‘Midnight Mass’ Recap – ‘Book IV: Lamentations’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘Midnight Mass’.
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At this point, we can all agree upon the fact that the Netflix series, Midnight Mass, has offered up some powerful and poignant commentary on religion and its role in the 21st Century and the root causes of its problems. Yet while this series has indeed explored religion’s faults in great detail over the past three episodes, this is a series that also wants to acknowledge the good that religion can do, and why it remains popular and desired, despite its internal and external struggles. And it is the positive nature that religion provides, and it’s draw, that served as some of the focal themes present in the next episode of this phenomenal series. But alas, in order to properly understand all of that, something awful had to happen. 
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In fact, ‘Book IV: Lamentations’ wasted zero in bringing tragedy into the life of one resident of Crockett Island. Specifically, Erin Greene. Because what should have been another joyous examination, one that would have further built the excitement for the birth of her child… ended in disaster when Dr. Gunning could find no heartbeat or trace of her unborn baby. Which in turn motivated Erin to quickly get to the mainland to find some straight answers and well, what she learned damn near broke her. Because all signs pointed to the weirdest miscarriage in history, one where it seemed she was never pregnant and well… that’s precisely when the story explored in detail why people continue to turn to religion, despite its embattled and broken nature. 

They do so, simply because… it does still offer hope and comfort in a desperate time of need. Since discussions with Riley about what became of her baby girl, revolved around what happens to us when we die and what the afterlife might look like, and religion is in indeed mired heavily in both of those concepts and still speaks to them often. Because they do help people in Erin’s shoes process death and the end and what comes next when we take our last breaths and that part of religion and faith, is indeed beautiful and should be focused upon more. Since hope is a powerful tool in healing and if by chance the church offered more of that over anything else… then perhaps the church would face far less scrutiny and concern.

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However despite going a more hopeful and uplifting route in examining religion, the secondary story in this tale… once again took the time to point out more of religion’s flaws. Specifically, what it actually demands of its followers and how quickly its sins are overlooked by its own members, and it accomplished this feat, but informing us of the fact… that Monsignor John Pruitt… had turned and was now a full-fledged vampire. One that suffered from the pain of the sun and craved blood and well… that led to disaster on the island. Because one quiet night, when Joe swung by for support and help… John was quick to make things uncomfortable and dangerous, to the point where a scuffle ended with Joe split his head open. Giving John… license to feed and well, once Bev discovered what had happened… she did her best to cover it up.

Which in turn serves as a fine reminder, that the modern church is big on expecting its congregation to give every last drop of their finances to the ‘Lord’ but will offer little in return when the chips are down for those very servants in need and obviously, Bev’s actions speaks volumes to how quickly the church will cover something awful up to maintain image and hope for the masses. A move that was reminiscent of the unsavory and disgusting coverup the Boston Globe uncovered about the priests in that town twenty years ago. But while the commentary here was once again poignant and relevant, we would be foolish to not discuss the quality horror that came out of John’s transformation. Because it was downright terrifying to see this mouse of a man suck a skull dry of blood and it was equally as awful to have the greatest revelation of all come to light.

In that, it turns out that the disappearance of Erin’s child, and Leeza’s healing and the return of Mildred Gunning’s memory, is related to the fact that John has indeed been feeding the town the vampire’s blood in small doses. Likely in the hopes of using its twisted healing powers to give the people of Crockett undying faith in something more and hope for a better tomorrow. But judging from how this discovery was received by the vampire when Riley walked in on it shedding its blood… all John has done is doomed the island to a horrific fate. One where this demon of sorts will not rest until it either has either complete control or a flock of nouveau vampires to help quench its endless thirst for warm human blood, or consumes its residents whole. But while we wait to see the fallout of this discovery, we can bask in one incredible tale. One that once again offered up some fascinating thoughts on religion… all while setting the stage for a terrifying disaster. Until next time.

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