The Twilight Saga

Series (Twilight, 2005/2008, PG-13; New Moon, 2006/2009, PG-13; Eclipse, 2007/2010; PG-13; Breaking Dawn Part One, 2008/2011, PG-13; Breaking Dawn Part Two, 2008/2012, PG-13)

Premise - A deadly vampire falls in love with a human teenage girl, whose blood scent is stronger to him than any other human. Torn between his primal desire to kill her and his passionate wish to love her forever, the two embark on one of the most famous forbidden love stories in contemporary romance.

Review - I was in denial for a long time. As a pre-teen girl, I absolutely adored The Twilight Saga. I read all the books, and saw all the films in theaters (twice, usually). I had Taylor Lautner posters on my wall, I devoured the soundtracks, I traveled to Forks, and I styled my hair to look like Kristen Stewart’s. Then the series followed an unfortunate path – it became so popular that it was infamous. As women aged, they started turning on the series, adding to the many men who openly mocked the love story from the beginning. “Still a better love story than Twilight” became a meme. I never hated the Twilight series, but I went through a several year period where I followed the status quo and turned my nose up. I never re-read the series, nor re-watched the movies after the last films came out. I never denied the fact that I used to love the series, but I ridiculed my younger self, like, “Pssh, we were stupid tweenage girls, am I right?” The dominant narrative was that, in hindsight, The Twilight Saga was terribly written, terribly acted, and offensively anti-feminist. But a curiosity still lingered. I think I’ve spent the last 6 years with a dormant desire to re-read the series.

I finally did it. I found a tumblr post that said there are two times in your life one reads Twilight – once when it’s 2007 and you’re a pre-teen, and once when it’s 2017 and you’re in your 20s, moved back into your parents’ house after college, and are surrounded by your old literature. I never felt so exposed. That is exactly what happened. The result is that I got so addicted to it I scared myself.

I would spend hours a day re-reading the books, hundreds of pages at a time. I re-watched all the films, twice, and the first one I re-watched three times. I watched fan videos, listened to all the soundtracks again… I became a Twilight fanatic all over again, and I am 100% unashamed.

I stand by the fact that The Twilight Saga has a fantastic fictional universe. It’s incredibly well-developed, thorough, and narratively powerful. I believe the reason it became so hated was because it was so popular, and it became popular because it was so loved. It’s a paradox. People hate what other people love because they are resentful, especially when they cannot enjoy it themselves.

The only real criticism that I’d like to address (that’s not as unfounded as “ew Twilight sucks and is for little girls”) is the idea that The Twilight Saga is anti-feminist. I don’t agree with this. I actually think the horrible bashing of Kristen Stewart as Bella, and Stephanie Meyer as the author, are anti-feminist. Bella has a reputation for being weak because she is dependent on a man. There is nothing anti-feminist about falling in love with a man, if the relationship is equal. Bella fights the whole series to become Edward’s equal. She is willing to sacrifice her soul so she can be strong and independent. By the end of the series, she realizes she’s destined to become a vampire herself, regardless of Edward. It is Edward and Jacob, the two male characters of the series, who want to keep her weak and subordinate. Blame them. Bella is a great female heroine.

The final rating I give is for the Twilight series as a whole – the books, the movies, the music, and most importantly, the nostalgia. I don’t think teenage girls are stupid. I think they’re great, and I don’t want to feel shame for my teenage self. She deserves better (98/100). 

Quote -  “About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was a part of him-and I didn’t know how potent that part might be-that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.” 

What to watch for - Not watch, but listen. I think Twilight has some iconic songs.

If you liked this series, I'd recommend Romeo and Juliet!

Author - Stephanie Meyer

Directors - Catherine Hardwicke, Chris Weitz, David Slade, Bill Condon

Publisher - Little, Brown and Company

Distribution Company - Summit Entertainment