So we left off on a massive DAMN moment. We’re now picking back up with the aftermath. Erin is still in the boat, just staring at Riley’s ashes, which she kind of wipes away in order to sit on that side to row the boat back to the island. I can’t even imagine what’s going on in her head right now, or how she’s trying to process what she just witnessed.
Riley, knowing what he was going to do before going to Erin’s that night, has left notes for his parents, Warren, and Monsignor Pruitt. When Erin gets back to the island she heads past the church and straight to Dr. Sarah. She tells her what happened with Riley, not expecting her to believe her. In response, Sarah tells her about Milly’s recovery and shows her the blood sample that burns in sunlight. That’s when Milly enters and boy howdy they’ve really gotten rid of all of her old lady makeup now.
Bev, as per usual, strolls into the rectory and begins closing all the curtains, telling Father Paul he needs to be careful with this. Paul tells her that Riley is dead, but doesn’t know how he knows, he can just sense it, like how he could sense that Leeza could walk. Again, Bev begins preaching to him, you know like he’s not the monsignor or anything. She warns him that Riley could have told someone about this “gift” and that they should share it with everyone tonight at the Easter vigil.
Sarah tries to scientifically explain everything that’s happened as some kind of blood disorder caused by everyone collectively ingesting something that regenerates cells, makes them photosensitive, and anemic. They realise that this is what caused Erin’s miscarriage. Erin then recalls what Riley told her before he died. He told her to run. Meanwhile, Ed goes to the rectory to see Father Paul, but is greeted by Bev (surprise surprise!). He enters to find that Wade, Dolly, and Sturge are there also. Ed asks Paul to talk to him in private, and everyone leaves. He brings out the letter Riley left him, his vagueness causes Paul to become concerned, until he says that he thinks that Riley is unwell. Paul confirms that Riley isn’t well, causing Ed to become upset. Paul tries to comfort him with words. Ed gives him the letters, one of which is addressed to Pruitt. When Ed leaves, Paul opens the letter.
Erin goes to the Flynn house where she talks to Annie. She tells her that she’s going to the mainland and asks her to got with her. Annie thanks her but they have mass that evening. Both confused and concerned, Annie asks is she’s okay, then tells her she’s worried about Riley. Erin tells her that Riley is dead, which Annie doesn’t believe, so she gets upset and shoos her away.
Sarah has gone to see sheriff Hassan and has told him what she has discovered, which of course he fails to believe. He responds with the story of why he and Ali moved to the island. This is his moment. He was 21 when 9/11 happened, which inspired him to move to New York to become a police officer there, despite his friends advising against it. After getting married and having Ali, he eventually works his way up the ladder to the point where he’s helping the FBI deter terrorism. After disagreeing with some of the things he was doing, he made one small complaint which led to suspicion and surveillance by internal affairs. Apparently after 9/11, Muslim police officers were given higher positions as they were assets to the war on terrorism. After a while, they started to get paranoid that they may be double agents spying for terrorists. Hassan’s career starts to take a bit of a nosedive after this. Then his wife died. That’s when he finds the position on the island. It’s a sombre moment that really makes you think about how that attack impacted not only America, but the Muslim community who are also Americans. Similar to Japanese-American citizens after Pearl Harbor. It’s easy not to trust people when their countrymen are responsible for such a horrible incident, especially when it was done through religious beliefs.
Erin, Sarah, and Milly go to the dock to get the boat to the mainland, only to be told by Sturge that both of the boats are being sent for repairs. It’s apparent that none of the boats are going to take them off the island and that they are stuck there. Sturge reminds them not to miss the Easter vigil. Because that’s not creepy or culty…
As darkness falls, the power goes out all over the island. This causes Hassan to call Sturge, who says that sometimes the power goes out on the island due to the underwater cables. In reality, he is at the power station with Wade removing the breakers to turn off the power. The next step is the cell tower. The island is about to be completely cut off.
With the island in total darkness, Bev organises a candlelit conga line to the church. Basically they make their way through the town collecting people as they go, and they all walk together with candles singing a hymn. It seems kind of nice, until it gets a bit creepy when you think about what is probably going to happen. And of course Bev is up front leading the church choo choo. This is when Sturge cuts the power to the cell tower. No one is coming to help…
They all reach the church, so midnight mass (roll credits) can begin.
Father Paul begins the service by confessing that he has sinned because he lied to everyone. He wasn’t sent to replace Monsignor Pruitt because, wait for it… he is Monsignor Pruitt! Dun, dun, duuunnnn… Of course we already knew that, but the didn’t. He tells them about the angel, that he has brought it with him and that they will all be tested. No red flags so far… He talks about death and resurrection and how they can all be given the same gift that he was given. Ok, so the flags are a little bit pink. He then brings Sturge forward to demonstrate the miracle of the resurrection that will grant them all immortality. He gives him some of Bev’s favourite poison to drink, then Sturge begins convulsing and spitting up blood, while Paul holds him assuring him that everything it okay. Just as the flags are darkening into a bright red hue, Hassan grabs Ali’s hand and tries to lead him out, only to see the angel/vamp hanging out at the door, which of course everyone now notices.
As the angel/vamp walks down the aisle towards Paul, everyone backs away. The sounds of gasps get louder when the creature displays his wings. Yeah those aren’t angel wings, they’re clearly demonic.
Just as Paul tells the congregation not to be afraid, jump scare! Sturge as now done his best Captain Jack Harkness impression and returns to the land of the living, further scaring the bejeezus out of everyone. Then comes Bev with her cups. It’s time for everyone to drink the Kool Aid to mix with the vamp blood they have already been drinking at communion.
So, now Hassan has had enough, and once again tries to take Ali out of there, who then throws a tantrum. Paul pleads with Hassan not to deprive his son and himself of this gift of salvation. Hassan’s reaction it to pull out the gun that he apparently doesn’t carry, as mentioned after his backstory speech to Sarah, and aims at the angel/vamp. A group of men wrestle him to the ground and knock the gun out of his hand. Don’t worry, Bev to the rescue, she’ll diffuse the situation! She thanks Ali for setting an example(?) and for being brave. She hands him a cup and he drinks it. Now all Hassan can do is watch his only son die.
Others begin drinking also, including a child who’s father doesn’t notice him do it until it’s too late. Leeza refuses to drink, as do the Flynns, Erin, Sarah, Milly, and a few nameless townsfolk. As everyone around them begins to die, Milly picks up Hassan’s gun and shoots Father Paul in the effing head! This pisses the vamp off, who then lunges at Milly and flies off with her into the night, leaving Sarah behind screaming.
With Father Paul lying on the ground, alive, but with a bullet in his head, Bev orders Sturge to close and lock the doors. Yeah this really bad situation has escalated into a terrible one. Especially when everyone starts to come back to life. It’s feeding time! The panic allows Hassan, Sarah, Erin, Leeza, Warren, and Annie to escape. Unfortunately Ed is accosted and fed on. They flee to the back room where they see Bev hiding. Erin shoots her, even though she knows she will be back up soon. Still that had to have been all kinds of satisfying.
Not only is Bev Keane a self-righteous, interfering, judgemental busybody, but now she’s an unstoppable killing machine with a God complex. She instructs Sturge to reopen the doors, which is clearly against Paul’s earlier wishes, but Bev knows best. So hang Father Paul, Bev’s the boss now.
So this is the penultimate episode. Everything gets crazy so fast as soon as mass begins, and there’s just so much going on. First there’s the herd mentality fuelled by belief. Father Paul has made this passionate and compelling case for them to join him in immortality, delivering many passages from the bible to fit the narrative. He is clearly misguided and has no idea what has truly happened to him. I know a lot of the time we try to rationalise things, particularly the unexplainable and abnormal, and his go to for rationalisation is obviously going to be in religion. Hence why he thinks that this is an angel rather than a vampire. You would want to believe that this is a good thing. A gift. A blessing instead of a curse. Unfortunately with this gift of immortality comes bloodlust and the compulsion to take human lives. No matter how you rationalise it as something you need and shouldn’t feel guilty about, at the end of the day, you’re killing people. The people on the island are now doomed to the same fate.
Linsey Loves Horror 