Twisted Metal Season 2’s Mr. Grimm Combines The Best Elements From His Different Video Game Backstories

Warning: This article includes SPOILERS for Twisted Metal episodes 1 through 3!

Season 2 of Peacock’s Twisted Metal introduces the iconic character Mr. Grimm, pulling the best aspects of his backstory from various video games. Fans have eagerly awaited the return of the post-apocalyptic show for the past two years, and it’s finally here, packed full of new Twisted Metal characters.

At the end of Twisted Metal season 1, the show teased the introduction of multiple characters from the video games. The most significant additions were Calypso and Mr. Grimm, who are two of the three characters in every Twisted Metal video game, alongside Sweet Tooth.

Mr. Grimm is particularly exciting because he’s a playable character who usually rides a badass motorcycle. He’s challenging to maneuver but also one of the strongest players because of his speed and special weapon. Luckily, the premiere episodes increase the hype by introducing a version of the character whose backstory includes the best elements from multiple video games.

Mr. Grimm Is A Soul-Sucking Human In The Twisted Metal TV Show

Over the course of the Twisted Metal video game franchise, Mr. Grimm changed drastically when it comes to his backstory. Rather than aligning solely with one of the games, the Peacock show pulls the best elements from multiple games, creating a fusion of the different versions of Mr. Grimm.

Related

Twisted Metal Season 2’s License Plate Episode Titles & What They All Mean

Twisted Metal season 2 continues the fun trend of making the episode titles license plates, and their meanings are clues about the bigger story.

Like Mr. Grimm does in Twisted Metal through Twisted Metal 3, the TV show character consumes souls, making him a supernatural being. Additionally, the Peacock version of Mr. Grimm was kept in solitary confinement at Blackfield Asylum, like in Twisted Metal Black.

Finally, the TV show character has a human appearance and drives his dead stunt man father’s motorcycle, pulling aspects of his backstory from Twisted Metal (2012). It’s unclear as of the show’s premiere episodes why he was locked up, so it could perhaps be connected to his father’s death.

Mr. Grimm’s Supernatural Backstory Was Necessary For The Peacock Show’s Success

Paranormal Abilities Are Part Of Twisted Metal’s DNA

From the very beginning of Twisted Metal, Mr. Grimm was the actual Grim Reaper. The decision to change him to a cannibalistic human with severe PTSD was unwelcome, and it wasn’t well-received by fans. Unfortunately, Twisted Metal (2012) didn’t fix the issue, making him a human criminal with PTSD.

If the Peacock show was going to include the character, which it absolutely had to for a true Twisted Metal adaptation, there’s no question that they needed to make the character supernatural. The Grim Reaper soul sucking feels integral to the character, even though the recent games have moved away from that.

Additionally, one of the most significant aspects of the Twisted Metal video game franchise that wasn’t present in season 1 of the Peacock show is the supernatural elements. Mr. Grimm’s non-human abilities suggest that Twisted Metal season 2 and future seasons will lean into the other paranormal aspects, like undead characters and actual wish-granting.

Mr. Grimm & Sweet Tooth Were Both In Blackfield Asylum

As of the three debut episodes of Twisted Metal season 2, the only Mr. Grimm element that they have definitely pulled from Twisted Metal Black is his confinement at the Blackfield Asylum. The tournament clip from Twisted Metal season 2 teased a grudge between Sweet Tooth and Mr. Grimm.

Related

Twisted Metal Season 2’s Axel Backstory Will Not Come From The Games, Reveals Showrunner

EXCLUSIVE: Twisted Metal showrunner gives new information on Axel’s backstory in the upcoming season 2 that will be different from the games.

I’d wager a guess that their past interactions happened at the asylum. After all, Sweet Tooth confirmed that he stayed there in the past. Whatever happened between them could be connected to why Mr. Grimm is in solitary confinement when he’s first introduced in Peacock’s Twisted Metal.

Twisted Metal

7/10

Release Date

July 27, 2023

Network

Peacock

Directors

Jude Weng, Bill Benz

Writers

Grant DeKernion, Francesca Gailes, Alyssa Forleiter, Shaun Diston, Becca Black, Alison Tafel

Franchise(s)

Twisted Metal

Cast

• 
• 

  Nuufolau Joel Seanoa

  Sweet Tooth

Creator(s)

Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Michael Jonathan Smith