Twisted Metal Season 2 Finale: The Tournament Ends, But the War Is Just Beginning

Everything hinges on the last three episodes of this season. Curious about what unfolds? Here's my recap and review of the season finale of Twisted Metal Season 2.

Episode 10

As John and Quiet recognize that they are opposing sides, they are engaged in the lightning round (during which lightning is striking the area). Simultaneously, they eliminate one of their opponents, whose card was positioned within their vehicle: John must eliminate Axel, Axel must eliminate Quiet, and Quiet must eliminate Mayhem. While John and Quiet work together, they see Raven taking out Mayhem, which Axel witnesses and stops, leading Raven out of the game and advising John and Quiet to protect Mayhem.

Meanwhile, Stu, Mike, Dr. Grimm, and Sweet Tooth are all on trial from Calypso, following the sad deaths of Dave and Harold. If the teeth marks on Dave's butt match Stu's, then it seems clear that he's responsible, as Sweet Tooth quite bluntly said. While the mystery of Dave's death was resolved, Dr. Grimm faced the most significant punishment of all—losing his many souls.

Once John, Quiet, and Mayhem are safe after that round, Mayhem overhears their conversation about having to let her go to win the tournament. She feels unsettled by this, and later, she quietly follows Calypso to a hidden room where he's preparing a big surprise for the final tournament. Will Mayhem choose to share what she's learned with John and Quiet?

Episode 10 was delightful, full of hilarious moments, such as Stu being on trial for Dave's death, and it also had some touching and heartbreaking parts. Watching Axel choose to take his own life to help Mayhem was especially emotional. Mayhem, who has been enjoying her time with John and Quiet, listened with a mix of sadness and acceptance when she overheard them saying that she would have to stay behind instead of helping them. All in all, I give this episode an 8/10.

Episode 11

The tournament commences. Who will emerge victorious? You may be surprised to discover that it is not the anticipated Quiet and John, if that is who you were expecting. After a series of battles, chaos, cheating, and fatalities, with John and Quiet ultimately as the sole survivors, Calypso initiates his final boss, Minion. Not even Sweet Tooth can take Minion out, as he got the shit knocked out of him (leaving with my heart sinking).

As Quiet and John battle Minion, just when they had the shot to take it down, Minion takes out John, who ends up badly hurt. Quiet then unleashes her fury and not only hits Minion with her car but also blows it up as well. However, no one wins the tournament until an unexpected person returns to the battlefield, Stu. WTF?!

Episode 11 truly felt like an exciting video game battle, full of intense moments and surprising reveals that kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t help but shout 'WTF' when Stu won, but it was the right call since he was the last person in a vehicle on the battlefield that wasn't destroyed. That moment when John and Quiet had me grabbing tissues, while also witnessing Sweet Tooth get the living hell kicked out of him, really caught me off guard. Overall, I give this episode an 8.5/10.

Episode 12

Looking back to the year 2000, Calypso introduced the idea of turning Twisted Metal into a reality show for NBC, which is quite surprising given NBC's hit show Friends, which kept viewers hooked for the next four years. Unfortunately, NBC wasn't convinced; they didn’t think it would attract enough viewers or become a popular show. Damn, NBC, what could have been, right?

As Stu wins, Calypso kindly grants him his wish, giving him a moment to reconsider the wish he made at the well. After some thought, Stu decides to keep his original wish. Remember, it's always essential to be cautious about what you wish for and to be as precise as possible. In Stu's case, he found himself sent to a peaceful place in space, along with his friend Mike, who is still sadly dead.

Mayhem, John, and Quiet find a warm, new beginning at John's family home, where they bond over fishing (even if it means using guns to catch fish) to sharing a cozy family dinner. But, just when things feel perfect, everything changes. A special broadcast report from Calypso reveals that John and Quiet were behind the huge explosion at the arena in the last episode, putting a bounty on their heads. This brings Minion into the picture, coming to get them. In an unexpected surprise, it turns out Minion is actually Dollface.

But that's not all—Stu comes back, and he's eager to lend a hand in helping them escape from Minion. Just as they drive away, John has a plan to take down Calypso and the others who are chasing them, but they're gonna need cars. Meanwhile, Sweet Tooth, who is alive, is taken to the one person who is asking for him, his father, in New York City.

Episode 12 was satisfying, but it also ended on a nice cliffhanger that leads into what the third season will be. I really enjoyed their humorous jab at NBC and how they chose not to push the limits with a Twisted Metal reality show. I love how they responded by saying the whole world is watching our show, Friends. Here's to four more years of success, even though the network faced some challenges afterward! Not to mention, Calypso granted Stu his wish, which turned out to be quite fitting since the show often has Stu as the punchline. The bond among Quiet, Mayhem, and John was truly delightful and brought a warm, fun touch to everything.

Is this show predictable? It might be, but what really shines are its charming characters and humor—sometimes a bit silly, but endearing all the same. After watching season two, I found myself falling in love with the series all over again. I truly hope Peacock will decide to bring us a third season to enjoy!

Overall, I give the season finale an 8.5/10 and the season a 9/10.

What did you think of the season two finale of Twisted Metal? Like it? Hate it? Are you hoping for a third season? Leave your comment.

You can catch Twisted Metal available now on Peacock.