Kate in ‘Twisters’ Rules, Despite the Criticism

There has been some online chatter about Kate Cooper (Daisy Edgar-Jones) in Twisters. For some, her character didn’t work. I don’t want to tell someone they’re wrong for their opinion, but maybe I can change some minds and talk about why she is a great leading character. 

The beginning of Twisters sets us up to see Kate when she is hopeful and excited about the science she’s working on—technology that can break up a tornado. She doesn’t really care about a lot outside of her friends and getting a grant for her project so she can get it to work. It is almost infectious how happy she is at the idea of succeeding, so when a tornado destroys everything she loves, it hurts to see. 

Kate is understandably different when we see her again a few years later. She doesn’t chase storms anymore, she isn’t as excited and happy about the idea of storms, and she’s alone. That is, until Javi (Anthony Ramos) comes to drag her back to Oklahoma. 

If anything, the thing about this movie that upsets me the most is that Javi doesn’t recognize why Kate doesn’t want to go back in the game. He ignores all the signs she’s uncomfortable and almost blames her when they don’t succeed her first time back out. Edgar-Jones plays Kate with a quietness to her pain, so when she finally does lash out at Tyler (Glen Powell) and talk about her failed project, you understand her pain and why she has been the way she has with both Javi and Tyler. 

It’s a perfect arc

Kate’s journey is one from naivety to fear, to acceptance, and then finally determination. We watch as she learns what loss is and how that pain changes her, as she tries to face her fears (by riding them), and then finally how it all leads to her determination to save those she loves. I don’t know what people would want out of her character that is different from that. 

We are on this journey with Kate. The best way to describe the characters in Twisters is by comparing Powell’s Tyler to Helen Hunt’s Jo from the original movie, with Kate representing Bill Harding (Bill Paxton). We didn’t really question Bill’s motives, but people suddenly are with Kate. 

To me, every move she makes is exactly what a character like this would do. She gives Tyler a lot of grief, realizes she doesn’t know the truth about Storm Par, takes time for herself, and comes back to saving the world in her own way, and I think that’s a special journey to watch a character go on. 

I can’t even try to see what those who don’t like Kate see. I love her. Sometimes, we need to see a character go through so much pain that they have to be the one to make changes in their lives, and that’s what happens with Kate. While we probably don’t need another movie with these characters, it does make me want to spend more time with her, and I just think that characters who are struggling with their own grief and that journey are important.