A little over two years ago, on August 19, 2014, the first six episodes of a little web series named Carmilla aired. I didn't start watching until late that November, intrigued by the fact that several Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans I follow on tumblr heavily recommended the series.
I binge-watched thirty-four episodes late one night, staying awake from 3am-5am during a particularly bad time studying and with life in general.
This little web series somehow weaved its way into my heart, with its sassy one-liners, intricate and slow-burning love story, and amazing acting. I don't know what it is about this show that managed to get through to me that night, but it did.
From that show, I found myself slowly wading fully into a fandom for the first time since Buffy the Vampire Slayer stopped airing. And while the fandom has grown exponentially since the days that we all thought Carmilla Karnstein died at the bottom of the Lustig pit, it has remained one of the most amazing ones I've seen.
In spite of any ship wars or disagreements over characters, this fandom houses some truly gifted and amazing individuals that are so encouraging of others This is so, so refreshing compared to some of the other fandoms I entertained joining over the years, and even as the show and fandom changed, this aspect remains the same. I have seen some true beauty in humanity in the lovely people dubbed 'creampuffs,' and it inspires me every day to strive and be as supportive and encouraging as I have seen others be.
What I'm trying to say is that, if you had told me on August 19, 2014, that this web series about a brooding, lesbian vampire would help keep me strong and pushing forward two years later, I'm not sure I would've believed any part of that. But here I am on still going.
And I hold that if this show didn't both celebrate homosexuality and embrace it as the norm, that if the creators and actors in it weren't so passionate and open, then this fandom may not have thrived as well as it has.
Thank you to the cast and crew of the carmillaseries for bringing us together in this space and for making this universe so amazing and for helping make the world a little bit brighter.
Thanks for giving us a home.
YOU ARE READING
Goodnight, Carmilla
Non-FictionAs the final season of Carmilla comes to a close, the Creampuffs would like to say thank you to the cast and crew involved in the series Cast: Elise Bauman as Laura Hollis Natasha Negovanlis as Carmilla Karnstein Kaitlyn Alexander as LaFontaine Anni...
