by Mike Hilty, Contributing Writer
Video game adaptations continue to thrive on television. There are so many in the works now that it’s hard to keep track. The industry has figured out that an eight-hour season is a much better use of time than a two-and-a-half-hour movie that has to cut the backstory and substance that made the game amazing. One of my favorites over the last few years is Season One of Twisted Metal. Anthony Mackie was a fantastic lead, the world-building was incredible, and the themes of class warfare and finding relationships in a hopeless world were moving. I didn’t know how Season Two could measure up.
Sticking to what made the video game great is the right call.
Season Two takes place shortly after the events of Season One. John (Mackie) is still living it up in New San Francisco and training for Raven (Patty Guggenheim, replacing Neve Campbell). Quiet (Stephanie Beatriz) is with the Dolls. Everyone else is gearing up for the Twisted Metal tournament, hosted by the mysterious Calypso (Anthony Carrigan). The only rule is to stay alive, and the winner is granted a single wish of their choosing, no matter how big.
The tournament features various engaging events. In addition, Season Two is a fairly contained story. The focus is the tournament, and it doesn’t veer much further away from that central premise. Many shows have fallen into a wider scope pitfall in their sophomore seasons. Still, Twisted Metal managed to keep the story crisp without sacrificing much of the character development or emotional impact.
Mackie remains the heart of the show. Season Two continues to showcase John Doe as the reluctant hero that is easy to root for. John is given slightly more backstory, and we are introduced to some members of his family (mainly through flashbacks). Throughout the course of the season, Mackie balances humor and being an action star with some genuinely soul-crushing moments. In a post-apocalyptic world, John is an easy character to root for, and Mackie is the perfect casting choice.
Additionally, Beatriz grows into her own character during Season Two, as Quiet strives to be the hero the world needs. She’s caring and thinks more in big picture terms, instead of so many of the others this season. Being part of a predominantly female gang gives her the chance to showcase her leadership skills, in addition to demonstrating her stronger abilities to drive. Together, Mackie and Beatriz form a phenomenal tandem that anchors the show with equal parts action, humor, and heart — a task not easily undertaken.
Season Two also introduces several new characters to expand the roster for the tournament. Some of them are cannon fodder for the tournament, while others make their impact known early on. The leader of the Dolls, known simply as Dollface (Tiana Okoye), who was teased at the end of Season One, is a great way to reunite John and Quiet. Meanwhile, the two standout newcomers are Axel (Michael James Shaw) and Mayhem (Saylor Bell Curda). Axel is originally from the game and drives two gigantic wheels, which his arms are connected to. Mayhem is looking for a place to belong and develops a family bond with John and Quiet. I really enjoyed that most of the characters in the tournament have a particular wish they are fighting for, which makes them unique.
Certain characters from Season One are either completely absent or not as big of a focus. Setting aside Raven’s recasting, several characters from Season One don’t even show up in Season Two. The key figurehead from the game, Sweet Tooth (voiced by Will Arnett, physically acted by Joe Seanoa), is in the season for an appropriate amount of time before he borders on getting annoying or overpowering.
The real mystery of the season is Calypso. Carrigan is outstanding in the role, as he usually is; however, his character and motivations remain somewhat unclear, even after a 12-episode Season Two.
The tournament is by far the most exciting part of Season Two, featuring end-to-end thrills and unique trials that test everyone both physically and mentally. Because the tournament dominates so much of the season, some thematic elements about class struggles are left sidelined. The end of the tournament circles back to classism, but it takes center stage only after a considerable amount of time.
Twisted Metal continues to be a standout series for Peacock, and it serves as a great ambassador for the video game-to-television movement. The action is amped up, the characters are well developed, and the overall story of the season is solid. If Calypso were a little more developed character, Season Two would have been an A+. However, that unforced error brings this down to a lowly A-, which is still among the best shows of 2025, along with being the most enjoyable times I’ve had with a TV show since Season One.
Rating: Low Side of Loved It
Twisted Metal is currently streaming on Peacock
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