Review: Twisted Metal: Season 2, Episodes 4-5: Action and Intrigue Abound as the Tournament Begins

Twisted Metal: Season 2, Episodes 4-5: Action and Intrigue Abound as the Tournament Begins

Introduction

As the Twisted Metal tournament arrives, so too does zany situations that force the cast to adapt accordingly — and, in many ways, comically — while striving to see their wishes come true. Whereas the first three episodes provided the exposition necessary for John, Quiet, Sweet Tooth and others to decide to enter the Twisted Metal tournament, Episodes 4 and 5 see them make it to Calypso’s wicked gauntlet, but not before they attempt a perilous heist in Diesel City.

Story Overview: Amnesia, Challenges and Tournament Preparation for a Better Life

Episode 4 occurs one day before the tournament and places John, Quiet, Dollface and Mayhem at the entrance to Diesel City. Knowing this location contains weapons that will allow them to customize their cars to use special weapons, Dollface has put together a plan in which each group member will play a role: John and Quiet will masquerade as insiders from two different counties; Dollface will inflitrate the control room to enable John and Quiet to access the weapons storage; and Mayhem, well, will be herself. While this plan starts successfully, numerous challenges present themselves along the way, including Sweet Tooth, Stu a Roman emperor-esque leader and an army of guards. During this quest, several characters develop significantly, with the two most noticeable being John and Quiet’s romantic interest in each other being rekindled as well as Stu slaughtering a room of maniacal insiders in his first killing bout. By the time both teams leave Diesel City with new weapons, changes have been made, and there is no question everyone is ready to compete in the tournament.

Episode 5 takes place during the start of the tournament the following day. Equipped with weapons from their successful Diesel City heist, John, Quiet and company as well as Sweet Tooth and Stu arrive at tournament’s base headquarters in Indianapolis. There, they encounter several other competitors from both seasons, including two of Preacher’s Holy Men — along with a baby they claim is Preacher inside a different host body — Axel, Vermin, Death Warrant, who appears here as a person rather than a vehicle, Mr. Grimm and Raven. Animosity and grievances among these contestants boil over, and Calypso later enters the base to welcome everyone formally to the tournament. Calypso also explains the first part is a qualifying round involving the delivery of a package to Tournament city, with the item changing from green to yellow to red when hit, eventually exploding. The participants then drive off to deliver their packages in hope of winning this round. John and Quiet take the lead, with John shooting out the passenger window at Raven as Quiet drives. Sweet Tooth and Stu pursue the lead, stopping only when Sweet Tooth sees an opportunity to kill Mr. Grimm, which he tries but fails. Despite John and Quiet, who are assisted by Dollface behind them on her ATV, holding the lead, they decide to turn around and help Mayhem, who looks to be in a precarious position at risk of failure. It is here this episode ends, and with it, this season’s story for this week.

Strengths: Story and Characters Hold Attention, Action and Comedy Delivered Equally and Building Suspense

Many of the strengths shown in the first three episodes hold true for these two. Namely, the characters and story continue to deepen, further keeping viewers on the edges of their seats. Arguably, with the higher stakes, heist, entangling relationships and developments, the plot is more exciting than before. Indeed, the approximately 30-minute runtime never seems long enough on account of how addictive this show truly is.

What builds upon Twisted Metals already successful formula is the fact all main characters receive similar amounts of screen time. For example, John and Quiet are shown completing their tasks alongside Dollface and Mayhem almost as often as Sweet Tooth and Stu work toward theirs. In this way, each group’s story is underscored for viewers to cherish rather than focusing on one at the other’s expense, which can happen at times depending on the story. Consequently, these characters’ progressions through these two episodes produce even more suspense than previously, a fact that multiplies when they arrive at the tournament headquarters. Of course, Episode 5’s cliffhanger ending means viewers will have to save their anticipation for next week, when Episodes 6 and 7 reveal the outcome of John and Quiet’s decision to assist Mayhem as well as the qualifying round and its impact on the tournament at large.

Weaknesses: Gratuitous Innuendos and Content (but not Terribly Out of Place) and the Wait for New Episodes

The one drawback these episodes have is that unnecessary comments and content are included. Specifically, suggestive dialog and scenes are featured despite their potential omission having no real impact on the story. Whereas some similarities are present in the earlier three episodes, they exist chiefly to emphasize how John and Quiet have changed romantically since their time apart between seasons, what is displayed here is by no means necessary to further the plot. No explicit, graphic or indecent content is shown, but the implications are legion. There is nothing wrong with this creative decision, but it both contrasts largely with the games and may make some viewers uncomfortable — but, to be fair, so could the violence and other strong language. Curiously, Sweet Tooth may be most amenable to this perspective, given his comment to Stu it is important to have “decorum.”

Aside from this “real” shortcoming, the fact viewers must wait for new episodes to release weekly is still difficult due to this work’s beauty. As a production done properly and replete with faithful characters, settings and story, the desire to watch it through the end remains strong. Of course, Peacock knows as much, and in many ways this anticipation only heightens the experience.

Conclusion and Score

Episodes 4 and 5 continue the engaging plot in which John, Quiet and company find themselves. The character vignettes are appropriate, ensuring John and Quiet’s advances are on par with those of Sweet Tooth and Stu’s, just as is true for Dollface, Mayhem and the other competitors. Save for the unnecessary innuendos and content, which some could argue are not completely out of place, not one dull moment exists in these episodes. That the tournament has begun is crucial because the characters will have abundant opportunities to approach scores of wacky situations with their own idiosyncrasies. Among the crossfire of emotions and feuds is the genuine interest in seeing where everyone goes physically, developmentally and characteristically. Like the cliffhanger on which Episode 5 ends, the future will show what the contestants will face as the tournament heats up.

Pros:

Story and characters keep increasing this production’s allure
Action-comedy balance remains solid
Suspense expands as tournament begins and drivers’ connections are deepened

Cons:

Unnecessary innuendos and content (although not entirely ill-fitting, given the circumstances)
Waiting for the remaining episodes to release is still challenging!

Score: 9/10

Standout Quotes

“Finders keepers, losers weepers!” — Dollface and Sweet Tooth while fighting to obtain the EMP in Diesel City.
“The only thing more powerful than big-a** guns is a daddy’s love.” — Deacon to Mayhem
“A man who eats man is not a man at all.” — Dave to Stu on Mike’s words
“Keep your head on, Swivel.” — Sweet Tooth to Mike

Series Information

Title: Twisted Metal
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Stephanie Beatriz, Joe Seanoa, Will Arnett, Anthony Carrigan
Directors: Various
Studios: PlayStation Productions, Sony Pictures Television, Universal Television
Network/Platform: Peacock (NBC)
Release Date: 31 July 2025
Series: Twisted Metal

References/Further Reading

To learn more about the Twisted Metal series as well as this franchise at large, please visit the following links:

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this review as well as throughout this blog belong solely to Lord Trichechus Rosmarus of Premier Polygon Productions. Consequently, they represent the perspectives only of these entities and in no way aim to disparage the artists’ works cited.