In an effort to build a space for queer people like myself, every Sunday I’ll be posting interviews, opinion pieces, listicles, reviews, and more focused on the LGBT community (and occasionally about the Latinx community since I am Latinx.) Welcome to Queerly Not Straight! Enjoy and leave a comment below if you have a suggestion for what I should cover next.
Netflix’s First Kill doesn’t have to be a cinematic or revolutionary masterpiece to be enjoyable. Period.
The statement above should be enough if I’m being honest. Live and let live, and all that jazz. But after perusing the internet, it’s become clear that many do not get that concept when it comes to First Kill. And honestly, I know it’s reviewer’s job to review stuff. It’s in the description. But what I’ve been seeing it’s just reviewing. It’s an absolute demolition of the show where it’s being called “tired” and “overdone.”
Excuse me?
Please point me, a queer viewer, to the LGBTQ+ vampire/hunter romances. Off the top of my head are vampire-focused shows like The Vampire Diaries and The Originals, which were primarily straight. I’m still waiting…you can’t think of any, can you? It’s because there are no stories like First Kill out there. And if we’re being honest, if the straights can have TVD and TO with no problem, then why can’t the LGBTQ+ community have First Kill?
It’s coming off very “you’ve always had everything given to you so you think you can compare it to other vampire shows.” And it shows. You’re so used to seeing yourself represented in everything you’ve ever consumed. And First Kill is presenting you with something you think is just like everything else you’ve watched before. But what you’re not taking into consideration is how blatantly queer it is, which makes it different.
First Kill doesn’t shy away from the connection between the two leads of Calliope (Imani Lewis) and Juliette (Sarah Catherine Hook). And it doesn’t care that both of them are women. If anything, it leans into it, unapologetically so. In doing so, it creates an experience that is brand new to LGBTQ+ viewers. One where they are the center of the story. They are the ones having the desires, hopes, and dreams set in a supernatural turn of events between a vampire and a hunter.
And it’s honestly great.
It’s what the gays deserve. It’s what I deserve. And I won’t stand for anyone trashing this show because it’s “tired” or “overdone.” Until we come to a point where it’s not a shock to see shows like First Kill on our screens, we won’t be tired of content like this. And considering how hard we have to fight for LGBTQ shows in 2022, it’s not like that’s going to change anytime soon. Until then, we as a community are going to watch the hell out of First Kill and enjoy every cheesy or campy second of it.
It’s what we deserve.
It’s what we’ve been waiting for.
And honestly, we’re not going to let anyone ruin it for us.
First Kill season one is available now on Netflix.
Queerly Not Straight posts every Sunday with opinion pieces, listicals, reviews, and more focused on the LGBT community (and occasionally about the Latinx community since I am Latinx.)