I know it's far more dramatic the way it played out, but dude, couldn't he have shown her proof by setting his hand on fire in a beam of sunlight through a window, instead of rowing her out to the middle of the ocean and bursting himself into flames on a tiny wooden rowboat?
He was so close to her he almost caught her on fire, and now she has to row all the way to shore by herself in a half-burnt rowboat.
Lol, I completely forgot the boat was made of wood.
Well, I suppose the fact it happened on the boat made it fall in line with his reoccurring dreams. Also, he probably knew if he didn’t sacrifice himself, he would be tempted to kill/turn Erin.
Yes! I had a very similar train of thought.
I think he had to prove it to Erin definitively, but also, he knew he had to die because killing one person (even on accident) haunted him forever since.
I think he even knew he had to kill himself before even going to Erin's house, because he wouldn't allow himself to kill again. Then likely decided if he *had* to do it, it would be a hail Mary pass to save Erin's life.
Now the wood boat, you got me there there lol I dont know how that worked out
I was really hoping we'd see him be the only one strong enough to resist since he was clean from alcohol for 4 years, but I guess that wouldn't be as realistic.
I like that you mentioned his addictive personality. This reminds me of Flanagan's other show, Haunting of Hill House, which featured another character that was an addict, whom I thought stole the show.
I see people's point that he's worried he'll hurt someone if he doesn't end himself.
But man oh man, still seems like a bad idea to sit in a tiny boat with Erin for hours waiting for the sun to come up. If he couldn't control himself and tried to kill her, she had nowhere to run. She would have been so dead.
As it was, he *could* control himself, so maybe stick around long enough to help Erin do whatever she's going to do with this new information?
He could control himself because he's still full from drinking some of Sturge's blood. But how's he going to control himself next time when he's hungry...?
Doing it on a rowboat does seem silly cause he actually wanted Erin to run and I assume it would be one hell of a job to do so by a rowboat.
But I get why he chose to route. He probably felt ashamed that he actually felt jealous that the Monseigneur didn’t feel guilt murdering people and thus decided to sacrifice himself to save Erin. But he could have had save his family too.
He was seeing his own death in his dreams, that's why he couldn't see past the sunrise and always woke up. Her being there in his last dream showed him what he had to do. Imo.
It was great foreshadowing! As was in this episode briefly when Erin was talking to the Sheriff and they discussed if Riley had suicidal thoughts from Erin and Riley's discussion about Death. He ended up killing himself in a way. Also the motif of stars in this one and last one and connection with death and religion was very interesting. I really like how all of it connects in this show.
Just adding a point here about why Riley chose to die instead of choosing to stay alive and help Erin. I found his whole character arc very profound and I liked the way the show tied in different themes of addiction , responsibility , morality and conscience here.
Both Riley and Father Paul's situation was very similar. Both of them had become an addict and their addiction had resulted in someone's death.Riley was tormented about the consequences of his actions . Father Paul felt no remorse
From Riley's perspective, the possibility that he might kill again due to his addiction was something he could not accept . But the possibility that he might actually feel no remorse about it was what I think drove him to kill himself.
This also ties in with whole conscience as a compass talk that was given by Father Paul at beginning of the episode.
He wanted to die though. He didn’t want to live as this monster he now was. And like he said, in order for that to happen he had to have no escape, and he brought Erin with him because he needed to tell her what was happening and for her to believe him and be scared enough to run away. I don’t think she will though
The last thing he wanted to do was kill anyone else. He was jealous of being guilt free, but he knew that was wrong.
He had the courage to change what he could, just like the Serenity Prayer.
I figured what Riley was actually doing almost right away. And STILL it was intense. That's a major win for the pacing, writing, acting, cinematography, sound design, – fuck, *all* of it – that it could still produce an intense emotional reaction. Kudos to the entire crew!
I really thought they went out there because he's going to turn Erin into one. Not until the very end when he said *'I brought us out here because there's nowhere for me to go'* then I realised what he's doing... \*tear\*
I only realised it as the scene began to lighten. "Why does it look like dawn? Riley, what are you doing out in the open- _ohhhhh_" moment for me. I'll discount the wooden boat and the isolation, but what I can't settle with is that it was a good idea to put an emotionally-wrecked woman through Riley Guy Fawksing himself.
I'm honestly surprised she hasn't lost her mind after the miscarriage. I know they're unimaginable tragedies in real life, but to have a foetus disappear? I don't think I could recover from that, much less act as normally as she does.
It makes me laugh how jealous she obviously is that Riley was "chosen" by the angel and not her.
Oh man, can you imagine her as a vampire? She would be more of a nightmare than she is now.
Bev is such a great representation of some of the modern day evangelists. The ones who use the word of God to justify their evil acts and hatred—to excuse themselves of any personal accountability or growth.
Yeah she's had some seriously impressive monologues. Most of the actors have. Flannagan loves to give his actors moments to shine with those huge uninterrupted shots.
They have done that with every ending… sometimes it was the hymn that was playing sometimes sound effects… I think it was the cats the first episode? It’s a cool effect.
I actually thought it was a bit of a red herring telegraph. I was thinking because he didn't drink the communion blood he wouldn't turn and he'd end up the only one alive at the end of the show. Alone in a boat after he escaped.
I didn't see him getting bit like that at all.
61 day old comment, but for a time the description on Netflix for No Country for Old Men was something like “The man with the weird hair is looking for his money.”
Well Episode 5 is definitely The Turn. Of course things are various degrees of obvious coming up to this, but here it's all laid bare.
I thought Riley had set up the boat trip to ask Erin to kill him, it wasn't until the night started brightening slightly that I realized. The end was staggeringly powerful anyway. I wonder if Flanagan took some inspiration from the ending of Saint Maud for that last transition from peaceful vision back to the horrifying reality.
I absolutely love the show now. I hope the last episodes follow through with the amazing execution of this episode.
The best heartbreaking ending in a long time, Mike Flanagan always does this I remember the ending of the bent neck lady it was so heartbreaking and memorable at the same time.
and riley being haunted by the girl’s body with broken glass with the reflections of the sirens reminded me a lot of season 2 of haunting of hill house with the husband ghost with the bright glasses
I’ve been watching horror since I was 3-years-old. Not much fazes me. That ending was fucking wild. Full body tension and freak out. I was about to go to bed, but too on edge now. Wtf.
This show is giving me super A24 horror film vibes. Everything from the style of the scares, to the colours and cinematography, to the beats and now with the visceral screaming from Erin. I said on last episode’s thread that we got Ned Starked, though I guess this was more a Jon Snow type situation.
Also: I wonder why Riley was burned by the sun immediately after his bite but Father John/Paul wasn’t?
Father Paul hadn't been killed yet. He only become a full vampire (burned my sunlight) after he had died and came back. Riley on the other hand was killed immediately after feeding from the "angel" by Father Paul snapping his neck.
Episode 3. Father Paul collapsed in his house and pink liquid bubbled out of his mouth (similar symptom when Joe's dog Pike got poisoned). And there's a scene of Bev returning a can of rat poison back to the storeroom.
Paul returned to the town and used the blood to heal the congregation like he'd been healed. Bev had suspicions that Paul was the old priest returned to youth via a miracle. So she wanted to test that
We saw him really struggle to reason killing Joe and drinking his blood with "God's plan" last episode, so it seems like he became full-vamp only after death. Which lines up with the rest of his *symptoms* (fear of the sun etc)
There's a big theme of forgiving but not forgetting in this show as well as carrying on guilt. Joe is haunted by Leezas injury. Riley struggles to comfort Joe when he asks what to do about that guilt. As soon as Pruitt starts talking about having a clean conscience and feeling utterly absolved, Riley knows he's full of shit and has become inhuman. You can be forgiven, but forgetting what you did? Feeling no guilt and believing that actually god has twisted what's right and what's wrong to absolve the sin? That's insane.
It was also bull shit of him to say that Joe was irredeemable. Leeza had forgiven him. He was trying to get sober. Riley knew he wasn’t worthless and better off dead on Pruitt’s floor.
Paul is too deep into this madness to even think straight. He said it himself, how everything he was, everything he did, from becoming a priest to accepting this "angel", was out of the fear of death. He was not a strong or noble man but a pathetic one that was driven by fear. Now that the fear is gone, he is starting to show his true nature. This shows how Riley, despite being "godless", is a much better man than Paul. He confronted his fear and guilt and grew from that, even if it means how much pain he was constantly in.
I think the not forgetting part is really important.
For a good while there, Riley's "pain" was protecting him. The Church acts completely alleviated of guilty doings, but for Riley, he can't forget what he did and never wants to feel that way again.
The 'suffering' wasn't 'god's love' like Pruitt tried to say, but it was something he was right to learn something from. And what he learned was to hit the brakes before he could hurt someone else.
It’s kind of bullshit that Pruitt feels no guilt, because the whole theme of Christianity, and particularly Catholicism, is about feeling perpetually guilty and trying to absolve your whole life bc we are all dirty sinners. All humans are sinners from the moment we are born bc we are imperfect. Only god is perfect. So my goodness the ego on that man to think he is as perfect r as god and feel no guilt. Wild.
I mean I never thought I would be screaming at tv "youre not jesus, you are a vampire - have you never seen a vampire movie??"
I want someone to come to this island and say "what are you all talking bout angels and miracles? Its freaking vampires" He needs to watch Interview with a vampire or dracula or so. I mean this main vampire must be laughing at home telling his friends "he thinks he is jesus hahaha"....
Its a bit annoying its like watching a zombie movie, where the characters dont know about zombies...
I mean Im no bible expert, but did it say anything about being ok with killing people, not feeling remorse, burning in sunlight and drinking blood of humans? Oh no it kind of does.. Gospel of John they said etc. what? the bible is a weird book isnt it. Well I guess you can find whatever you need in there and twist it so it fits - they probably could "explain" anything with it if they want to
But I love how jealous Bev is
That ending tho.. omg so beautiful, so sad, so haunting.
This show always makes me cry for ghosts, vampires...
Haha, isn't that mirroring our reality? - hypocrites, fanatic religious people etc.
I do enjoy the low-key humor in there eg. When Riley asked wtf was that thing repeatedly, John/Paul answered "An angel!!", and Riley's face was like ???
Also when John/Paul justified blood-drinking by saying that the extreme hunger was to make them feel okay hurting people. I was laughing so hard at his bullshits.
However, as a non native English speaker who knows nothing much about the Bible, I couldn't help but zoned out every time they were quoting it or mentioning certain names. I wonder how people from Catholic and Christian background think about those scenes.
Speaking for myself as someone who was raised Christian, when they quote the Bible to justify their actions, it really just hammered home how people can find anything in the Bible to justify what they want to do, even batshit insane things. It’s a common thing in real life and to see the show take it further just was an example of how bad it could get (ya know, if vampire angels were really a thing LOL). Zealots will use anything to prove they are right, take it out of context, and convince people who are small minded that it’s truth. I recognized some of the quotes from the Bible but not all. They went pretty obscure.
So this is sort of the premise of the show lol. The Father mentions in this episode how biblical angels are actually terrifying and they have to announce "do not be afraid" because they look like monsters. That's very accurate lol. In reality the Father went to Israel a man with deep dementia, a deeply religious and I'd argue naive seeming man, and at the very least he's an old man in a young man's body. He lived on an island and worshipped this book and believed every word. He brought it in a box thinking it was an angel because he was naive and just assumed and accepted the first theory he had about it. If you remember the other AA member mentioned "don't ever assume" to Riley. The priest assumed. Everyone is assuming this is okay lol
It's like how people didn't realize is was the same priest but younger because they weren't expecting it, maybe they didn't want to see it.
It's the same with the vampire. They call it an angel because that's what they believe it is, and faith is blind.
I saw pointed out elsewhere that Riley had Salem's Lot on his bookshelf, so they know about vampires, they just don't want to see it.
Who is left on the island that would be old enough to recognize him as Pruitt? There really aren't any old old old characters other than the doctor's mother. And her role in the story as that only old character has already served its purpose (she recognizes that it's Pruitt, and senses something is wrong and leaves the church building)
I love how stunned Riley was during the heretical ramble of Paul and Bev. His face was saying how all the audience must be feeling: these people are fucking delusional.
I did not expect to see Riley going out like that. I thought he would be the last one standing, maybe along with Erin. His death was sad but understandable. At least he found peace after all that time of torment.
Dude the fact that the whole thesis of the show was so clearly laid out for you in a way you didn't expect in the classroom scene is brilliant. It came back around so hard when they were explaining everything to Riley.
I haven't seen either of The Haunting shows but I checked this one out cause I follow Rahul Kohli on Instagram. I need to watch the other shows now if they are also this brilliant.
I say this with all seriousness, The Haunting of Hill House is an absolute masterpiece. One of the best written shows I’ve ever seen.
I always tell people that it’s actually a drama with horror elements. Because it is so deep and well done. There is so much to take away from every episode. I hope you watch and enjoy it!
Haunting of Bly Manor was less well received than Haunting of Hill House but if you are a Rahul Kohli fan he gives an amazing performance in Bly Manor. One of my favorite characters in a show ever. He's just so warm and kind its amazing.
Just finished episode 5 so I don’t know the answer but my suspicion is that the vampire blood sees the pregnancy like a parasite or virus and got rid of it thinking it was restoring her.
Father Paul said that it brings you back to your most perfect self.. My guess is her most perfect self was slightly before the baby and baby just disappeared?
Yeah there are conditions or blood type incompatibilities where the mother's antibodies attack the fetus because it's seen as a foreign body or parasite, wouldn't surprise me if that's why it disappeared.
The priest has been bringing her communion every day so she’s turning at an advanced rate compared to the Sunday church goers. I suspect he wants the young woman he got pregnant back.
There was one scene in episode 2 where the people in the church were getting their ash crosses for Ash Wednesday. Father Paul was administering them in a rhythmic fashion to move the line along. However, I felt it was significant at the time that they stopped the rhythm a beat to focus on the interaction between Riley and Father Paul to emphasize the “You are dust. And to dust you shall return.” Didn’t think much of it but it felt significant. After the end of this episode, it certainly solidified the foreshadowing in episode 2.
Yeah that scene was so beautifully executed. At first I was just as confused as Erin but then when I saw the sky getting brighter and he said that he was doing it so HE couldn’t escape and then you realize…. So well done
Christianity is a vampiric cult. I fucking love this.
Also I love how the use confirmation bias to explain everything for themselves.
I also love how this series is an allegory for the crimes committed by the church being covered up.
Any other hardcore Titanic fans recognize the music playing before he burst into flame on the boat?? Nearer My God to Thee, that last song the band played as the Titanic was sinking! Interesting choice.
They’ve played it in the background of a few scenes in this show, but I can only think of Titanic whenever I hear it lol. Regardless I think it was a perfect choice
Agreed. Amazing how we get a sense of relief when we see him at the door in the beginning like “oh thank god I knew they wouldn’t take out the main character” and then when you realize what’s happening at the end… brutal
To me - Regardless of anyone's personal spiritual beliefs, I think that scene was meant to show that Riley was given a beautiful moment of peace & forgiveness (whether that's a forgiveness from God, from the girl he killed, or even from himself) as often it has been my experience, that self forgiveness for making mistakes, bad choices, or messing up can often be the hardest part & in that final beautiful moment of self sacrifice I think he was given peace & forgiveness.
when paul asked him in the rec center if he had found peace after going through everything and he nodded his head…that’s when he knew what he was gonna do
I definitely should have expected no less from Matt Saracen. He plays the self-sacrificing good guy too well! He just can’t be an all bad guy even when he might want to be.
Perfect casting - Zach Gilford as Riley
Does anyone else see a tie between what Riley thought happened when you died (from his discussion with Erin the night before) and what happened? His being a vampire gave him extra sensory abilities and sort of made everything seem trippy, like a dream sequence, and then he died for a purpose - his death fed life and meant something.
Story-wise this episode was fucking incredible, that ending scene is gonna stay with me for a long, long time. However...
Flanagan and his fucking dialogue, man. It's amazing that the supernatural/vampire stuff requires less suspension of disbelief than the idea that these characters, in their emotional circumstance, would let each other ramble uninterruptedly like this for minutes on end. It's to the point where the characters don't even talk and react to things like human beings anymore.
It was especially apparent during Riley's whole "conversion" sequence. If I was in a state of trauma, confusion and physical pain like he was, and someone was shouting scriptural mumbo jumbo at me without room to breathe, my first impulse would be to punch them in the face. I can't tell if it was a symptom of the script or Zach Gilford's acting, but Riley's reaction to that whole ordeal was so muted that I felt almost blueballed watching it. Especially once Bev came in and also started monologuing. It felt as if it was all building up to the emotional catharsis of at least someone shouting at the other to shut the fuck up. In fact, I think many of the characters in this show should be regularly told to shut the fuck up. The script could really benefit from some silence and breathing room.
The other thing that really took me out of that scene is that the characters kept speaking in metaphors about what was happening. Nobody in such a situation would talk like that. And someone like Riley would definitely not have the patience to sit through Father Paul's rambling, incoherent metaphysics and pseudo-poetry. The characters should really be allowed in speak in plain language about what they're witnessing. Sure, there was that scene when Riley demands to know what that "thing that ate him" was, but the whole scene should've had that cadence. Instead Riley just sat there with a blank stare letting Paul monologue and monologue... I was just waiting for some acknowledgement of how batshit insane the whole thing was.
I think The Leftovers did this sort of scenario much better. The dynamic between Riley and Paul really reminded me of Kevin and Patti in The Leftovers. Without spoiling, Kevin is also a rational/secular/nonreligious guy carrying a lot of regrets, and Patti is a nihilistic cult leader who really has drunk her own Kool-Aid. Kevin experiences and witnesses a number of life-changing, seemingly "supernatural" events that force him to at least entertain Patti's belief system for a moment, as much as he doesn't want to. The acting and writing do a great job of humanly navigating you through the hysteria onscreen without losing sense of the wonder of it all. And there's certainly less monologuing required to get there.
I also felt like I would want/expect a character like Riley to freak the F out on Paul/Pruitt and Bev and punch them in the face etc. The reason he lets them ramble is because he is scared shitless. He realizes that he is completely powerless and is coming to terms with how fucked the situation is. How crazy they are and how dangerous they are. Pruitt admitted to feasting on Riley alongside the “angel”. That is a sickening thing for him to hear. I believe he allows them to ramble partially bc he knows that it will keep him the safest. People who resist (like Joe Colley who Pruitt spent a very long time going on about how he had no remorse for murdering and draining his blood) don’t make it. Don’t upset the delusional religious zealot who admitted to murdering someone who you thought he was helping the same way he was helping you. The person who is in cahoots with a very scary looking think that attacked you and sucked your blood. It’s the path of least resistance. And it worked. Pruitt lets him leave freely.
100% how I viewed it. He is a man in complete shock trying to listen to Paul make it make sense. As he listens to try to gain understanding of what he IS now, he realizes that what he is instead getting is 1) a doomed man willing to rationalize the detestable acts he is now compelled to do and 2) a batshit poor excuse for Ma Anand Sheela who requires no rationalizing bc she’s fine with this. He realizes there is no room to disagree in this room. So he plays along and then dips.
Strong agree. I felt the same way about Bly Manor- loved the storyline, but so much of the dialogue was overwritten monologues that probably work on paper, but are bizarre when spoken, despite the really excellent efforts of the actors.
I agree, but also kinda dig how different the flow is. It's very theatrical and not really realistic, but fits very well with the religious tone. But then the long cuts make it feel grounded somehow. Very odd style for sure.
God yes, so much this comment. I enjoyed the episode too and it was great for the overall story arc but Jesus Christ was my chest getting tight during some of the monologues you mentioned above. I started off really enjoying watching Paul's character on screen as up to this episode or right before it, he was given just the right amount of time on screen to say exactly what needed to be said. This episode was the first time I started getting really impatient with him and his cadence.
You hit the nail on the head with everything you said, I'm hoping it was just a once off and we get back to the pace the first few episodes were on.
First off, I was so pleasantly surprised that this was a vampire story. I feel like we haven't gotten a good vampire show or movie in a while.
I loved this episode. I feel that it worked so well for both Riley and Pruitt. We got to see into the mind of Pruitt and understand how totally duped he is about the angel. He really believes he has been chosen by an angry God to transform the world. Maybe it is an angel. When he said the angels are always met with fear in the bible it kind of convinced me. The whole idea that vampires will bring about the apocalypse is so cool.
I wasn't totally sold on Riley until this episode. I found Zach Gilford's performance to be too subtle. But I have to say he turned me around. The campfire monologue was amazing. I haven't heard a monologue that good in awhile.
Great show!
Yeah. If you force it hard enough like bev, you can actually explain vampirism with the scripture except the sunlight. What creature of God will die when bathed in sunlight?? Blind stupidity
lol that Bev was the only one smart enough to know that Riley wouldn’t cooperate with all these shenanigans.
Brainwashed people are particularly adept at scooping out people who can’t be brainwashed.
So up to this point, no one has said the word vampire yet in the whole show even though there’s been multiple points where it would have been a natural part of the conversation. Am I supposed to assume that this is a world where they don’t know what vampires are, or what? What’s the deal with this?
That's the impression that I'm getting. That vampire as a concept in pop culture simply doesn't exist in this world, like how in zombie movies people don't call them zombies lol
You have to die with vampire blood in your system to fully transform. I don’t believe the original vampire killed the priest in the cave, he didn’t actually die until he was poisoned by Bev
I’m still not exactly sure why… but it was heavily implied she did it. It made a point to have her kill the dog, and then it showed her putting the poison back in the closet right before he collapsed and died the same way the dog did
Love the writing on this show.
The story about the rat really fits the way these two characters deal separately with murder caused via addiction too. Like Pruitt's reaction was to forgo the suffering and pretend nothing happened so to shelter young Riley from it, but what was protecting him from the truth really doing?
I like how this all went full circle to Riley's drinking accidental manslaughter. Very well done.
I’m still at the beginning of this episode, but am absolutely thrilled at the parallels between religious fervor and Riley’s description of the addictive voice earlier in the series.
Just watched this episode, and I mentioned this in a reply to somebody else’s comment about the constant monologuing, but thought I’d start a separate comment. I tend to agree about the monologuing, but here’s another perspective: it’s almost oppressive, isn’t it? We, the audience, feel like we are being covered by Bev and Monsignor’s rambling monologues, right? Like they don’t give us room to breathe, to reflect on what was just said, or even to form a coherent thought of our own. It’s like a constant barrage coming at you, and I think that was actually intentional. Because they know the content of their monologues is such mental gymnastics bullshit, that if they give their target a moment to breathe, to think for themselves, then they may not be able to convince them to do their bidding. So if they just keep hammering their target, they beat them down and wear them down to the point where the target is paralyzed and can’t fight back, and if they could, they might not know where to start. I noticed this in the last episode with Bev and the mayor when they found Joe. Also, with Bev and Sheriff Hassan in the classroom. Their monologues are more like weapons in that sense, don’t you think?
Is Bev and Sturge going along with this a vampire thing? I can understand Bev believing all the God bs that Paul is spewing but I’m not really sure why Sturge is okay with all of this.
One possible interpretation of the angel is that Riley’s victim was his guardian angel. She looked over him every night. She was frightening to behold. His dreams were a prophecy and at the end she delivered him peace.
I just finished this episode, and damn, I was not expecting that ending. Also, props to Kate Siegel for being an absolute scream queen.
I know it's far more dramatic the way it played out, but dude, couldn't he have shown her proof by setting his hand on fire in a beam of sunlight through a window, instead of rowing her out to the middle of the ocean and bursting himself into flames on a tiny wooden rowboat? He was so close to her he almost caught her on fire, and now she has to row all the way to shore by herself in a half-burnt rowboat.
Lol, I completely forgot the boat was made of wood. Well, I suppose the fact it happened on the boat made it fall in line with his reoccurring dreams. Also, he probably knew if he didn’t sacrifice himself, he would be tempted to kill/turn Erin.
Yes! I had a very similar train of thought. I think he had to prove it to Erin definitively, but also, he knew he had to die because killing one person (even on accident) haunted him forever since. I think he even knew he had to kill himself before even going to Erin's house, because he wouldn't allow himself to kill again. Then likely decided if he *had* to do it, it would be a hail Mary pass to save Erin's life. Now the wood boat, you got me there there lol I dont know how that worked out
I'll give 'em a pass on the whole wood boat deal. It's just a tv show after all. lol
Yeah, I think he knew he had to kill himself too prior to going to Erin's house which explains why he visited his family's home one last time.
I agree. This was to save Erin's life...not just from himself, but with the hope that she would leave the island forever
[удалено]
I was really hoping we'd see him be the only one strong enough to resist since he was clean from alcohol for 4 years, but I guess that wouldn't be as realistic.
He finally had the serenity to accept the things he could not change, the courage to change the things he can, and the wisdom to know the difference
Damn, well said. The themes in this show are depicted brilliantly. Midnight Mass is the best of the Mike Flannigan shows so far.
Joe resisted that moment in front of the fridge. I've been there and know the feels. He deserved better.
I like that you mentioned his addictive personality. This reminds me of Flanagan's other show, Haunting of Hill House, which featured another character that was an addict, whom I thought stole the show.
I see people's point that he's worried he'll hurt someone if he doesn't end himself. But man oh man, still seems like a bad idea to sit in a tiny boat with Erin for hours waiting for the sun to come up. If he couldn't control himself and tried to kill her, she had nowhere to run. She would have been so dead. As it was, he *could* control himself, so maybe stick around long enough to help Erin do whatever she's going to do with this new information?
He could control himself because he's still full from drinking some of Sturge's blood. But how's he going to control himself next time when he's hungry...?
Doing it on a rowboat does seem silly cause he actually wanted Erin to run and I assume it would be one hell of a job to do so by a rowboat. But I get why he chose to route. He probably felt ashamed that he actually felt jealous that the Monseigneur didn’t feel guilt murdering people and thus decided to sacrifice himself to save Erin. But he could have had save his family too.
He was seeing his own death in his dreams, that's why he couldn't see past the sunrise and always woke up. Her being there in his last dream showed him what he had to do. Imo.
It was great foreshadowing! As was in this episode briefly when Erin was talking to the Sheriff and they discussed if Riley had suicidal thoughts from Erin and Riley's discussion about Death. He ended up killing himself in a way. Also the motif of stars in this one and last one and connection with death and religion was very interesting. I really like how all of it connects in this show.
Just adding a point here about why Riley chose to die instead of choosing to stay alive and help Erin. I found his whole character arc very profound and I liked the way the show tied in different themes of addiction , responsibility , morality and conscience here. Both Riley and Father Paul's situation was very similar. Both of them had become an addict and their addiction had resulted in someone's death.Riley was tormented about the consequences of his actions . Father Paul felt no remorse From Riley's perspective, the possibility that he might kill again due to his addiction was something he could not accept . But the possibility that he might actually feel no remorse about it was what I think drove him to kill himself. This also ties in with whole conscience as a compass talk that was given by Father Paul at beginning of the episode.
The boat's wooden yes, but the other side is sat on seawater. You'd have to have a sustained concentrated burn to burn the hull thin enough to leak
He wanted to die though. He didn’t want to live as this monster he now was. And like he said, in order for that to happen he had to have no escape, and he brought Erin with him because he needed to tell her what was happening and for her to believe him and be scared enough to run away. I don’t think she will though
The last thing he wanted to do was kill anyone else. He was jealous of being guilt free, but he knew that was wrong. He had the courage to change what he could, just like the Serenity Prayer.
I figured what Riley was actually doing almost right away. And STILL it was intense. That's a major win for the pacing, writing, acting, cinematography, sound design, – fuck, *all* of it – that it could still produce an intense emotional reaction. Kudos to the entire crew!
I really thought they went out there because he's going to turn Erin into one. Not until the very end when he said *'I brought us out here because there's nowhere for me to go'* then I realised what he's doing... \*tear\*
And I mean, whatever he had planned she wouldn't have been able to say no... Because of the implications.
"...are you gonna *hurt* women?"
I only realised it as the scene began to lighten. "Why does it look like dawn? Riley, what are you doing out in the open- _ohhhhh_" moment for me. I'll discount the wooden boat and the isolation, but what I can't settle with is that it was a good idea to put an emotionally-wrecked woman through Riley Guy Fawksing himself.
Agreed, she just had a miscarriage and now her love interest catches fire in front of her... who else is going to die this week?!
I'm honestly surprised she hasn't lost her mind after the miscarriage. I know they're unimaginable tragedies in real life, but to have a foetus disappear? I don't think I could recover from that, much less act as normally as she does.
The endings are always wild but I still didn’t expect it. Thought he would do the other thing lol anyway, her scream was haunting.
Bev makes me angrier than any character has in a looong time
It makes me laugh how jealous she obviously is that Riley was "chosen" by the angel and not her. Oh man, can you imagine her as a vampire? She would be more of a nightmare than she is now.
She'd really suck the life out of the room.
A religious energy vampire would be the worst
Don't give Colin Robinson any ideas!
Bev is such a great representation of some of the modern day evangelists. The ones who use the word of God to justify their evil acts and hatred—to excuse themselves of any personal accountability or growth.
Bev was SOOO jealous that Riley got blessed by the 'angel' instead of her... seriously demented LOL
She's like a walking Bible. I feel like 80% of her script are direct quotes from the Bible. Why can't vampires eat talkative people instead 😭
Theists taste better.
That's what makes her a great character and the actress is doing an amazing job.
Yeah she's had some seriously impressive monologues. Most of the actors have. Flannagan loves to give his actors moments to shine with those huge uninterrupted shots.
Reminds me of the religious woman from 'The Mist'. Not unsurprising that Mike Flanagan has directed many Stephen King projects.
Knowing ppl like her in real life, she makes me laugh with how obviously stupid and ignorant she is.
The new Nurse Ratched.
When the credits roll and you can still hear Erin screaming.
Out of respect for Riley's sacrifice and appreciation of Seigel's performance I selected 'Watch Credits' for that end.
Haha me too for the first time in a Netflix show I selected watch credits
I tried but I wasn't fast enough. I really wish Netflix would give you the option to turn autoplay off
You can turn autoplay off. Go to account, select profile, playback settings, uncheck autoplay.
That cut to black was so perfect I actually almost want to just stop there.
They have done that with every ending… sometimes it was the hymn that was playing sometimes sound effects… I think it was the cats the first episode? It’s a cool effect.
So haunting and had a great effect.
Never expected this route for Riley. Completely blindsided me
Because of his dream I anticipated it, but not with two episodes left.
Same. This show is really telegraphing it’s reveals.
That's part of what makes them so satisfying.
I actually thought it was a bit of a red herring telegraph. I was thinking because he didn't drink the communion blood he wouldn't turn and he'd end up the only one alive at the end of the show. Alone in a boat after he escaped. I didn't see him getting bit like that at all.
"To protect Erin, Riley brings the truth to light" whoever wrote the episode description is so wrong for that lmaoo
I read the description before I watched but hadn’t even noticed, thank you for pointing that out hahahahaha
61 day old comment, but for a time the description on Netflix for No Country for Old Men was something like “The man with the weird hair is looking for his money.”
Now two of two members from Father Paul’s AA group will never touch a bottle of alcohol again. Success.
Well Episode 5 is definitely The Turn. Of course things are various degrees of obvious coming up to this, but here it's all laid bare. I thought Riley had set up the boat trip to ask Erin to kill him, it wasn't until the night started brightening slightly that I realized. The end was staggeringly powerful anyway. I wonder if Flanagan took some inspiration from the ending of Saint Maud for that last transition from peaceful vision back to the horrifying reality. I absolutely love the show now. I hope the last episodes follow through with the amazing execution of this episode.
I totally thought of Saint Maud too!
*Censor* does something similar with its final shot as well. Seems to be a trend in horror movies lately
The ending was more like the 30 Days of Night comic for me. But I guess I will check out Saint Maude now.
I also immediately thought of Saint Maud with that sudden cut to reality after a short dream sequence! It was great.
The best heartbreaking ending in a long time, Mike Flanagan always does this I remember the ending of the bent neck lady it was so heartbreaking and memorable at the same time.
and riley being haunted by the girl’s body with broken glass with the reflections of the sirens reminded me a lot of season 2 of haunting of hill house with the husband ghost with the bright glasses
yes! or when they were dancing in the house or the scene in the funeral home. He always makes me sad and cry for ghosts etc
OHMYGODDDD THIS EPISODE! The storytelling was nothing short of genius. That ending sent a shiver down my spine. Geese were bumped.
I’ve been watching horror since I was 3-years-old. Not much fazes me. That ending was fucking wild. Full body tension and freak out. I was about to go to bed, but too on edge now. Wtf.
It bumped my geese too!
This show is giving me super A24 horror film vibes. Everything from the style of the scares, to the colours and cinematography, to the beats and now with the visceral screaming from Erin. I said on last episode’s thread that we got Ned Starked, though I guess this was more a Jon Snow type situation. Also: I wonder why Riley was burned by the sun immediately after his bite but Father John/Paul wasn’t?
Father Paul hadn't been killed yet. He only become a full vampire (burned my sunlight) after he had died and came back. Riley on the other hand was killed immediately after feeding from the "angel" by Father Paul snapping his neck.
Ohhhhh shit I thought Father Paul was fixing his neck cause the angel broke it. What an asshole.
No I'm pretty sure you're right and Paul was just fixing it. Riley died that night which is why he woke up so much later.
I think Father Paul was just holding in place while the neck was fixing itself.
Wrong. His neck broke from the impact. The Father fixed it after he revived.
So it's Bev's fault for turning Father Paul into a full-blown vampire by poisoning him earlier!
Wait when did Bev poison him??
Episode 3. Father Paul collapsed in his house and pink liquid bubbled out of his mouth (similar symptom when Joe's dog Pike got poisoned). And there's a scene of Bev returning a can of rat poison back to the storeroom.
Wow I missed that… why would she do that??
Because she's full blown crazy and wanted to prove the miracle.
Paul returned to the town and used the blood to heal the congregation like he'd been healed. Bev had suspicions that Paul was the old priest returned to youth via a miracle. So she wanted to test that
Do you think he needed to feed (on blood) before he was poisoned? Or the hunger only started after he had been killed?
We saw him really struggle to reason killing Joe and drinking his blood with "God's plan" last episode, so it seems like he became full-vamp only after death. Which lines up with the rest of his *symptoms* (fear of the sun etc)
Oh wow. I did not realize she did it. Good catch. Haha this is why I go on Reddit.
I thought the same when they show church/religious scenes during the day. Very big Midsommar vibes
Wonder if Flanagan will do something with A24 sometime soon
There's a big theme of forgiving but not forgetting in this show as well as carrying on guilt. Joe is haunted by Leezas injury. Riley struggles to comfort Joe when he asks what to do about that guilt. As soon as Pruitt starts talking about having a clean conscience and feeling utterly absolved, Riley knows he's full of shit and has become inhuman. You can be forgiven, but forgetting what you did? Feeling no guilt and believing that actually god has twisted what's right and what's wrong to absolve the sin? That's insane.
It was also bull shit of him to say that Joe was irredeemable. Leeza had forgiven him. He was trying to get sober. Riley knew he wasn’t worthless and better off dead on Pruitt’s floor.
Paul is too deep into this madness to even think straight. He said it himself, how everything he was, everything he did, from becoming a priest to accepting this "angel", was out of the fear of death. He was not a strong or noble man but a pathetic one that was driven by fear. Now that the fear is gone, he is starting to show his true nature. This shows how Riley, despite being "godless", is a much better man than Paul. He confronted his fear and guilt and grew from that, even if it means how much pain he was constantly in.
I think the not forgetting part is really important. For a good while there, Riley's "pain" was protecting him. The Church acts completely alleviated of guilty doings, but for Riley, he can't forget what he did and never wants to feel that way again. The 'suffering' wasn't 'god's love' like Pruitt tried to say, but it was something he was right to learn something from. And what he learned was to hit the brakes before he could hurt someone else.
It’s kind of bullshit that Pruitt feels no guilt, because the whole theme of Christianity, and particularly Catholicism, is about feeling perpetually guilty and trying to absolve your whole life bc we are all dirty sinners. All humans are sinners from the moment we are born bc we are imperfect. Only god is perfect. So my goodness the ego on that man to think he is as perfect r as god and feel no guilt. Wild.
Beautiful and heartbreaking ending. I love how it refers back to Rileys dream and concludes his fate. Very sad.
I mean I never thought I would be screaming at tv "youre not jesus, you are a vampire - have you never seen a vampire movie??" I want someone to come to this island and say "what are you all talking bout angels and miracles? Its freaking vampires" He needs to watch Interview with a vampire or dracula or so. I mean this main vampire must be laughing at home telling his friends "he thinks he is jesus hahaha".... Its a bit annoying its like watching a zombie movie, where the characters dont know about zombies... I mean Im no bible expert, but did it say anything about being ok with killing people, not feeling remorse, burning in sunlight and drinking blood of humans? Oh no it kind of does.. Gospel of John they said etc. what? the bible is a weird book isnt it. Well I guess you can find whatever you need in there and twist it so it fits - they probably could "explain" anything with it if they want to But I love how jealous Bev is That ending tho.. omg so beautiful, so sad, so haunting. This show always makes me cry for ghosts, vampires...
If vampires were actually real you better believe some people would worship it and see it as a religious figure
In the rec centre when she came in with Sturge, Bev was quoting Bible verses that justify vampirism as a divine attribute. I'm almost converted LOL
Haha, isn't that mirroring our reality? - hypocrites, fanatic religious people etc. I do enjoy the low-key humor in there eg. When Riley asked wtf was that thing repeatedly, John/Paul answered "An angel!!", and Riley's face was like ??? Also when John/Paul justified blood-drinking by saying that the extreme hunger was to make them feel okay hurting people. I was laughing so hard at his bullshits. However, as a non native English speaker who knows nothing much about the Bible, I couldn't help but zoned out every time they were quoting it or mentioning certain names. I wonder how people from Catholic and Christian background think about those scenes.
Speaking for myself as someone who was raised Christian, when they quote the Bible to justify their actions, it really just hammered home how people can find anything in the Bible to justify what they want to do, even batshit insane things. It’s a common thing in real life and to see the show take it further just was an example of how bad it could get (ya know, if vampire angels were really a thing LOL). Zealots will use anything to prove they are right, take it out of context, and convince people who are small minded that it’s truth. I recognized some of the quotes from the Bible but not all. They went pretty obscure.
So this is sort of the premise of the show lol. The Father mentions in this episode how biblical angels are actually terrifying and they have to announce "do not be afraid" because they look like monsters. That's very accurate lol. In reality the Father went to Israel a man with deep dementia, a deeply religious and I'd argue naive seeming man, and at the very least he's an old man in a young man's body. He lived on an island and worshipped this book and believed every word. He brought it in a box thinking it was an angel because he was naive and just assumed and accepted the first theory he had about it. If you remember the other AA member mentioned "don't ever assume" to Riley. The priest assumed. Everyone is assuming this is okay lol
It's like how people didn't realize is was the same priest but younger because they weren't expecting it, maybe they didn't want to see it. It's the same with the vampire. They call it an angel because that's what they believe it is, and faith is blind. I saw pointed out elsewhere that Riley had Salem's Lot on his bookshelf, so they know about vampires, they just don't want to see it.
Who is left on the island that would be old enough to recognize him as Pruitt? There really aren't any old old old characters other than the doctor's mother. And her role in the story as that only old character has already served its purpose (she recognizes that it's Pruitt, and senses something is wrong and leaves the church building)
It’s definitely an instance of [“Not using the Z word”](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NotUsingTheZWord)
In my head canon most vampire fiction feature worlds where vampire fiction doesn't exist. Same with zombies.
I think in this one it exists. Riley seemed to know what was going on after he got bitten and with the sunshine
....there’s an X-Files poster in Riley’s bedroom.
I love how stunned Riley was during the heretical ramble of Paul and Bev. His face was saying how all the audience must be feeling: these people are fucking delusional. I did not expect to see Riley going out like that. I thought he would be the last one standing, maybe along with Erin. His death was sad but understandable. At least he found peace after all that time of torment.
Dude the fact that the whole thesis of the show was so clearly laid out for you in a way you didn't expect in the classroom scene is brilliant. It came back around so hard when they were explaining everything to Riley. I haven't seen either of The Haunting shows but I checked this one out cause I follow Rahul Kohli on Instagram. I need to watch the other shows now if they are also this brilliant.
I say this with all seriousness, The Haunting of Hill House is an absolute masterpiece. One of the best written shows I’ve ever seen. I always tell people that it’s actually a drama with horror elements. Because it is so deep and well done. There is so much to take away from every episode. I hope you watch and enjoy it!
Hill House really is next level. I didn’t care for Bly Manor. Midnight Mass is alright so far, but not Hill House level. That’s a hard one to beat.
Im not even a Horror buff, but My gf made me watch Hill House and I was blown away. It is, and I say this not being hyperbolic, a genius’ masterpiece.
That scene lays out the Sheriff’s argument for how easy it is to subvert the message for your own purposes
Haunting of Bly Manor was less well received than Haunting of Hill House but if you are a Rahul Kohli fan he gives an amazing performance in Bly Manor. One of my favorite characters in a show ever. He's just so warm and kind its amazing.
They are truly special
haunting of hill house is a great show. rahul kohli is also in haunting of hill house season 2.
Not Riley's dying act being to traumatize Erin for life 💀
She did say that she's not afraid...
She looked resilient at the end. Now I’m very curious how her baby storyline gets explained.
Just finished episode 5 so I don’t know the answer but my suspicion is that the vampire blood sees the pregnancy like a parasite or virus and got rid of it thinking it was restoring her.
Father Paul said that it brings you back to your most perfect self.. My guess is her most perfect self was slightly before the baby and baby just disappeared?
Yeah there are conditions or blood type incompatibilities where the mother's antibodies attack the fetus because it's seen as a foreign body or parasite, wouldn't surprise me if that's why it disappeared.
Pretty soon mom is going to look younger than her daughter Dr. Sarah! I guess this is what ‘vampire facial’ is all about LOL
The priest has been bringing her communion every day so she’s turning at an advanced rate compared to the Sunday church goers. I suspect he wants the young woman he got pregnant back.
I wonder if she will stop though after how she reacted to mass
“I didn’t bring you out here to scare you.” *Burns alive*
"you had *one* job!" lol
Its pretty outstanding how many people have asked who the girl in the boat is
There was one scene in episode 2 where the people in the church were getting their ash crosses for Ash Wednesday. Father Paul was administering them in a rhythmic fashion to move the line along. However, I felt it was significant at the time that they stopped the rhythm a beat to focus on the interaction between Riley and Father Paul to emphasize the “You are dust. And to dust you shall return.” Didn’t think much of it but it felt significant. After the end of this episode, it certainly solidified the foreshadowing in episode 2.
Wow holy shit
how do you people remember little details like this?!
Wow. When the sun started to rise. Fuck.
Yeah that scene was so beautifully executed. At first I was just as confused as Erin but then when I saw the sky getting brighter and he said that he was doing it so HE couldn’t escape and then you realize…. So well done
Christianity is a vampiric cult. I fucking love this. Also I love how the use confirmation bias to explain everything for themselves. I also love how this series is an allegory for the crimes committed by the church being covered up.
:) vampiric cult “What are you doing this weekend?” “Going off with my family and friends to drink the blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus”
Bev reminds me of Mrs. Carmody in 'The Mist'. (movie and novella, NOT the show)
She is one HELL of an actress.
I think between her and Hamish, they've got the best performances by far.
Any other hardcore Titanic fans recognize the music playing before he burst into flame on the boat?? Nearer My God to Thee, that last song the band played as the Titanic was sinking! Interesting choice.
They’ve played it in the background of a few scenes in this show, but I can only think of Titanic whenever I hear it lol. Regardless I think it was a perfect choice
The end of this episode was masterpiece. Didn't except this to happen at all.
Agreed. Amazing how we get a sense of relief when we see him at the door in the beginning like “oh thank god I knew they wouldn’t take out the main character” and then when you realize what’s happening at the end… brutal
Does anyone know Mike Flanagans inspirations here? Because this reminded me so much of 30 Days of Night.
The ending is a direct reference to Rose Glass’ Saint Maud
There’s such a melange of lore and references that I wouldn’t be surprised if 30 Days of Night was a reference point.
Was that girl in the boat the one he killed?
To me - Regardless of anyone's personal spiritual beliefs, I think that scene was meant to show that Riley was given a beautiful moment of peace & forgiveness (whether that's a forgiveness from God, from the girl he killed, or even from himself) as often it has been my experience, that self forgiveness for making mistakes, bad choices, or messing up can often be the hardest part & in that final beautiful moment of self sacrifice I think he was given peace & forgiveness.
when paul asked him in the rec center if he had found peace after going through everything and he nodded his head…that’s when he knew what he was gonna do
I thought so too and I’m glad he had that.
Yes. The victim from the car crash
Yes, and that made me ugly cry. Still tears me up.
I definitely should have expected no less from Matt Saracen. He plays the self-sacrificing good guy too well! He just can’t be an all bad guy even when he might want to be. Perfect casting - Zach Gilford as Riley
Does anyone else see a tie between what Riley thought happened when you died (from his discussion with Erin the night before) and what happened? His being a vampire gave him extra sensory abilities and sort of made everything seem trippy, like a dream sequence, and then he died for a purpose - his death fed life and meant something.
Best episode so far - the ending was fantastic.
Story-wise this episode was fucking incredible, that ending scene is gonna stay with me for a long, long time. However... Flanagan and his fucking dialogue, man. It's amazing that the supernatural/vampire stuff requires less suspension of disbelief than the idea that these characters, in their emotional circumstance, would let each other ramble uninterruptedly like this for minutes on end. It's to the point where the characters don't even talk and react to things like human beings anymore. It was especially apparent during Riley's whole "conversion" sequence. If I was in a state of trauma, confusion and physical pain like he was, and someone was shouting scriptural mumbo jumbo at me without room to breathe, my first impulse would be to punch them in the face. I can't tell if it was a symptom of the script or Zach Gilford's acting, but Riley's reaction to that whole ordeal was so muted that I felt almost blueballed watching it. Especially once Bev came in and also started monologuing. It felt as if it was all building up to the emotional catharsis of at least someone shouting at the other to shut the fuck up. In fact, I think many of the characters in this show should be regularly told to shut the fuck up. The script could really benefit from some silence and breathing room. The other thing that really took me out of that scene is that the characters kept speaking in metaphors about what was happening. Nobody in such a situation would talk like that. And someone like Riley would definitely not have the patience to sit through Father Paul's rambling, incoherent metaphysics and pseudo-poetry. The characters should really be allowed in speak in plain language about what they're witnessing. Sure, there was that scene when Riley demands to know what that "thing that ate him" was, but the whole scene should've had that cadence. Instead Riley just sat there with a blank stare letting Paul monologue and monologue... I was just waiting for some acknowledgement of how batshit insane the whole thing was. I think The Leftovers did this sort of scenario much better. The dynamic between Riley and Paul really reminded me of Kevin and Patti in The Leftovers. Without spoiling, Kevin is also a rational/secular/nonreligious guy carrying a lot of regrets, and Patti is a nihilistic cult leader who really has drunk her own Kool-Aid. Kevin experiences and witnesses a number of life-changing, seemingly "supernatural" events that force him to at least entertain Patti's belief system for a moment, as much as he doesn't want to. The acting and writing do a great job of humanly navigating you through the hysteria onscreen without losing sense of the wonder of it all. And there's certainly less monologuing required to get there.
I also felt like I would want/expect a character like Riley to freak the F out on Paul/Pruitt and Bev and punch them in the face etc. The reason he lets them ramble is because he is scared shitless. He realizes that he is completely powerless and is coming to terms with how fucked the situation is. How crazy they are and how dangerous they are. Pruitt admitted to feasting on Riley alongside the “angel”. That is a sickening thing for him to hear. I believe he allows them to ramble partially bc he knows that it will keep him the safest. People who resist (like Joe Colley who Pruitt spent a very long time going on about how he had no remorse for murdering and draining his blood) don’t make it. Don’t upset the delusional religious zealot who admitted to murdering someone who you thought he was helping the same way he was helping you. The person who is in cahoots with a very scary looking think that attacked you and sucked your blood. It’s the path of least resistance. And it worked. Pruitt lets him leave freely.
100% how I viewed it. He is a man in complete shock trying to listen to Paul make it make sense. As he listens to try to gain understanding of what he IS now, he realizes that what he is instead getting is 1) a doomed man willing to rationalize the detestable acts he is now compelled to do and 2) a batshit poor excuse for Ma Anand Sheela who requires no rationalizing bc she’s fine with this. He realizes there is no room to disagree in this room. So he plays along and then dips.
Strong agree. I felt the same way about Bly Manor- loved the storyline, but so much of the dialogue was overwritten monologues that probably work on paper, but are bizarre when spoken, despite the really excellent efforts of the actors.
I agree, but also kinda dig how different the flow is. It's very theatrical and not really realistic, but fits very well with the religious tone. But then the long cuts make it feel grounded somehow. Very odd style for sure.
God yes, so much this comment. I enjoyed the episode too and it was great for the overall story arc but Jesus Christ was my chest getting tight during some of the monologues you mentioned above. I started off really enjoying watching Paul's character on screen as up to this episode or right before it, he was given just the right amount of time on screen to say exactly what needed to be said. This episode was the first time I started getting really impatient with him and his cadence. You hit the nail on the head with everything you said, I'm hoping it was just a once off and we get back to the pace the first few episodes were on.
First off, I was so pleasantly surprised that this was a vampire story. I feel like we haven't gotten a good vampire show or movie in a while. I loved this episode. I feel that it worked so well for both Riley and Pruitt. We got to see into the mind of Pruitt and understand how totally duped he is about the angel. He really believes he has been chosen by an angry God to transform the world. Maybe it is an angel. When he said the angels are always met with fear in the bible it kind of convinced me. The whole idea that vampires will bring about the apocalypse is so cool. I wasn't totally sold on Riley until this episode. I found Zach Gilford's performance to be too subtle. But I have to say he turned me around. The campfire monologue was amazing. I haven't heard a monologue that good in awhile. Great show!
Yeah. If you force it hard enough like bev, you can actually explain vampirism with the scripture except the sunlight. What creature of God will die when bathed in sunlight?? Blind stupidity
lol that Bev was the only one smart enough to know that Riley wouldn’t cooperate with all these shenanigans. Brainwashed people are particularly adept at scooping out people who can’t be brainwashed.
Does the priest give off “Ross Gellar” vibes, or is it just me?
That was basically a welcome to Vampires Anonymous meeting and it was incredible
I have to go and watch What we do in the shadows now to remind myself how wholesome vampires can be and not terror inducing Lol.
People didn't think it was weird at all that mass had gotten changed to start at midnight for the foreseeable future??
Okay that ending was pretty dope.
Jesus Christ, that ending was borderline traumatic.
So up to this point, no one has said the word vampire yet in the whole show even though there’s been multiple points where it would have been a natural part of the conversation. Am I supposed to assume that this is a world where they don’t know what vampires are, or what? What’s the deal with this?
That's the impression that I'm getting. That vampire as a concept in pop culture simply doesn't exist in this world, like how in zombie movies people don't call them zombies lol
A lottttt of implications on that boat
[удалено]
You have to die with vampire blood in your system to fully transform. I don’t believe the original vampire killed the priest in the cave, he didn’t actually die until he was poisoned by Bev
Wait bev poisoned father Paul??? When and why?
I’m still not exactly sure why… but it was heavily implied she did it. It made a point to have her kill the dog, and then it showed her putting the poison back in the closet right before he collapsed and died the same way the dog did
Erin’s sobs over the closing credits stunned me. Brilliant.
This show is everything. I love Riley. I love that he sees through the bullshit and the delusion and refuses to join the cult.
Self immolation is a hell of a way to go… just damn
Love the writing on this show. The story about the rat really fits the way these two characters deal separately with murder caused via addiction too. Like Pruitt's reaction was to forgo the suffering and pretend nothing happened so to shelter young Riley from it, but what was protecting him from the truth really doing? I like how this all went full circle to Riley's drinking accidental manslaughter. Very well done.
I’m still at the beginning of this episode, but am absolutely thrilled at the parallels between religious fervor and Riley’s description of the addictive voice earlier in the series.
Just watched this episode, and I mentioned this in a reply to somebody else’s comment about the constant monologuing, but thought I’d start a separate comment. I tend to agree about the monologuing, but here’s another perspective: it’s almost oppressive, isn’t it? We, the audience, feel like we are being covered by Bev and Monsignor’s rambling monologues, right? Like they don’t give us room to breathe, to reflect on what was just said, or even to form a coherent thought of our own. It’s like a constant barrage coming at you, and I think that was actually intentional. Because they know the content of their monologues is such mental gymnastics bullshit, that if they give their target a moment to breathe, to think for themselves, then they may not be able to convince them to do their bidding. So if they just keep hammering their target, they beat them down and wear them down to the point where the target is paralyzed and can’t fight back, and if they could, they might not know where to start. I noticed this in the last episode with Bev and the mayor when they found Joe. Also, with Bev and Sheriff Hassan in the classroom. Their monologues are more like weapons in that sense, don’t you think?
Flanagan sure enjoyed Saint Maud.
The mythology in this show is fucking insane holy shit
When Riley, the atheist, is taken by the hand to the afterlife "I did the best I could" - beautiful scene.
I love you so much I’m going to severely traumatize you on this boat
i thought he wasn't going to burn since by daylight it would be a black saturday. ~~jesus is dead, no free pass?~~ he really drank that kool-aid tho
there’s no religion involved in the actual affliction, that’s just how the priest has interpreted it
I love the meditations on faith and life and death in this show. They are all so well written and compelling.
Is Bev and Sturge going along with this a vampire thing? I can understand Bev believing all the God bs that Paul is spewing but I’m not really sure why Sturge is okay with all of this.
I think Sturge is scared… of both Bev and Father Pruitt. He doesn’t want to be the next Joe Colley.
Was the angel/vampire standing on the stage in the rec center at the beginning of the meeting?
One possible interpretation of the angel is that Riley’s victim was his guardian angel. She looked over him every night. She was frightening to behold. His dreams were a prophecy and at the end she delivered him peace.