Hi, yes, hello. So I know there are so many good shows on right now and it's sometimes hard to narrow down which one to watch next. Well, I'm here to tell you that Netflix's Midnight Mass should be next on your list.
This show is — dare I say — a perfect limited series that will keep you on the edge of your seat for seven episodes.
So, to celebrate Midnight Mass hitting Netflix on Sept. 24 — and because I just need to flail about this show to everyone — here are 17 reasons why it needs to be your next binge-watch.
And, just FYI, there are NO major spoilers ahead.
1. First, Midnight Mass is set in the small, isolated town of Crockett Island. The series kicks off when a disgraced young man named Riley returns to town at the exact same time as Father Paul, a charismatic new priest.
2. The series centers around questions of faith, namely Catholicism, as the community faces its biggest challenges when unexplained and seemingly miraculous events begin to occur.
3. And yes, Midnight Mass is technically a horror series, but the show is much more an examination on different types of characters and their faith. While there are some jump scares, it's mostly filled with delicately crafted monologues.
4. That being said, I cannot stress enough how important it is to stay away from spoilers for this show. The magic of Midnight Mass, like Hill House, is watching the story unfold and learning all of the secrets of Crockett Island.
5. Behind the scenes, the series was written, directed, and executive produced by Mike Flanagan, the creator behind The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, and more.
6. In fact, a lot of the creative team behind the Haunting series is back, like cinematographer Michael Fimognari, musicians The Newton Brothers, writer James Flanagan, executive producer Jeff Howard, producer Adam Fasullo, and more.
7. I am the biggest nerd for writing and cinematography on TV shows, so the attention to detail that is both said and seen onscreen in this show is something I want to talk about for days.
8. If you've been following Mike's movies too, then Midnight Mass might sound familiar, and that's because it was the book Maddie wrote in Hush, and it appeared in Gerald's Game.
9. Besides the crew, a lot of cast members from other Mike Flanagan projects star in Midnight Mass, including Kate Siegel, Henry Thomas, Annabeth Gish, Rahul Kohli, Samantha Sloyan, Michael Trucco, Alex Essoe, and Robert Longstreet.
10. And, Midnight Mass also has some incredible first time Flanagan project actors, like Zach Gilford, Hamish Linklater, and Kristin Lehman.
11. As you can tell by the list of impressive talent, Midnight Mass is a true ensemble piece, with each character adding to the story and mystery in flawless ways.
12. If you've come to love Kate Siegel's work in Hush, Hill House, and Bly Manor, then get ready to add her portrayal of Erin Greene from Midnight Mass to the list. It's wildly impressive what Kate is able to accomplish with a single line of dialogue, and yes, she remains one of the most heartbreaking criers on TV.
13. Meanwhile, Zach Gilford gives a great performance as Riley, who is trying to find his place back in the "Crock Pot." While some might gloss over the nuance of his work, it's one to keep an eye out for, especially in his scenes alongside Kate Siegel.
14. Hamish Linklater is an absolute force as Father Paul. He gives one of the most engrossing performances in Midnight Mass, and coupled with the exceptional writing, he helps create so many layers to this character in just seven episodes.
15. And Samantha Sloyan as Bev Keene steals so many of the scenes she's part of. The depths of Bev and her need for control are what make her such an intense and fascinating antagonist, and it's great to see Samantha shine in this role.
16. Basically, if you're a fan of expertly crafted character dramas, give Midnight Mass a chance. While it starts a little slow, the later episodes and performances from this cast are 100% worth the wait, I swear.
17. And finally, if you aren't going to listen to me, just read what horror extraordinaire Stephen King had to say about Midnight Mass:
MIDNIGHT MASS, on Netflix: Mike Flanagan has created a dense, beautifully photographed terror tale that climbs to a high pitch of horror by the 7th and last episode. I believe it starts in 10 days.
Midnight Mass starts streaming on Netflix on Sept. 24.
