, it is Sweet Tooth. With Will Arnett voicing him and AEW wrestler Samoa Joe expertly bringing him to life, the insane clown is once again back and has upped the ante on his murderous charisma.
Sweet Tooth has a more complete backstory in season 2—and, perhaps surprisingly, a distorted sense of good and bad. His scenes are often some of the most chaotic and engaging of the show, frequently alternating from terrifying to hilarious in seconds. A prime example? A duet of “Livin’ on a Prayer” in the middle of a firestorm. Who else could make that work other than Twisted Metal?
Where Brutal Comedy Meets Real Narratives
Twisted Metal season 2 stands out from other adaptations with its commitment to tonal chaos. One moment, you’re laughing at a nun holding a chainsaw, and the next moment, you have the wind knocked out of you with a sad backstory.
This mixing of genres should not work, but it somehow works. The writers have leaned into the show’s black humor while being more deliberate about showing depth in each character’s story. It’s Mad Max meets Deadpool, with a touch of The Boys.
The dialogue is sharper, the bad jokes land harder with their one-liners, and the pacing is much tighter this season. Each episode felt proper with its own arcs, climax, and cliffhanger.
The Aesthetics: Chaos Never Looked So Good
Overall, Season 2 is a visual step up. The CGI, while still embracing a little bit of cheese, still looks better than before. The vehicular combat scenes also look darker, smoother, and much more cinematic.
The production design is a dirty, dystopian surrealism. From neon junkyards to the desert scenes filled with crashed airplanes, this version of Twisted Metal fully developed the world of the show while making it oddly strange and yet somehow lived in.
The costumes and make-up mean this season is just as fun—especially the new opponents, which are directly straight from the games but reimagined for live action.
Fan Service Done Right
Many video game adaptations fail because they either strayed too far from or were too beholden to the source material. In Twisted Metal, season 2, what they have done is find a middle ground. They serve up fan service on a silver platter: familiar vehicles, recognizable kills, and even several easter eggs from relatively obscure game levels.
The show is not all for gamers, though. The show stands on its own—new viewers won’t feel lost, while veteran players will collect their rewards.
Season 2 Is An Insane Show You Should Celebrate!
Twisted Metal Season 2 is not just more of the same; it’s smarter, bloodier, and surprisingly deeper. It retains all of the campiness of the first season, but has matured enough to allow real character arcs and a compelling narrative.
If Season 1 was a warm-up lap, Season 2 is the main event with nitrous and flamethrowers. It’s absurd. It’s compelling. And it’s super fun!
Whether you came for the character, the chaos, or the laughs, Twisted Metal Season 2 floors it and never lets up.
Final Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5/5)
Pros:
- Fun character development
- Killer new additions to the cast
- Wild action sequences
- Dark humor that works
- Close enough to the game yet new player accessible
Cons:
- Some shift in tone can feel jarring
- Some side characters could be better used
Is Twisted Metal season 3 a possibility?
As of now, there are no official announcements regarding season 3, though the season 2 finale certainly gives us some hope for the future. There is now a full-blown Twisted Metal tournament happening, and with many key players still unaccounted for, a third season feels far from impossible and very plausible.
Fans are already speculating on what’s next, and if Peacock is smart, they would want to greenlight a season 3 before everyone’s engines cool down.
FAQs
1. Is Twisted Metal Season 2 better than Season 1?
Yes, many fans and critics believe Twisted Metal Season 2 is a marked improvement over Season 1. It features tighter storytelling, wilder action sequences, and more nuanced character development, along with the same brutal humor fans loved.
2. Where can I watch Twisted Metal Season 2?
You can see Twisted Metal Season 2 streaming on Peacock, the streaming platform for NBCUniversal, and you’ll need a subscription in order to access the episodes.
3. How many episodes are in Twisted Metal Season 2?
There are 10 episodes in Season 2 that run from 30 to 40 minutes in length. The season is bingeable and contains cliffhangers that will keep you wanting more until the end.
4. Who are the new characters in Season 2?
Season 2 includes some fan-favorite characters from the video games:
Axel
Mr. Grimm
Krista Sparks (aka Bloody Mary)
These new characters introduce additional dimensions to the story, along with deadly new vehicles, into the twisted tournament.
5. Does Twisted Metal Season 2 follow the video game story?
Season 2 is based on the Twisted Metal video game series, especially its most iconic tournament model, but it weaves original storytelling into this story arc while maintaining the unbelievably chaotic, violent, and darkly humorous essence of the games.