loader from loading.io

Twisted Metal | Why Peacock’s Car-Combat Chaos Works | Feat. Phil of Distance Nerding

Challenge Accepted

Release Date: 09/30/2025

The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs | Death and Legends show art The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs | Death and Legends

Challenge Accepted

In this solo Thanksgiving episode of Challenge Accepted, Frank breaks down The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, the Coen Brothers’ Netflix Western anthology that has quietly become one of his holiday staples. Story by story, he digs into how each vignette wrestles with death, chance, and human nature, from Tim Blake Nelson’s singing gunslinger to Tom Waits’ stubborn prospector and that iconic “First time?” hanging meme. Along the way, Frank talks about why the film feels so cozy despite its bleak themes, how the Coens use digital cinematography to shape tone, and what these stories say...

info_outline Gen V Season 2 | The Boys’ Campus War, Wins, and What’s Next show art Gen V Season 2 | The Boys’ Campus War, Wins, and What’s Next

Challenge Accepted

On Challenge Accepted, we break down the Gen V Season 2 finale and how it tees up the last chapter of The Boys. We talk about the big reveal around Cipher, the season’s mid-section slowdown, and why Godolkin works best when the story actually stays on campus. We dig into standout arcs for Marie, Jordan, Emma, and Sage, the villain’s core weakness, and why those Starlight and A-Train beats matter. We also highlight the effects work, tributes woven into the story, and what we expect to carry over into The Boys. Timestamps and Topics 00:00 — Welcome and gut reactions to the finale 00:37...

info_outline Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (1995) | Morphin’ Time at the Movies! | Feat. Becca Peterson show art Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (1995) | Morphin’ Time at the Movies! | Feat. Becca Peterson

Challenge Accepted

On this episode of Challenge Accepted, Thomas welcomes critic and lifelong Ranger fan Becca Peterson (The Critic Buffet) for a fast-paced, fun deep dive into the 1995 feature film. We cover why this movie still hits for ‘90s kids, the charm of Ivan Ooze, the switch to ninja powers and new Zords, and how the film fits into the broader multiverse of Power Rangers stories. Becca brings great trivia, from casting changes to Sentai influences, and shares why the movie’s core message still lands. Timestamps & Topics 00:00 – 01:10 | Cold open, show intro, and guest welcome; Becca’s...

info_outline Trick ’r Treat | Sam, Scares, and Why Nonlinear Horror Still Hits | Feat. Graveyard show art Trick ’r Treat | Sam, Scares, and Why Nonlinear Horror Still Hits | Feat. Graveyard

Challenge Accepted

Frank sits down with Graveyard from Distance Nerding to revisit the cult favorite Trick ’r Treat. They unpack the film’s comic-book anthology structure, Michael Dougherty’s direction, how lighting and practical effects sell the Halloween vibe, and why “respecting the rules” is the movie’s secret engine. The conversation widens into horror’s ebb-and-flow trends, gateway recommendations, and a peek at Graveyard’s current indie film projects. Timestamps and Topics 00:00 Intro and guest setup 00:10 First watch reactions and why this pick works 02:03 Two-minute plot challenge and...

info_outline Peacemaker S2E8 | Rise of Eagly | Salvation Run, Checkmate, and What It Means for Superman show art Peacemaker S2E8 | Rise of Eagly | Salvation Run, Checkmate, and What It Means for Superman

Challenge Accepted

Frank and Thomas unpack the Peacemaker Season 2 finale, from John Cena’s performance to the big-picture DCU setup. They dig into Salvation Run and Checkmate, how the metahumans vs. government angle points toward Superman, and why this episode feels more like a bridge to Season 3. Along the way, they talk Vigilante’s MVP moments, Harcourt’s arc, Lex Luthor’s influence on Rick Flag, and whether multiverse storytelling still works. Timestamps & Topics 00:00 — Welcome back and life update from Thomas; setting the table for the finale chat 00:55 — James Gunn’s podcast, fathers...

info_outline Peacemaker S2E7 | Earth X, Raw Consequences, and John Cena’s Best Performance Yet show art Peacemaker S2E7 | Earth X, Raw Consequences, and John Cena’s Best Performance Yet

Challenge Accepted

In our last solo review before the finale, Frank breaks down Peacemaker Season 2, Episode 7, “Like a Thief in the Night.” We cover how the Earth X arc reframes the team’s choices, why Adebayo finally steps from reactive to proactive, the surprising nuance to Augie in a fascist world, and how Vigilante’s sacrifice resets the board for the finale. We also talk about the episode’s strongest character beats, where the mechanics show, and why John Cena’s work this season stands out as his best to date. untitled Timestamps and Topics 00:00 Intro, episode plan, and what’s coming for...

info_outline Twisted Metal | Why Peacock’s Car-Combat Chaos Works | Feat. Phil of Distance Nerding show art Twisted Metal | Why Peacock’s Car-Combat Chaos Works | Feat. Phil of Distance Nerding

Challenge Accepted

Frank is joined by Phil to break down Peacock’s Twisted Metal, from its surprisingly heartfelt character work to the tournament arc and deep cuts that longtime players will recognize. We talk John Doe’s search for identity, the show’s “happy sociopath” version of Sweet Tooth, how Season 2 levels up the stunts and car combat, and why adding new lore can actually respect the games. If you skipped this one because “cars with guns,” we make the case for why it’s worth your time. Timestamps and Topics 00:00 Introductions and why Twisted Metal was the pick for this episode. 00:36...

info_outline Peacemaker S2E6 | Earth X Reveal, Vigilante Meets Vigilante, Rising Tension show art Peacemaker S2E6 | Earth X Reveal, Vigilante Meets Vigilante, Rising Tension

Challenge Accepted

Frank breaks down Peacemaker Season 2, Episode 6, “Ignorance Is Chris,” and why the “better world” finally shows its cracks. From the diner photo that warps, to Harcourt and Chris opening up in an interrogation room, to Vigilante meeting his Earth X counterpart, this episode clicks into place. We also hit Rick Flag Sr.’s prison visit with Lex Luthor, the Sons of Liberty twist, and the hallway tells that confirm where we are. It is a tense, funny, uneasy chapter that sets up a high-stakes sprint to the finale. Timestamps and Topics 00:00 Intro and episode plan 00:23 Housekeeping,...

info_outline Building Our “Hall of Fame” First 20 show art Building Our “Hall of Fame” First 20

Challenge Accepted

Thomas and Frank kick off a running series to assemble a living “Hall of Fame” of 100 movies covered on Challenge Accepted. In this first pass, they lock in the opening 20 picks across adventure, animation, sci-fi, horror, and sports drama. Along the way they talk performance standouts, scenes that shaped their taste, and how future rewatches and listener votes could bump titles up or off the board. Timestamps and Topics 00:03:52 Big Fish and why it still wrecks us in different seasons of life 00:05:07 Hook as 90s Goonies energy and a Robin Williams showcase 00:06:49 Tombstone and the...

info_outline The Wrestler: Grit, Heart, And The High Cost Of Obsession | Feat Jamie of Pario Magazine show art The Wrestler: Grit, Heart, And The High Cost Of Obsession | Feat Jamie of Pario Magazine

Challenge Accepted

Frank is joined by Jamie, an Australian wrestling journalist and podcaster, to unpack Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler. They break down Mickey Rourke’s career-defining turn as Randy “The Ram,” why the film treats wrestling with rare respect, how indie scenes work behind the curtain, and what the movie gets right about pain, pride, and the gig life. Expect talk on blading, deathmatches, deli counters, and the bittersweet final leap. The Wrestler - CA Timestamps & Topics 00:00 Welcome and guest intro, Jamie’s magazine and The Commentary Booth 01:33 Why The Wrestler, and why it...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

Frank is joined by Phil to break down Peacock’s Twisted Metal, from its surprisingly heartfelt character work to the tournament arc and deep cuts that longtime players will recognize. We talk John Doe’s search for identity, the show’s “happy sociopath” version of Sweet Tooth, how Season 2 levels up the stunts and car combat, and why adding new lore can actually respect the games. If you skipped this one because “cars with guns,” we make the case for why it’s worth your time.

Timestamps and Topics

  • 00:00 Introductions and why Twisted Metal was the pick for this episode.

  • 00:36 What the show adapts from the games and where it departs, especially with John Doe.

  • 02:11 The core premise: post apocalyptic courier job, a shot at life behind the walls, and the road to San Francisco.

  • 03:29 Game lore 101: Calypso, wishes with a twist, and character specific endings.

  • 07:00 Sweet Tooth as chaos engine, why the Joker style wildcard works on TV.

  • 09:05 Samoa Joe in the suit, Will Arnett on the mic, and why the voice swap lands.

  • 10:58 Axel and other fan favorites enter, with connected backstories that actually pay off.

  • 13:42 Game venues reimagined with in world logic, HUDs and objectives that make sense.

  • 18:48 Car combat talk: practical vs CG, why Season 2’s action feels better.

  • 21:07 “Silly” weapons that get smart uses and Chekhov’s missile moments.

  • 23:03 Budget glow up from Season 1 to Season 2 and early success on Peacock.

  • 24:04 John and Quiet’s chemistry, then the Season 2 relationship reset.

  • 28:05 The sister storyline, tough choices, and consequences after the wish.

  • 30:40 Minion reworked, identity twists, and a setup that begs for Season 3.

  • 33:40 Adaptation philosophy: build new stories that feel like the game.

  • 41:31 What other game adaptations can learn from Twisted Metal.

  • 45:06 Fun facts: ratings, production notes, and stunt work.

Key Takeaways

  • Twisted Metal balances weekly mayhem with character arcs, making the world feel lived in instead of gimmicky.

  • Sweet Tooth is written as a charmingly off kilter sociopath, and the Samoa Joe and Will Arnett combo sells the menace and the laughs.

  • Season 2 embraces the tournament and deepens game lore while explaining gamey elements inside the story.

  • Practical stunts plus targeted CG keep the car combat crunchy and readable.

  • Smart departures from canon create stronger relationships without losing the game’s tone.

Quotes

  • “It’s a show about a character trying to find his worth in a post apocalyptic world.”

  • “Sweet Tooth is a happy sociopath. It’s off putting and I love him for it.”

  • “They nailed the cross between practical and CG. The car combat was better than I expected.”

  • “Give me new stories that live in the game’s world, not a beat for beat retelling.”

Call to Action

If you enjoyed this breakdown, follow and rate the show. Drop a review on Apple Podcasts, share the episode with a friend who loved the games, and tag us with #ChallengeAcceptedPod so we can shout you out next week.

Links and Resources

  • GeekFreaksPodcast.com is our home base and the source of all news discussed on our shows

  • Watch Twisted Metal on Peacock

Follow Us

  • Geek Freaks: Facebook, Threads, Twitter, Instagram

  • Challenge Accepted: Instagram, TikTok, Twitter

Listener Questions

What did the show get right compared to your favorite Twisted Metal entries? Send your thoughts and questions for the next episode, and we will feature a few on air.

Apple Podcasts Tags
Geek Freaks, Challenge Accepted, Twisted Metal, Peacock, TV review, video game adaptations, Anthony Mackie, Sweet Tooth, car combat, post apocalyptic TV