Twisted Metal Episodes 8 & 9 Reviewed: Mind-Blowing Highlights and Surprises

Hold onto your steering wheels, folks, because Episodes 8 and 9 of Twisted Metal Season 2 just threw us one heck of a curveball. Who needs vehicular carnage when you’ve got slasher movie thrills and high school prom drama? Yeah, you read that right – no car combat in these episodes. But before you start raging in the comments, let me tell you why this actually works.

What Makes These Episodes Stand Out

Here’s the thing about Twisted Metal‘s Latest Episodes – they’re basically a masterclass in character development disguised as filler content. Episode 8 (“SDDNDTH”) kicks off with our racers getting hunted through a school by the Apocalypse 9, while Episode 9 (“VAVAVUM”) throws everyone into prom night hell. It’s weird, it’s unexpected, and honestly? It’s pretty brilliant.

The writers clearly realized that constantly smashing cars together only gets you so far. Sometimes you need to slow down and actually make us care about these maniacs before we watch them potentially die in twisted metal carnage.

Character Development That Actually Matters

Let’s talk about John and Quiet’s drama first. Their whole wish situation had me rolling my eyes initially – another forced conflict between protagonists, right? But the resolution comes fast enough that it doesn’t overstay its welcome. Thank goodness, because dragging out relationship drama for multiple episodes is exactly how you kill momentum.

The real surprise here is Axel getting actual depth. His backstory as a hitman caring for a child hits different when you remember this guy is literally half-car, half-human. The fact that he overcomes his gasoline addiction during the school massacre feels earned, even if Mike’s right about healing his only weakness being strategically stupid.

And can we talk about Sweet Tooth deciding to adopt Stu? That’s some genuinely heartwarming chaos right there.

Episode 9’s Prom Night Pandemonium

In Twisted Metal’s 9th episode, ‘VAVAVUM‘, the prom stands out as pure soap opera madness. The whole winter solstice blood ceremony thing feels like Calypso showing off his mysterious past (seriously, was he actually at Roanoke?), but it quickly devolves into typical high school dance awkwardness.

The Dave revelation shouldn’t surprise anyone who’s been paying attention, but man, that cannibal twist still packs a punch. His brutal death scene with the coat hook through the eyeball? Peak Twisted Metal gore right there. Props to the writers for making Stu’s cover-up feel genuinely tense.

The Axel-Mayhem Connection

Now here’s where things get interesting. That fabric detail connecting Axel to Mayhem feels like classic setup for a big emotional payoff later. The implication that she’s his long-lost charge adds layers to both characters that we definitely needed. It’s the kind of connection that could either save them both or destroy everything when the truth comes out.

Why These Episodes Work Despite No Car Combat

Look, I get it. You came here for vehicular mayhem, not feelings. But the latest episodes prove that this show knows exactly what it’s doing. These character moments are investment in future carnage – we’re going to care so much more when these people inevitably face off in their death machines.

The gas knockout ending perfectly transitions us back to the tournament while leaving us with enough emotional baggage to make the remaining rounds actually matter. It’s manipulative in the best possible way.

 

Episodes 8 and 9 might not deliver the metal-crunching action you expect, but they serve up something arguably more valuable – reasons to actually invest in these characters beyond their cool cars and creative weapons. Sometimes the best way to amp up the violence is to make us care about the people getting violent.