First Kill spoilers follow.
There is nothing more addictive than a heartfelt teen romance. Few can deny the allure, especially when it's forbidden love (ugh, be still our pining hearts).
Throw in a little campness and you're on to a winner. Angel and Buffy, Bella and Edward, Phoebe and Cole (albeit not teenagers themselves but Charmed was still a show aimed at the young so it passes). And that's just the fantasy sector of the TV universe.
First Kill is the latest in a long line of teen fantasy dramas about bloodsuckers, and let's get something straight right off the back. It's wacky and camp and lovable in its own way. It doesn't take itself too seriously and nor should it. It was never designed to.
Any doubts about that and you can refer to the MASSIVE SPOILER scene where the newly made vamp Theo runs about the front yard confused and deranged. The camera angles resemble something out of the The Blair Witch Project. It's ridiculous and perfect all at the same time.
Sadly, though, despite such quirky gems, First Kill falls at the first hurdle and its poor sexy scene is symptomatic of that problem.
The core of this show – the reason people should want to sink their teeth into it – is the love story between vampire Juliette Fairmont (Sarah Catherine Hook) and hunter Calliope Burns (Imani Lewis). Unfortunately it's problematic at best.
The emotions driving their romance feel forced and disingenuous and that's majorly disappointing.
Some of it is partially down to pace. The intensity of Jules and Cals' feelings develop quickly without the show really building a foundation for their romance. It's all blood, death and duty without the real life events that bind.
Where are the longing looks across classrooms? (And no, the first five minutes don't count, one episode is not enough.) What about the dates? The many long talks that involve more than the Montague-and-Capulet nature of their relationship?
You know, the heady, innocent, teenage fun that leads to emotional connectivity?
Consequently when we arrive at the supposedly heated moment it fumbles. Their romp sesh against the tree feels prematurely misplaced in the story arc. No amount of panting, heaving and grinding is enough to convince that their connection had progressed to that level of intensity.
One might be tempted to chalk the hasty feel of their connection up to the binge-based nature of the show's design. A whole-series drop is designed to encourage a back-to-back watch, which can make the romance feel quickened. However, that feels like a flabby excuse.
The recent release of Heartstopper proves this. Like First Kill, the queer love story was a whole season drop with only eight episodes. In Heartstopper, however, with its dreamy, melodic music and palpable longing, the romance felt tangible. Unlike First Kill it was able to pull viewers wholeheartedly into Nick and Charlie's love story in the most breathtaking way.
You really feel their wants, desires and their connection. You ache for their yearning so badly that some have to watch between laced fingers pressed over eyes because their agony and angst is just too much for some. (Us, we are some).
Yet despite the mortal peril and the forbidden nature of Jules and Cal's romance – the ingredients for a hot and steamy love story – it's just not believable.
Hook does her best and her commitment to their doomed love is everything and more. Her portrayal of the tortured vamp in love with her prey strikes all the right notes.
Lewis' feelings, however, don't quite match the tone of Hook's. It's as if they are set at different frequencies, with Cal's passion feeling quite dramatic next to Hook's earnest and raw Juliette.
It leaves you feeling a little unsure of their romance, no matter how much we root for them – and boy do we root. An LGBTQ+ love story led by two strong female characters is precisely what the world needs more of.
The show does less to tackle the issue of acceptance but instead reinforces the normality of queer love. This is something all shows need, to give queer love the respect it deserves, making it part of the fabric of the fictional society and not something other characters need to come to terms with to accept.
Sadly First Kill appears to forget that the heart is the centre of the show. Jules and Cal's love should carry the most weight and therefore be explored much more deeply than they are permitted.
Instead it feels a little lukewarm and unconvincing.
All episodes of First Kill are available to watch now on Netflix.
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TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since. For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing. She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.
