‘Twisted Metal’ Recap: ‘WLUDRV’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

TWISTED METAL -- "WLUDRV" Episode 101 -- Pictured: Anthony Mackie as John Doe -- (Photo by: Skip Bolen/Peacock)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Series Premiere of ‘Twisted Metal’. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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It is definitely safe to say, that anytime hardcore fans of a particular video game hear that their beloved game is being turned into a movie or show… they find a lump in their throats. Simply because… let’s be honest… a lot of video game adaptations are underwhelming and disappointing in nature. For they often try to reinvent the wheel and modernize or revolutionize the story to fit the silver or small screen. Or they don’t get the budget they deserve, and the end result just doesn’t do the source material justice. And it is equally as safe to say, that such trepidation was on everyone’s mind when Peacock announced it was going to bring the wildly popular video game franchise, Twisted Metal, to the small screen, for the concerns outlined above. But slowly and surely, studios and networks and creatives are coming to understand… that it is okay to not get wildly artistic with property in this manner and to instead… either create the world in question faithfully, and/or build upon it.
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Which is starting to bring forth more faithful and/or more engaging adaptations to the silver and small screen and it just so happens… that this particular show is one that fans can celebrate, for several reasons. For this game was known for its wild violence and graphic depictions of everything revolving around that violence, and that’s where the show really delivers. For there is gory violence to be found here, and not an ounce of filtering surrounding it. Plus, there’s action and adventure to be found here, and guns and explosions and of course, Sweet Tooth makes a cameo in this pilot episode, and that wild nature of the game is what the fans absolutely want to experience and that’s what they get there. Complete with the humor and fun the franchise is also known for. 

But this is a series that also takes the time to build upon what made the franchise so wondrous in the first place. For Twisted Metal the game was basically chaos in a race style setting, which of course evolved over the years, but rather than go that route and offer up just a the same old, same old, we get an entire world here… one borne of a digital apocalypse that has prompted the nation to be divided into two camps, really. One of which, is civilization… with some restrictions. Wherein the great cities of America are walled in and beyond those walls… is the chaos in question.

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TWISTED METAL -- “WLUDRV” Episode 101 -- Pictured: Thomas Haden Church as Agent Stone -- (Photo by: Skip Bolen/Peacock)

For this is where the lawless live to fend for themselves and if by chance… critical supplies are needed in the cities, then milkmen can bring those supplies across country for handsome rewards. Which is, the perfect way to expand this world and create the madness that the game was celebrated for and of course… there’s a story to be found here as well. Since we meet John Doe in ‘WLUDRV’, a talented milkman that cannot be stopped by conventional forces, to the point where the top dog in New San Francisco offers him the opportunity of a lifetime. Complete the mission she’s laid out for him, and bring back something special from Chicago, and John can live in the majesty in New San Francisco. 
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That allows for John to traverse the countryside in episodes to come and that… really does give us a magnificent adaptation of the game. It's just an outright bonus… that the structure of this world is expanded greatly and now the chaos is everywhere to be found and there’s a story in place. One that is driven by some fine writing and some fine acting as well. Since Anthony Mackie delivers as John Doe, Stephanie Beatriz builds mystery as Quiet. While Thomas Haden Church and Will Arnett and Samoa Joe sell the evil of this world nicely as Agent Stone and Sweet Tooth respectively (with Arnett playing the voice and Samoa Joe playing the character).

All of which makes this, a true delight of a series. Because it really is that rare video game adaptation that captures the spirit the game while catapulting it to new heights courtesy of that unique and expansive story, and it’s fun, and gritty, and everything one could have hoped for and more. Making this the adaptation that every fan of the series has been waiting for, and it will be interesting to see where this fresh story is going to take us in the weeks to come, as we continue east with John Doe and his new, mostly silent friend. Until next time.

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