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Before the love triangle of Belly, Conrad and Jeremiah in The Summer I Turned Pretty, we had Bella, Edward and Jacob - a love triangle for the ages. Like many of my Gen Z peers, I spent a
fair bit of my early teens embroiled in fiery debates over Team Jacob versus Team Edward. As a staunch supporter of Team Jacob, I was convinced that Bella should have tied the knot with the
werewolf. While the reasons behind my Jacob devotion are a bit hazy now, I'm certain they extended beyond his impressive abs. Launched in 2008, the Twilight saga rapidly became a global
sensation, propelling Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart to stardom. Inspired by Stephenie Meyer's fantasy book series, the romantic dramas chart the journey of teenager Bella Swan
(Stewart), who plunges into the perilous world of vampires after falling head over heels for Edward Cullen (Pattinson). Edward comes from a clan of vampires, but Bella, smitten as she is,
isn't fazed by her new boyfriend's unusual family, reports the Manchester Evening News. Meanwhile, Bella's mate Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner) harbours a not-so-secret
infatuation with her, setting the stage for the infamous love triangle. While this franchise may not be Oscar material, I find myself revisiting the entire series annually. I can't
pinpoint exactly when this tradition began, but each rewatch leaves me more perplexed by my teenage self. Because, how on earth could I have ever been Team Jacob? My backing for the werewolf
might be pinned on my massive celeb crush on Taylor Lautner, but let's face it, Jacob was waving more red flags than a bullfighter – and even at a tender age, we should've clocked
them. My biggest issue is that he did not value Bella's autonomy. I understand the power of a teenage crush, even Bella made questionable decisions because of her obsession with
Edward. However, Jacob's persistence often veered into creepy territory. The biggest of many red flags comes in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, when he overhears Bella vowing to marry
Edward. He is naturally upset by this and storms off. When Bella chases after him, attempting to remedy the situation, Jacob threatens to hurt himself, stating: "Maybe I'll get
myself killed and make it [choosing between him and Edward] simple for you." In a desperate attempt to save her friend, Bella then asks: "Jacob, kiss me." The music swells and
we witness one of the most iconic kiss scenes in the franchise. Of course Jacob simply fulfils Bella's wishes here, but he _knows_ that she doesn't have any romantic feelings
towards him. Not to mention, she was just talking about marrying another man. Instead of respecting her feelings for Edward, which are beyond obvious, he manipulates her into giving him a
moment of intimacy. This is the routine of Jacob's relationship with Bella - he ignores her rejection and steals moments of closeness whenever he can. Later in the franchise, Jacob
imprints on Bella's half-human daughter Renesmee - in other words he has a supernatural connection to her, which will eventually turn into a romantic partnership. Most fans cite this
disturbing bond as the character's creepiest moment. I have to agree, but the films emphasise that he doesn't choose who he imprints on, it's one of the perils of being a
werewolf. However, his unsettling behaviour before Renesmee is even in the picture is absolutely a choice. I blame Lautner being shirtless in every other scene for clouding my teenage
judgement. But, as an adult, I can firmly say I am Team Edward - although he isn't exactly Prince Charming. _THE TWILIGHT FRANCHISE IS AVAILABLE TO RENT IN DIGITAL STORES_