WARNING: The following contains spoilers for the entirety of Midnight Mass, streaming now on Netflix.

In Netflix's Midnight Mass, it's fairly evident early on there will be a slew of deaths on Crockett Island. Reason being is that many of the small island's 127 inhabitants have been brainwashed by Father Paul (Hamish Linklater), who's using Catholicism to secretly turn them into blood-sucking immortals -- essentially a mix of vampire and zombies. Sure, they might have their senses and will intact once he converts them, but eventually, they'll give into their urges. Unfortunately, as much as we hope for a happy ending for at least a few of the show's protagonists, this leads to one of TV's most surprising deaths this year to paint a stark reality of the inescapable affliction haunting the island.

In Episode 4, "Book IV: Lamentations," Zach Gilford's Riley Flynn shows his humanity in spades when he tries investigating what happened to the island's other drunk, Joe. Riley has been struggling throughout with visions of a girl he killed in a drunk-driving accident, spending four years in jail before trying to rebuild his life back in the home he ran from after a failed career as a businessman. It results in him, Paul and Joe bonding over AA meetings as Paul does seem to want the men to get better, especially Joe who accidentally crippled young Leeza years ago in a shooting accident.

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Sadly, the priest's ravenous urges give in and he murders Joe, who couldn't return to life as he never visited church and took communion. This 'wine' contained the blood of the vampire angel that turned the island's old Father Pruitt into Paul in Damascus on a pilgrimage. Joe's body ends up being tossed into the sea by Paul and Bev's minions to cover the incident up. However, when Paul lies to Riley about Joe going to the mainland to visit his sister, Riley realizes something's up, as Joe confessed to him already that his sister was dead.

Riley eventually avoids his nightly meeting with his beloved Erin and confronts Paul, only to see the vampire putting his blood in the wine and Paul praying. In a shocking scene, the vampire lunges at Riley, feeding on him to close this chapter. It seems like maybe Riley's dead but he does return in Episode 5, "Book V: Gospels," where he secrets Erin off-island on a boat. It turns out, while he's been missing for two days, he's been hiding out, dealing with his bloodlust and trying to avoid sunlight.

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Riley leaves his parents some letters over what's transpired as he knows, being a former alcoholic and whatnot, no one will believe him as they've all been gaslit by the St. Patrick's church. But Erin knows him as they've shared so much together, which is why he takes her out to sea to reveal what happened. However, while she's uncertain about this unbelievable horror story, part of her believes maybe Riley's brought her out to feed.

The truth is, he wants her to paddle off to the mainland and leave Crockett behind. She's smart and shouldn't ever have to raise a family there, which is why he's got the ultimate proof that the island will become infected and infested soon: his own body. As the sun comes up, Riley's plan is to incinerate himself, although it seems for a brief moment maybe he won't burn after all. But as the camera cuts to where Erin's sitting on the boat, we see the girl Riley killed in his accident.

Her ghost seems to accept him and bring him peace, ready to usher him into the afterlife. He's truly atoned and the guilt is burned away as we see Riley fully engulfed in flames. He quickly disintegrates into dust as Erin screams in horror inches away, producing a shocking fate for the lead character. Many thought, as a flawed 'hero,' his ultimate redemption would be to save the home he scorns, but instead, as Paul senses it, Riley has thrown away his "gift" of immortality. Bev Keane is in disgust but Paul isn't, as he can tell Riley is indeed a good man and has sacrificed himself into ash as he doesn't want any part in this crimson crusade.

All seven episodes of Midnight Mass are streaming on Netflix.

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