REVIVAL Recap: (S01E03) Reality Check

Geek Girl Authority

27-06-2025

Revival Season 1 Episode 3, 'Reality Check,' kicks things into high gear regarding the mystery surrounding Em's murder. Dana clocks the nefarious Check brothers as the potential murderers. However, with Adam admitting he didn't know Em was a Reviver, something tells me this might be a red herring. Em and Rhodey are super cute lil emo kids, and the show continues its emo music streak with a tune from Alkaline Trio (last week, it was Senses Fail). This millennial emo kid is digging the needle drops. 'Reality Check' is another fun episode.
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We open with Kay (Maia Jae) telling Dana (Melanie Scrofano) about how Em acquired the bag full of oxycodone. In a flashback, Kay and Em (Romy Weltman) pay the Check family a visit. The matriarch, Dorothy (Wendy Lyon), has a flair for chicken-themed artwork. Kay explains that Dorothy asks the buyer to choose breakfast, lunch or dinner. Each selection offers something different (ahem, drugs).
Em wanders upstairs to Andrew's (Matt Willis) room despite Dorothy's urging that she not disturb him. Em steals the bag of oxy from his dresser drawer and flees. Andrew barrels outside, gun trained on her, and fires. Dana can't believe Em would act out like that. Kay counters that perhaps Dana doesn't know Em as well as she thinks she does. Squid Pro Quo
Later, Dana chats with Gunderson (Mark Little) at the station. He notices she's leafing through the Check brothers' files. Dana tells him that she believes they tried to murder someone who stole from them. However, it's their older brother Anthony who's pulling the strings. Anthony left for New York and now can't return to Wausau since quarantine went into effect.
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Meanwhile, Jordan (Flora McInroy) encounters bullies at school. Cooper (Hudson Wurster) stands up for his friend when one kid attempts to stab Jordan with a pencil to see if she'd heal. You know, since she's a Reviver. Cooper slams Jordan's locker door in the boy's face, causing his nose to bleed.
Elsewhere, Dana visits Dorothy Check. She shows Dorothy a picture of Kay, asking if the latter paid her a visit before Revival Day. Dorothy compliments Kay for being a sweet young lady, while her friend (Em) disturbed her son and stole from him. Then, Dana whips out a picture of Em, who Dorothy confirms as the thief. Before Dana departs, Dorothy urges Dana to purchase some chicken-themed artwork. You know, 'squid pro quo.' Most Likely to Die in Prison
While Dorothy fetches a piece for Dana, Andrew descends the stairs, reuniting with his former classmate. He threatens Dana's family. Should she continue prying into things concerning the Checks, there will be more than one dead Cypress. He gives her a comic book for Cooper and informs her that the lead character has no qualms about killing those who threaten his family.
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After this, Dana pops by Cooper's school to pick up her son. She learns he's been suspended for the remainder of the week for hurting that kid (although he deserved it for trying to stab Jordan). However, the teacher seems to side with the bullies. Dana is incredulous. How can this little girl be a danger to society? Upon learning that the teacher called Jordan's parents an hour ago to pick her up, Dana decides to take her home. REVIVAL — 'Reality Check' Season 1 Episode 3 — Pictured: Melanie Scrofano as Dana Cypress — (Photo by: Mathieu Savidant/Lavivier Productions/SYFY)
While Cooper and Jordan play upstairs, Dana chats with Jordan's parents. They tell Dana that their little girl died before Revival Day, and the one standing before them isn't her. When Jordan asks if she and Cooper can have cookies, they act awkwardly around her, refusing to make eye contact. Can I Get an Escort?
Dana gives them the business for treating their daughter like sh*t. They might not believe Jordan is really Jordan, but she's no threat to them. I love how this series tackles the mistreatment and discrimination of marginalized people — it's very relevant, given the state of the US.
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After this, Dana drops Cooper off at Nella's. Meanwhile, Ibrahim (Andy McQueen) records his findings. Unfortunately, the CDC liaison still hasn't uncovered the reason behind Revival Day. Carla (Paige Evans) arrives with the toxicology report for Arlene, but she doesn't refer to the latter as such. Ibrahim insists Arlene is a person who deserves to be called by her name despite the circumstances. He fiddles with his samples before looking over the report himself.
Then, Ibrahim asks Jeannie (Lenore Zann) if he can get a police escort to the Dittman house to conduct an investigation. He has a hypothesis he wants to test. Of course, he'd love to have Dana accompany him, but he'll have to settle for her dad instead. Wayne (David James Elliott) volunteers to join Ibrahim. How Did You Die?
Later, Bob Dittman (Derek McGrath) is weirdly suspicious of Ibrahim. Ibrahim runs a few tests before wandering into the bedroom where Bob and his late wife kept his mother-in-law in chains. Mind you, the Wausau police force is still searching for Arlene. Ibrahim also spots a bottle of mercuric chloride on the side table among a bevy of medications.
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Next, Dittman trains his gun on Ibrahim for snooping around. Thankfully, Wayne defuses the situation before Dittman gets trigger-happy. We learn that the funeral for Dittman's wife is later that day, hence his tense demeanor. REVIVAL — 'Reality Check' Season 1 Episode 3 — Pictured: (l-r) Romy Weltman as Martha 'Em' Cypress, Kaleb Horn as Rhodey Rasch — (Photo by: Mathieu Savidant/Lavivier Productions/SYFY)
Elsewhere, Em wakes up in Rhodey's (Kaleb Horn) room. Em finally got a decent night's sleep for the first time since Revival Day. Rhodey tells Em how he died — an infection in his hand from stabbing it while pitting an avocado. Not very punk rock. Em explains that she's unsure how she died. The circumstances surrounding her death are muddled at best. She recalls being high on the bridge before waking up at the bottom of the waterfall. Funeral Pyre
Then, Em shows Rhodey her journal, which is full of illustrations related to her murder. Fragments of memories and imagery. Rhodey is invested. He wants to help Em solve her murder. At the same time, Dana stands on the bridge, trying to piece together her little sister's death.
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Later, Wayne attends Terry's funeral. Dittman's eulogy gets weird and misogynistic. Suddenly, Arlene (Nicky Guadagni) lurches through the double doors, wailing for her daughter. She barrels toward the open casket. Wayne orders everyone to leave as he points his gun at her. Dittman tries to attack Arlene, but she snaps his neck. Wayne fires a few rounds at Arlene; however, bullets are quite ineffective. REVIVAL — 'Reality Check' Season 1 Episode 3 — Pictured: (l-r) Steven Ogg as Blaine Abel, David James Elliott as Sheriff Wayne Cypress — (Photo by: Mathieu Savidant/Lavivier Productions/SYFY)
It's Blaine's (Steven Ogg) ritualistic demon-expelling that seems to do the trick. After Arlene crawls into the coffin, Blaine sets it ablaze. Can Arlene survive this? After this, we learn that the CDC will do its best to separate Arlene and Terry's charred bodies. Arlene's tissue is already healing, though. Blaine is in lockup, but he won't be for long. The public is already siding with him for burning Arlene. Wayne and Mayor Dillisch (Conrad Coates) meet with Governor June Harris (Shauna MacDonald). If you recall, Wayne called the governor on last week's episode because, let's face it, Wausau ain't doin' so hot. Track and Tag
Ibrahim soon joins them. He declares that Dittman was poisoning Arlene with mercuric chloride. He found traces of mercury in Arlene's brain matter. This proves Revivers aren't inherently violent. Governor Harris seemingly sides with Wayne, though, insisting the sheriff can have all the resources he requires to track down and tag all Revivers. Ibrahim and the mayor vehemently protest this. Harris takes it further — if any Revivers show signs of 'aggression,' Wayne has her permission to contain them how he sees fit. Ibrahim remarks that this is sounding an awful lot like internment camps for Revivers.
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Harris adds that once the Revivers are under control, then they can discuss lifting the quarantine on the town. This is what happens when people fear what they don't understand — they exert tyrannical-like control. Elsewhere, Nella (Lanette Ware) tells Dana about Em's fight in the bar. She remarks that Em seemed down before she lashed out at a fellow patron. Then, she left with a punk guy. REVIVAL — 'Reality Check' Season 1 Episode 3 — Pictured in this screengrab: (l-r) Conrad Coates as Mayor Ken Dillisch, Andy McQueen as Ibrahim Ramin, David James Elliott as Sheriff Wayne Cypress — (Photo by: Lavivier Productions/SYFY)
Dana pulls out the flyer for November Dismember, which Em left behind in her vehicle. Dana mutters that she explicitly told Em not to date musicians. It must run in the family. Speaking of Em, she's at the warehouse for November Dismember's show. Rhodey greets her before he takes to the stage. Andrew and his brother Adam (Joe Delfin) spy Em among the concert attendees. They recognize her. November Dismember
Then, Dana enters the scene as Rhodey performs with his band. At one point, Rhodey slices his chest, even sticking his hand inside the wound. Next, the cut heals instantly. Everyone cheers. While Rhodey screams into a microphone, the Check brothers confront Em. They attack her. Rhodey calls them out before making his way toward Em. Andrew flees, but Dana manages to tase Adam. She also finds drugs on his person before taking him in.
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Later, Em and Rhodey escape the concert, making a beeline for a bridge. Once a safe distance away from the danger, Em kisses Rhodey. At the station, Dana interrogates Adam. This is his third offense, so he could be going away for a long time. And now he's endangering innocent concertgoers. REVIVAL — 'Reality Check' Season 1 Episode 3 — Pictured: (l-r) Romy Weltman as Martha 'Em' Cypress, Kaleb Horn as Rhodey Rasch — (Photo by: Mathieu Savidant/Lavivier Productions/SYFY)
Dana claims she wants to talk to Anthony Check, the brains of the operation. Dana is aiming to strike a deal with him. So, Adam dials his number. Dana proposes a truce between the Check and Cypress families. She'll drop the charges against Adam and release him. Hell, she'll even give back the oxy Em stole. In exchange, the Check brothers must steer clear of the Cypress crew. REVIVAL — 'Reality Check' Season 1 Episode 3 — Pictured in this screengrab: (l-r) Joe Delfin as Adam Check, Melanie Scrofano as Dana Cypress — (Photo by: Lavivier Productions/SYFY) We've Got a Deal
When Anthony doesn't respond immediately, Dana calls him out. She knows the brothers are behind Em's murder. Adam realizes at this moment that Em is a Reviver. He claims he and Andrew didn't know who she was, that she was Dana's sister. Anthony decides to take the deal. He gives his word that Andrew and Adam will leave Dana and Em alone.
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Meanwhile, Ibrahim notices one of his samples has inexplicably grown — the mossy water from Moore Creek. Dana returns home to Cooper at the end of a long day. She gets a text from Em. Em reassures Dana that she's okay and safe, thanks to her. Dana looks emotional.
Later, we see Rhodey and Em sitting on the edge of a bridge. He embraces her. Em reveals that she's never been to the beach. Hell, she's never flown on a plane before. She's been sheltered most of her life. However, it took dying for her to feel truly alive. Rhodey vows to take her to the beach once they can leave town. REVIVAL — 'Reality Check' Season 1 Episode 3 — Pictured in this screengrab: (l-r) Steven Ogg as Blaine Abel, David James Elliott as Sheriff Wayne Cypress — (Photo by: Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Take the Leap
Then, Rhodey encourages her to jump off the bridge with him. When she does, she sees flashes from the night she died. Blaine was on the bridge with her. Uh-oh. Speaking of, Wayne releases Blaine. Blaine reunites with his followers. He asks them if they're ready for a 'holy war.' They all cheer.
Love a good religious zealot.
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Revival airs new episodes every Thursday at 10/9c, only on Syfy.
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