A Twisted Reinvention – How Peacock’s Twisted Metal Renewed My Love Of The Franchise

“This is gonna be fun!” exclaims Sweet Tooth as he lobs his machete towards Anthony Mackie’s John Doe, who narrowly dodges the weapon as it careens into a casino slot machine.

I’m not sure I agree with the iconic murder clown. I’m watching the first teaser for Peacock’s Twisted Metal, and while I wasn’t sure what to expect from an adaptation of one of my favorite childhood franchises, whatever hopes I had fell away watching this strange out-of-context clip. Sweet Tooth dancing to and singing the lyrics to Sisqó’s “Thong Song?” Showing a comedic fistfight instead of vehicles blowing each other up? What have the showrunners done with my game, if they are trying to make people laugh?

After watching the show’s first season, I must confess: I really like Twisted Metal.

Twisted Metal was the first PlayStation game to be released. Before Kratos and Nathan Drake and Crash Bandicoot, Twisted Metal had been PlayStation’s face. The franchise popularized the now-dormant car combat genre thanks to its wildly fun gameplay, dark humor, and a demented cast of characters – notably its mascot, Sweet Tooth. From Twisted Metal 2 to Twisted Metal Black, the chaos of action was a constant throughout all entries.

The series is still in hibernation despite its popularity. It was revived by Peacock back in 2012, which proved to be a pleasant but ultimately forgettable experience. Hope for a revival unexpectedly arose when Pea‑ cock announced a 10-episode live-action adaptation. Michael Jonathan Smith and co-writer of Cobra Kai, alongside DeadpoolRhett smith and Paul Wernick are writers. Twisted MetalJohn Doe stars as an amnesiac (dubbed Milkman) delivery driver in a United States post-apocalyptic. In the early 21st century a catastrophe caused society’s collapse. After 20 years, the last remnants of humankind are now huddled within walled-in cities in what was once divided America. Outside these shelters, those who are still alive fight for their lives on open highways dominated by gangs and psychopaths.

This setup may sound familiar to fans of the series, but it is more like Mad MaxTwisted metal is way better. Calypso has always been the central concept of these games: the drivers are competing in a death-tournament organized by Calypso. This mysterious man can grant whatever wish the victor wishes (but usually with a monkey-paw twist). Though different, this approach successfully introduces new layers to the mythos I didn’t know I wanted.

First, I cared about those behind the wheel. This is something that was never the case outside of Sweet Tooth. John Doe (Stephanie Beatriz), a mysterious loner on a revenge quest, and John Doe are a pair of goofy idiots with good hearts. The banter between John Doe and Quiet, a mystery loner who is on a quest for revenge, can be quite funny. Guardians of the Galaxy films. In fact, the series’ tone is highly reminiscent of James Gunn’s work, particularly HBO’s Peacemaker. That’s a compliment. Twisted Metal’s often idiotic, violent humor doesn’t always land, but it’s fully aware of how stupid it is and embraces silliness in ways I usually find more entertaining than cringy. Highlights include Stu, a clumsy, well-meaning everyman played by Mike Mitchell, but the series’ best character is its most recognizable: Sweet Tooth.

Voiced by Will Arnett and physically performed by Joe Seanoa, AKA Samoa Joe, the pair capture the clown’s intimidating presence and unhinged, sometimes humorous, personality. The show manages a great balance of making Sweet Tooth scary when he needs to be and a fun-loving outcast you almost want to hang out with … almost. Agent Stone, the show’s main villain portrayed by Thomas Haden Church, offers the perfect foil as a cold, law-obsessed sheriff running a brutal police force hellbent on restoring order.

Some adaptations feel almost embarrassed by their original material. Twisted MetalIt embraces its origins through numerous references. Some are as blatantly ridiculous as John entering a Twisted Metal 2 cheat code to activate his car’s defenses. Some cameos are so subtle that I didn’t even notice them until I checked their names in Wiki. Some of the best drivers are aware and self-aware. You can expect to see Twisted Metal 4’s most hated characters treated like bullet fodder. In a few cases, the show redeems less beloved drivers – I never thought I’d be rooting for Flower Power.

This story is able to handle multiple plot lines without becoming overburdened. Flashbacks provide a good overview of John, Quiet Stone, and Sweet Tooth, with their backstories. There are some very touching scenes in the story, with good performances. The show has a good balance of tone, even though I felt some emotional whiplash when it jumped from silly spectacles to a serious plot twist.

Twisted Metal doesn’t feature nearly as much car combat as I expected; most vehicular skirmishes wrap up in a few minutes, and much of the prolonged action is on foot. Without spoiling, the plot eventually rewards fans with what they’re looking for, with a satisfying finale that leaves enough doors open to lure viewers back for a potential second season. It’s the best compliment that I could give to say I wish a second series would happen. While I was uneasy, I had a blast once I settled into the show’s groove and the plot hit the gas. The games are similar. Twisted MetalIt is undoubtedly stupid and violent but hits the home run more than most.

Twisted MetalPeacock premieres July 27, 2007.