Summary
TheTwilightbooks by Stephenie Meyer were a global sensation, but the upcomingTwilightTV showshouldn’t follow all parts of the books to the letter. The four paranormal romance novels penned by Meyer and released between 2005 and 2020 riffed off pioneering authors in fantasy such as Anne Rice. Rice’sVampire Chroniclespopularized the vampire as protagonist.Meyer’s books explore the paranormal features of romancebetween its main character Bella, the vampire Edward, and the werewolf Jacob, but not all of these are fit for TV.
The Twilight Sagamoviesthat came out between 2008 and 2016 adapted Meyer’s books, makingTwilighteven bigger. The movies were reasonably faithful to the books, taking up five movies to tell their story. While they didn’t adapt every single part of the books, they did include some of their less tasteful aspects. In April 2023, Lionsgate announced that it would be creating a TV show reboot of the story and in March 2024, this was revealed to be animated.The exciting addition to the franchise has the chance to fix several problems with the booksand movies, including one particular aspect of Edward’s character.
Twilight: The 10 Main Characters, Ranked By Likability
Every character in Twilight remains iconic, however, there are members of the supernatural world that display more likable qualities than others.
Twilight’s TV Remake Must Make 1 Edward Change To Win Over Modern Viewers
Edward Cullen Is A Problematic Character
TheanimatedTwilightTV showmust fix the books' and movies' Edward Cullen problem to be successful - specifically, thatCullen acted problematically toward Bella, normalizing toxic and stalkerish behavior. The animated show will sidestep the difficulties of CGI and practical effects in creating supernatural moments, but it will also offer the franchise a clean slate. The smart choice to avoid live-action will make the show so different from the movies that it could useTwilightcharacters to tell a rather different story. This would reinvigorate a franchise that brought an important genre to a far wider audience.
The Twilight Sagamovies can all be streamed on Hulu.
The show must, of course, be true to the central tenets of the plot, maintaining what was fun about it. But as AMC+‘sInterview with the Vampireproves,an updated vision of a much-loved book series can actually be the best thing to happen to it. In the books, Edward became infatuated with Bella as he could read the thoughts of others, but not Bella’s. After considering killing her, trying to resist her, and failing,Edward broke into Bella’s house and watched her sleep. Bella overlooked this and fell in love with him, trivializing the dangers of real-life stalking. The show could remedy this issue.
Why Edward Cullen May Not Be Palatable For A Modern Audience
The Show Could Change Edward’s Problematic Behavior
While paranormal complications of human romance are a feature of the genre,Twilightdidn’t explore Edward’s problematic behavior with enough depthor nuance to justify its place in the story. Times change fast, and audience expectations already differ from what they were at the time of the books and movies’ release. TheTwilight Sagais meant to express the depth of Edward and Bella’s love, and Edward’s toxic behavior hindered that, rather than developing it. This would be even more apparent to a contemporary audience new toTwilightthan it was to originalTwilightfans.
To appeal to a contemporary audience and crystallize the true spirit of the story,theTwilightshow should axe Edward’s problematic behavioror deal with it seriously. Dealing with Edward’s behavior could involve restraining orders, dialogue on consent, and major character development for Edward. This kind ofgritty drama would give the TV show a soap opera feel. Tackling these real issues has potential and is exactly whatTwilightneeds to stay relevant, yet it may prove too challenging for a young adult show. The show must leave time, after all, to tell the central story. Maybe replacing Edward’s stalking with romantic behavior would be best.
Edward’s Behavior Isn’t The Only Thing The Twilight TV Show Should Rework
Renesmee Presented Narrative Issues In Twilight
There were problematic parts of theTwilightplot other than Edward Cullen, such as his daughter with Bella, Renesmee. TheTwilightshow could improve the werewolf and Renesmee storylinesthat were present in the books and movies. Bella fell in love with both Edward and Jacob, with Jacob later realizing that he had “imprinted” on Renesmee while she was in utero. This element of Meyer’s fantasy world-building was the process whereby werewolves found their soulmate, and involved the werewolf’s sibling-like bond with the imprintee becoming problematically romantic as it developed.
Jacob’s protective family dynamic with Renesmee becoming romantic wasn’t necessarily predatory and was built on similar themes in other fantasy novels. But much like the books and movies' handling of Edward Cullen’s unacceptable behavior, the risks of Jacob’s relationship with Renesmee weren’t satisfactorily addressed. An adult in a position of authority with safeguarding responsibilities towards a minor has a huge impact on their life. If that adult has romantic intentions for them, they run a high risk of steering them toward their own selfish goals. Therefore,Jacob’s imprinting should also be reworked in the show.
The show would be better off retconning some aspects of imprinting, along with Edward Cullen’s behavior, to make Twilight the incredible romance it could be.
TheTwilightshow could adapt Jacob’s imprinting on Renesmee, but it would have to seriously address its issues and real-world implications. That would involve managing through arguably the most challenging subject of our modern day - that of grooming. Even for a gritty, teen soap opera, this may not work.Jacob still has to hit protagonist notes to remain the character from the books, and if he becomes more seriously associated with grooming, that will become impossible. The show would be better off retconning some aspects of imprinting, along with Edward Cullen’s behavior, to makeTwilightthe incredible romance it could be.
The Twilight Saga
The Twilight Saga is a paranormal romance series that ignited a cultural phenomenon. Centering on the forbidden love between ordinary human Bella Swan and the centuries-old vampire Edward Cullen, the saga explores themes of love, loss, and the supernatural. As their relationship deepens, they navigate a world filled with vampires, werewolves, and ancient rivalries, all while grappling with the complexities of their immortal and mortal existences. The series captivated audiences with its blend of teenage angst, forbidden romance, and supernatural intrigue, launching a global franchise that includes films, merchandise, and a dedicated fanbase.
