Warning: This Article Contains Major Spoilers For The Midnight ClubThe fourth installment of the Flanaverse, The Midnight Club, is finally here, and fans of Mike Flanagan's amazing horror miniseries couldn't be more excited. This time, the story revolves around terminally ill teenagers who spend the rest of their days in a hospice, reuniting every night to tell horror stories.
Flanagan is known for his knack for creating some of the most interesting characters on television, such as Luke Crain, Dani Clayton, and Father Paul Hill. The Midnight Club is not an exception, and some of these characters are tremendously well-written with fascinating storylines. However, just because a character is fascinating, it doesn't mean that they're a likable one.
Julia Jayne/Shasta
At the beginning of the show, this character, first known by the name Shasta, seems like a nice lady who takes walks through the woods. However, soon enough it becomes obvious Shasta is manipulating Ilonka to get something from the girl. Ultimately, Julia reveals herself and tries to kill Ilonka and three of her followers.
Not only is Julia a liar, clearly attracting people to her company to end up hurting them, but also a murderer. Her character seems off from the very beginning, and the audience can't stop being suspicious of her and her strange ideas.
Dr. Stanton
While Stanton is a morally ambiguous character, she's not as dislikable as Shasta. Stanton seems to genuinely care about the people she's supposed to protect, but it's also clear she's keeping more than one secret, and that makes her particularly dangerous.
Even though Stanton doesn't actively kill the teenagers, and she's even happy about Sandra's misdiagnosis, it's obvious Stanton has her agenda. Especially after the very last scene of the show, the audience can't help but wonder what's the real dynamic between Stanton and the teenagers.
Sandra
Sandra's character goes through a lot of growth throughout the series, but it's hard for viewers to empathize with this character's black-and-white outlook on the world. While the audience is happy to see Sandra and Spence's relationship heal and develop, Sandra is not a fan-favorite character.
However, Sandra's character is crucial for the show and has one of the best redemption arcs. There's no doubt religion plays an important role in people's conceptions of death and the afterlife. Sandra's perspective of the world adds another layer of complexity to a show which is exploring ideas about mortality and life's purpose.
Kevin
While Kevin's archetype was supposed to be your 90s next-door boy, the character paled in comparison with others in the TV show. This character's storyline is a bit cliché with his concern about being perfect and keeping the family's legacy while trying to be the ideal boyfriend.
Kevin, just like the other teenagers in the hospice, is dealing with something incredibly hard. However, although this character is likable, he's not as interesting as other characters in the TV show, who have more compelling storylines and more complex personalities.
Ilonka
The typical overachiever, Ilonka has a hard time accepting her death and the fact that she won't have the future that she deserves. This desperation leads the main character to take some unfortunate choices, which loses Ilonka the audience's respect.
While Ilonka displays an incredible amount of growth in the last episode of the show, she ended up hurting some of her friends along the way. Ilonka's journey is interesting to watch, and it teaches the audience a couple of things in the process, but it can be frustrating as well.
Cheri
While Cheri is mostly a comedic relief for the show, the viewers grow fonder of her as the show progresses. Soon enough, Cheri's character shows to be way more than people expected from her, being compassionate and grounded and helping her friends whenever she can.
Not only is Cheri kind and generous, but she's also one of the funniest characters currently on TV. Although she's portrayed as a mythomaniac, Cheri knows exactly when the situation demands for her to be honest and open. In the end, it's obvious Cheri uses her lies to defuse tension and cope with the harsh reality she lives in.
Spence
As Anya remarks, Spence not only has to deal with the fact that he's dying but also with society's bigotry, including his own mother's. Spence is a great representation of a gay character in the 90s, and the audience relates and empathizes with his journey.
Not only is Spence a terrific LGBTQ+ character, but he's also kind and funny. Even though he's going through a lot of things at the same time, he doesn't let it make him bitter or resentful. Even when he's affected by Sandra's Catholic ideas, he's open to negotiating with the girl and the two of them find a way to heal their relationship, making Spence one of the most likable male characters in teen dramas.
Natsuki
Natsuki is one of the most chill and diplomatic characters on the show, but that doesn't mean she doesn't deal with her fair share of issues. On top of having to face her mortality, Natsuki deals with a clinical depression that appeared even before she got sick.
This character's journey is heartbreaking since she found out she was dying just when she realized she wanted to live. However, she doesn't let her situation get the best of her, and she makes the most out of her time, connecting deeply and honestly with Amesh.
Amesh
The newest hospice member before Ilonka's arrival, Amesh is a good-natured boy who loves video games and science fiction stories. Amesh takes his illness one day at a time, using humor to cope with his reality.
However, Amesh has a hard time letting himself pursue Natsuki, believing his disease makes him inadequate to have this kind of love. Fortunately, Natsuki shows him they still have time to fall in love, and they become one of the best couples in Mike Flanagan's TV shows.
Anya
Although Anya is one of the most sarcastic and defensive characters in the show, she's way more than that. The girl tries to put up a hard front, but there's no doubt she's the one that cares the most about everyone in the hospice. She takes the role of a protector, even though she's probably the one who's had the most difficult life.
Anya is one of the most emotionally complex characters in the show, and the writers took their time to explore her intricate nature, making the audience root for her. Her death is one of the most heartbreaking moments in television, and one the viewers will surely never forget.