So since the last episode ended with Riley being tackled by a vamp, he has failed to appear the following morning, which worries Erin since he never showed up the previous night when he said he would. His family doesn’t seem quite so worried as they just assume that he’s with Erin and has spent the night with her. He is an adult after all.
Remember the local drug dealer, Bowl, who went missing in episode 2? Well I say went missing but we know the vamp got him. Well his mother, Joanie, is now at the sheriff’s station reporting him missing. We get some backstory of their circumstances and a rather passionate performance from the actor, Patricia Drake. She works two jobs and struggles to feed him and his two sisters, which is why he deals. Considering the economic status of the island, it’s no surprise that this family is struggling. Hell, even the mayor and his family are struggling. It’s just really sad.
It’s then revealed that mass will be taking place at midnight on the upcoming Good Friday. How convenient. They explain it as due to Father Paul’s health, but we all know it’s because vampires can’t go out in the day. Wade, Dolly, and Sturge, who all know the truth, corroborate each other when they say everything is fine. Then, Dr Sarah arrives with Mildred. In the last episode I pointed out that Milly was starting to look younger since Paul has been giving her her own private mass (no that’s not a euphemism). Now the change is noticeable. And everyone else can see it, too. In fact, Dolly gets quite emotional upon seeing her youthful exterior. That’s some good wine Paul’s been distributing!
Erin goes to the Flynn’s house looking for Riley and Hassan goes to Joe’s trailer looking for, well, Joe. Erin then goes to the dock and asks Warren if he’s seen Riley. This upsets Ed as he thinks he’s gone off on a bender. As Hassan is trying to track Joe with a phone call to some sort of contact, Erin shows up to report Riley missing. That’s three missing people on an island of 127. When she tells him that they had a conversation about death two nights prior, Hassan gets concerned, leading to Erin also getting concerned.
Now it’s time for the first midnight mass (roll credits). This is the first time Milly has been to church in a long time. Bev greets her with her usual preachy and fake kindness. It’s so weird and uncomfortable at times. It’s also strange how often people use each other’s full names when referring to them. The amount of times people say Bev Keane is astounding. I’m not sure if it’s because there is another Bev on the island, so they need to differentiate between the two (or more)? I guess it’s likely there is another Joe. But when Erin goes to the harbor and Warren tells Ed that Riley has gone AWOL, Ed tells him he thought he was with Erin Greene. There is only one Erin that he’s likely to be with and she just left! It’s odd.
So Father Paul gives a big passionate sermon about how everyone is part of God’s army and how he will ask horrible things of them, almost like he’s justifying the terrible vampirism he’s slowly inflicting on the unsuspecting congregation. He believes that he’s doing the right thing and sharing this “angel’s gift” with them all, which I guess is admirable. He’s rationalising this the only way he knows how. Through religion and the bible’s text. Resurrection and immortality seems nice to some, but when you think about it, people need to die. This is how overpopulation occurs. I’m not quite sure how he’s rationalising the need for immortality and drinking blood to get it, though. It seems like a selfish approach to helping people. This whole speech visibly bothers Milly. And yes I’m going to be calling her that from now on.
Erin, who didn’t appear to be at mass, is asleep on her couch when there’s a knock at the door. She opens the door to find Riley standing there, like nothing is wrong. He asks her to go out on a boat with him, like they did when she left all those years ago. The two row out in the dark and have another deep conversation. Erin talks about trust and asks why they’re there. We then go into a flashback of what happened after Riley is attacked by the vampire.
In the rec centre, Riley is lying on the floor bleeding. Father Paul comforts him through his change while telling him that he had a sister who died of polio when he was 8 years old. This is what turned him to God and this now quest for immortality. Riley falls unconscious then comes to the next morning. Paul is sitting in a chair reading the bible. Riley who is rightfully freaked out about last night’s events tries to leave. Paul tries to stop him but Riley gets outside where he starts burning in the sun. Paul manages to pull him back inside and explains what has happened to him. He starts by relaying their history together and revealing that he is Pruitt. He then admits that Joe is dead, causing more anger in Riley. When Bev appears, acting like this is all normal, Paul demonstrates Riley’s new bloodlust, which they then discuss.
They then get into Riley’s car accident and how he can’t remember it because of how drunk he was. When Paul confesses that he has no remorse for killing Joe, while Riley has felt the pain of his guilt for killing the girl everyday, he reveals that he is jealous that Paul doesn’t have to live with that guilt, despite him willfully killing Joe instead of accidentally. Paul then goes on to apologise that Riley was scared by the angel and that people are always afraid when they come face to face with one, then proceeds to give many examples.
Bev returns, this time with Sturge and a cup, and condescends to him (shocker) about how God has chosen him and blah blah blah. Shut up Bev. It seems that she wants Riley to drink Sturge’s blood, which he does. Delicious. So Riley spent the day with Paul in the rec centre being told that what is happening is God’s will. Riley then confesses that he finally feels at peace. Go away Bev! Since mass is about to start soon, Paul tells Riley he’s free to leave, much to Bev’s disdain. It’s got nothing to do with you, Bev Keane!
Riley is now able to see new things with his new vampire eyes. So many pretty colours, He then starts to feel the hunger, and after watching his parents and brother sleep, leaves to see Erin, which brings us back to the boat. Erin, not sure whether to believe the story of not, begins to think the worst. He has brought her out to the middle of nowhere, where there is nowhere for to escape to. I guess that would be my first thought. The point is, though, that there is nowhere for him to escape to, and the sun will be up soon. He wanted her to see that he was telling the truth and to leave the island, although he knows that she will want to return to try and save everyone. He tells her he loves her and always has. He closes his eyes and sees the girl he killed sitting in front of him in place of Erin. She reaches out for his hand and he takes hers.
Then…
DAMN…! And that’s where it ends. We’re left with Erin screaming and crying over the credits and it is devastating. You also hear the sound of the flames emanating from Riley’s corpse. It’s so brutal. It’s probably one of the greatest moments and saddest moments in a TV show. Wow Mike Flanagan. Just, wow.
So, Riley has finally found peace, but in the worst way. Erin is now traumatised and the island has no idea what’s in store for them. This is yet another gut wrenching death, proving Mike is really going for a Jonestown-esque scenario here. Riley is just one of the first of many. And yes, it will continue to hurt. I haven’t mentioned just how amazing Kate Siegel’s performance is in the show. It’s just as good in The Haunting of Hill House and Hush, which makes her a consistently good actor. The final two episodes are going to be tough…
Linsey Loves Horror 