Teen Wolf is a wildly popular fantasy show, but First Kill could have been its perfect replacement. Thanks to Teen Wolf’s move to Netflix, the 2011 MTV drama is trendier than ever. A television adaptation of the 1985 film of the same name, Teen Wolf centered on Scott McCall (Tyler Posey), an ordinary teen who suddenly becomes a werewolf.
Fans eagerly tuned in to all six seasons of Teen Wolf, but its mainstream appeal was reflective of a broader, incredibly promising subgenre. Throughout the 2010s, more supernatural teen dramas were created, building off the success of titles like True Blood, Grimm, and The Vampire Diaries franchise. Yet, Teen Wolf’s true spiritual successor came in 2022, with Netflix’s First Kill.
Just Like Teen Wolf, First Kill Follows A Teenaged Supernatural Creature
The 2022 Fantasy Focused On A Vampire Dynasty
Margot (Elizabeth Mitchell) and Sebastian (Will Swenson) Fairmont in formal wear, drinking blood out of wine glasses in First Kill.MovieStillsDB
Teen Wolf begins with werewolves like Scott and Derek Hale (Tyler Hoechlin), but the teen drama incorporated many other supernatural beings throughout its run as well. From ghosts to fox spirits to banshees, Teen Wolf drew inspiration from many existing cultures and mythologies to create its fearsome antagonists and antiheroes. Yet, young werewolves were undeniably the most effective selling point.
Whereas Teen Wolf’s terrifying creatures were mostly shapeshifters or some sort of transformative monster, First Kill focused on a natural-born vampire dynasty: the infamous Fairmonts, led by matriarch Margot (Elizabeth Mitchell) and father Sebastian (Will Swenson). The series begins as their youngest daughter, Juliette (Sarah Catherine Hook), prepares to make her titular first kill, a tradition that occurs on a vampire’s 16th birthday.
Unfortunately, Juliette has too much empathy for humans to casually kill someone, and she rejects the notion that it’s in the natural order for vampires to drain their blood. As she turns to her loved ones for guidance, like her elder sister, Elinor (Gracie Dzienny), Juliette begins to fully understand how different she is from her traditional, purist vampire family.
There are myriad vampire TV shows, but First Kill puts a unique spin on its version by creating original lore to explain vampirism. The Fairmont family are direct descendants of Lilith, a primordial demon from the bible. After voluntarily accepting the serpent’s bite in the Garden of Eden, vampirism became a hereditary trait passed down via matrilineality.
First Kill’s Romance Was Even Better Than Teen Wolf’s
Juliette & Calliope Were A Prototypical Forbidden Romance
Calliope Burns (Imani Lewis) kisses Juliette Fairmont’s (Sarah Catherine Hook) neck in First Kill.MovieStillsDB
The driving force behind Teen Wolf’s first few seasons was the on-again-off-again romance between Scott and Allison Argent (Crystal Reed), the new girl in town who coincidentally comes from a long line of werewolf hunters. Though she’s momentarily swayed after finding out the truth, Allison goes against her family’s wishes and dates Scott well into season 2.
After Allison’s death in Teen Wolf season 3, the series gave Scott multiple other love interests, but none resonated with fans as much as his first love. Despite Scott and Allison’s relationship in Teen Wolf being an undeniably pivotal aspect of the show, they were far from perfect, and the series failed to set up believable conflicts for them.
A vampire and vampire hunter, both vying for their first conquest, make a truly forbidden match…
Similarly, First Kill’s main pairing is Juliette and Calliope “Cal” Burns (Imani Lewis), the new girl at school whose family is a gang of devoted monster hunters. Unlike Allison, Cal trained her entire life to join the family business, though she also had hidden empathy for supernatural creatures that she did her best to suppress.
First Kill had the perfect foundation for an enemies-to-lovers TV romance, as a vampire and vampire hunter, both vying for their first conquest, make a truly forbidden match. What makes them more interesting than Scott and Allison is that their tension — physical or romantic — was always convincing. Juliette and Cal’s palpable chemistry makes viewers root for their love against all odds.
Why First Kill’s Cancelation Still Makes No Sense
Years Later, Its Cult Following Persists
Calliope Burns (Imani Lewis) and Juliette Fairmont (Sarah Catherine Hook) glare at each other while wearing Lancaster Academy t-shirts in First Kill.MovieStillsDB
Unfortunately, First Kill became yet another canceled Netflix show after its pilot season ended, much to the chagrin of the audience. Public outcry quickly followed the announcement, with fans begging for a second season renewal. Numerous petitions were even created in the aim of reversing Netflix’s decision, but nothing has seemed to sway the streaming service.
Many Netflix original series ended prematurely, but First Kill felt like an especially deep cut because of its target demographic. There aren’t nearly enough teen shows with LGBTQ+ representation in general, and it’s exceptionally rare for queer women of color to see themselves included in media. As a result, Calliope — a Black lesbian — was a rarity that many viewers appreciated.
First Kill was received by critics with overwhelming negativity, but its true value was always what it offered the audience. It was never meant to be a highbrow masterpiece, but First Kill offered something that every generation deserves: an enjoyable, if not sometimes corny, supernatural teen drama. In fact, First Kill’s kitsch factor was a major part of its charm.
As hordes of people rewatch Teen Wolf and relive the glory days of cheesy fantasy series, First Kill stands out as a wasted opportunity. Based on the uproar following its cancellation alone, the sapphic supernatural drama had more than enough fandom to justify season 2. Sadly, First Kill‘s legacy will forever be defined by its overlooked potential.