Dear Twilight fans,
Well, this is it, guys. Twilight as we know it is ending. On Friday, the final movie will be out, the cast will be done promoting the films, and we’ll all be crying into our popcorn buckets wondering where the last five years have gone. I thought I was totally coping with all of this, but then I started listening to “Possibilities” by Lykke Li and my body began to tremble. All the anticipation, the excitement, the endless conversation and speculation and frantic, passionate LOVE…where does it go now that Twilight is over?! I don’t know the answer to this yet, so I’m detailing the 10 Things I Will Miss Most About Twilight in this here post as I try to process all these goddamn feels. And oh, how many feels there are!
Twilight is nothing if not a love story — not just between Bella and Edward but between the fans and the franchise. I am a fan. This is my love letter.
Because some things just aren’t forever.
10. The Red-Carpet Fashion
What will they wear, what will they wear, what will they wear? The cast of Twilight has grown bold in their fashion choices over the years, from Taylor‘s slick suits to Rob‘s ever-changing color palette to Kristen‘s gutsy mini-dresses. I’ve loved guessing what the stars might show up in and then being pleasantly surprised every time — especially when we get the trifecta grouped together in one haute couture-licious shot.
9. Comic-Con
The cast first hit up Comic-Con in 2008 as little babies, before the movie came out and their lives exploded. But it was Comic-Con 2009, in which Rob and Kristen made goo-goo eyes at each other the entire time, that turned it into my favorite summer event. In addition to all the cuteness, it’s become a magical week for fans to connect (and camp) and catch new footage of the next film. I made it to Comic-Con for the first time this year and straight up screamed through the entire seven-minute preview of Breaking Dawn – Part 2 in Hall H. And it was so, so worth it.
(Check out the post I wrote about Comic-Con in 2009, right after I had discovered both Twilight and the Legend of Robsten. I was giddily trying to decipher their body language for signs of true loooove.)
8. The Music
Wanna have a good cry? Check out the Spotify playlist I put together of my favorite jams from the various Twilight soundtracks (I had to improvise a little bit, because not all the songs are available). Alex Patsavas has put together a masterful music collection over the years, and each soundtrack captures the distinct mood of the respective film. Also, they introduced the world to a really talented unknown musician: Robert Pattinson.
7. Promo
There’s nothing quite like the excitement of knowing we’re gonna get to see the stars of Twilight do loads of interviews (some amazing, some ridiculous… and some both) for weeks on end. Even better: the times I’ve gotten to sit down with them myself. NGL, interviewing the Twilight cast has been some of the most nerve-wracking and special moments of my job. Can you see the stars that shoot out of my eyes when Kristen mentions her dogs in my interview above? Because they were there and oh-so-real.
6. Taylor Lautner, Classy Dude
In the books, Jacob never really has a shot with Bella, but he sticks around anyway, determined. In real life, Taylor Lautner‘s been a gracious and classy third wheel to Pattinson and Stewart, who have undoubtedly received the bulk of Twilight attention. Through it all, Taylor’s been amiable, sweet and a total professional. He’s loyal to his friends Rob and Kristen and never has a bad thing to say about anyone. Plus he’s HAWT, and sometimes we all forget that. He put up with that awful Jacob wig and almost didn’t get brought back for New Moon. He’s since graciously credited Kristen for championing him and his return. This guy, amirite? Love him.
5. The Directors
Cathy Hardwicke’s vision (and constant diarrhea of the mouth). Chris Weitz‘s devotion to the books, the cast and bright orange pants. David Slade‘s dark, diabolic take on the Saga. And Bill Condon, the romantic, rounding it out with constant, adoring quotes about his cast. Where would we be without these guys…and Cathy’s bed?
4. The Story
About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Twilight was a book. Second, there was a part of it, and I didn’t know how dominate that part might be, that was pretty cheesy. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with it.
3. “Commentree”
The DVD commentary (or “commentree,” as the fans say) on every one of the film’s DVDs is enjoyable (and full of Rob-isms), but never so much as on Eclipse, in which Rob and Kristen revealed the inner workings of their relationship by spending most of the commentary making each other laugh (while talking about “woofs” and BooBoo bee-bopping around). It’s straight up magical, and Breaking Dawn -Part 2 is our last chance for the duo to re-team up for more commentary ridiculousness. Don’t let us down, Bill!
2. Rob, Kristen and the Bubble
Once upon a time, I was an entertainment blogger assigned to cover the 2009 MTV Movie Awards. And I sat at home on my couch and watched two actors whom I knew nothing about almost kiss each other while accepting an award, and I was immediately sucked in. “WHO ARE THESE TWO AND ARE THEY BONING?!!!! THEY HAVE TO BE BONING!??!??!” I shouted to my cat and my empty bag of Newman’s Own popcorn. I borrowed Twilight from a co-worker the next day.
Lots of people ask me if I think the series would still be as revered and beloved had two different actors filled the roles of Bella and Edward. My answer: NO WAY. Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are special, and their chemistry and connection created a perfect storm of intrigue and excitement. Yet it’s not just about the two of them together. They remain unique as individuals — introverted, creative, kind, dedicated, funny and amazingly unchanged by the insanity that surrounds them. It’s almost impossible to find anyone in Hollywood like them, and that’s why it’s always seemed so special that they found each other.
1. Bella’s Cactus
JUST KIDDDING!!!
(Did I fool you?!)
The real # 1 is….
1. The Fandom
Back when I first started reading and falling into obsessive love with Twilight, I was a total newbie about this stuff. I had never heard of Stephenie Meyer or fandom or ships or OTPs. I didn’t know where Forks was or what fan sites were or where I could find Midnight Sun. My entire discovery of Twilight was dependent on the already established fandom who welcomed me and educated me without making me feel dumb. I’ve never felt much like a journalist, I’m much more comfortable going through life as a fan of things, reveling in the magic of loving something alongside like-minded people. But the Twilight fandom is above and beyond anything I’ve ever experienced. It’s made every post I’ve written or interview I’ve done that much more enjoyable to do. It’s policed me when I wrote something stupid or accidentally posted photos of of a woman in a bikini who was alleged to be Kristen but was not (oops). It introduced me to something called MOTU, which introduced me to a lot of other things I never knew existed. It’s given me a lot of new friends with really hilarious Twitter handles.
Twilight is amazing, but it’s nothing without it’s fandom. And no, the fandom isn’t perfect. It can be dark and mean. (Trust me, I have firsthand experience.) But that comes with the territory. And for whatever toxicity exists, it’s overshadowed by the warmth and kindness of the remaining 99.9 percent of the fans.
So if you’re reading this and you’re a member of the Twilight fandom, allow me to say thanks. For welcoming me into your world (nay, OUR world) and educating me on all things Twilight, and then some. For reading and watching the often ridiculous things I churn out. For talking to me on Twitter. For always being the first to know everything about the films and the cast. For teaching me words like “fap” and “unf.” For loving something more than any other group of people in the world. You are what makes Twilight such a special, one of a kind experience. I’m going to miss you the most of all.
Until next time, spidermonkeys.
Love,
Kate Spencer Cullen
PS: BEWBS.
Source: The 10 Things I’ll Miss Most About Twilight: A Love Letter
