LGBTQ+ vampire series First Kill cancelled by Netflix after one season — disappointed fans speak out

First Kill was a series that attempted to balance artistic integrity with commercial viability. It was also one of the few Netflix series that attempted to showcase an LGBT+ relationship — in this case, two vampires in a loving, monogamous relationship. Unfortunately, the series was poorly received by critics and failed to capture a wide audience. It was given a low rating of 58% on Rotten Tomatoes and had a relatively small viewership, given the size of Netflix’s audience. In the end, it seemed the streaming giant decided that the potential new fans the series could bring in did not outweigh the cost of producing the show.

Is there a silver lining here?

While the cancellation of First Kill is a bummer and will disappoint many fans, there may be a silver lining. With the cancellation of multiple Netflix series, there’s been an increase in critical discourse surrounding the way Netflix represents diverse people and stories. This is especially true when it comes to LGBTQ+ representation, which is still lacking. As First Kill is one of the few cancelled Netflix series to feature a queer couple, we’re seeing more conversation around the need for more diverse LGBTQ+ representation on streaming services like Netflix.

Fans are not happy

Perhaps the biggest problem with First Kill’s cancellation is that many of its fans are not happy. Many took to social media to express their disappointment, with some criticizing Netflix for cancelling the series. There were also many fans who seemed hurt by the way Netflix handled the situation, as there has been no official communication from the company about the cancellation. Some have also noted that Rossif Sutherland’s social media accounts have been strangely quiet following the cancellation. This could be due to a variety of reasons, but it has made some fans even more upset, as they believe it is a sign of him distancing himself from the series.

LGBTQ+ Representation Matters

Many of First Kill’s disappointed fans have expressed their disappointment by reminding each other and the world how important it is to have a variety of queer and LGBTQ+ characters on screen. They are right. While we have come a long way in terms of LGBTQ+ representation, there is still so much more that needs to be done. When it comes to streaming services, there are very few series that feature LGBTQ+ relationships. Netflix has a handful of shows that are inclusive. The biggest one is, of course, Orange is the New Black. But there have also been shows like 13 Reason Why, The Kissing Booth, and the incredibly popular Queer Eye that have worked to break new ground for the streaming service. However, there are still many shows on Netflix that exclude LGBTQ+ people. This includes a lot of the Marvel and DC superhero shows, as well as many of the sci-fi and fantasy series.

How to deal with disappointment: Resisting the Temptation to Dive into the Discouraging Data

While we’re seeing more discourse surrounding Netflix’s lack of LGBTQ+ representation, there’s still a lot of discouraging data. A study from the University of Southern California’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative found that only 22% of LGBTQ+ characters are found in streaming series. And that’s across all streaming services. Netflix, in particular, has been called out for its lack of diverse LGBTQ+ characters. In fact, there is only one series on Netflix that features a lead LGBTQ+ character, and it hasn’t been renewed for a second season. While there is still much work to do, it’s important to resist the temptation to jump on the discouraging data. It’s easy to get caught up in the numbers and forget that there is a vibrant community of LGBTQ+ people working to change the narrative.

Final Words

Cancellation is a part of life, for individuals and for television shows alike. It can be upsetting, but it is important to remember that not all cancellations are the same. While some are due to low viewership and others are due to a network wanting to try something new, others are cancellations because the showrunners want to walk away from their creation. Sometimes, a showrunner will want to end their show while other times they will be forced out by their network. In the case of First Kill, it looks like the showrunners wanted to end the show but the network was not ready to let the show go. There are plenty of reasons why a show might be cancelled, but what matters most is how we as fans react and deal with the inevitable disappointment that accompanies the cancellation of a show we love.