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Romeo and Juliet knew it, and First Kill is continuing the trend. There simply isn’t a more addicting romance trope than star-crossed lovers. And this summer, Netflix is home to a good one.
Based on the short story of the same name by V. E. Schwab, First Kill revolves around two high school girls who start to fall for each other: Juliette (Sarah Catherine Hook) and Calliope (Imani Lewis). There’s just one tiny problem in their budding romance. Juliette is a vampire from one of the oldest and most powerful vampiric families ever known and Cal is from a family of vampire hunters. Cue the betrayal, wild fight scenes, and intense declarations of love.
Though First Kill is the latest of these kinds of stories and one that focuses on a LGBTQ+ couple, it’s far from the, well, first. The truth is there’s an entire world of fantastical young adult romances waiting for you on streaming. Some embrace worlds filled with witches, vampires, werewolves, and ghosts. Others push these spooky elements to their limits while still remaining charming in only the way a deeply addicting YA drama can be. And still others simply strive to be as sweet as our dear Juliette. If you’ve finished First Kill, here are the spiraling love stories that you need to add to your queue.
'The Vampire Diaries'
From Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec, this was the vampire romance show that started it all. Set in the fictional town of Mystic Falls, Va., the series follows Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev), a high schooler whose life is turned upside down after she meets the Salvatore brothers. Filled with vampires, witches, werewolves, ghosts, vampire hunters, and love triangles galore, it’s one of the most addicting YA romance dramas to land on television, even when you ignore the creepy vibes.
'The Originals'
Do you know what’s better than the love triangles in The Vampire Diaries? The lore. That’s exactly what the second series in The CW’s vampire universe explores. This 2013 drama revolves around three of the Mikaelson siblings: Klaus (Joseph Morgan), Elijah (Daniel Gillies), and Rebekah (Claire Holt). It’s hard being the first vampires in existence, and that’s exactly the struggle at the center of this blood-soaked drama.
'Legacies'
The third series in Plec’s universe, this one may be the most fun. Do you know how Klaus was a hybrid? He had a daughter with Hayley Marshall (Phoebe Tonkin), a member of one of the most powerful werewolf families, and fathered this universe’s very first tribrid. That witch-vampire-werewolf is Hope (Danielle Rose Russell), the latest student at the Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted. As great as The Vampire Diaries was, it often glossed over the whole high school thing. Not Legacies. If you’re interested in vampire football and magic lessons, it’s all here.
'Heartstopper'
Alice Oseman’s coming-of-age romance isn’t supernatural in any way. In fact, most of its charms come from how perfectly ordinary this world feels. But it’s hard to find a young adult romance that’s as sweet and genuine as this one. Within the first episode, you’ll be rooting for Nick (Kit Connor) and Charlie (Joe Locke) to be a couple.
'The Magicians'
This five-season Syfy show comes with a devoted cult following. The series follows Quentin Coldwater (Jason Ralph), a graduate student who discovers Brakebills University for Magical Pedagogy. In no time at all, he learns that the magic described in his favorite books series is very real and very dangerous. The Magicians is a great show for anyone who’s craving a drama-packed fantasy school that’s more mature than Hogwarts.
'The Order'
Speaking of collegiate magic schools, there’s The Order. After tragically losing his mom, Jack Morton (Jake Manley) becomes determined to join the highly exclusive Hermetic Order of the Blue Rose. He planned to use his new after school club to exact his revenge on the father he never knew. What he didn’t expect was that the Order was more magical cult than exclusive fraternity. Though it only lasted two seasons on Netflix, it’s a fun time.
'Chilling Adventures of Sabrina'
This spooky take on everyone’s favorite teenage witch is a far cry from Melissa Joan Hart’s version. Based on the comics of the same name, this two-season series stars Kiernan Shipka as our Sabrina. Sadly, this one was cancelled due to the pandemic. But if you love your horror-fantasy with a dash of Riverdale insanity, this one is for you. There’s even a comic book crossover between the two properties.
