‘Twisted Metal’ Recap: ‘EV3L1N’

10/2/2023

Written by John Edward Betancourt

TWISTED METAL -- "EV3L1N" Episode 108 -- Pictured: Jason Mantzoukas as Preacher -- (Photo by: Skip Bolen/Peacock/Sony TV)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Eight of ‘Twisted Metal’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.

There are some hard lessons we learn in this life, but few of them rival the difficult day when we learn that material possessions simply do not matter. Which may seem like a silly lesson to learn in this life, one that we should have come across early in childhood, but it is an important one. Because it frees us in many ways and teaches us so much about valuing life over anything else, but it does take a big moment of heartbreak. Because there are items from our childhood and our adulthood that have great meaning and power for us. And this modern world cherishes things over people to begin with. So no, it isn’t just some fly by night lesson that we quickly assimilate in our minds when the item we love breaks and/or disintegrates.

It takes time, it takes a touch of grief to process this moment, and it, and its power is top of mind today, because John Doe was forced to learn it, in the next episode of Twisted Metal on Peacock. Which made ‘EV3L1N’, quite the unique tale, one that put John in distress almost immediately. For while he and Quiet were cruising through Colorado, some lighthearted ribbing on Quiet’s part and some toying with the one picture that carried John’s past, led to disaster. Because the picture was lost to the winds for a moment, and while they were looking for it… the infamous Holy Men stole EV3L1N. Which forced John and Quiet to track her down because John was not letting that car go and that led to more heartbreak and more trouble down the line.

Simply because, they found the car, at a Holy Man shindig. One filled with drugs, and more drugs, and some light BDSM and Domination for the men of the cloth, and the craziest damn preacher this side of the Mississippi. Who was high as a kite, as angry as Agent Stone and the importance of mentioning him, relates to the fact that he was the new recipient of EV3L1N, and that made him… well… hot to trot. As in… he literally wanted to make sweet love to the car and that brought about a grand fight for her honor. One where John took a beating and required an assist from Quiet to find victory and even then, this was costly. Because at the end of the battle, she was set ablaze and exploded and Quiet’s desperate attempt to get John way from the car, failed miserably. Instead, he only wanted to be with EV3L1N’s bones and sulk, and well… therein lie that lesson.

For we came to learn that when John was a boy and still lost in this world, she provided him with shelter and comfort and of course… a means to move about the world and eventually… a chance to live, to thrive. And clearly, they saw a lot of miles and shared a lot of moments and well… in that moment, it made sense why John was so tied to this car. Because up until recently, he had nothing. Just her, and well letting go of that and learning that Quiet and other matters were of far more importance, was not easy to mentally embrace. But we have to lose the thing and grieve over it, and we learn during that process what matters more and that… is where this story left John. In that dark place where we come to understand what matters most, and hopefully… John doesn’t take too long to reach that epiphany.

Because he has pieces to pick up and apologies to make. Especially to Quiet since she risked life and limb for him and of course… John needs to deal with the reality, that his cargo may have been destroyed in the explosion and he will need newfound strength to reconcile the reality that New San Francisco may remain a fever dream. But while we wait to see what comes next for John, we can celebrate a brilliant episode. One that really did showcase something we see as pedantic or silly, as important, and it did so… in an epic manner. One complete with an amazing Jason Mantzoukas cameo. Because he really sold the madness of the Preacher as only, he can and well, in the end, this episode just serves to remind us that this is hands down, one of the most refreshing video game adaptations to grace the airwaves and this journey leaves us eager for more. So, we can see what other unique lessons await us as John Doe’s difficult voyage west continues along. Until next time.

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