I watched the Haunting of Hill House as soon as it came out. I loved it immensely. It was just the kind of horror TV that I was looking for. The Haunting of Bly Manor, as a successor to Hill House, left a little to be desired. But if we look at it without the lens of comparison, it was also a triumph in horror. Yes, it turned out to be more drama than horror – but it was spooky nonetheless. And the whole vibe of both these limited series was so perfect.

When I found out about Midnight Mass, when I found out it was from the same people responsible for the wonderful horror of Hill House and Bly Manor, I couldn’t wait to watch it! Sadly, when it came out life happened and I had to delay watching it in order to properly savor every minute of it. I do not regret the wait.

Below is an episode-by-episode review of the miniseries. It contains SPOILERS. For a spoiler-free summary review, visit Literary Retreat.

Episode 1 – “Book I: Genesis”

What an intriguing start to the miniseries! The paramedic administering to Riley was a bit judgmental, but maybe he just had a rough day..

Is it just me or do small populations (Crockett Island, Population: 127) seem straight-up ominous? Whenever I see such a small population for any place, my first thought is ‘Now, there’s bound to be something sinister here!’

I like the small, island town vibe though. We’re taken through most of the town with Riley’s brother cycling through and Neil Diamonds “Soolaimon“ setting the scene. The town seems so cottagecore genteel.

The first spook comes when Warren sees a pair of eyes reflected back at him through the bushes in the Uppards where he and his friends are smoking… weed? That’s pretty much the only scare in the episode. The rest of it is introductions to all the characters. The town drunk, the mayor and his family, the Flynns, Erin Greene, the doctor, her mom. And of course, the new priest who’s arrived to replace Mon Signor Pruitt – but there’s something so sinister and fishy about him. I have a strong feeling that he’s not who he says he is.

The Muslim sheriff and his son are an interesting aspect. I’m looking forward to seeing what becomes of them through the rest of the miniseries – especially with it leaning so heavily towards church-going and the Bible.

I’m also looking forward to hating Bev Keane. I’ve never met a holier-than-thou character that I liked – and she’s no different.

I’m hoping the rest of the miniseries is more happening than the first episode – not to say that it was bad. It was a great introductory episode.

Episode 2 – “Book II: Psalms”

A great episode to strengthen your faith in the Lord and his miracles. Not a great episode for animals.

First, the cats had to die and then the dog! What is wrong with you, Flanagan! All those dead cats! Gahh! But what is the scene with Mayor Scarborough trying to keep it under wraps? He kept trying to convince the Sheriff that it wasn’t as worrisome as he thinks. Weird.

Interesting to see the story developing. Father Paul, Pruitt’s replacement, is making house calls. So nice of him. Why does it seem sinister? And why does Sarah, Dr. Gunning’s Mom call him “John”? As in John Pruitt. Something is definitely amiss here. I feel it even more strongly when he arranges for Riley to attend his AA meetings on the island. Is he trying to keep Riley from going to the mainland? Is he going to start messing up the boats?

I love the romance rekindling between Riley and Erin. Even though I feel like it’s not going to end well.

Is it just me or are all the old people slowly and subtly getting younger? It’s not just Riley’s Mom not needing glasses anymore. It’s the way the wrinkles are disappearing and the hair’s getting shinier. Does it have to do with whatever was flying over the town at night? Scary stuff!

The same flying thing, whatever it is, also has something to do with paralyzed Leeza Scarborough not being paralyzed anymore. Miracles abound!

Episode 3 – “Book III: Proverbs”

What an episode! The islanders are still processing Leeza’s sudden recovery, and flocking the church because of it. Two things really took the cake in this episode:

1. Leeza’s monologue when she confronts Joe Collie in his trailer – such lines!
2. Sheriff Hassan educating Bev Keane about Islam and how Muslims not only know about Jesus but also love him as a prophet of God – such a powerful scene!

The thing that struck me most about Sheriff Hassan vs. Bev Keane scene was how real it actually was. There are so many people who hate other religions simply because they don’t know anything about it or assume wrongly. And even when they are faced with the truth, they refuse to believe it. Kate Siegel’s words when she’s walking home with Riley after that school meeting are exactly how I feel about religious extremists of any variety.

The episode also confirmed one of my biggest doubts about the connection between Father Paul and Mon Signor Pruitt.

Episode 4 – “Book IV: Lamentations”

This one felt a bit like a filler episode. But as filler episodes go, it was definitely a cut above the rest. (referring to all those useless filler episodes we had to endure during the last two seasons of GoT!) Considering that it’s a miniseries, there was still a lot of stuff happening even during the filler. A couple of really good monologues.

I find it so interesting how Father Paul is inspiring all these people to get unburden themselves – Leeza in the last episode forgiving Joe Collie and then Riley’s father in this episode telling his son how he had resentment in his heart.

There were certainly standout moments in the episode:

• When the vial of Erin’s blood starts fizzing and cracks – that set of big alarmbells in my brain.
• Bev’s reaction to seeing Joe Collie dead and Father Paul covered in his blood – such a powerful moment when she refuses to accept the reality that there’s been a murder, rationalizing it in her brain as Biblical. There isn’t even a break in her stride, she’s taking it as something that was bound to happen. What a psycho.
• Riley and Erin talking about what happens when they die – it was so refreshing seeing two people on the opposite ends of the religious spectrum respectfully discussing one of the key points of religion.
• I had my doubts about the sacrament from Episode 1. The caraffe looked so ominous in Father Paul’s hands. And now my suspicions have been confirmed. Although I was incorrect in guessing that it contains poison. The reality is so much more interesting.

I’m not particularly happy about the ending of the episode. I was beginning to like Riley, but he just had to get all curious and use his brain.

Episode 5 – “Book V: Gospels”

It only took a quarter of an episode to get Riley back on the scene – only for us to lose him again. Ugh!

If ever there was a walking talking example of zealot it is Bev Keane. I’m impressed by how casually she’s taking the whole ‘Father Paul is a vampire and he’s probably going to turn the whole island into his legion’ situation. The way she quotes scripture to argue with Riley about how this is God’s work is, in a word, brilliant. I really want a Midnight Mass spin-off that is all Bev Keane’s villain origin story. That would be an interesting watch.

The episode mainly centered around Riley and what happened after the end of the last episode and before he showed up on Erin Greene’s doorstep. The last scene was powerful – how Riley end his life living his dream. But Erin’s scream at the end was horrifying. Let’s see if she does what Riley advised and disappears to the mainland or goes back to save the other islanders.

Episode 6 – “Book VI: Act of the Apostles”

This is definitely the spookiest episode in the whole miniseries. There are jumpscares in the other ones and ominous music that gives you goosebumps. But the creation of a cult and sudden shifting of cult dynamics is the true horror.

Erin is obviously back on the island and, as Riley probably expected, she’s trying to save as many people as she can. She finds an ally in Sarah and Sarah’s mom. When she confronts Riley’s mom and tells her he’s dead, that doesn’t work out so well. But that’s not even the worst part of the episode.

Bev convinces Pruitt to start telling people about the truth and about the ‘angel’. Of course, the Scarboroughs are the first people he reaches out to and they’re convinced easily – as they would be considering the way they’re shown to think. Bev, the evil mastermind here, gets Sturge to sabotage all the boats and cut out power. Easter Vigil is being held in the church and to make sure everyone finds their way easily, Bev sets out with the Scarboroughs on a walkthrough of the island. Singing hymns as they go. At midnight. On a blacked-out island. The scary part is yet to come. The aerial view of that walkthrough, however, was the most aesthetic shot in the episode.

With most of the islanders present and the church packed to the brim, Father Paul / Mon Signor Pruitt states his confession. And this is where the horror starts. He details everything that happened to him and then he hands Sturge, a willing participant, a glass of poison. As he dies and comes back to life, we’re shown how many people in the church are convinced it’s a miracle. So few, so so few, are truly appalled and rightfully scared for their lives.

Watching the church scenes, I have never felt so uncomfortable, so deeply horrified, because this is something that isn’t paranormal or superstitious. This is reality. This actually happens, still, today. Unsuspecting people put their trust in individuals who they believe spread messages of positivity only to end up being brainwashed and led to violence.

And Bev Keane! Oh my GOD! We all know at least one Bev Keane in our lives – self-righteous, holier than thou characters who will always use their ‘chastity’ as a weapon. Ugh. I wanted to climb into the TV and bitchslap Bev Keane. That bitch.

Episode 7 – “Book VII: Revelation”

And that’s how series finales are done, people! What a strong ending. I’m especially glad that Bev Keane got exactly what she deserved.

The episode starts off right where the last one ended – the majority of the islanders have been turned into vampires. They’re hunting down the rest, turning some but mostly just butchering. In a true lightbulb moment – that I knew would later come to bite her in the ass – Bev decides to burn everything on the island except St. Patrick’s and the Rec Center. And it does come around so gloriously.

Stand out moments from the episode include:

• Riley’s Mom’s dialogue with Bev – such a supermom moment that was when Bev tries to question her parenting and she just throws it right back in her face.
• No hints dropped until the big reveal of Sarah’s paternity. She was Pruitt’s daughter! His confession that he did all of this because he didn’t want Sarah’s mom to die kinda redeemed him in my eyes. Not totally though.
• Erin Greene saving the world even while literally getting the life sucked out of her! You go, girl.
• Erin’s metaphysical conversation with Riley – what a monologue! I loved it! “I am that I am.” Wonderfully written and expertly delivered by Kate Siegel. (heart eyes)

As series finales go, this one was everything I wanted it to be. Perfectly done.

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I feel like I was always going to love this miniseries, no matter what it ended up being. My review can be considered biased – but what review isn’t? Objective journalism is dead anyway. (Don’t come @ me!)

The miniseries is a brilliant commentary on how easy it is to use the word of God, in any religion, to lead people into questionable territory. The scene where Bev Keane, after turning the whole island into vampires and burning every habitable place down, calls Sheriff Hassan a “terrorist” just because of his faith felt like deja vu.

I’m happy that I didn’t binge-watch this. I got to savor each and every episode and truly absorb it before moving on to the next. If you haven’t watched it yet, I would advise an episode a day.

Another triumph for the ‘Flanagang’, not exactly the same as The Haunting of Hill House (that show is in a league of its own) but not that far behind either.