Twisted Metal Season 2 Ep 1-3 Review: A Wild Ride of Carnage and Chaos

Twisted Metal has always been that oddball of gaming lore, where chaos reigns supreme, storylines barely make sense, and a homicidal clown driving an ice cream truck somehow steals the show. Now, Peacock has picked up the scraps of burning rubber and twisted metal (pun intended) and turned it into a full-blown series. And honestly? It’s kind of amazing. Of course, in the way a flaming car crash draws your eyes. You know you shouldn’t look, but you just can’t stop yourself.

The first three episodes of Twisted Metal Season 2 are finally here, and things are as gloriously insane as you’d expect. We’ve got nostalgia bombs from the ’95 PlayStation classic, gun-toting chases straight out of a caffeine-fueled Mad Max fever dream, and characters who are as charming as they are unhinged. Twisted Metal doesn’t just lean into absurdity; it floors the gas pedal and gives you a middle finger from the driver’s seat.

The Plot Is a Dumpster Fire… and That’s a Compliment

Season 2 kicks off with its foot on the accelerator as Twisted Metal dives straight into the much-teased titular tournament. That’s right; things are finally ramping up for the demolition derby of death we’ve all been waiting for. The stakes are high, and the wishes being dangled in front of the participants are deliciously twisted (think Black Mirror meets junkyard wars).

John Doe (Anthony Mackie) is still our main man and just as clueless about his identity as before. He’s desperate to escape the walled-off hellhole of New San Francisco and find something real to call his own. Quiet (Stephanie Beatriz) is all-in with the Dolls, a badass gang determined to dismantle supply chains and tear down megacity barriers. Oh, and Dollface? Yeah, she’s back too, as John’s long-lost sister Krista, who is every bit as ruthless (and porcelain-mask-wearing) as we remember.

Why Sweet Tooth Is the Gift That Keeps on Giving

Speaking of chaos, can we talk about Sweet Tooth? Our favorite ice cream-wielding, theatrically murderous clown is having the time of his life. He’s turned mentor, schooling his hapless apprentice Stu in the art of flamboyant butchery, all the while chasing his own desire for infamy. Armed with his trusty truck and deranged charisma, Sweet Tooth somehow remains both horrifying and endlessly watchable. Seriously, this guy could burn down Disneyland, and you’d still root for him.

Quiet, Krista, and John Steal the Spotlight

Early episodes focus on relationships, and it’s surprisingly touching. John’s awkward reunion with Krista brings depth that you don’t see coming in a show splashed with blood and set to heavy metal tracks. Their sibling bond isn’t sugar-coated; it’s messy, painful, and rooted in shared hurt. Meanwhile, Quiet’s evolution from lone rogue to loyal Doll feels earned. Watching her square off against Krista’s cold logic provides some of the series’ most gripping moments. And then there’s that whole “John gets handcuffed to a bed, escapes through sewers, and miraculously manages to keep surviving” arc. It’s ridiculous, yes, but deeply satisfying. The guy has plot armor thicker than Sweet Tooth’s white face paint.

But, Is It Actually Good?

Look, if you’re here expecting Oscar-worthy dialogue or thematically layered storytelling, please escort yourself to another streaming service. Twisted Metal thrives because it fully embraces its identity. It’s loud, brash, chaotic, and downright unhinged. It’s a love letter to fans of the games and an open invitation for newcomers to put their seatbelts on and enjoy the ride.

And honestly? You’ll laugh more than you think. The show’s dark comedy doesn’t always hit, but when it does, it’s golden. Anthony Mackie’s reluctant hero shtick works surprisingly well, and the supporting cast, from Quiet’s stoic intensity to Raven’s goth-girl sass, keeps you locked in.

Get in, Losers, We’re Smashing Cars

Twisted Metal is far from perfect, but it’s not trying to be. It’s a chaotic good in a sea of highbrow, prestige TV. The first three episodes of Season 2 deliver everything you’d hope for and more. Whether it’s high-octane vehicle battles, hilariously over-the-top character moments, or the kind of underdog story we secretly all root for, this is one ride you won’t regret taking.

And with nine more episodes promising bigger stakes, crazier stunts, and all the car-flipping carnage you can handle, I’d buckle up if I were you. Twisted Metal is back, and it’s not taking prisoners.