After a wild and joke-heavy debut season, Twisted Metal roars back with Season 2—and this time, it’s finally embracing the chaotic, action-packed essence of the beloved PlayStation video game series. With new characters, a bigger budget, and the long-awaited vehicular combat tournament, the show is no longer just a post-apocalyptic road trip with wisecracks—it’s a full-throttle ride through carnage, comedy, and character-driven madness.
A True Twisted Metal Experience, At Last
Season 1 of Twisted Metal felt more like a prologue, spending its 10 episodes introducing the characters and building the world. While it nailed the tone in parts and delivered plenty of laughs, longtime fans noticed one glaring omission: the tournament. That’s finally been rectified in Season 2. The new season leans hard into the franchise’s roots with wild combatants, bizarre vehicles, and the all-important prize—one wish, granted by the mysterious and sinister Calypso.
Where the Story Picks Up
Season 2 picks up right after the events of Season 1. John Doe (Anthony Mackie), the amnesiac delivery driver turned milkman, now lives inside a fortified city. He’s training relentlessly—under the alias “John Dough”—as preparation for the upcoming Twisted Metal tournament. Meanwhile, his fierce and silent partner Quiet (Stephanie Beatriz) is outside the walls, now part of an all-female gang called The Dolls. Their leader? None other than Dollface (Tiana Okoye), who just so happens to be John’s long-lost sister.
On another track, Sweet Tooth (played physically by wrestler Samoa Joe and voiced by Will Arnett) continues to be a scene-stealing maniac. This season sees him buddying up with Stu (Mike Mitchell), a naïve captive slowly becoming a serial killer in his own right. Their odd bromance adds a twisted heart to the chaos.
The Tournament: High Stakes, Big Dreams
The centerpiece of the season is the long-awaited Twisted Metal tournament. Hosted by the ever-creepy Calypso (Anthony Carrigan), the competition promises one wish to the winner—no matter how wild or impossible. Each contestant enters with a dream: some noble, others selfish. Quiet dreams of tearing down the city walls to create a more equal world, while most others are driven by personal gain.
But the tournament doesn’t kick off immediately. The 12-episode season features qualifying rounds, side missions, and character introductions before the mayhem fully erupts. Once it does, fans are treated to true Twisted Metal-style action—over-the-top vehicular battles set to heavy metal tunes like Rob Zombie’s “Dragula.”
New Faces, Familiar Chaos
Season 2 adds several fan-favorite characters from the games, each reimagined for the screen in creatively grotesque ways. Michael James Shaw plays Axel, a man who, in the games, is imprisoned between two giant wheels. In the show, he’s almost becoming a machine himself, guzzling gasoline and leaning into his transformation. Lisa Gilroy debuts as Vermin, a filthy exterminator, while Richard de Klerk brings eerie menace to Mr. Grimm, a motorcyclist with possible supernatural powers—or severe psychological damage.
Newcomer Saylor Bell Curda joins as Mayhem, a deceptively innocent wasteland survivor with a twisted edge. Each character adds layers of humor and danger, making every episode unpredictable and increasingly bizarre in the best way.
Improved Performances and Larger-Than-Life Sets
One noticeable upgrade this season is the synergy between Samoa Joe’s physical portrayal of Sweet Tooth and Will Arnett’s voice acting. In Season 1, there was a slight disconnect, but this time around, the performance feels seamless—like one truly deranged clown brought to life.
Anthony Mackie brings his usual charm to John Doe, though his comedic delivery still occasionally feels slightly offbeat. However, his earnestness and chemistry with Beatriz’s Quiet keep the emotional core intact. Beatriz shines even more in Season 2, as Quiet’s character gets more screen time and dialogue, developing beyond the mysterious sniper from Season 1.
Visually, the show benefits from a noticeable bump in budget. Shot in Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario, the wasteland environments feel vast and immersive. Explosions are bigger, vehicles are weirder, and the practical effects add a gritty realism that balances the cartoonish violence.
A Nostalgic, Yet Bold Leap Forward
For die-hard fans of the game, the moment all the cars line up for the tournament, armed to the teeth with rockets, machine guns, and twisted dreams, is a goosebump-inducing spectacle. It’s the moment the series fully transforms into the Twisted Metal fans remember—wild, dangerous, hilarious, and deeply unpredictable.
That said, the show won’t appeal to everyone. With its absurd tone, violent content, and rapid-fire jokes, Twisted Metal remains a bold and divisive watch. But for those who enjoy unhinged storytelling with a nostalgic punch, Season 2 delivers exactly what the franchise has promised for years.
Final Thoughts
Season 2 of Twisted Metal is everything fans hoped Season 1 would be. It stays true to its outrageous video game roots while building a weirder, more explosive world full of strange characters, twisted dreams, and vehicular carnage. The tournament is finally here, and the show doesn’t hold back. Whether you’re a long-time fan or a curious newcomer, buckle up—this ride is only getting wilder.
Twisted Metal Season 2 is now streaming on Peacock and Paramount+ with new episodes every Thursday.
