Netflix’s First Kill is a cute sapphic vampire show that is filling in the void that Carmilla left in my soul. Despite all the notes I might have about the series, one aspect I really love about it is the Burns family of monster hunters. The premise of First Kill is that teenage vampire Juliette Fairmont (Sarah Catherine Hook) has yet to kill her first human and ends up being romantically drawn to Calliope “Cal” Burns (Imani Lewis). Unbeknownst to Juliette, her beloved Cal belongs to the Burns family, a group of monster hunters that are part of the Guild.
Phillip Mullings Jr., as Theo, and Dominic Goodman, as Apollo, perfectly play brothers dealing with the duality of hunting monsters, while also being protectors. Aubin Wise, as Talia, is without a doubt the standout member of the family. The biological mother of Apollo and Cal, and the stepmother of Theo, Talia is a strong figure in the story. She is often the one we see advocating for her children. She is a fearless warrior, but also smart and compassionate to the ones she loves.
As the series progresses and she is torn between her duty and her responsibilities to her children, she constantly puts her kids first. I especially appreciated that when Theo starts to feel emotionally stressed with hunting down the vampire who killed his mother, Talia does her best to give him space.
I wish that seeing a Black family in a show like this, with a prominent role, wasn’t so rare. I have watched so many vampire/supernatural shows that barely include Black and Brown characters. Or, when they are onscreen, I am constantly in a state of worry about them dying or being vilified. Thankfully, First Kill makes sure to humanize the Burnses.
Both the Fairmont vampires and the Burns hunters have their issues, but when push comes to shove, it is Talia who provides the emotional center of the story. That is something we rarely see Black women get to do in these shows. First Kill may not be perfect, but it is delivering more representation than a lot of your favs—something to think about it before you throw stones.
(featured image: Netflix)
