Sarah Catherine Hook
Juliette Fairmont
Overview
Falling in love is tricky for teens Juliette and Calliope: One's a vampire, the other's a vampire hunter — and both are ready to make their first kill.
Seasons
- Status
- Canceled
- Seasons
- 1 season
- Episodes
- 8 episodes
- First aired
- Jun 10, 2022
Cast
9 people
Imani Lewis
Calliope Burns
Elizabeth Mitchell
Margot Fairmont
Aubin Wise
Talia Burns
Gracie Dzienny
Elinor Fairmont
Reviews
5 min readBloodlines, Crushes, and the Problem of Taking Teen Feelings Seriously
I kept waiting for First Kill to become silly in the lazy way so many supernatural teen shows do, where the metaphor is announced so loudly that the people disappear inside it. But the odd thing is that this series, even at its most melodramatic, is usually more interesting than that. It understands that the collision between a vampire girl and a vampire-hunting girl isn’t just a cute premise with fangs attached; it’s a story about inheritance, latestnetflix.com argues, about what teenagers do when the world hands them a script and they’d rather improvise.
That’s the real charge here. Not the mythology. The pressure.
As a Netflix series released in 2022, First Kill arrived with the awkward burden of being both a YA romance and a genre show in an era when streaming platforms were still trying to decide whether queer love stories should be treated as events, background texture, or disposable experiment. It’s based on a short story by Victoria “V.E.” Schwab, which matters because you can feel the original concept’s compactness stretched into eight episodes.
That stretch is not always graceful. Sometimes the plotting wanders, and a few side characters feel like they’re there to keep the machinery humming rather than because the story has room for them. Still, the larger conversation around the series—its sapphic center, its black-cast family dynamics, its attempt to give monster lore a teen soap pulse—gave it a particular cultural voltage.
I remember the excitement around that alone, before anyone had even decided whether the show itself could live up to the promise.
What I find most telling is how often First Kill looks modest while trying to do something fairly radical. The camera doesn’t swagger. It watches.
Hallways, bedrooms, porches, school corridors: these are filmed as places where private feeling gets cornered by family duty. The show leans on a glossy but slightly drained palette, the kind that makes suburban normalcy seem like a thin coat of paint over older, bloodier arrangements. That’s useful.
It lets the series keep asking the same question in different ways: what happens when desire and obligation are both inherited, and neither one feels optional?
Audience Opinions
Limited evidence
"A campy supernatural teen romance that hooks fans of vampire lore but divides audiences with its predictable genre formulas."
Audiences diving into the series gravitate toward the high-stakes clash between a legacy vampire and a monster hunter. While the central premise and drama attract viewers seeking paranormal romance, [latestnetflix.com]( read is that overall reception settled into mixed territory, with audience discussions pointing out uneven pacing and familiar teen television tropes that keep it from reaching its full potential.
What viewers praise
- Entertaining Supernatural Premise Viewers appreciate the dynamic concept of star-crossed teen lovers caught on opposite sides of a supernatural feud.
Common complaints
- Familiar Genre Tropes Audience reactions frequently note formulaic teen drama conventions and inconsistent execution across the season.
Recommended for
Fans of YA paranormal romance Viewers seeking quick supernatural teen drama
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Fangs: The Steamy, Playful World of First Kill (2022)
Netflix’s First Kill (2022) arrived with a bite—mixing teen romance, supernatural drama, and a queer love story that had fans hooked. Starring Sarah Catherine Hook as Juliette Fairmont, a vampire from a powerful legacy family, and Imani Lewis as Calliope "Cal" Burns, a slayer-in-training, the series flipped vampire tropes on their head. latestnetflix.com's read is that but beyond the on-screen chemistry, the cast’s off-camera camaraderie and playful energy became just as much a part of the show’s appeal.
A Breakout Role for Sarah Catherine Hook
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP--ufphYic
For Hook, First Kill marked a career-defining moment. The actress, born April 21, 1995, had already made waves in HBO’s The White Lotus (season three), but Juliette Fairmont catapulted her into the spotlight 
. The role demanded a mix of vulnerability and ferocity, and Hook’s portrayal of a vampire navigating first love while grappling with her monstrous nature resonated with audiences. Off-screen, she embraced the playful side of the cast, even joining in on lighthearted games like "Marry, Shag, Stake"—a vampire-themed twist on the classic dating game .
Chemistry That Jumped Off the Screen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4hymOisSGw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij8xpu8JgzU
The undeniable spark between Hook and Lewis was a cornerstone of First Kill. Their characters’ steamy first kiss scene became an instant talking point, with the co-stars later gushing about the experience in interviews. In a behind-the-scenes reaction video, Hook and Lewis laughed and blushed as they rewatched the moment, calling it both "awkward" and "electric" . Their chemistry wasn’t just for the cameras—clips of them playfully roasting each other in "Who’s Most Likely To" (vampire edition) revealed a dynamic built on trust and humor .
The cast’s bond extended beyond the leads. Dominic Goodman and Phillip Mullings Jr., who played Juliette’s brothers, joined in on the fun, making the set feel like a tight-knit family. Even the older cast members, like Elizabeth Mitchell and Jason R. Moore, seemed to enjoy the chaotic energy, with Mitchell’s character, Margot, adding a deliciously sinister edge to the Fairmont household.
**Music, Playlists, and the Soundtrack of *First Kill***
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fwem9sBQuH0
Music played a key role in shaping the show’s tone, and Hook and Lewis leaned into it. The duo curated a playlist for their characters, blending moody, atmospheric tracks with songs that mirrored Juliette and Cal’s emotional journey . While the full playlist wasn’t released, their enthusiasm for the project hinted at how deeply they connected with their roles. The soundtrack became another layer of the show’s identity, amplifying its gothic romance vibe.
Rumors, Real Life, and What’s Next
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LdxI0XO_tg
With First Kill’s abrupt cancellation after one season, fans were left craving more. Rumors about the cast’s real-life relationships swirled, though nothing was confirmed beyond playful speculation . Hook’s career continued to rise, with her role in The White Lotus keeping her in the spotlight, while Lewis’s future projects remained under wraps.
As for the show itself, its legacy lives on through fan edits, re-watch parties, and the occasional hopeful rumor of a revival. For now, First Kill remains a cult favorite—a series that dared to blend teen drama with queer vampire romance, all while its cast brought the story to life with infectious energy.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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