‘Twisted Metal’ season 2 ending explained

After oodles of blood, bullets, and burnt rubber, Twisted Metal season 2 has crossed the finish line. The final three episodes dropped on Peacock on Aug. 28, with the wild ride coming to an end in the explosive finale titled “NUY3ARZ.”

The mayhem picks up right where the prom left off, sending the surviving drivers into a live-wire wasteland. First, there’s a brutal afterparty round in episode 10. Then the savagery ramps up in episode 11 as the remaining contestants compete in a death match in an arena until a winner is crowned (and Anthony Carrigan’s Calypso unleashes one last twisted surprise).

Finally, episode 12 shifts gears to the tournament’s aftermath, revealing a game-changing twist that has the potential to alter the Twisted Metal universe. But the surprises don’t stop there, as two post-credits scenes hint at what might be coming next.

Let’s break down the Twisted Metal season 2 ending and what it all means for what’s waiting beyond the horizon.

Does John Doe die in Twisted Metal season 2?

No, John Doe (Anthony Mackie) doesn’t die in Twisted Metal season 2, though he comes dangerously close.

During the final round of the tournament, Calypso unleashes Minion, who wreaks absolute havoc. The creature pummels Sweet Tooth (played by Joe Seanoa and voiced by Will Arnett) and launches John straight out of his car, knocking him unconscious and out of the tournament.

At first, it looks as if John might be gone for good, but Quiet (Stephanie Beatriz) and Mayhem (Saylor Curda) rig up a life-saving jolt using jumper cables and Sweet Tooth’s ice cream truck. The shock works, John’s heart starts beating again, and the trio departs for John’s family cabin.

Who is Minion in Twisted Metal season 2?

Life at the cabin seems peaceful for the three, but that calm shatters when the TV flickers to life on its own one evening.

Calypso hijacks the broadcast and addresses the public, framing John and Quiet for the mass murder of the Insiders (even though he’s the one who blew up the arena stands). Calypso says there’s no hiding now, and that a war between Insiders and Outsiders will take over the world.

Before they can process the situation, Minion arrives at the cabin looking to unleash more carnage. During the fight, John knocks off Minion’s helmet to reveal that the creature is actually his sister, Krista, a.k.a. Dollface (Tiana Okoye), who has been resurrected and reprogrammed as the monstrous enforcer.

The confrontation spills into the bedroom they shared as kids. In a desperate bid to reach what’s left of her, John softly whistles a tune from their past. Something flickers in her eyes, but it’s shattered by an unexpected interruption.

What happens at the end of Twisted Metal season 2?

Just when it seems like John, Quiet, and Mayhem are outmatched by Minion, their knight in shining armor appears. Stu (Mike Mitchell), last seen orbiting Earth, makes his presence known and saves the day.

With Sweet Tooth’s truck, the four make a narrow escape. When the dust settles, John lays out the mission ahead: Take down Calypso for good — and maybe, just maybe, save what’s left of his sister. “If we take out Calypso, we get our lives back,” John says. “We get her back, too.”

Quiet cuts in with a dose of reality, saying that they can’t do this alone and are going to need a lot of help. “We don’t need help,” John replies. “We need cars.”

Is there a Twisted Metal season 2 post-credits scene?

Yes, Twisted Metal season 2 wraps with not one, but two post-credits scenes.

The first confirms that Sweet Tooth is still alive, but barely. Battered, bloodied, and chained, he’s being dragged behind a taxi. When he asks where they’re headed, the cab driver tells Sweet Tooth he’s taking him to his father, none other than His Holiness Charlie Kane.

In the Twisted Metal video games, Charlie Kane is actually the son of Sweet Tooth. Here, they’ve taken liberties with the lineage, but Charlie’s presence in the world is nevertheless notable. It also promises plenty of story to come for the madcap clown.

As for the second post-credits scene, it’s more mysterious. We’re taken back to Dr. Zemu’s (Ken Hall) lab, where we see quick glimpses of blueprints marked “Human Axel Project,” a roaring bonfire, and an empty hamster cage appear before the screen cuts to black. What it all means is unclear for now, but it certainly seems to tease that we haven’t seen the last of Axel (Michael James Shaw).

Will there be a Twisted Metal season 3?

As of this writing, Peacock hasn’t officially renewed Twisted Metal for a third season. However, in a recent interview with The Direct, showrunner Michael Jonathan Smith revealed he’s already thinking ahead to season 3 and beyond.

“I think when you watch the season full and you get to the final episode, I think it is extremely clear where season 3 goes. So I have a lot of plans for that,” Smith explained.

He continued, “Obviously, I don’t want to spoil anything. Like, season 3 is extremely clear. I have a lot of amazing, fun ideas for where that goes, and I have a lot — I have an amazing idea for season 4 that I think fans will lose their goddamn minds when you hear it. I have a lot of ideas for that.”

As for his long plan for the series, Smith said he’s content to keep rolling with these characters for as long as he can. “What’s great about it is, look, we have a deep roster of old characters to pull from,” he said. “We obviously can come up with new characters like Mayhem and Quiet and other new characters that were really fun to come up with. So, I think we have a lot of fun plans for the fans.”

Where can I watch Twisted Metal?

Twisted Metal is now streaming on Peacock.

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