Twisted Metal season 2 returns this week with two more episodes, and we recap and review them right here.
Episode 8: “SDDNDTH”
I’m pleased this episode opens with scenes from Axel’s past in New Orleans. There is a more violent side to him than baking cakes. He also has flashbacks to the procedure that turns him into the man/machine hybrid he is now.
It’s not surprising John and Quiet have issues after his wish confession last episode. The other drivers take note. The doctor calls Sweet Tooth in and tells him about a medical problem involving too many testicles.
Then Calypso adds a bonus round to the competition by sending nine assassins into the building where everyone is staying. Because all their vehicles are in the shop area, the drivers must face them without weapons. Whomever survives the night moves on to the next round.
At first, I wondered if the Apocalypse Nine were robotic. However, when one of them dies with a spray of blood, it becomes clear they are indeed human. But then, he doesn’t stay down, and one of the others had a hook instead of a hand.
The drivers band together in various ways to combat the killers. Of course, they make improvised weapons to use. I’d expect nothing less. Axel confesses to Stu, Mike, and Dave that he must drink unleaded gas, so they decide to stage an intervention. They convince him to go after the nine sober. As insane as the intervention is, it gives us more details about Axel’s creation.
Vermin convinces Raven and Quiet to let her join them. Doom gets locked out of the building. I’m curious to see if that influences his place in the competition since he never faced any of the Apocalypse Nine.
The nine get taken out, but not without the loss of a driver. Sweet Tooth decides to adopt Stu. Quiet and John get back together. The episode ends when the two of them walk hand-in-hand to the bedroom. However, when they open the door, it reveals the wishing well.
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Episode 9: “VAVAVUM”
While Quiet and John are at the wishing well, Calypso enters, and they express a desire to reverse John’s wish. To do so, they drink from the murky well waters. As they leave, Calypso mentions the “calm before the storm.”
Each driving team received a wooden box and a party invitation from Calypso. The boxes contain costumes for them to wear.
At the appointed time, everyone joins Calypso in the school gymnasium, where a large tree grows from the center court. Each makes a blood sacrifice to the tree (except Axel, since he doesn’t have a hand for Calypso to slice with his stone dagger). More of their creepy host’s supernatural elements arise when he magically heals them all. He sets fire to the tree, which reveals a disco ball.
The whole scene is more like a prom setting than a general party. There are nods to the years the original video game was popular in song choices, the appearance of a hacky sack, and formal wear. Raven spikes the punch. There’s a photo booth. When Stu, Mike, and Dave take a photo together, they become the "Broamigos." Quiet is suspicious of the hors d'oeuvres and Rice Krispies treats. Doom and Vermin make the most absurd couple.
The party isn’t all dances and food. Stu offends Dave and goes off to make reparations. He finds the supposed ex-cannibal munching on a corpse. Of course, it turns into a fist fight, ending with one less driver.
A bit more of Axel’s past is uncovered when he notices a familiar pattern on a scrap of fabric. He realizes there may be a connection with Mayhem.
Smoke rolls in across the floor. Turns out it’s poisonous. All the drivers pass out and wake up, still in their party clothes but buckled into their vehicles. It’s interesting that Quiet and John are in separate cars. This episode concludes with Calypso welcoming everyone to the afterparty.
Even with the injection of the nine assassins and several driver deaths, these two episodes are less action-oriented than earlier episodes. That said, I don’t mind so much because the tidbits of character backstories are intriguing. I really want to know more about how Calypso became the supernatural host he is. I expect the action to ramp up significantly in the remaining three episodes, which air next week.
Don’t miss the final three episodes of Twisted Metal season 3, premiering on Peacock on Thursday, Aug. 28, and check back with us at Winter is Coming for our coverage.