As a twin myself, I am a true advocate that entertainment media with pairs of twins are an absolute masterpiece. Seeing myself be represented through entertainment shows and movies such as, Liv and Maddie, Gravity Falls, and The Parent Trap, has personally made my childhood truly memorable. No matter whether they are the Weasley twins from Harry Potter or Gru and Dru from Despicable Me 3, these characters always end up being fan favorites and as a result, twins like me end up getting a great reputation.
A classic, golden example representing twins’ dynamics is Liv and Maddie, a series about two identical twins with complete opposite personalities. Though they had different interests and styles, they were each other’s ride or die. As a matter of fact, an iconic heirloom on the Liv and Maddie set is a painting that they supposedly made when they were young that has the words “sisters by chance, friends by choice” inscribed. This was a prized possession that both of the girls held dearly to their heart, resulting in viewers like me developing a special connection to them as well. Sure, not every set of twins has a ‘sporty’ or ‘girly’ one, but from my personal experience, being a twin automatically means that I have a built-in best friend. It’s beautiful to see this similar kind of relationship flourish on screen, and one that viewers don’t get to experience quite often, especially between siblings depicted on TV.
Similarly, an iconic movie growing up was Parent Trap, where identical twins get separated at birth and when they realize they are related at summer camp, they decide to switch lives. Now, people have discussed how there are ethical issues when they swap lives and cause problems for their divorced parents. But honestly, the story line seems to be more exhilarating and riveting than it is problematic. Instead of focusing on the issues with realistic depictions of family dynamics, we should consider how the movie was made for children in 1998 and shouldn’t be taken too seriously.
Last but not least, we have one of the most accurate representations of twin relationships in cartoon history: Gravity Falls. This animated show takes place in a small town called Gravity Falls, where a pair of twins, Dipper and Mabel Pines, go on adventures to uncover the mysteries that dwell beneath the town’s surface. This is my personal favorite portrayal of twins as it depicts my own relationship with my twin excellently. My twin is more like Dipper, willing to discover the secrets of the universe in an extreme methodical and careful way. I’m more like Mabel; though I love a suspenseful adventure, I have the attention span of a goldfish and tend to get distracted easily while on the mission. However, together Dipper and Mabel make an unstoppable team and the concepts this cartoon explores are incredibly fleshed-out. Neither of the twins have an extreme cliche side, but instead they have complex personalities that allow each of them to develop their own individuality.
Movies and TV series that revolve around twins are irrevocably compelling and inspiring. They revolve around themes of complex friendships, grueling challenges and thrilling adventures. However, above all, this type of entertainment media specializes in demonstrating the unique bond that one has with their twin, a bond that is unbreakable and irreplaceable.
