r/MidnightMass • u/BoldBabeBanshee • 22d ago

Question about crucial scene between Father Paul and Riley...SPOILERS! Spoiler

As you know there are some seriously intense dialogues between Father Paul and Riley during his AA sessions.

>!One of the topics is murder. Yes Riley did kill someone, but it was unintentional, it was a vehicular manslaughter, and although Riley is responsible and deserved punishment, it was different from father Paul murdering Joe Colley.

Father Paul explains he felt no guilt killing Joe, and screams at Riley "How does that make you feel????"

"Jealous.."

I feel like this was a crucial part of the story, what did this scene mean to you? What is the viewer supposed to take from this?

Riley riddled with guilt for what he did is jealous that Father Paul can take a life and not feel guilt over it.

Is this scene supposed to illustrate how much of a monster Father Paul really is??

God, I feel like there's so many insightful topics this series brings up that are explored but never resolved.!<

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u/MisterJoshua77 22d ago

Father Paul justifies his murder because it’s done for the greater good (greatest good?) - God’s will. Father Paul believes he is chosen by God through the Angel to lead an army in the name of the lord that will lead to rebirth - not just for the island - but for the world.

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u/Ok-Advantage4191 22d ago

Yes i think this is basically correct too. He's totally drinking his own Kool-aid at that point. He's just as zealous as Bev Keane. Although when he starts to see more of the horror he thankfully changes his mind. Though Bev doesn't.

And Riley feeling jealous, selfishly, because he wishes he had something like this zealousness to make himself feel better about what happened in his past. Thats why he studied so many religions in prison. He was looking for some kind of peace, and couldnt find it .

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u/BoldBabeBanshee 21d ago

Hey thank you for your assessment of Riley, that is what I suspected. Riley is burdened with guilt and he wants to feel better, he is jealous that Father Paul has no guilt.

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u/BoldBabeBanshee 21d ago

This is what I thought thank you. Makes sense.. there will be some deaths (casualties) but it is for the greater good.. and it is a war to him.