TV Review: ‘Twisted Metal’ Season 1, Episode 1

Twisted Metal is definitely an interesting game to make a television series out of. The video game itself takes a tournament style of format to its plot. Various characters enter a demolition derby of sorts while driving around unique cars and trying to kill each other. The show completely abandons this dynamic and instead creates a dystopian future where couriers have to drive between walled cities to make deliveries. Even though this is a complete departure in terms of story and character, the essence of the vehicular action and crazy comedy remains.

The story follows one of these carriers, named the John Doe (Anthony Mackie), as he has been operating for years, which makes him notable in this world where couriers typically last a couple months. In contrast to a lot of the degenerates that inhabit the outside world, he seems to be a decent human being. So he’s given a job by Raven (Neve Campbell), one of the leaders of New San Francisco, the reward of which is becoming a resident of that walled City. The only problem is he has to travel to New Chicago, which is farther than he’s ever gone and is far more dangerous than the West Coast where he operates. He also runs into another outsider, Quiet (Stephanie Beatriz), who recently lost her brother.

Twisted Metal is actually a pretty personal series to me. It was something that I really loved growing up and have very fond memories of playing it all night with my friends during sleepovers. But I was very wary about how this would translate to the screen. There’s a growing trend amongst fandom that adaptations aren’t “their” version of their favorite stories or characters. This is 100% true for Twisted Metal. It’s not “my” Twisted Metal. But fans need to abandon this notion. The story and characters are important, but what’s more important is the spirit of the franchise. So while Twisted Metal is definitely something completely unique, the spirit of the series is still there.

Twisted Metal streams Thursdays on peacock.