Peacock’s live-action adaptation of Twisted Metal is defying all odds. The half-hour comedy series, a high-octane blend of Mad Max and Death Race 2000, has dropped in its entirety on the streaming platform. Much to the shock of critics and fans alike, the show is quite good.
The initial trailer might have struck many as bizarre, but it’s clear now the show is absurd and hilarious in exactly the ways a dystopian Cannonball Run should be. It’s a wacky, unrepentant joyride, brimming with flair and cleverer than anyone would dare give it credit.
Twisted Metal carries a delightful tapestry of dark and warped sensibilities, which is a testament to its successful adaptation from its video game roots to the small screen. While the humor might be divisive, the action and pacing are proven crowd-pleasers, evoking fun and excitement in a landscape of vehicular combat and apocalyptic shenanigans.
Story-wise, Twisted Metal centers around Anthony Mackie’s John Doe, a “milkman” or courier who places his future on the delivery of a single mysterious package. With his dreams of a better life hanging by a thread, John has to befriend an axe-wielding car thief named Quiet (played by Stephanie Beatriz) while surviving the onslaught of murderous marauders like the unhinged clown, Sweet Tooth (Joe Seanoa body, Will Arnett voice). The interactions among this motley crew provide a powder keg of violence and humor on the open road, creating an atmosphere of chaos and anticipation that makes the viewing experience genuinely enjoyable.
Despite reviewers calling the show’s social commentary shallow, the series has managed to handle it with a light-hearted touch. The creators’ commentary on inequality and police-state fascism, although not deeply profound, adds a certain grit to the dystopian universe, reflected especially in the character arcs of John and Quiet. The show is no stranger to violent and ludicrous action scenes, an approach that stays true to its video game origins, even if it can occasionally feel gratuitously gory.
Here’s a round-up of all the reviews of Twisted Metal and their scores:
- ComicBook.com – 4/5
- San Francisco Chronicle – 3/4
- IGN – 8/10
- MovieWeb – 3/5
- Paste Magazine – 6.8/10
- SlashFilm – 6.5/10
Twisted Metal, with its vibrant and bombastic style, has certainly surprised viewers with its charm and the way it managed a lot in ten 30-minute episodes. Despite a few bumps along the way, such as slight joke fatigue later in the season and some criticism about the lack of car combat (likely due to the budget), the series manages to forge a niche for itself. It’s all part of the package: the campy humor, the unexpected reveals, the flawed but lovable characters, and of course, the gratuitous yet cathartic violence.
The series has received a Rotten Tomatoes score of 68% as of the time of writing, a respectable rating considering that the show had an unconventional premise and its initially skeptical reception. A score that, although not ground-breaking, will prove that a large part of the audience enjoyed the series, applauding it for its bold humor and high-octane action.
The consensus seems to be: Twisted Metal is a fun watch, not perfect but definitely entertaining, a summer blast of carnage that old-school fans and newcomers alike can revel in.
Twisted Metal has taken the Peacock audience by surprise, and it might just do the same to you. If you’re ready for a wild ride through a dystopian wasteland with an unapologetically quirky crew, buckle up and join the ride. Twisted Metal isn’t aiming to be perfect. Instead, it offers a good time – and that’s all it has ever intended to be.
Fingers crossed, Horizon 2074, God of War, and Ghost of Tsushima, among others, will fare just as well when they hit small and big screens in the future.
Speaking of live-action adaptations of first-party PlayStation properties, The Last of Us, which is poised to rake in awards at this year’s Emmys, is getting multiple future seasons with the script for next season’s debut episode already complete.
