Summary of "I finally read THE HOST and it's kinda GROSS - Explained"

Review of Stephanie Meyer’s The Host

In this entertaining and candid video, the creator dives into Stephanie Meyer’s The Host, a sci-fi novel about parasitic aliens called Souls who take over human bodies to “fix” the chaotic and violent Earth. The video humorously contrasts the book’s ambitious themes—such as humanity, identity, tolerance, and body positivity—with its awkward and sometimes disturbing elements, especially the problematic underage romance subplot involving a 17-year-old Melanie and a 26-year-old Jared. The host doesn’t hold back on calling out these cringe-worthy moments and the confusing logistics of the alien invasion.

Plot Overview

The story follows Wanderer, a Soul implanted into Melanie’s body, who gradually develops sympathy for the humans Melanie loves. This leads to a complex internal struggle between the alien and human identities. The video highlights:

Bizarre and sometimes brutal interactions between humans and Souls
Violent confrontations and awkward romantic entanglements
The Souls’ contradictory nature of being non-violent yet invasive

Comparison to the 2013 Movie Adaptation

The creator also compares the book to its 2013 movie adaptation, noting:

The film’s $40 million budget
Direction by Andrew Niccol (The Truman Show)
Logical changes made in the adaptation
New silliness introduced, such as constantly glowing eyes that ruin the aliens’ stealth
Clunky pacing and strange character motivations
Poorly handled romance, especially the rapid and unexplained attraction between Wanderer and a human named Ian despite previous violence

Key Moments Highlighted

Melanie’s repeated attempts to escape the alien takeover, including multiple window jumps and a car flip, which the host finds absurdly unrealistic
Jared’s creepy insistence on kissing Melanie shortly after recognizing her as human, coupled with the problematic age gap
Tense dynamics in the human survivor hideout, with some wanting Wanderer dead and others conflicted
The Souls’ raids for supplies and their surprisingly idiotic behavior during these missions
Wanderer’s gradual emotional growth and her eventual willingness to sacrifice herself so Melanie can live
The messy love quadrangle involving Melanie, Wanderer, Jared, and Ian, which is confusing and awkward both in the book and movie
The controversial depiction of underage relationships and the alien inhabiting a teenage girl’s body, which the host critiques heavily

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

The video wraps up by recommending alternative sci-fi reads such as Axiom’s End and Bong Joon Ho’s The Host (the monster movie, not this one). While acknowledging the film’s rough execution and underused talents like Saoirse Ronan, the host finds some compelling ideas in the story but ultimately views The Host as a mixed bag with more misses than hits.

Personalities Featured in the Video

The video creator/narrator (unnamed)
Stephanie Meyer (author)
Andrew Niccol (director)
Characters from The Host: Melanie, Wanderer, Jared, Ian, Jaime, and others
Saoirse Ronan (actress, briefly mentioned)

Overall, this video is a humorous, critical, and detailed exploration of The Host that balances appreciation for its themes with sharp commentary on its awkward storytelling and questionable choices.