We’ve seen plenty of vampire romances over the years, be it Twilight, The Vampire Diaries, True Blood, or Buffy the Vampire Slayer, that could make you think that this genre is done for. However, Netflix’s First Kill, which premiered on June 10, Friday, is a new and refreshing sapphic Romeo and Juliet-inspired teen drama, one you could sink your teeth into, pun intended!
Set in a world where fair Verona is Savannah, Georgia, and the Capulets and the Montagues are elite vampires and ruthless hunters, this series has a very familiar story but is told in a modern, 2020s way. Based on the short story of the same name written by series creator V. E. Schwab, First Kill chronicles the lives of vampire Juliette (Sarah Catherine Hook) and vampire-hunter Calliope (Imani Lewis) as star-crossed romance blossoms between the two amidst an age-old conflict.
Rating – ★★★
The Popular Trope of Star-Crossed Lovers
Lewis and Hook have naturally electric chemistry while also making a solid case for the strength of young love in a very Shakespearean way. Their love for one other is so strong that they’re prepared to risk everything to be together. The best parts of the show include the teenagers fighting their every impulse and upbringing to be closer. The ultimate enemies-to-lovers transformation is also highly compelling, especially given there is an undertone of curiosity and respect from the moment they meet.
What happens when their families become involved? It only gets better thereon. Margot (Elizabeth Mitchell), Juliette’s mother, could have been a stereotypical ice queen, yet the show renders her with remarkable humanity. Aubin Wise as Cal’s monster-hunting mother Talia is a delight to watch as she emotionally anchors a show that otherwise has the potential to drift away. Ironically, that is the major flaw with “First Kill” – the tensions that make the series work so well only appear in a small fraction of a plot that otherwise falters.
First Kill – What The Show Gets Right
Keeping aside all that is good about Cal and Juliette, the remainder of the show feels rather too ambitious and somewhat overloaded, especially for only eight episodes. First Kill offers several intriguing subplots, including some fascinating vampire politics for the Fairmonts and equally interesting hunter politics for the Burns. In the end, the short runtime serves as more of a build-up for a possible second season than a wholly finished plot.
Despite the flaws discussed, First Kill is still a treat to enjoy. It’s lovely to see vampire romance taking a queer approach after so many years of the genre being reserved for the straight and white characters. It’s about time queer folks had their own vampire film, complete with equal amounts of kitsch and melodrama. It is essential that the queer community can finally have their own version of the same hackneyed vampire narratives that heterosexual people have been treated with for decades.
Furthermore, the inclusion of not only a Black queer protagonist but an entire Black family permitted to survive on screen in a supernatural fantasy is a welcome move. In a genre known for neglecting or demonizing black characters, First Kill delivers a narrative in which black monster-hunters are just as crucial and fleshed out as white vampires.
First Kill is well worth the binge-watch, transporting the viewer to a fictional Georgia invaded by Southern white women who are vampires, where the situation in high school seems to be like kill or be killed. Though the series isn’t for everyone, it’s a must-see for all the queer ladies who were Team Bella during their Twilight phase or anyone who wants to see a fresh take on a worn genre. First Kill spins conventional norms and romantic clichés on their heads to present a story about deception, love, and faith for those with patient ears to listen.
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