First Kill, Netflix's new vampire-led teen drama, has proven divided among critics.
The Netflix show debuted on Friday, June 10 with all eight episodes of its first season on the same day, as has become Netflix tradition.
Based on the short story of the same name by VE Schwab, First Kill is a reimagining of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Follow Juliette Fairmont, a vampire from a long line of vampires capable of living in plain sight in Savannah, Georgia.
As her 16th birthday approaches, Juliette, who has spent her life thus far living on blood pills, finds that the pills are losing their effectiveness and must face the prospect that it's time for her to do it. she doesn't want to do.
Things get complicated with the arrival of a new girl in town, Calliope Burns, with whom Juliette quickly falls in love. The problem is that Calliope's family history is just as complicated as Juliet's. She is a monster hunter raised by a family of monster hunters. Oh darling...
Modern interpretations of Shakespeare's plays have proven to be a rich source of teen dramas such as 10 Things I Hate About You, She's The Man, and Get Over It, all of which have earned a place in the hearts of moviegoers. stoppers The Taming of the Shrew, Twelfth Night and A Midsummer Night's Dream. So how does First Kill compare to the reviews? Not great, as it turns out.
Do the critics hate it?
They don't hate him, but they're not exactly in love either. The show has a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 55%, which isn't a kick, but it's not enough for the show to earn a certified new rating.
Some critics don't like it either. Variety's Caroline Framke (opens in a new tab) wrote that the series was "sunk by a damaging mix of flat writing and flatter directing," while Decider's Joel Keller (opens in a new tab) claimed that "the The show's narration is so clunky, it's really hard to watch."
However, some reviewers were more enamored with the show, with Anna Govert of Paste Magazine (opens in a new tab) writing that the show was "...so much fun. It's corny, it's tongue-in-cheek and it's funny." ; everything you could want from a modern-day Shakespearean, teen-age vampire story." Meanwhile, Randy Myers of the San Jose Mercury News (opens in a new tab) said, "If you enjoy its delicious cheesy flavor, you're in for a lot of fun."
Analysis: Will this "kill" First Kill?
Some First Kill spoilers follow, so if you want to watch the show, stop reading here.
It seems obvious, but it will depend on how many people watch the show. As we've learned in 2022 so far, Netflix has no problem canceling shows if they don't bring the required numbers.
First Kill is a short story from a collection of vampire tales, not a giant franchise of young adult books. So there was no built-in fan base out of the box. The show, however, ends on a cliffhanger with Juliet and Calliope alive and well, which is quite different from Shakespeare's tragic ending for poor Romeo and Juliet. The showrunners have to imagine its possibilities, but we will wait to see the audience numbers.
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