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

In Netflix's Midnight Mass, it does seem like Riley (Zach Gilford) and Erin (Kate Siegel) form the show's most tragic love story. Riley was turned into a bloodsucker by Father Paul (Hamish Linklater) but rather than feed on his childhood sweetheart, Riley's incinerated in the sun to show Erin the proof she needed to flee Crockett Island. It shocked fans as many expected them to end up together, but the interesting thing is they aren't the lovers we feel for most in Midnight Mass.

Don't get us wrong, Riley and Erin have nuance to them as they were together as teens, only for life to send them down different paths. Riley ended up being an entrepreneur who killed a girl in a drunk-driving accident, reconnecting years later with Erin, who actually loses her baby due to the vampirism in her blood. But despite all these woes, they've never stopped loving each other. Sadly, Erin dies too as she comes back to try to save Riley's family, wrapping a sad story as they often spoke about the afterlife together.

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Father Paul gives his sermon in Midnight Mass

But despite all this, they knew they weren't soulmates or star-crossed lovers. They accepted that while they loved each other, they weren't in love, ergo why they could deviate. This, however, isn't the case with Father Paul and Mildred. Paul's actually Father Pruitt, who became a vamp in Damascus after discovering his "angel" during a sandstorm. He brings the creature back to Crockett to spread this "gift" and "holy word," which causes a sick and elderly Mildred to become young again and regain her memory.

It turns out, the private mass a young Pruitt/Paul has been administering all this time is vampire blood in the wine, healing Mildred because he really is in love with her. He couldn't stand her dying with dementia so he gaslit himself into thinking immortality was a good thing, admitting to a younger Mildred all he wanted was for them to be together.

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He'd even have given up his frock, confessing it hurt seeing another man raising Sarah (the island's doctor) as the priest knew she was his. It's why he had the bloodshed at Easter mass because everyone would be able to share in his happiness. Mildred, however, admits she wouldn't change a thing to extend their affair, because Pruitt was always meant for the holy path.

Mildred and Father Paul hold a dark secret in Midnight Mass

Sadly, when Sarah tries to burn the church down and Pruitt reveals the truth to her, trying to help her escape, Sturge kills her. It leaves Pruitt pissed as it's his dream dying before his eyes. Even when he tries to give Sarah his blood to be revived, she spits it out, reaffirming that while she knows he's her dad, she still thinks he's a monster.

Their finale, with Pruitt and Mildred taking Sarah's corpse to a bridge -- her favorite spot -- sums it all up. He acknowledges that he did wrong but it was all in the name of love, generosity and kindness. Mildred understands, and as they kiss, the sun rises and burns them up. It shows Pruitt was human, after all, and makes their forbidden love sympathetic, despite having doomed the island.

All seven episodes of Midnight Mass are streaming on Netflix.

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