18 moments in 'Twilight' that make more sense after reading 'Midnight Sun'

Kirsten AcunaAug 20, 2020, 02:07 IST

"Midnight Sun" tells "Twilight" from Edward's point of view and is a bit darker as the 104-year-old vampire struggles with the monster inside him who wants to kill Bella.Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate

Warning: There are spoilers ahead for "Midnight Sun."
If you re-watch 2008's "Twilight" after reading Stephanie Meyer's new companion story, "Midnight Sun," some of the film's more puzzling moments may finally make more sense.
You'll fully understand Edward's disgusted reaction to Bella the first time they met.
You'll also get why Rosalie holds Bella in such contempt.

More than a decade after the release of "Twilight," Twihards are discovering it all over again — through Edward's eyes.

The much-anticipated companion story, "Midnight Sun," was released on August 4, 2020. The book tells the love story of a vampire and a human girl, Bella, from Edward's point of view.

After reading the nearly-700 page book, you may be compelled to seek out the first movie again. And it's worth another watch. You may be surprised to find that some of the film's more puzzling or laughable moments make more sense when you know Edward's inner monologue.

Because Edward can read minds, his version of events gives fans further insight into why Rosalie detests Bella, Jasper's deer-in-the-headlights appearance when we first meet him, and why the bad guys didn't realize Bella was a human when they first met during the film's famous baseball scene.

There's a larger meaning behind Jess' reference to Bella as a "shiny new toy" than you may have realized.

Anna Kendrick played Jessica Stanley in the "Twilight" films. Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate

Jasper was having a tough time controlling his craving for blood when we first meet him.

Jessica says Jasper looks like he's in pain and she's not far off. Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate

You may remember laughing at Edward's over-the-top reaction to Bella in biology class when they first meet. Bella thinks it's because she smells. That's not even the half of it.

Bella wonders if she smells bad. It's just the opposite. Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate

You may remember laughing at Edward's over-the-top reaction to Bella in biology class when they first meet. Bella thinks it's because she smells. That's not even the half of it.

When Edward doesn't show up in class the next few days, he escapes to Alaska.

Edward travels to Denali for about a week in "Midnight Sun" where he comes across Tanya. Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate

Edward appears so awkward during his first real encounter with Bella because he's barely breathing and because the movie left out a subtle interaction between the two.

In the book, Edward's completely unsettled during this moment because he touches Bella by accident. The moment is left out of the film. Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate

Edward is slightly offended when Bella asks if he wears contacts.

Edward's slight arrogance leads him to make a big mistake with Bella when she inquires about his eyes. Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate

Jasper and Rosalie are ready to kill Bella after Edward saves her from Tyler's van.

Rose and Jasper are seriously concerned Bella may be a threat to them and that she knows too much. Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate

Rosalie is annoyed and jealous of Bella partly because Edward finds her attractive.

Rosalie doesn't understand how Edward could be attracted to a human. Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate

Edward asks Bella to distract him because he's trying to hold back from killing a man who went after her.

Edward wasn't joking when he said he wanted to rip their heads off. Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate

Edward could have killed Bella in the meadow when he first took her there.

In "Midnight Sun," the meadow is a more meaningful, personal place to Edward. Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate

Billy and Edward's awkward stare down makes more sense when you know Billy's thoughts.

In "Midnight Sun," you learn why Billy looks horrified. Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate

There's a reason Laurent, James, and Victoria didn't realize Bella was human right away.

Jasper was helping to hide Bella's appearance from the other vampires. Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate

Edward only stops drinking Bella's blood because he hears her voice.

In the movie, Carlisle seems to know when all of the venom is magically out of Bella's body. In reality, he'd have no way of simply knowing that detail. Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate

Edward isn't being honest with Bella while she's in the hospital.

Once Edward sees how rattled Bella becomes when he tries to break away from her at the hospital, he decides he can't go through with parting from her just yet. The timing isn't right. Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate

Edward only took Bella to prom so she would have a fond memory of him to recall to her children later in life long after he was out of the picture.

Edward had an ulterior reason for taking Bella to the prom. Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate

Edward actually helped set up Angela and her boyfriend, not Bella.

Bella and Edward look on at Angela and Eric at prom. It's changed in the film, but Edward played matchmaker for Angela. Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate

When Jacob speaks with Bella at prom, Edward considers them winding up together.

Jacob tries to give Bella a warning about Edward. Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate

The film changes Edward's last words to Bella, altering the meaning behind them.

In the film, it seems like Edward is promising Bella a lifetime of happiness. He's really refraining from doing that as much as possible. Summit Entertainment / Lionsgate

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18 moments in 'Twilight' that make more sense after reading 'Midnight Sun'

There's a larger meaning behind Jess' reference to Bella as a "shiny new toy" than you may have realized.

Jasper was having a tough time controlling his craving for blood when we first meet him.

You may remember laughing at Edward's over-the-top reaction to Bella in biology class when they first meet. Bella thinks it's because she smells. That's not even the half of it.

When Edward doesn't show up in class the next few days, he escapes to Alaska.

Edward appears so awkward during his first real encounter with Bella because he's barely breathing and because the movie left out a subtle interaction between the two.

Edward is slightly offended when Bella asks if he wears contacts.

Jasper and Rosalie are ready to kill Bella after Edward saves her from Tyler's van.

Rosalie is annoyed and jealous of Bella partly because Edward finds her attractive.

Edward asks Bella to distract him because he's trying to hold back from killing a man who went after her.

Edward could have killed Bella in the meadow when he first took her there.

Billy and Edward's awkward stare down makes more sense when you know Billy's thoughts.

There's a reason Laurent, James, and Victoria didn't realize Bella was human right away.

Edward only stops drinking Bella's blood because he hears her voice.

Edward isn't being honest with Bella while she's in the hospital.

Edward only took Bella to prom so she would have a fond memory of him to recall to her children later in life long after he was out of the picture.

Edward actually helped set up Angela and her boyfriend, not Bella.

When Jacob speaks with Bella at prom, Edward considers them winding up together.

The film changes Edward's last words to Bella, altering the meaning behind them.