The Twilight Saga, which reigned from the first book release in 2005 to the final movie premier in 2012, has seen huge popularity and simultaneous eye rolls. The two however were not exclusive. As I read the books and watched the movies in theaters there was plenty of joy, though many eye rolls and that was part of the fun.
Years later when I see a "Twilight" movie happens to be on television, I won't hesitate to fall back into any place of the story. Yesterday this meant "Breaking Dawn Part 1 & 2," and it was quite the treat as I had never seen either outside the theater. Days before my sisters and I brought up "Twilight" and the consensus was yes, why not admit we enjoy the Twilight Saga?
My attachment is largely because of nostalgia I have for the films. A certain mood comes back instantly after seeing the younger Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson on screen, or the beautiful forests of Forks, or of course hearing the soundtracks.
"Twilight" for me was my group of friends in middle school going to see the movies together, after we had all read and discussed the book. We didn't get together for the movies often, and after a year of anticipation building up for each film. I don't think middle-school memories can be more pleasant than that.
"Twilight" was being a part of my school's "Twilight club," which met during study hall on Fridays. There we watched hilarious online parodies of the trailers, and our teacher lead fantastic conversations pointing out what was cheesy or frustrating in the books, and then made even worse in the movies.
It was having sleepovers in eight grade with a friend who had finished the series before me, and we would dramatically take turn reading chapters out loud so I would finish sooner. Another friend had a "Twilight" themed birthday party, and invited us into a room full of the film's posters.
It was years of having of reference jokes. "One of the best things about Kaydee's dad? He doesn't hover." It was the fact that my sister heard someone say she was pretty enough to be a "Twilight" vampire and it become the compliment of the century. It was also emailing arguments against or for "Team Edward" or "Team Jacob," and trying not to let it destroy friendships. It was getting to vent about the ending being too perfect, and really? Jacob had to imprint on her baby?
It was picturing living in the Forks as "Bella's Lullaby" played, wishing I had Bella's purple bedspread, or had a house with as many windows as the Cullens.
"Twilight" was watching "Breaking Dawn Part 1" in theaters and wondering what plot point in the book it would end on, and how much would be left for "Part 2," then feeling extremely satisfied with Bella opening her new vampire eyes. (Spoiler alert? Sorry.)
It was watching the fantastic credits for "Breaking Dawn Part 2," as they went over the actors for all five of the films and feeling a certain sadness that this part of life was over.
"Twilight" was my sister telling me how good the first book was before lending it to me. I started reading, wondering how Edward would ever move past his avoidance and start dating Bella. I read the back cover. I knew he would. Then the very next day I heard friends talk about the same "Bella" because they had just started reading the book too. I quickly realized, as middle-schoolers constantly do I'm sure, "Oh this isn't just my thing... it's actually pretty popular." But once again, that was part of the fun.
Say what you want about the "Twilight" movies, but the soundtracks are fantastic. Debussy's "Clair De Lune," Sia's "My Love," Muse's "Supermassive Black Hole," Bon Iver & St. Vincent's "Roslyn," are really just naming a few of many phenomenal songs. Listen to "Bella's Lullaby" and tell me it doesn't bring back an explosion of memories for you.
These songs mark a nostalgia that even extend beyond the "Twilight" years. There was the week in college I played "Flightless Bird, American Mouth," nonstop because it ended up on a friend's playlist and reminded me I had a way to time travel. The next year a different friend introduced to me to the glory that was Jackson Rathbone's band (the actor who plays Jasper.) At first it was laughing at the juxtaposition of the happy melody to the lyrics "I will kill you in your sleep," but now I have to admit I genuinely enjoy "Keep Awake" by 100 Monkeys.
Plus I may or may not have had my first kiss as Christina Perri's "A Thousand Years" played during prom.
Beyond the ending of 2012 "Twilight" will still mean rewatching the films with my sister, marking the beginning of a great summer where we later watched "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." It will mean lazy afternoons with my mother as the movies played in the background, and going through what aspects we loved and hated. It was laughing when the dialog was cheesier than we remembered. "Twilight" memories will of course include the Bad Lip Reading videos, and being unable to breath from laughter while showing them to every family member.
Yes, Bella isn't the best role model for young feminists, and after the removal of vampires from the story, Bella and Edward's relationship is not the healthiest. Though choosing to bracket that, it is still an enjoyable fictional world that brings fond memories and strong family connections. If I ever have a children who wants to see the films, or read the books I'll explain some of the issues, then happily tell of how the films and books shaped middle school, and lastly I'll say to have fun.
Yes, Edward sparkles. I will never not poke fun at this.
And I will laugh at a well-delivered "still a better love story than Twilight" joke every time.
However, you will also never be able to convince me otherwise of the artistic brilliance of having the reader turn pages for the months to go by in "New Moon." Some things like vampire's playing baseball, and cliff-diving werewolves are objectively awesome.
I haven't reread or picked up a "Twilight," book in years but from what I remember they were stylistically well written. To say the least, they were engaging enough to sell 100 million copies. I have to admit that someone seeing me with a copy of "Twilight" for the short walk from the teen section of my library to the check-out counter is one reason I haven't reread the series yet. Hopefully this article will change that for me.
"Twilight" was possibly too popular for its own good, but it was something I could always enjoy and make fun of simultaneously.
Like it or not, "Twilight" has become part of our culture. It's been an influence on our culture. For me and countless others it was a part of growing up, and we have every right to enjoy the saga with plenty of reasons, even beyond nostalgia.
