Unveiling Twisted Metal's Epic Gaming Adaptation Blunders- A Mortal Kombat Competition!
Twisted Metal repeats Mortal Kombat's adaptation mistake, but Season 2 holds the key to rectifying Season 1's errors
Warning: Major spoilers for Peacock's Twisted Metal below!
Summary
Peacock's Twisted Metal season 1 repeated the same narrative flaw as Mortal Kombat 2021 - straying too far from the central theme of the beloved video game series.
Devotees of Twisted Metal were hoping for a partially faithful interpretation of the demolition derby concept, rather than a post-apocalyptic action-comedy featuring disparate characters.
Twisted Metal season 2 has the chance to correct the errors of season 1 by placing more focus on the actual tournament and incorporating additional vehicular combat, thus aligning more closely with the game franchise.
Peacock's Twisted Metal season 1 provided a significant tease for the upcoming series and acknowledges that it made the same narrative mistake as 2021's Mortal Kombat. While Twisted Metal may be an adaptation of the beloved video game franchise, fans of the series are aware that it does not strictly adhere to a single continuity. Various titles, like Twisted Metal: Black, have served as soft reboots, reintroducing characters such as Sweet Tooth and Mr. Grimm but often with entirely different designs and backgrounds.
Peacock's live-action series takes a similar approach, with several Twisted Metal video game characters making appearances, albeit in unrecognizable forms compared to their original counterparts. Instead of centering around the eponymous destruction derby, the show revolves around the journey of Anthony Mackie's character, known as "Milkman," who works as a courier tasked with delivering a mysterious package. The conclusion of Twisted Metal unveils that this seemingly ordinary job was actually an audition to assess John's driving skills. Impressed by his success in completing the delivery, Raven (Neve Campbell), the COO of New San Francisco, invites him to participate in the actual Twisted Metal contest.
Twisted Metal Makes The Same Prequel Error As Mortal Kombat 2021
Peacock's Twisted Metal takes on the role of a prequel, with the upcoming second season set to dive into the heart of the tournament itself. While the series' post-apocalyptic road trip gave season 1 an opportunity to flesh out the characters and the world they inhabit, it inadvertently created a sense of detachment from the beloved game franchise. Fans were eager to witness a semi-faithful adaptation of the core concept, rather than a post-apocalyptic action-comedy featuring a sprinkle of Twisted Metal characters. In this aspect, it echoes the misstep made by the 2021 Mortal Kombat movie.
Twisted Metal Season 2 Can Fix Season 1 Mistakes
While it would be more logical for Mortal Kombat to occur within the framework of its titular fighting competition, the movie instead unfolds before the tournament, focusing on the training of the main characters. Although it does include numerous exhilarating fight sequences, it appears to be a calculated decision to postpone the actual contest in order to generate anticipation for a future sequel. Both Twisted Metal and Mortal Kombat 2021 have their moments, but they also come across as unnecessary prequels that do not demand significant setup.
The conclusion of Twisted Metal neatly sets the stage for season 2 to plunge headfirst into the tournament. Just like in the games, the enigmatic Calypso is orchestrating the contest and promising to fulfill the victor's deepest desire. Familiar faces such as Axel and Mr. Grimm are slated to make appearances, and it has been revealed that Dollface is actually John's long-lost sister, diligently searching for him. While the initial season lacked the true essence of a Twisted Metal adaptation and curiously skimped on vehicular combat, season 2 rectifies many of these shortcomings by focusing on actual races and establishing a bona fide tournament.
