First Kill 2022 Series Review

『A Forbidden Love Blooming Between Fate and Conflict』

🎥 Series Overview

🎬 Title: First Kill (2022)
🌍 Country: 🇺🇸 United States
🎞️ Genre: Teen / Supernatural / Romance
🗓️ Production & Release: Netflix, Season 1
⏳ Runtime: Approximately 40–50 minutes per episode
📢 Produced by: Emma Roberts
🖋️ Original Work: Victoria Schwab’s short story “First Kill”
📺 Platform: Netflix

👩‍💼 Cast: Sarah Catherine Hook – Juliet Fairmont
Imani Lewis – Calliope "Cal" Burns

🧩 Deep Story Exploration (Spoilers)

🩸 Forbidden Love and the 'Romeo and Juliet' Motif

The relationship between Juliet and Cal borrows from the timeless tragic romance motif of “Romeo and Juliet.”

• Fated Opposition: Juliet is a vampire who must make her first “kill,” while Cal must perform her own “first kill” to be recognized as a hunter. The ironic setup that each becomes the other's first target instantly gives their meeting a sense of fatal destiny.

• A Twist on ‘Enemies to Lovers’: Though they meet as natural enemies—a hunter and a vampire—they feel an irresistible attraction even as they are meant to kill each other. This combination of hostility and passion, intensified by teenage impulsiveness, drives their relationship into a whirlwind romance in a short period of time.

Their love goes beyond personal emotion—it symbolically challenges the centuries-old feud between their families while also becoming a dangerous gamble that threatens their lives.

🌈 A Naturally Existential Love

What sets Juliet and Cal’s romance apart from typical supernatural romances is the focus on a lesbian couple as the main protagonists.

• Depiction of ‘Queer Existence’: The show deliberately avoids the usual trauma or conflict surrounding sexual identity that often dominates mainstream heteronormative genres. Juliet and Cal do not struggle with loving each other—they simply do. Their pain stems not from being queer but from family conflict and their inherent identities as vampire and hunter. This shift redefines queer storytelling, moving it away from narratives of suffering toward one of natural existence and love.

• Gender Dynamics Reversal: Traditional vampire/human romances usually feature a male vampire and a human woman. Here, two strong and independent female characters stand at the center, creating a fascinating reversal of power dynamics within the romantic framework.

✨ Chemistry and Narrative Pacing

🟢 The ‘Organic’ Chemistry Between Leads

Some critics described the leads’ chemistry as not “explosive,” but rather authentically natural. This choice grounds their relationship in realism, portraying the tender and tentative emotions of teenage girls falling for one another. Sarah Catherine Hook (as Juliet) brings a shy, inexperienced vampire to life, while Imani Lewis (as Cal) embodies a strong, extroverted hunter—creating a dynamic contrast that enhances the romance’s organic charm.

🔴 A Rapidly Progressing Relationship

Their relationship escalates quickly—from trying to kill each other upon their first meeting to sharing a kiss and becoming lovers within a few episodes. Some viewers saw this as a reflection of the impulsive nature of teenage love, while others criticized it for lacking the emotional buildup necessary to make their all-consuming love feel believable. Critics particularly pointed out the absence of quiet, ordinary moments that could have deepened their emotional connection beyond passion.

💘 The Struggle Between Identity and Instinct

Juliet and Cal’s relationship ties closely to the theme of personal identity struggle.

• Conflict Between Instinct and Duty: Juliet resists her vampire instincts—especially her “first kill”—in an effort to live a human life, while Cal wrestles with the pressure to uphold her family’s hunter legacy. Through each other, they find the strength to confront their instincts and obligations. Yet their love also provokes anger and danger from both families, driving the series toward its dramatic climax.

• Inevitable Tragedy: By the end of Season 1, their relationship reaches a heartbreaking collapse. Cal grows to hate Juliet after misunderstanding her involvement in turning Theo (Cal’s stepbrother) into a vampire, while Juliet is abandoned by her family and leaves town. This tragic ending underscores how their love remains bound by fate and family conflict, completing the classic tragic motif.

The relationship between Juliet and Cal is both the essence and highlight of “First Kill.” Their romance blends familiar genre thrills with a bold, natural expansion of queer representation. Though the rapid pacing may be its flaw, the emotional chemistry and youthful defiance against destiny leave a strong impression on viewers.

🎯 Personal Rating

💕 Intimacy Level: ♥♥
⭐ Rating: ★★★