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Analyzing Names from First Kill

(disclaimer: I've currently only seen the trailer + the first episode, so that's what this is based on)

Juliette

I imagine the choice for her name is a reference to Romeo & Juliet. There's a forbidden love story here, particular one where their families are enemies.

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Since Calliope and her brothers are all named after figures in Greek mythology, I figured I'd group them together:

Calliope

Calliope is the Muse of epic poetry. According to Theoi Project, her name means "beautiful-voiced". The Muses inspire poets and artists to create great works, and Calliope, specifically, epic poetry: long narrative works, often a kind of hero's story. However, instead of inspiring epic poetry, Calliope Burns desires to become her own hero, to write her own epic tale with her actions.

Theseus

Theo's name choice is a bit more obvious. Theseus is a hero in Greek mythology, who slayed a monster that was devouring children: the Minotaur.

Apollo

Apollo is a god of many things: healing, music, poetry, prophecies, archery, and more. There are many myths about Apollo, which makes it difficult to pinpoint what the connection might be. My best guess, as of right now is that multiple of the myths involve him slaying creatures. There are several other myths that don't involve monster-slaying, and it makes me wonder if any of them could give hint to possible plot points with his character.

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Elinor

The name Eleanor (or Elinor as her name is spelled in the show) means "light". However, I feel like the more significant connection between the character and the name is with the historic figure Eleanor of Aquitaine, who lived from 1122-1204 (over 80 years) and at different points in her life, was Queen of France, and then Queen of England. I haven't dug too deep into her life, but it seems absolutely wild. I think Elinor Fairmont captures a similar vibe of "scandalous but powerful".

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First Kill Liveblog Navigation

disclaimer: I'm trying to pace myself with this. I want to enjoy the show, plus it takes literal hours to watch one episode while taking notes, then afterwards turning those notes into a post with screenshots and formatting

episode list:

1 - First Kiss

[firstkill-liveblog]

episode 1

First Kill (2022) - liveblog

when I tell you I took 10 pages of notes LOL

(spoilers for episode 1 of First Kill below the cut)

love the stylized Netflix font!

ooooh!! the opening song

instant Carmilla vibes

"...that our love is deeper than Edward & Bella's"

➥ omfg the shade

I love the opening

"First Kiss" (episode title)

➥OH?!

so much red, oh my! sexy bloody dreams?

she dresses so soft/pastel-y for a vampire

Juliette feels everyone but her has it all figured out

➥I think most teenagers feel this way; I know I certainly did

that's a lot of lipsticks!

wait! you can see her in the mirror. so that's probably not a part of the lore of this show

the lipstick was her sister's?

(Before He Cheats plays)

➥hell yeah!!

Juliette read the Bell Jar (from her mom's collection) with her friend Ben

➥I need to read that at some point

Juliette dated her childhood friend Ben before they both realized they were gay

Ben's "I'm a luxury few can afford" shirt

interesting distorted music for the blood crave

the sun makes the cravings worse

Juliette's crush on Calliope!!

Ben offers to pull a Cyrano de Bergerac

➥OMG I feel like this is a slight reference to The Half of It (and Sierra Burgess is a Loser)

Juliette + Cal bump into each other and Juliette's pills spill onto the ground

➥this would be a meet-cute if it weren't for the suspenseful music

➥I feel like Cal recognizes the blood pills

➥it's so awkward aaaaahhh

Calliope, Theseus, and Apollo

so they're all named after figures from Greek mythology, interesting!

Cal agrees to go to Ben's party

➥AAAHH

➥awww Juliette is so happy!!!!

vampires have sensory issues? valid

Cal just transferred to the school

➥did she get transferred by her family to specifically hunt Juliette?

a silver bracelet? maybe? those hurt vampires, right?

"You're not my first crush, not even my second. But this one feels different." (Juliette)

➥I appreciate that they're not doing the first crush or first crush on a girl thing

"...like I know we're going to happen. I just don't know when." (Juliette)

➥that is some confidence wow

Cal dropped her bracelet and it burns Juliette

➥YEP! definitely silver! is it an intentional trap?!

➥that burn looks bad

Juliette runs the burn under water and her fangs appear

➥OH NOOOOO

(Don't Assume What You Don't Know plays)

➥this soundtrack is so good

aww Juliette is so happy about Cal!

blood pills don't work forever?

(in reference to sucking blood + killing) Juliette: "I'm not ready" / her mom: "It isn't that hard, just choose someone."

➥so much for supportive parents : (

"It's not scary. It's wrong." (Juliette)

I hate Juliette's mother.

(Elinor recounts her first kill) "He barely even fought back."

➥uhhhh NOT OKAY

Elinor has a whole drawer full of ID's of people she's killed

➥WTF

red lipstick - YES!!

"Stay calm, be prepared, and always finish what you start." (vampire rules)

➥cuz otherwise you'll turn the victim into a vampire?

the lipstick shade is called "Heart Stopper"

➥clever... but also... I wonder if it's a reference to Heartstopper the show?? probably not but still

Ben leaves Juliette to go talk to Noah

➥OOF

Ben is crying?

➥oh noooo

(insert Slumber Party lyrics here)

➥WELP... that's explicit LOL

Cal + Juliette making eyes at each other

➥oh my

Juliette goes to play spin the bottle + Cal follows

➥👀

the bottle is spinning

➥I'm scared

Ben force-turns the bottle to Cal

➥OMG OMG

Cal is wearing rings

➥is that more pure silver??

OH it is the closet version of spin the bottle..

KISS TIME & I'm scared

Cal's rings touched Juliette's face

➥so not silver I'm assuming

WELP this got steamy very quickly

they knocked down a jar of cherries

➥is that an analogy?

Juliette's fangs come out & she bites Cal

➥WAIT... did that really happen??? I thought she might try, but I didn't think she'd succeed

we hear Calliope's perspective

➥YES!!! I love this!!

Cal only feels normal with her family

➥kind of similar to how Juliette doesn't feel normal with all the humans BUT Juliette also doesn't feel like she belongs with her family cuz of different values/morals (not wanting to kill)

Cal has nightmares about monsters

"That's when I learned the worst [monsters] always look human." (Cal)

Cal talking about being "normal"

➥love the parallel to Juliette!

"some disturbed graves, exhumed bodies, some very human-looking teeth" = ghouls?

SWORDS!!!!!

"One day, I'm going to be the greatest hunter who ever lived." (Cal)

➥OOH!! Can Cal and Juliette go hunting just the bad and/or mindless monsters together??!

"Theo was 12 when he made his first kill..."

➥both the vampires and the monster hunters call it "first kill". it works well for the show title tho!

Calliope failed her first chance at a kill

(I Still Taste Fire plays)

➥the soundtraaaack!!!

"When it comes to hunting monsters, there are three rules: pay attention to everything, be prepared for anything, and always finish what you start."

➥these parallels are not subtle at all but I still appreciate them

Cal's brothers go monster hunting and Cal tags along. they have her be the lookout

➥I'm worried one of her brothers is gonna get hurt

"Stop backseat hunting!" (Apollo)

LOL

I wonder if there's gonna be a 3rd one that'll appear... and Cal might try to take it

➥YUP!

Theo's earpiece fell out

➥OH NO

➥and yup, Cal went after it

"I've got this" (Cal)

the 3rd was a vampire instead of a ghoul and it burns into cinders at death

Theo lies to cover for Cal

Cal's dad calls Cal while he's out hunting

Cal's family is moving again soon?

Cal's family get cover identities

Cal definitely has a crush on Juliette

Cal's ex is also a monster hunter and recently got her first kill

➥Cal is envious

Cal's family has a 1000 year lineage of monster hunters

"Even though my family loves me, they always... always underestimate me. But don't you worry, Juliette. I won't underestimate you. Because there's a feeling you get when a monster's breath eases up your nostrils. There's a warming prickle on the back of your neck. So pretend all you want. Pretend to be kind, pretend to be gentle, pretend to be human... But I know exactly what you are."

THE SILVER BRACELET WAS A FREAKING TRAP!!

"You just didn't look like [a monster], but you're the one they warned me about. The kind that leads with a smile.

"You're a monster.

"And I'm a hunter.

"And there's only one way this story ends."

THE STAKE BEHIND HER BACK OMFG

THE PARALLELED INTERNAL DIALOGUE

did that just happen... WHAT?????