So which is better Aliens or Vampires? TVSquad.com compares Twilight to Roswell and asks if the former isn’t the poor man’s version of the latter.
I didn’t watch Roswell, but I am betting many of you did. So, what’s your call?
[Thanks to Walt Stone for the link.]
ETA: Check out How to be an empowered stalkee from Courtney Summers for o_0 chuckles. Link courtesy of Sassee.
The article doesn’t mention how Edward is all Creepy McStalker who watches Bella sleep, while Max at least tries to be a normal kid who knocks.
Also, Max and Liz rob banks, ftw.
Hey, Maria in Roswell literally sees stars whenever she kisses Michael, the alien hunk. (Who, IMO, is ten times hotter than sparkly ol’ Edward!) No question – Roswell wins!
I like Twilight better, but I really loved Roswell too. Except, well… I think it was cheap of Roswell to make the “obstacle” to the main couple evil. It was like, yeah, Max wants to be with Liz over Tess! But Tess is an evil murderer, so it’s not like it was *much* of a decision. I liked how SM didn’t make Jacob or Tanya evil (especially Tanya, I was totally expecting her to be some horrible whore)… they were decent people, a decent choice, so I think that made the decision better 🙂
Roswell was great but only the first season, season 2 was disappointing and season 3, well, let’s nto go there. And I agree with Cat, Michael was totally hot and also not a stalker, which is good. I think the actor is on Bones this season.
Roswell wins for me! No stalkers, good music, and the guys were HAWT. When it was cancelled, the writers put everything into a convenience pill and tried to make us swallow it, but for the most part I definitely prefer Roswell.
Rose – Jason Behr played Michael and he’s playing Seely’s little brother on Bones this season. 🙂
This is like comparing apples to oranges. Sometimes I want an apple other times I want an orange. Both are great in their own ways.
Season one of Roswell was fabulous. After season one the love story between Max and Liz changed and I liked it less although Maria and Michael kept me coming back.
I think Twilight slightly nudges out Roswell mainly because I liked the ending of the Twilight series better than the ending of Roswell.
There is no comparison. Season one Roswell was some of the best TV I’ve ever watched. The writing was original and thought provoking, and unlike Twilight, SEX did not equal DEATH.
It’s too bad the show tanked in seasons 2 and3.
um, Brendan Fehr played Michael and is now on Bones. Jason Behr played Max and I have no idea what he’s up to. Anyway, I have no interest in Twilight because it looked creepy from the getgo. So Roswell FTW.
Roswell wins hands down – no contest
I was a very big fan of Roswell the first two seasons But the comparison between Roswell and Twilight is very close, especially with the love story.
But I am a bigger van of vampires than aliens. Can’t get passed the movie Alien when the little suckers pops out of John Hurt’s chest and of course the scene at the dinner in Spaceballs. “hello, my baby…”
Roswell was awesome, especially season 1. Also Liz wasn’t a doormat. Roswell gets my vote.
Whoa. It never occurred to me to make this comparison. It’s true that Max (of Roswell) has supernatural powers (check), goes to high school (check), is Liz’s lab partner (check), has siblings that look suspiciously on his relationship with Liz (check), and saves Liz’s life as a how-do-ye-do (check) because of a major crush on her (check)—all in the first episode. I guess that’s an impressive list of coincidences. But comparing the two series feels like comparing apples and oranges, because Max’s reasons for all of the above are driven by motives that are clearly spelled out provide a great deal of insight into his character. I never really got where Edward was coming from in Twilight.
I want to give a major rec to the first season of Roswell for anyone who hasn’t watched it! When it was on television, I didn’t get it at all, because the pacing seemed weird and slow and the characters were atypical for teen drama—quiet, thoughtful, a bit introverted. But I watched it on DVD and while the second season gets weird and the third is just bizarre, that first season is golden. According to the DVD commentary, the pilot, at the time of its review by test audiences, received the highest score of any pilot ever made. I can see why. It’s a fantastic hour of drama, and bears a lot of repeat-watching value for someone trying to figure out how to start a story off with a bang while creating complicated characters and a conflict that will sustain twenty episodes of storytelling.
(And it’s super romantic to boot. Was Sarah McLachlan’s music ever used so well??)
Oh my goodness I LOVE Roswell! The first season is definitely the best, although I also liked the third. The second season seemed really more sci-fi and not so much about the characters and their relationships (which is what drives the first season so well.) I haven’t seen Twilight; I’ve kind of been avoiding it so I can’t compare. Just wanted to add the first season of Roswell is definitely a must see. Especially for sweet, handsome, brooding Max! *happy sigh*
Meredith, I’m not surprised the Roswell pilot had such a high score – it was pretty cool stuff. I love the bit when Max, Michael and Isabel are looking at the recreation of the crash – I think it was at the end of the pilot? Regardless, there was so much to draw in the viewer and the first season delivered on that potential. The other two seasons, not so much…
I hear vampires and automatically think of Buffy, but the comparison to Roswell does make sense (I’ll take Angel and Spike over Edward any day, though).
The theme for Roswell was sung by Dido, who has a wonderful voice. Speaking of vampire links, though, the guy who played Max had a spot in Buffy (don’t know which season, but he was a kid with a terminal disease who wanted to become a vampire for the cure, and had a bunch of other vampire wannabe’s, including Chanterelle, who became Anne in Angel, gasp pant), and David Boreanaz starred in Dido’s music video for the “I will go down with this ship” song.
I loved Roswell. The second and third seasons did indeed get weird, and I was a little taken aback by the switch between one week, they’re the FBI’s number 1 wanted, and the next week, they figured the FBI didn’t know they existed. The plotting and continuity got a little sloppy, I guess.
I haven’t read or seen Twilight, and it doesn’t appeal enough for me to go to the effort.
Well, I haven’t seen Twilight yet. But personally I though Roswell was cheesy. Also, what is with the guys from Roswell getting on CSI-related shows? I think at least two of them star in the spin-offs.
Agreed, Meredith! That was her song “Fear” in the pilot when Max is healing Liz. That song is so haunting, I still get chills when I hear it today…
I loved Roswell the first season when the music was amazing and the storylines were somewhat relatable. Season 2 was betrayal and alien hooha with brief flashes of greatness (that one episode where future Max comes back to save Liz still makes me cry when they dance). Season 3 was so far off track that I couldn’t keep up and quite trying. I think if the creators would have stayed on track after season 1 it might have been on tv for a few more years. 🙁
While I loved watching Roswell 9 years ago, now I love reading the Twilight series. Progression.
Now if only Meyer would put Midnight Sun out-I’d but it. I liked his perspective much better than Bella’s in Twilight. The jokes were funnier, the actions made sense and it complimented Twilight like it was designed to do. 🙂
Roswell wins, hands down. I have all three seasons on DVD, I am that lame. 😀
Wow am I the typo queen. I meant quit trying and buy it. 🙂
Roswell wins. Loved Season 1 (and the original set of 12 books written by Melinda Metz); Loved portions of Season 2; Liked bits of Season 3.
I will confess I loved Twilight two years ago when I read it—but I do not plan to re-read the first three books or purchase Breaking Dawn—and I think it’s kind of funny the number of my friends swooning about Edward as of late.
Oh, yeah. I actually can’t listen to this song anymore, because I had it on repeat every day for twelve hours when rewriting the second half of Duke of Shadows. (And since the walls in my apartment are pretty thin, I’m pretty sure my neighbors have never forgiven me for it!) But it’s beyond intense. In fact, the soundtrack to the first season should be called Angst 101, or something. I love it. 🙂
It would never have occurred to me to compare these 2, but if we’re going there my vote is for Roswell, at least the 1st season. As others have noted it got odd in season 2 and just plain nuts in season 3, but season 1 was really good. Unlike Bella, Liz had agency and unlike Edward Max was not a creepy stalker.
As much as I liked Roswell I think Sarah was better used by Buffy.
Those soulful czechoslovakian eyes!!! Roswell hands down for me and I love the fact that Liz wasn’t a door mat. DeeCee I agree with season 2 in the episode with future Max. I LUUUUUUVVVVVEEEDDD the intro song Here with Me by Dido.
Roswell!! Hello! Max and Liz? Iconic! The show saved me during my school years. *g*
I can’t even touch Twilight because it felt too similar to Roswell when I first became aware of the books.
I liked TWILIGHT (not so much the next books), but I would also have to say “Roswell.” I LOVED me some Roswell. 🙂
I was definitely one of the ones who read Twilight and had to pull back a few times just because there were so many correlations with Roswell. I’m pretty sure Isabel Evans and Rosalie Hale are the exact same character, with different names.
But really, Roswell has had a lot more staying power with me, at least. Partially because Bella Swan is such a non-character of a character. Twilight reminds me of one of those trompe l’ouille paintings. You’re kind of stunned and amazed because there’s so much detail… but then after everything, it’s still only two dimensions.
Holly~
You are not the only lame one…I, also, own all three seasons.
I have a hard time choosing between the two…I really did like Roswell and I have to admit that I was a bit leery about Twilight when I initially saw the previews. But at this point, I would probably lean towards Roswell…although, I do plan on reading the Twilight books and this may put me over the curve.
Roswell was for me what Twilight is for teens now. Greatness. I loved Max and Liz and Michael and Maria. I agree with everyone who said that the first season was the best, but I think I was too young to notice that the following two seasons weren’t that good. Looking back on it now, I agree. Since I haven’t read Twilight and doubt that I ever will, my vote goes to Roswell.
And gosh, it’s been ten years since Roswell premiered. I feel so old.
As someone who read Twilight (as in the first book) and watched the show: Roswell was way better. Max and Liz vs. Bella and Edward is definitely the deciding factor here.
Also, I totally have the soundtrack.
Ditto!
Adding my vote for Roswell. I too have all three seasons on DVD as well as the soundtrack, and a couple picture books are kicking around here somewhere …
Even though seasons 2 & 3 were definitely weaker than the 1st, it was still some of the best teenage alien guilty pleasure ever aired on tv. (Followed closely by teenage private eye Veronica Mars guilty pleasure, first season)
Max was HAWT! That episode when the Max from the future came back, all dark & broody (even more so than the present day Max) with the LONG HAIR!??? Unbelievably inappropriate thoughts for someone half my age …
Twilight? Bleah.
— Bonz
I have to side with Roswell too, and as everyone said, the first season was awesome. I stopped watching the second season after the Max – Tess thing cuz I got so pissed! Roswell trumps Twilight for many reasons:
1. Giving more attention to the ancillary characters – Isabel, Michael, Maria, that Sheriff, Kyle, Alex – there was at least one episode dedicated to one of the other characs, so you could see more thn their name and how the protagonists saw them, which is what Twilight does.
2. The chemistry bet Max and Liz in the first season was just incendiary; the Vamp-Bait pair on the other hand have no chem at all (at least in the books). One of my fav eps was the one where Max and Liz start making out. The teen I was, was so entranced by the music and the setting! lol! I became addicted to MArcy Playground Sex and Candy thanks to that ep and listened to that and Fear on repeat for hours every day.
Speaking of Buffy, which imho is the best vampire series EVER. EVER! Angel seems a lot like Edward, altho he is a hell a lot more mature. Both are stalkery, self-derisive, and fear the monster in themselves. But angel is not the control freak that Edward is. But anyway, Spike wins hands down for coolest/sexiest vampire ever. If there is ever a Buffy movie, I hope she ends up with Spike. Even if he is a ghost.
-anin
Twilight definitely wins!
There is a Buffy movie. With Luke Perry…
I LOVE Roswell. That whole ensemble cast was great.
One of my most favorite songs is Dido’s ‘Here With Me’ (the show opener). My daughter was an infant at the time and would completely stop and stay transfixed on the tv until song ended.
@Crocs: Yes, I know about that movie having seen it when I was 10 or something. I meant a movie with current characters, which is why I mentioned “Spike”. Who is a new character, who wasn’t in the old movie. Luke Perry was horrible. So was David Arquette.
-anin
Actually he regained his corporeality in the fifth season of Angel. There probably will never be a Buffy movie, and if there was I think Whedon’s too wise to pick one Buffy beau for good. He knows which side his bread is buttered on, and it’s the side that says, “I haven’t pissed off my fans, some of whom are high-ranking studio execs, by picking one guy over the other.”
Even if it really should be Spike.
I’m glad somebody else noticed this besides me! I always thought there were a lot of similarities between the two!
Oh, and I *loved* Roswell! The second season was MY FAVORITE—although there was plenty of love angst in Season 1 to keep a romance reader happy!
Some of the wildest stuff was done in the second season. And I always liked how they tied up the story line by the end of season three…a lot of shows don’t get the chance to do that.
If you don’t want to run out and buy the 3-season set on DVD (which I, of course, did! lol), you can watch the first season on http://www.hulu.com That’.s where I saw it and was HOOKED.
The more I consider as to why I’d like twilight so much. The more I couldn’t help to realize the similarities between the two. Out of curiosity, I cross search for “Twilight” and “Roswell” and I was a genuine surprised there are fans out there who think alike.
To break down the “why”, I have considered these following plots to be similar.
Twilight Roswell
Life saving-There could not have been anything more romantic than a man saves his girl’s life.
Edward stops the van from crashing Bella. Therefore, his unusual abilities were questioned by her.
In the very beginning of “pilot”, Max ran to Liz and used his healing power to retreat the bullet out of her and leave a silver handprint on her.
Biology class-Where all chemistry took place.
Where Edward first smells her scent and fight against every muscle in him for his thirst.
When Liz found out about Max’s unusual cells, she confronted him and acknowledging his secret identity.
It’s never safe…
If only Bella is smart enough and values her life, she wouldn’t be anywhere near Edward. However…
It’s not safe. We’re…” said Max. “Just different” said Liz.
Story telling
By Bella, through her thoughts.
By Liz, through her diaries.
Mind reading-
Edward reads minds except for Bella’s.
Max reads Liz’s thoughts when he touches her.
Super powers-
Mind reading Fast and strong v.s Healing power and a lot more.
The families-
Edward and his vampire families.
Max and his family-Isabel and Michael.
The bottom line…
Extraordinary things happen to an ordinary girl. Surely, a gorgeous alien or vampire is a plus!!
Come to think of it, Roswell definitely deserved more credits than it received a few years ago. I’d always feel sorry for Roswell not being such a big hit as twilight is now. Although season two and three was not as exciting to watch as the first season. Still, I wish there have been more people who’re hooked as I did before. In season three of Roswell, certain side effects have surfaced when Liz is getting powers after Max’s healing, I wonder how twilight would go if Bella’s eventually going to turn. I’d call Twilight an experience since it was the first movie I had ever watched and wanted to read the books just to find out more. However, such experience isn’t exactly new to me, it has just been re-aroused that’s all.