House of Maher – “We Rewatched Twilight, and We Have Thoughts”

Host: Wave
Guests: Ilona Maher, Olivia Maher, Adrianna “Dre Baby” Maher
Release Date: November 25, 2025

Episode Overview

In this cozy, laughter-filled episode, the Maher sisters reunite to dish about family traditions, travel plans, and—most importantly—the cultural phenomenon that is Twilight. Between nostalgic reminiscences and sharp-witted banter, they unpack their rewatch of the film, its impact on their childhoods, and the wild world of vampire and werewolf media. The episode also explores what makes a perfect Thanksgiving meal, shares reading recommendations (and confessions), and closes with their signature seasonal movie list.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Thanksgiving Traditions & Traveling Abroad

• First Family Thanksgiving Abroad:
  • The sisters discuss past Thanksgivings, usually spent at home, and share excitement about their trip to Mexico City with Lonely Planet Journeys.
  • Planned activities include mezcal tastings, taco tours, and a “hesitant” hot air balloon ride.
  • Ilona raises doubts about hot air balloon safety:

    “Five of us big bitches in a hot air balloon.” – Ilona (04:51)
    “It’s big balloon behind this.” – Ilona (05:08)

• Home Rituals:
  • Cozy attire and watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, despite learning it’s all lip-synced (“I felt so hoodwinked.” – Olivia, 06:24).
  • A shared love/hate of traditional Thanksgiving food—Ilona argues the holiday is “very much so one flavor profile … dull, dull” (06:59), sparking playful pushback from Olivia.
  • Adrianna and her dad have bonded over years making a signature sweet potato pecan bourbon maple pie (09:12).

2. Turkey Trot, Running, and Sibling Competition

• Fitness Goals:
  • Olivia celebrates running her first marathon; Adrianna is working towards running a sub-10 minute mile (“I was huffing and puffing during that mile” – Adriaanna, 15:49).
  • Ilona reminisces about her fast (and now possibly exaggerated) college mile times (~6:30), drawing skepticism and sibling ribbing.
• Jokes about Training:
  • Fun banter about guided run apps:

    “Some of those people are in the wrong career path… it was almost sexual.” – Adriaanna (16:02)
    “Don’t listen to your body, listen to me.” – Adriaanna (16:19)

• Turkey Trot Aspirations:
  • Adrianna considers running a turkey trot, provided it doesn’t interrupt the parade.

3. Tea Time: Deep Dive into Twilight

Quick Recap & Reactions

• Re-watching Twilight, the sisters summarize the plot and nostalgia:
  • “It is a beautiful tale of a 98 year old vampire … who can read minds” (21:01)
  • Bella, unable to have her mind read: “She guessed it too.” – Adriaanna (21:45)
  • Olivia: “Twilight is a cult classic. The way I was locked in.” (22:01)
• Cult Classic Debate:
  • Discussion about what makes a movie a cult classic and how Twilight’s status has aged (“Cult classics need time to ruminate.” – Adriaanna, 22:38).

Books Versus Movies & Gatekeeping

• Adrianna confesses she never finished the books because Olivia took them away, fearing mature content (“I stand by what I did. You were young.” – Olivia, 24:02).
• The sisters reminisce about reading Fifty Shades of Grey as a fanfic of Twilight (“Mom found out on my Kindle…” – Ilona, 24:34).
• Ilona credits Twilight with igniting her “vampire era”—noting she’s read “every vampire book under the sun” (27:15).

On Vampires, Werewolves, and Lore

• Twilight’s Vampire Mechanics:
  • The group critiques Stephanie Meyer’s glittery vampires (“The glitter thing is really stupid.” – Ilona, 29:30)
  • Puzzles over vampire population control, werewolf rules, and how the series compares to others like Vampire Academy or Vampire Diaries.
  • Adrianna prefers Vampire Diaries’ vamp rules: “I fuck with the Vampire Diaries vampires. … For me that’s more intriguing.” (29:14)
• Team Edward/Team Jacob:
  • Adrianna: "I was always team Jacob." (31:40)
  • Olivia: “There was something about having read the books and just falling in love with Edward…” (31:54)
  • They agree Bella’s character simply wanted to be a vampire, more than she wanted either boy (32:23).
  • On the franchise’s star actors, Olivia insists actors should show respect for their breakout roles (“Be humble. Okay?” – 31:14)
• Would You Date a Vampire?
  • “Most of the times it feels… really bad.” – Ilona on the pain of being bitten (28:49)
  • Preference among the sisters for being a werewolf in Meyer’s universe due to pack bonding.

4. Book Nook: Recent Reads & Recos

• Thrillers & “Book Hangovers”:

  • Ilona shares her addiction to thrillers (“I become possessed, fixated.” – 49:31) and the need for a “detox” with a fluffy romance after reading something heavy.
  • None of the sisters are able to handle horror, but appreciate a good whodunit.

• Romance & Fanfiction:

  • Check & Mate (Ali Hazelwood): Olivia’s new favorite, blending romance with chess (“I’m literally the girl on The Queen’s Gambit…” – 52:04).
  • Radiance: Ilona describes a unique love story between “two different species of humanoid people who find each other ugly at first” (54:09).
  • Alchemized (formerly Manacled):
    • Adrianna describes the Draco/Hermione fanfic-turned-novel as “the most beautifully written fanfiction…Broke me. It is so beautifully written.” (55:24)
    • Olivia and Ilona find it too dark and traumatic to finish—Olivia confesses the original “gave me nightmares… it was just like twisting and turning in my gut…” (57:08)

5. Fall Feeling: Seasonal Movie List

• Olivia’s “Fall Movie Feelings” Shared Note:

  • Age of Adaline: “Kind of like a vampire but she don’t need blood.” (40:25)
  • How to Train Your Dragon: Evokes fall vibes; debate whether dragons could have been real, like dinosaurs or crocodiles.
  • Harry Potter: The ultimate fall/winter classic (“You guys probably don’t know about this one. Hidden gem.” – Ilona, 42:55)
  • Practical Magic: Sisterly, witchy, autumnal comfort film.
  • Rain (TV show): “I ate it up. I don’t care that they’re not wearing the correct corsets.” – Adriaanna (44:23)
  • When Harry Met Sally, Princess and the Frog, Lord of the Rings (debated—“It was a lot of men.” – Olivia, 45:00)

• Movie Analysis Banter:

  • The Mahers riff on Lord of the Rings’ “questionable battle math” and its strong bromances (“I would have followed you to the ends of the earth.” – Olivia, 47:01), with jokes about its “gay undertones” and length.
  • “You put me in that editing booth and I’ll get that into a quick 90 minutes.” – Adriaanna (47:35)

Notable Quotes & Time Stamps

• On Thanksgiving food:

  “Thanksgiving is very much so. One flavor profile … dull, dull.” – Ilona (06:59)
  “It’s not like I’m craving a Thanksgiving meal, but it really is just perfect for the day.” – Adriaanna (08:23)

• On Twilight Law:

  “You’re telling me they’re as hard as stone and can’t die? How have they not overpopulated the whole earth?” – Ilona (27:39)
  “Edward Cullen to you guys: hot, creepy, both?” – Adriaanna (31:40)

• On Fan Culture:

  “I was so obsessed … our dad need[ed] to sit me down and be like, ‘You need to relax. You talk about it too much…’” – Olivia (34:35)

• On Reading Habits:

  “When you love something, you love it down.” – Adriaanna (26:56)
  “I become possessed, fixated. … I don’t think I can read thrillers.” – Ilona (49:31)

Segmented Timestamps

• Thanksgiving Food & Family Traditions – 02:23–13:44
• Turkey Trot & Running Chats – 13:59–18:34
• Tea Time: Twilight Recap & Debate – 20:44–34:56
• Book Nook: Reading/Recos – 48:43–57:42
• Fall Movie List & Lord of the Rings Banter – 39:37–48:36

Closing Thoughts

The Maher sisters deliver a warm, laugh-out-loud episode celebrating sisterhood, cozy traditions, and the zealous fangirl energy that shaped a generation (and their own adolescence). Their witty commentary on Twilight—from cinematic quirks to literary impact—reminds listeners why these stories still spark conversation and nostalgia. Throughout, the sisters’ playful dynamic, candid recommendations, and pop culture hot takes make for entertaining company, whether you’re rewatching Twilight or just craving some sisterly tea.

For full fall movie lists, pie recipes, and hot takes, follow @houseofmaher on socials!