First Kill: The Supernatural Teen Drama That Should Have Replaced Teen Wolf

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Though Teen Wolf is a very popular fantasy series, First Kill had the potential to be its successor. Teen Wolf’s recent move to Netflix has actually made the 2011 MTV show even more popular. Based on the 1985 film, Teen Wolf followed Scott McCall (Tyler Posey), a typical teenager who unexpectedly becomes a werewolf.

Though many enjoyed all six seasons of Teen Wolf, its popularity highlighted a growing trend. The 2010s saw a surge in supernatural dramas aimed at young audiences, inspired by shows like True Blood, Grimm, and The Vampire Diaries. However, First Kill, which premiered on Netflix in 2022, truly carried on the spirit of Teen Wolf.

Just Like Teen Wolf, First Kill Follows A Teenaged Supernatural Creature

The 2022 Fantasy Focused On A Vampire Dynasty

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The show Teen Wolf started with a focus on werewolves, like the characters Scott and Derek Hale (played by Tyler Hoechlin), but quickly expanded to include a variety of supernatural creatures. Drawing on folklore and mythology from different cultures, the series featured ghosts, fox spirits, banshees, and more, creating compelling villains and complex characters. However, the young werewolves remained the show’s biggest draw.

Unlike Teen Wolf, which featured monsters that often changed shape, First Kill centers on a family of vampires born with their powers: the Fairmonts. Led by their parents, Margot (Elizabeth Mitchell) and Sebastian (Will Swenson), the series starts as their teenage daughter, Juliette (Sarah Catherine Hook), gets ready to complete a crucial vampire tradition – making her first kill on her 16th birthday.

Juliette struggles with killing people because she feels too much compassion for humans, and she doesn’t believe vampires should feed on blood. Seeking advice from family, especially her sister Elinor, she realizes just how much she differs from her family’s strict, traditional vampire beliefs.

While many vampire shows exist, First Kill offers a fresh take by developing its own unique history of vampirism. The show explains that the Fairmont family are direct descendants of Lilith, a powerful demon from biblical stories. According to the show’s lore, Lilith willingly took a bite from the serpent in the Garden of Eden, and this act made vampirism a hereditary trait passed down through the female line.

First Kill’s Romance Was Even Better Than Teen Wolf’s

Juliette & Calliope Were A Prototypical Forbidden Romance

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For the first few seasons of Teen Wolf, the central storyline revolved around the complicated relationship between Scott and Allison Argent, a new student who happened to come from a family of werewolf hunters. Despite learning Scott’s secret, Allison initially defies her family and continues dating him into the second season.

Following Allison’s death in season 3 of Teen Wolf, the show introduced several other potential love interests for Scott, but none captured the fans’ hearts like his initial romance with Allison. Although Scott and Allison’s relationship was central to Teen Wolf, it wasn’t without flaws, and the series struggled to create realistic challenges for them as a couple.

Like Allison’s relationship, the central romance in First Kill focuses on Juliette and Calliope “Cal” Burns (Imani Lewis), a newcomer to town whose family are dedicated monster hunters. While Allison was thrust into the world of vampires, Cal was raised from birth to be a hunter, though she secretly felt sympathy for the creatures she was supposed to destroy and tried to hide those feelings.

The TV show First Kill set up a classic enemies-to-lovers story with a vampire and a vampire hunter, both experiencing their first loves. What made this pairing stand out, even compared to popular couples like Scott and Allison, was the believable connection between the two leads. Juliette and Cal had undeniable chemistry, making audiences genuinely want them to be together despite the obstacles.

Why First Kill’s Cancelation Still Makes No Sense

Years Later, Its Cult Following Persists

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Despite a passionate fanbase, Netflix canceled First Kill after just one season. The announcement sparked significant disappointment and a wave of protests from viewers, who launched petitions and campaigned for the show to be renewed. However, Netflix has not changed its decision.

While several Netflix shows haven’t lasted long, the cancellation of First Kill felt particularly disappointing. There’s already a lack of teen series featuring LGBTQ+ characters, and it’s even rarer to see queer women of color represented on screen. Because of this, Calliope – a Black lesbian character – was a unique and valued presence for many viewers.

Critics didn’t like First Kill very much, but the show always connected with its audience. It wasn’t trying to be a serious, artistic achievement—it simply delivered what many teens (and those young at heart) want: a fun, sometimes cheesy, supernatural drama. And that slightly over-the-top quality was actually a big part of what made the show appealing.

With the recent resurgence of interest in shows like Teen Wolf, First Kill feels like a missed chance. Despite a passionate fanbase that strongly protested its cancellation, the LGBTQ+ vampire drama won’t get a second season. Ultimately, First Kill will be remembered for what it could have been, rather than what it was.

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2025-12-27 22:29