Twisted Metal: The only recap you need before watching Season 2 on Peacock

You're in for a wild ride with the new season of Twisted Metal, the name at the center of all the chaos. Adapted from the iconic PlayStation video game franchise, Season 1 on Peacock threw viewers into a lawless, post-apocalyptic America where survival depends on a steering wheel, a machine gun, and a full tank of gas.

Developed by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, the series combines savage action and offbeat humor, all within a world where there is no longer room for rules. Season 1 of Twisted Metal was not all senseless violence. It set the stage for something bigger, a narrative centered on memory loss, vengeance, and an enigmatic tournament.

With Season 2 already dropping weekly installments starting July 31, 2025, till August 28, 2025, on Peacock, and introducing new characters like Calypso and Dollface to the mix, here's the full rundown on everything you need to know from Season 1.

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The Twisted Metal Universe: Where civilization fell apart

In the universe of Twisted Metal, there was a massive cyber-attack that wiped out the remnants of modern civilization. America is a devastated wasteland now, with cities such as New San Francisco being independent, heavily fortified enclaves. Anything beyond those walls is referred to as the Deadlands, a harsh world filled with gangs, cults, mercenaries, and individuals who create their own law where they go.

This world is not a setting. It energizes the anarchy that propels all of Twisted Metal's plot turns, from spontaneous alliances to explosive double-crosses. Without technology and law, violence can control all interactions, particularly on the highway.

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John Doe: A driver with no memory

The film features John Doe, played by Anthony Mackie, a street-smart deliveryman called a "Milkman." Having no idea who he is or how he got there, John earns his keep in the Deadlands by making perilous deliveries between walled cities. His most recent gig? Deliver a package to New San Francisco in return for being granted permanent residence within the city.

John might be a good driver, but Twisted Metal makes it difficult. His trip through the Deadlands becomes a test that is riddled with adversaries, diversions, and an increasing feeling that he is involved in something far greater than a delivery route.

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Quiet: Vengeance with a voice

John's schemes are put on hold when he crosses paths with Quiet (Stephanie Beatriz), a renegade seeking vengeance on Agent Stone, the radical enforcer of Deadlands justice. Quiet is all about revenge and doesn't want anything to do with anyone, particularly individuals like John. Nonetheless, the two are pushed into an uneasy alliance by circumstance.

Their bond changes throughout Twisted Metal Season 1, slowly transforming from hostile to devoted. They battle common enemies on the highway, individual tragedy, and the unfolding enigma of what's actually in the package.

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Sweet tooth: The chaos nobody ordered

Few Twisted Metal characters are as iconic, or as wild, as Sweet Tooth. Physically played by Joe Seanoa and voiced by Will Arnett, this mad clown operates a tricked-out ice cream truck and finds joy in chaos. He has no loyalty, no set agenda, and no code of ethics.

Sweet Tooth's deeds ripple throughout Season 1 in ways that are not expected, imbuing an already unfriendly world with danger. His history as an ex-Vegas performer turned killer contributes to the creepy charm that makes up the center of Twisted Metal.

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Agent stone: Law, order, and ruthlessness

Agent Stone (Thomas Haden Church) is a retired lawman who has become an authoritarian enforcer. He commands the Highway Patrol, an army of soldiers who believe in radical justice. Anyone who breaks Stone’s rules faces immediate execution, no trial, no questions asked.

Stone is the main villain in Season 1 and is a reflection of the anarchy that surrounds him. When others are successful in chaos, Stone attempts to impose order, no matter the cost of becoming a despot. His history with Quiet provides personal stakes in the battle.

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The package: A job that's more than it seems

John's quest in Twisted Metal starts with a premise as straightforward as it gets: drop off a package. However, as the episodes progress, it is revealed that what he is carrying is much more significant than anyone informed him. The package is of interest to various characters, such as Stone and Sweet Tooth, indicating a greater, darker agenda.

By the last episode, what really happened with the delivery is discovered, it's an admission ticket to something called the "Twisted Metal" tournament, a hardcore game with no law and a single victor.

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Season 1 ending: The tournament is coming

The Season 1 finale seals what fans of the video game franchise intuited: the tournament exists, and it's going to start. John's delivery test was just that, a test, and now he's a player in the cutthroat, no-holds-barred environment that characterizes Twisted Metal.

Characters are separated, cities are still broken, and the show's last moments introduce names and concepts from the games, such as Calypso, the enigmatic tournament host, and a glimpse at new competitors.

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Season 2: Same faces, new wreckage

New episodes of Season 2 have been released weekly on Peacock since July 31, 2025. This season now centers on the real tournament hinted at in Season 1, and the old characters such as John, Quiet, and Sweet Tooth are joined by newcomers such as Dollface and Calypso.

The show is set to be a corrupted competition with fatal parameters, personal grudges, and road carnage unlike anything ever witnessed.

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Season 1 was the backstory, the rev of the engine before the big show. It set up a broken world, characters motivated by memory, vengeance, and anarchy, and an impending war that's ready to steal the spotlight.

With the tournament now underway in Season 2, every move matters, every road is a trap, and every character is out for themselves. If you’re caught up on Season 1, the only thing left to do is strap in, because the real game of Twisted Metal has just begun!

Also read: Twisted Metal Season 2 must address these 5 questions to make the two-year wait worthwhile