Twisted Metal Season 2 Finally Introduces The Video Game Franchise’s Most Underrated Character

Warning: This article includes SPOILERS for Twisted Metal season 2 episodes 1 through 3!

Alongside popular characters who have appeared throughout the franchise, Twisted Metal season 2 has finally introduced one of the most underrated characters from the video game franchise. The hit Peacock show has finally returned after a two-year gap, and Twisted Metal season 2 reviews have been overwhelmingly positive.

Fans are especially excited to see the most iconic characters from the Twisted Metal video games. Axel, Mr. Grimm, and Calypso are the most anticipated characters. However, I’m much more excited that Twisted Metal season 2 introduced my favorite underrated character who only appeared in a single game.

Raven in Twisted Metal Season 2 Is Even More Entertaining Than Alpha Raven In Season 1

Right after Twisted Metal season 1 came out, I wrote an op-ed arguing that Twisted Metal season 2 needed to introduce the real Raven from the video games, rather than Neve Campbell’s character, who we now know is called Alpha Raven. I also included Raven’s (canonical but not stated in the games) girlfriend, Kelly, on the list of characters who deserved to appear in Twisted Metal season 2.

They could have easily left her out since she’s not a fan-favorite, and she only appears in one of the video games. After watching the debut episodes of Twisted Metal season 2, I couldn’t be more excited about the way they introduced her. It feels well worth the wait.

Raven’s gothy appearance in the flashback and present day both fits the video game character perfectly, and she has a commanding presence in the debut episodes. She’s exactly how I would imagine the video game character when she’s grown up. She has a no-nonsense attitude and is somewhat ruthless in her methods.

Her dynamic with John Doe from the first episode lays the foundation for them to be adversaries in the tournament. At the same time, he now knows that she has a weakness when it comes to Kelly, even if he doesn’t know the full ins and outs of their relationship.

Raven’s Love For Kelly Is A Good Driving Force In The Story

In the flashback to Raven’s past in the Peacock show, she’s shown to be in a relationship with Kelly. The teen bullies even call them “carpet munchers,” which confirms that they are out about their sexuality. I’m really happy they finally showed Raven and Kelly as an LGBTQ+ couple because they’ve always been queer-coded.

The creator of the Twisted Metal games confirmed in an interview with Vee Infuso that they were a couple, but they never actually stated that onscreen because he said he thought it was unnecessary to point it out. In a time when LGBTQ+ communities are under attack, I am so grateful they decided to make Kelly and Raven unambiguously a Sapphic couple in the Peacock show.

Patty Guggenheim’s Raven Should Last Into Twisted Metal Season 3

Because of the nature of Calypso’s tournament, most of the characters competing are bound to die by the end. We’re already promised twice as many car stunt sequences in Twisted Metal season 2, most of which will be during the tournament. However, I will be extremely disappointed if Raven dies in the second season.

Raven is such a compelling character that she needs to last more than one season in Peacock’s Twisted Metal TV show. She’s a great anti-hero or villain (depending on how you look at her). Plus, she has a more distinctive personality than Neve Campbell’s character, who feels a bit milquetoast until the very end of Twisted Metal season 1.

Plus, with the introduction of multiple Ravens, we need to see how Neve Campbell’s Alpha Raven and the other Ravens on the corkboard interact with the real Raven. I could see a power struggle between Alpha Raven and Raven in Twisted Metal season 3.

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