Twisted Metal (Season 1) - Review
(*SPOILER FREE SECTION!*)
Twister
Expectations for video game adaptations to Movies or TV usually should be kept at minimal to none. Seeing as the medium usually doesn’t fully get the respect it deserves, nor is it given a faithful translation to the big(or small) screen. Only recently with Mortal Kombat, Sonic 1/2 and Mario did we as gamers get something resembling a decent to good adaptation. The newest one to put it’s hat into the ring, is Twisted Metal. A much under loved series, in my opinion, from a bygone era of vehicular combat games from all the way back to the PS1. Now, i’m a massive fan of the series. Have played every single entry, even the portable off shoot Head-On, and have thoroughly enjoyed all of them despite the numerous changes the series has undergone. With that said, this show had A LOT to prove to me, i had high expectations, but I was also ready for disappointment seeing the trailers and the early look being a far different tone than the games. Despite any apprehension I had…they f*cking did it.
Sweet Tooth
I’m gonna first start off with what i liked about it then further down give some of my nitpicks.
So, the tone. Now at first i didn’t like the idea of the show being an action comedy, if one has ever played Black or the PS3 game, you’ll know the series is anything but silly. BUT, the cast absolutely won me over with their performances. The early look may have soured many, myself included, but seeing the season as a whole was a much better way to take in the comedic tone the series is shooting for. Hell it’s not even just a comedy, it has plenty of gore and action to satiate the Twisted fans but also with quite a bit of heart thrown in. Never did I think i’d ever develop feelings for an ‘02 Subaru Impreza, but here we are. Anthony Mackie and Stephanie Beatriz kill it the whole season, their chemistry is a lot of fun goes on quite the spiral. But what about the man himself? Was disappointed at first to hear Samoa Joe not voicing Sweet Tooth but only just playing him physically, the man has a PERFECT voice for him, but Will Arnett did a fine job playing Mr. Kane. Joe and Will combined to create the most oddly endearing version of Sweet Tooth i’ve seen yet. Psychotic but with a charm about him that makes you kind of root for him a little, and his best friend Harold. The side cast also was pretty great, especially Neve Campbell’s Raven. She wasn’t in it for very long but stole every scene she was in, really hope if a Season 2 happens, we get a bit more behind her character.
Evelyn
John Doe’s story is a simple one, find his Shangri-La. He’s given an opportunity: deliver a package and get his wish…of 3-ply toilet paper…among many other things. His journey to Chicago and back is wrought with butchers, vultures, holy men, law abiding citizens, and a killer clown. Not much is known about his past, only that he woke up, his head hurt and Evelyn is his baby. On the way, he meets who he ends up calling, Quiet. And hijinks aplenty ensue. I really dug the story as a whole. Not where i thought it was going for a Twisted Metal show, but I quite enjoyed it. Like i mentioned Mackie and Beatriz kill it and really give the series focused main characters it didn’t really have before, you always chose a different character and jumped in to fulfill their wish. Even though i wanted a tournament like the games, the road trip was plenty fun on its own with every stop being another chance to introduce someone new or get into some combat. There are slower more character driven episodes to build up the relationship with John and Quiet while mixing in little side stories with the rest of the cast that all culminates towards the end. My favorites being their run ins with the Holy Men and the Convoy. But nothing prepared me for the absolute Twisted Metal love fest that was the finale, no spoilers but i had a smile bigger than Mr. Kane’s through the whole damn episode.
Outlaw
Now for what i didn’t quite like. Thomas Haden Church’s Agent Stone was…fine. A serviceable villain to give motivation for one of our heroes. But he doesn’t hold a candle to Sweet Tooth, who really isn’t the main villain, like the show kind of advertised. Not a huge deal, he played the role of a mall cop turned power hungry law man well enough and seeing where the show may potentially go, he’s a small fish in this pond. The only other gripe I have, is the treatment of some of the game character cameos. While a minor Twisted Metal 4 character was treated about as well as he(and she) should be or a bigger character like Preacher getting some shine was great, one in particular bugged the hell outta me: Mr. Slam. What could’ve been an epic fight with his machine turned into a dick joke…literally. Hell if you’re gonna make the joke, AUGER WAS RIGHT THERE. The tertiary storyline of Stu and his buddy Mike was ok, but ended up being a exposition guide for Sweet Tooth instead of the guys being behind the wheel of a Monster Truck and looking to party. All in all though, i wasn’t too upset with much here. It truly surprised the hell outta me how many details from the games they put in here.
Roadkill
Overall, i really hope a season 2 happens. The setup they put together could be even better than this season. More characters from the games, a bigger villain and hopefully more of our boy John. But what we have right now plenty satisfied that little kid inside who wore out every PS1 Twisted Metal game disc to the core.
Verdict: 9 homing missiles/10
SPOILER SECTION!
Going in I thought Raven was Calypso, the way the trailer made it seem she was the one granting wishes like him. I’m kinda glad that isn’t the case. While he didn’t get to do much in season 1, i’m glad he’s there, looming in the distance, setting up….the Twisted Metal Tournament.
Ho-ly-Shite that whole finale got me going full force. John’s new ride being THE Roadkill I-Roc from the original games, Sweet Tooth’s flaming hair, the ice cream rockets, hell the whole battle in general got me grinning the entire fight. Not just that but the reveals of Axel, Mr. Grimm, and Dollface (AS JOHN’S SISTER?!) for the tournament…oh i need that season 2. Kinda bummed Mike and Stu got treated the way they did, they should’ve had their moment in the big truck for at least a little bit(Granny from TM:3 was given a send off at least). But hey, Sweet Tooth never dies.