Carmilla The Series Web Series Review

『A Subtle and Sincere Queer Romance About Two Different Beings Learning, Accepting, and Growing Together』

🎥 Series Overview

🎬 Title: Carmilla The Series (2014)
🌍 Country: 🇨🇦 Canada
🎞️ Genre: Web Series / Mystery / Queer Romance
🗓️ Production & Broadcast: VervegirlTV, 2014–2016, 3 Seasons, approx. 121 Episodes
📺 Platform: YouTube, Netflix (available in select countries)

👩‍💼 Cast: Elise Bauman – Laura Hollis
Natasha Negovanlis – Carmilla Karnstein

🧩 Story Deep Dive (Spoilers Included)

🔍 Carmilla

Carmilla The Series is a modern adaptation of Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu’s 1872 Gothic novella Carmilla. Despite its low budget, the show became a groundbreaking example of queer representation and developed a powerful global fandom as a successful transmedia narrative. The story unfolds through the video blog (Vlog) of the main character, Laura Hollis.

🌟 Smart Use of a Low Budget

• Strength of the Vlog Format: The series unfolds as Laura Hollis, a journalism student at Silas University, livestreams her investigation into her roommate Betty’s disappearance. This found-footage or “mockumentary” style overcame budgetary limits by immersing viewers in Laura’s intimate, limited perspective, making them experience the mystery alongside her.

• Genre Fusion: While based on Gothic literature, the show blends the campy humor and irreverence of Buffy the Vampire Slayer with the witty noir tone of Veronica Mars, creating a fresh and engaging hybrid of supernatural mystery and romantic comedy.

🦉 Laura Hollis & Carmilla Karnstein (Hollstein)

The relationship between Laura and Carmilla Karnstein—known among fans as “Hollstein”—forms the emotional and thematic core of the series. Their love story follows the classic “Enemies-to-Lovers” arc, evolving from mutual hostility to deep affection.

• Laura Hollis: An idealistic journalism major driven by justice and curiosity. She initially detests Carmilla’s rudeness and apathy but gradually grows drawn to her as they uncover campus mysteries together. Laura’s conviction is that “even monsters can be redeemed through love.”

• Carmilla Karnstein: A cynical, world-weary philosophy student—who is, in truth, a centuries-old vampire. Sarcastic and nihilistic, she mocks Laura’s optimism but slowly learns empathy, loyalty, and vulnerability through their relationship.

• Dynamic of Their Relationship: The two represent opposing poles of belief—idealism vs. cynicism, order vs. apathy. Carmilla rediscovers her long-lost humanity through Laura, while Laura finds unexpected courage and strength in Carmilla’s presence.

Their emotional progression is filled with misunderstandings and moral conflicts. Carmilla, haunted by her dark past and vampiric nature, often pushes Laura away—but ultimately proves her love through self-sacrifice, risking her life to protect her.

🏳️‍🌈 Groundbreaking Queer Representation

Carmilla The Series marks an important milestone in queer media representation, breaking away from harmful narrative conventions and normalizing LGBTQ+ identities in genre storytelling.

• Breaking the “Bury Your Gays” Trope: While many Western TV dramas portrayed lesbian couples with tragic or fatal endings, Carmilla gave its main couple a happy resolution. The narrative even included a symbolic resurrection from death (or vampirism), turning despair into hope and agency.

• Normalized Queer Identity: Laura and Carmilla’s sexual orientation is never a source of conflict. The drama’s tension arises from supernatural forces—vampires, ancient gods—not from prejudice or shame. Their queerness is portrayed as natural, valid, and unremarkable in the best sense.

• Diverse Queer & Gender Representation: Beyond the main couple, the show includes other LGBTQ+ characters, such as LaFontaine (a non-binary character using they/them pronouns), reflecting the real diversity within the queer community.

🪞Carmilla The Series built a devoted global fanbase through its female-centered storytelling, witty dialogue, and undeniable on-screen chemistry between the leads. Despite its small-scale production, it reinvented the classic Gothic romance into a modern university mystery, and more importantly, delivered a positive, multidimensional portrayal of queer love to mainstream audiences—making it a landmark in both web series and LGBTQ+ media history.

🎯 Personal Rating

💕 Love Scene Intensity: ♥
⭐ Overall Rating: ★★★☆