There haven't been new developments regarding Mike Flanagan's upcoming horror show, The Midnight Club, but Netflix did release a teaser trailer in early June. But there has been a recurring theme in Flanagan's dark television horrors, where couples play an integral part in his work. So, his new project may introduce new romantic relationships amid strange events at the Rotterdam Home.
From Nell and Arthur in The Haunting of Hill House to Jamie and Dani in The Haunting of Bly Manor, every character deserves to find love, but up to this point, the fates of most couples in Flanagan's projects have not been happy endings. The latest romance between Erin and Riley did not last long either in Midnight Mass, which ended in similar heartbreaking circumstances.
Clara And Horace Dudley (The Haunting Of Hill House)
The Dudleys are side characters in The Haunting of Hill House and are the house's caretakers when the Crain family arrive. Although they don't have a major role in the story, it does feel like they're a united front and have a committed relationship with each other.
Although the house is responsible for their first child being still-born, the couple remains dedicated to the house and each other. Even after their second child's death, the two remain united and are comforted by her ghostly presence in the house. While the couple stick together despite the many tragedies they've suffered, their relationship doesn't get much focus in the show due to both characters having more supporting roles.
Theo Crain And Trish Park (The Haunting Of Hill House)
Theo's childhood experiences and her unusual ability to feel emotions through touch have made her closed off and standoffish as an adult. One of the saddest moments from The Haunting of Hill House is when Theo discovers the truth about Mr. Smiley and her patient, Kelsey's abuse. From this moment, it's clear why Theo is so cold towards her love interest, Trish, as she is scared to feel others' emotions with such intensity.
After meeting Trish at a bar, Theo keeps her at a distance after they are intimate and refuses to open up to her. By the show's end, Theo has grown closer to Trish, and the two start a serious and committed relationship. That being said, Trish is a minor character in the show, and Theo holds back, which means their partnership is mostly sidelined.
Olivia and Hugh Crain (The Haunting Of Hill House)
Olivia and Hugh Crain are two The Haunting of Hill House characters who deserved more, and although their relationship is far from perfect and ends in tragedy, it's clear they care deeply about each other. When Olivia begins to experience the adverse affects of living in the house, Hugh determines to save their children but fails to support her.
Many years later Hugh is still haunted by his wife's death and feels immense guilt for not being able to save her. In the years following her death, he constantly sees visions of her and uses this for comfort and advice. By the end of the show, Hugh takes his own life in order to save his children but also to reunite with Olivia. Unfortunately, the high-stake situation of Hill House leaves the couple at odds with each other and creates tension in their marriage.
Hannah Grose And Owen Sharma (The Haunting Of Bly Manor)
Hannah and Owen are both employees of Bly Manor, and the pair develop feelings for each other as time goes on. She becomes stuck in replaying the memory of her first meeting with Owen, which does eventually help her to accept the fact that she's dead.
The relationship between the two never gets the chance to progress; Owen asks Hannah to leave Bly with him, but she is unable to do so due to being trapped there. When the ghosts are released from Bly, the two are tragically torn apart, and their relationship is never given the chance to blossom. Years later, Owen still hurts over his loss and pines for Hannah, which makes this one of Flanagan's most romantic yet tragic love stories.
Erin Greene And Riley Flynn (Midnight Mass)
Erin and Riley are two of the bravest characters from Midnight Mass, and their romance is a key part of the show. The two were childhood sweethearts, and she is one of the only people to welcome him back to Crockett. Even from their reunion scene, it's clear there are lingering feelings between the pair.
Eventually, Riley and Erin have a heart-to-heart about her miscarriage and what happens after death, and they look set for a romantic reconciliation. Devastatingly, Erin is forced to watch on as Riley disintegrates as the sun comes up which puts a definite end to their relationship. Although they don't get the chance to become a fully-fledged couple, they have great on-screen chemistry and could have lived happily together if fate hadn't intervened.
Nell And Arthur Vance (The Haunting Of Hill House)
Nell grows up to become a troubled young woman due to her childhood experiences at Hill House, but her luck begins to change when she begins therapy. She develops feelings for her therapist, Arthur, and goes on to marry him.
When she's feeling at her worst, Arthur can keep her calm and comfort her when she experiences sleep paralysis. However, on one occasion when Nell experiences this paralysis, Arthur dies, and she is confronted by the terrifying Bent-Neck Lady who has been haunting her since childhood. When she returns to Hill House years later, Nell is tricked by visions of Arthur, which shows how much he truly meant to her.
Dani Clayton And Jamie Taylor (The Haunting Of Bly Manor)
Despite some early tension between the two, Dani and Jamie grow closer and begin a relationship. After Dani invites the spirit of Viola into her, she leaves Bly with Jamie, and the pair spend thirteen happy years together as a couple. However, the former is forced to go to Bly when Viola's control of her grows stronger and stronger.
Dani decides to sacrifice herself, drowning in the lake at Bly Manor with Jamie tragically discovering her body later on. Seeing the couple's happy life together only for it to end in this way makes this one of the saddest moments in The Haunting of Bly Manor. Several years later, an older Jamie feels Dani's hand on her shoulder, which shows that her love for her has endured and her partner has never left her.