At the beginning of the summer of 2022, Netflix released a new original series called ‘First Kill’. ‘First Kill’ is much like teen dramas ‘Riverdale’ and ‘Vampire Diaries’ and received rave reviews from fans when it first aired on Netflix almost 2 months ago. It was announced by Netflix earlier this week that it will not be picking up a second season of ‘First Kill’, its teen vampire drama series executive produced by Emma Roberts. Netflix cancels ‘First Kill” after only one season, and fans are not happy!
Netflix’s renewal/cancellation decisions usually come down to viewing versus cost. ‘First Kill’, which stars Sarah Catherine Hook and Imani Lewis, featured mostly up-and-coming talent and had a decent run based on Netflix’s Top 10 viewership figures.
Released June 10, ‘First Kill’ staked a weekly Top 10 spot for English-language TV series with its first three days of release, ranking No. 7 with 30.3M hours viewed. It peaked at No. 3 in its first full week of release with 48.8M hours viewed, only behind ‘Stranger Things 4’ and ‘Peaky Blinders’ Season 6 and spent one more week in the Top 10 before falling off. The series easily cleared 100M hours viewed in its first 28 days of release.
According to sources, the series, did not meet thresholds for viewing and completion of episodes. Launching successful teen series has been challenging for many streamers. HBO Max just canceled ‘Gordita Chronicles‘ amid a pullback in live-action kids/family original programming.
Written by Felicia D. Henderson and best-selling author Victoria “V. E.” Schwab, ‘First Kill’ was based on a short story by Schwab. In it, when it’s time for teenage vampire Juliette (Hook) to make her first kill so she can take her place among a powerful vampire family, she sets her sights on a new girl in town named Calliope (Lewis). But much to Juliette’s surprise, Calliope is a vampire hunter, from a family of celebrated slayers. Both find that the other won’t be so easy to kill and, unfortunately, way too easy to fall for…
The cast also includes Elizabeth Mitchell, Aubin Wise, Jason Robert Moore, Gracie Dzienn, Will Swenson, Phillip Mullings Jr., Dominic Goodman and Dylan McNamara. Henderson, who serves as showrunner, executive produces the series, alongside creator Schwab as well as Roberts and Karah Preiss through Belletrist Productions.
Read some fan reactions to the news of the cancellation of ‘First Kill’:
this but also people who say first kill doesn’t have good rep really deserve to watch background characters with 2 min screen time as they can’t appreciate the amazing representation fk has please see bigger picture here & think ab what future holds for wlw media #savefirstkill pic.twitter.com/CjdzLULz7D
— juliette’s fang 🧛♀️ CLOSED (@juliettesfang) August 4, 2022
I will fight for First Kill even if I’m the last person talking about this show. #SaveFirstKill
— sarah catherine hook source (@schooksource) August 4, 2022
At the end of the day, white queers are not in a position anymore where they have to worry about never getting rep again. Queer rep has always and will always be catered to them. First Kill was revolutionary for bipoc queers but just another lesbian couple for white queers.
— Ericka/Nadia 🪵 is Zands bff (@Iousbianism) August 3, 2022
first kill hive started the downfall of netflix
— Ângel (@barbiefitting) August 3, 2022
apparently we need the CW to pick up first kill and that’s how we get 8+ seasons😭
— Ângel (@barbiefitting) August 3, 2022
I don’t think white queers are truly seeing what First Kill did for black queer people 🧵
— Ericka/Nadia 🪵 is Zands bff (@Iousbianism) August 3, 2022
The main girl was a darkskin black lesbian and the main family was black. Juliettes friend was black and gay and Calliopes ex was black and filipino. Black queers were finally
netflix is weird as hell for cancelling first kill. a successful wlw show with a black female lead being cancelled after outperforming SEVERAL netflix originals?… what
— ceo of kory (@korysverse) August 3, 2022
I recorded this video in our first month of shooting First Kill. Some things never change. Thank you.🖤I love you all so fckn bad! FK4L🩸 pic.twitter.com/GxtD5mqfIU
— Imani Lewis (@MochaBands) August 3, 2022
Are you a fan of the Netflix teen vampire drama series ‘First Kill’ and are also sad to see it be cancelled? Let us know in the comments!