I first discovered Carmilla as a concept through this web series. Imagine how satisfying it was to discover that the tales of the lesbian vampiric legend dated all the way back to the original text. Of course, the queer themes and characters are brought even more to the fore in this as it is meant to be a lesbian web series, the first season of which concludes with Laura and Carmilla in a committed relationship with one another.
That said, vampirism is always a metaphor for some sort of draining toxicity and I don’t think that is entirely untrue of this series. It begins with Laura’s roommate going missing only to be replaced by Carmilla, who seems to switch between aloofness and intrigue with Laura. A thing that is common of the lesbian experience (as much as I can gather, I haven’t identified as such for all that long). This paired with the weird dreams that accompany Carm’s appearance point toward the ways that we can be drawn to people who exhibit toxic behaviors (Carm is a total bad girl). It also winds up being a way to interrogate lesbian trends in media, namely the older, more jaded gay (Carmilla) preying on and manipulating the less experienced one (Laura).
The dreams then are Laura’s gut, her intuition to fight her attraction to Carmilla. Of course, she doesn’t entirely, but the series does make a point to show a downward spike in Carm’s less pleasant behaviors (including manipulation and feeding on humans) before they lock down a relationship.
In a way, clearly without meaning, it starts to ask if those who have given up, who have become too jaded to be anything but darkness simply need someone lighter to balance them out again. A contrast to the more traditional vampiric metaphors.
Laura, much like her Victorian counterpart from the original text, is pure and, in many ways, naive—she focuses on her studies, she’s loyal to her friends, and when there is a threat to them and her community, though she has no powers of her own, she fights anyway. The influence of the traditionally pure heroine makes Carmilla better, willing to be more like Laura in an attempt to regain her humanity as much as possible.
A welcome change of pace considering how frequently vampiric narratives are about how humanity and life can be drained. Good to be reminded that it can be reinvigorated as well.
That said, vampirism is always a metaphor for some sort of draining toxicity and I don’t think that is entirely untrue of this series. It begins with Laura’s roommate going missing only to be replaced by Carmilla, who seems to switch between aloofness and intrigue with Laura. A thing that is common of the lesbian experience (as much as I can gather, I haven’t identified as such for all that long). This paired with the weird dreams that accompany Carm’s appearance point toward the ways that we can be drawn to people who exhibit toxic behaviors (Carm is a total bad girl). It also winds up being a way to interrogate lesbian trends in media, namely the older, more jaded gay (Carmilla) preying on and manipulating the less experienced one (Laura).
The dreams then are Laura’s gut, her intuition to fight her attraction to Carmilla. Of course, she doesn’t entirely, but the series does make a point to show a downward spike in Carm’s less pleasant behaviors (including manipulation and feeding on humans) before they lock down a relationship.
In a way, clearly without meaning, it starts to ask if those who have given up, who have become too jaded to be anything but darkness simply need someone lighter to balance them out again. A contrast to the more traditional vampiric metaphors.
Laura, much like her Victorian counterpart from the original text, is pure and, in many ways, naive—she focuses on her studies, she’s loyal to her friends, and when there is a threat to them and her community, though she has no powers of her own, she fights anyway. The influence of the traditionally pure heroine makes Carmilla better, willing to be more like Laura in an attempt to regain her humanity as much as possible.
A welcome change of pace considering how frequently vampiric narratives are about how humanity and life can be drained. Good to be reminded that it can be reinvigorated as well.
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