By Simran Seera
Twilight and how it shaped this generation: A love-hate story
Now, I'm sure you’ve heard of the Twilight saga and if you haven’t then, why not?
The Twilight Saga is one of the most influential franchises of our generation whether we like it or not. But that’s the thing – why don’t we like it? Why has Twilight become something we all love to hate? Perhaps it was Bella’s awkwardness or the blue tint throughout the movie, maybe even Jacob Black creating a love triangle no one asked for. It’s hard to say but I think we can agree that it definitely wasn’t the baseball scene that made it bad. Personally, I think Twilight is like Jacob, a breed of its own. Yes, it’s cringe-inducing and can be repetitive, but it’s also a good franchise with at times lovable characters and an interesting take on the supernatural world. A friend said it even “put the super in supernatural.” I think it’s safe to say Twilight is a guilty pleasure for most people – everyone hates on it, but I guarantee people do still like it., that’s why it was so big in the first place. A source admitted that she “did think it was cringey, but it has now become a guilty pleasure.” But ultimately our love, hate and this saga creates a bigger love triangle than Edward, Jacob and Bella ever could.
Twilight took the world by storm in 2008, only Alice’s precognition could’ve foreseen this result. The first movie was expected to only make $29 million but made almost $70 million on the opening weekend and $400 million overall. Since then, it’s made its lasting impact on us all. Twilight’s become a rite of passage for teenagers and its blood has stained our lives forever. If you haven’t seen or read it, you’ve probably been isolating yourself like Bella in New Moon. Like a friend stated it was “an easy trend to follow” as “there is nothing like it.” There’s no sugar-coating it’s effect, it took control of the media, and everyone started buying merchandise and picking their side in the controversial debate of Edward or Jacob. Let’s be honest, we all picked a side and there are no wrong answers, except Jacob. He will always be the wrong answer. Edward supremacy. Rightfully so, everyone I interviewed said they were, and I quote “#TeamEdward,” and said particularly “Jacob was annoying.”
But before there was the brooding Edward Cullen and Bella Swan, there was Beauty and the Beast. It’s a tale as old as time, almost every child has heard the story and now the trope presents itself again, in the form of the “Lamb” and the “masochistic Lion” - the monster she can “change”. A source declared the trope was among their favourites “at the time.” The Vampire itself has appeared throughout time before Twilight in: Dracula, Nosferatu, Buffy the vampire slayer and others but they all pale in comparison to Edward, who rightfully sits (and sparkles) in the vampire hall of fame. A source stated that she “used to love Buffy the vampire slayer as a young girl.”
After it’s premiere, shows became all about the supernatural world. A source stated Twilight was filled with “romance, darkness and mystery” – elements these shows try to convey. The Vampire Diaries, piloted in 2009; references the Twilight movies when male lead Damon flips through a copy of New Moon and asks what makes Bella so special because “Edward’s so whipped”. Teen Wolf and The Supernatural are shows that also shaped this generation, airing during the same period and for the same demographic as Twilight. According to ‘People’ magazine, Twilight has been referenced in countless shows like The Simpsons, Family Guy, Superstore and has its own parody movie ‘Vampires suck’ (because that was so needed). Even movies you wouldn’t expect started as Twilight fan-fiction, believe it or not. It’s even been referenced in songs comparing one’s love to be “bigger than the Twilight love affair”. After interviewing a few people, I found a lot “watched The Vampire Diaries and Sabrina the teenage witch.”
Twilight led us to the world of fantasy books. A friend claimed it was her “introduction to the genre.” Current books like ‘From blood and ash’ “felt like a reboot for the classic supernatural series” according to a source. It echoes Twilight and reiterates the male vampire you can casually fall in love with – as one does. A source stated it was “similar to Twilight in so many ways as it still has vampires and werewolves who work together to defeat vampires from an enemy kingdom” like the Volturi in the Twilight saga. Even ‘The Spanish love deception’, a bestseller published in 2021, which is not aimed at the supernatural references the Twilight saga when the characters argue over vampires and werewolves. Twilight is the first spark that ignited the supernatural world. It’s where we were first forced to choose between Vampires and Werewolves and suddenly everyone wished Forks was a real place and listened to the Clair de Lune. But it’s longest lasting impact is ‘Isabella’ and ’Jacob’ becoming the Top Baby names in America in 2009 and 2010. If that’s not love for a franchise, I don’t know what is. I also don’t understand why that is, out of all the potential characters one could’ve chosen, since many would agree with a source who said she “hates Bella and Jacob with a passion.”
Twilight threw Robert Pattinson, Kirsten Stewart and Taylor Lautner into the spotlight. And since, Taylor Lautner’s fiancée has admitted to being Team Edward, Kirsten Stewart starred in ‘Spencer’ and Robert Pattinson has taken the mask of ‘The Batman’. Arguably, Edward Cullen is what allowed this to happen. Despite Edward explicitly stating he isn’t a superhero; you can’t help but notice the many ways Edward Cullen is like Bruce Wayne. They’re both rich. Brooding. Creatures of the night. They both have a knack for saving people from car accidents. And most importantly, they both have the (to quote Edward) “what if I’m not a superhero? What if I’m the bad guy?” complex - a morally blurry take on a ‘good’ guy. Am I saying Edward Cullen is basically a superhero? No. I’m also not saying Batman is a vampire. But they are both characters who we are made to like despite their flaws and so it makes perfect sense Pattinson is becoming a well-liked Batman – he already was a well-liked Bat. Well vampire, but you see my point. Even when asked why a source liked Twilight “Robert Pattinson” was a huge factor.
So, Twilight. Do we hate it? I don’t think we do. I think we like using it as the punchline of our jokes, but everyone secretly loves watching it. So, do we love it? Yes, we are “unconditionally and irrevocably in love with” it. It’s the perfect saga if you want to laugh, or cry, or feel good about yourself as you watch Bella’s questionable life choices. To quote a source I have interviewed “we get to see the growth in the relationship between Edward, Bella and Jacob into a trio that will be remembered throughout the decades,” and “they were amazing for the era they were released in.” Even though there are times I wish certain lines didn’t exist in the movie because of how cringe-worthy they are, it's not that bad of a saga. If not the whole saga, the first movie definitely isn’t that bad. A source agreed saying “the acting was good” and despite “the cringeyness” it is “somehow a good storyline.” It’s like what Robert Pattinson recently said in an interview “It’s not even cool to be a hater anymore. That’s so 2010.” If you haven’t seen it, go watch it. If you like it, amazing. If you don’t want to explicitly like it, feel free to hate on it publicly with the rest of us as we go and watch it again for the 104th time. Real fans will get the reference.