How twisted and how metal is each episode of Twisted Metal?

24.08.2023 - 12:19 / polygon.com / Anthony Mackie / And How

Have you heard the good word? Peacock’s Twisted Metalshow is quite fun.

For my money, it’s the best TV adaptation of a PlayStation game about an unlikely duo traveling across a post-apocalyptic landscape of 2023. And it continues a strong run of Peacock original shows in 2023, starting with the great detective series Poker Faceand continuing with the bewildering (complimentary) mystery that is Mrs. Davis.

Following in our time-honored tradition of breaking down seasons of Love, Death & Robots by amounts of love, death, and robots, we’re going to do the same with Twisted Metal. How twisted and how metal is each episode?

Let’s define our terms: By “twisted,” we mean something shocking and surprising, perhaps bordering on the edges of good taste. By “metal,” we mean something rad as hell. We’re going to grade each of these on a scale of 1 to 5. A 1 on the twisted scale is akin to a Mike’s Hard Lemonade, with a 5 being something like “I can’t believe Hannibal was on network television.” On the metal scale, a 1 is elevator music, while a 5 is “your head is on fire, Sweet Tooth-style.”

How twisted is it? 4. We’re introduced to the post-apocalyptic setting, and a gun pops out of John Doe’s (Anthony Mackie) car’s roof and shoots a guy right in the nards. Raven (Neve Campbell) pretends to have a child and is visibly disgusted by it. Also, a nude Anthony Mackie gets sprayed by a yellow slime goo before getting his ass perfumed.

How metal is it? 3.One of the show’s longer extended car gun fights ends up with a PlayStation copy of Twisted Metal going across John Doe’s windshield. Multiple cars blow up, and we see Sweet Tooth (Samoa Joe/Will Arnett) for the first time.

How twisted is it? 5. We’re giving Sweet Tooth’s exhilarating variety show the full marks here — using the hotel TV welcome message as source material was particularly inspired. It does not hurt that this episode also had a cannibal cult, complete with graphic shots of roasting human meat.

How metal is it? 2. Some circles may consider Sweet Tooth’s meal accompaniment for his show (white tiger served three ways) metal, but we’re instead going to call out his excellent salmon suit. Look at him serve while he serves! You go, big guy. Show them what you’re about.

How twisted is it? 5. This episode features Agent Stone’s petty-tyrant origin story, from mall cop to self-appointed judge, jury, and executioner. This particular storyline culminates in a massacre of civilians. Also, there’s a torture montage (featuring Aqua’s “Barbie Girl,” tiny pencils, and some light waterboarding), and Quiet murders Stone’s creepy henchman mid-wank session. Twisted!

How metal is it? 3. John and Quiet convince Stu of his good heart. What’s more metal than that? OK,