Abhiroop Das
Co-created by Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, and Michael Jonathan Smith, Peacock’s ‘Twisted Metal‘ chronicles a deadly racing tournament through the eyes of its many participants. Calypso promises the fulfillment of any of their wishes to the victor of the race, and hearing this, many skilled, eccentric drivers come together to draw each other’s blood. While the story largely centers around the protagonist, John Doe, and his partners in crime, Quiet and Mayhem, the many characters he crosses paths with enrich the narrative, each bringing their unique pasts and personal dilemmas. Out of all of these, the most enigmatic personality remains Mr. Grimm, the only biker in the tournament, and someone clearly in tune with the supernatural. Grimm’s violence knows no bounds, and in the end, all his efforts push him to the ultimate standoff. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Mr. Grimm Has a Fight to the Death
Mr. Grimm is released from the Blackfield Prison specifically to take part in the Twisted Metal racing tournament. From this moment onwards, he restarts his reign of terror, taking lives left and right and consuming their souls. While we do not get much insight into his past, one thing that stands out the most is his long-standing rivalry with Sweet Tooth. Their clash comes to a head in the final round of the race, and with both of their vehicles down, the two serial killers charge at each other with nothing but a sword and an axe. In the fierce battle that ensues, Sweet Tooth ultimately gains the upper hand and makes quite the spectacle of his takedown, flinging Grimm high into the air, following which he is brutally rammed to death by John and Quiet’s cars.
The intensity of Grimm’s final moment on screen all but confirms that he did not survive the bout, and this brings his dynamic with Sweet Tooth to an end. Notably, it is Quiet who seals the deal, and this marks her revenge for the death of Ashley and Jeremy, two members of the Doll Gang who were killed by the biking serial killer. Prior to his fight with the clown, the two protagonists use clever tactics to throw Grimm off his bike, before significantly weakening him by setting off an explosion. This revenge plan is also significant due to Krista, whose defeat in the race’s first round was largely due to Grimm being on her tail. With the biker out of the picture, the race narrows down to just three active participants, amping up the tension while also feeding into the crowd’s hunger for violence and cruelty.
The Many Souls of Mr. Grimm Are Still Lingering
While Mr. Grimm’s death is strongly suggested, his revival is possible due to his unconventional and supernatural nature. He has a unique ability to harness the souls of the people he kills, and as an additional effect, it grants him the consciousness and voices of all of them. Before the final round, Calypso uses his powers to extract all souls from his body, which likely weakens him considerably. While that may be the case, it also opens the possibility of him being fed another soul, which can help him come back to life. The true extent of Grimm’s powers is not known, but given that he is always surrounded by symbols of death, it is unlikely that his story is wrapped up that easily. We see Sweet Tooth survive a near-fatal injury as well, which in turn lends credence to his arch nemesis making it out alive.
One of the mysteries surrounding Mr. Grimm that isn’t ultimately resolved is who set him free. While the obvious answer seems to be Calypso, more factors can be at play, as he prefers his participants to retain their individual agency. Furthermore, he would have no reason to steal all of Grimm’s soul, his most defining characteristic, if his original intention was to add zest to the tournament with the biker’s addition. As such, a third party may be involved behind the scenes that specifically wanted Grimm to fight for his deepest desires. Given that Calypso has the ability to make a puppet out of seemingly dead people, he also stands out as a threat, with a soul-consuming person potentially becoming his most dangerous asset. Mr. Grimm might be dead, but in accordance with his own abilities, his soul is likely waiting to be channeled once again.
