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Forbes
6 days ago
- Forbes
Why You Should Kill Your 'Zombie Apps'
Jason Z. Rose, CEO of Clearsense. Your organization is likely spending millions of dollars on software programs no one is using. It's time to vanquish them. They're no longer alive, but they're still lethal. They clumsily lumber along, consuming resources and putting environments at risk, even though they've been functionally dead for years. They're "zombie apps." That may sound like a trendy turn of phrase, but the term has been around in IT circles for years. In healthcare, it's being resurrected as health systems face mounting financial pressure and look for new ways to reduce costs—only to discover these undead systems are quietly draining millions from operating budgets and putting patient data at risk. With that said, the term "zombie apps" applies to all businesses. Zombie apps are defined by Gartner as any software systems that are "no longer actively used, maintained or updated but continue to run within an organization's infrastructure." In television and movies, we can't seem to get enough of zombies. The Walking Dead universe, whose flagship show first hit the air in 2010, is still going strong, with at least three active series still running on AMC. And Revival, a new SYFY zombie mystery show set in Wausau, Wisconsin, is getting rave reviews. But in IT environments, zombies aren't thrilling or fun. In fact, they're often a huge unseen expense, as well as a significant source of cyber risk. Here's what makes zombie apps so dangerous. They lurk in the shadows. Like most horror icons, zombies usually show up at night. (There's a reason the classic film isn't called Afternoon of the Living Dead.) Similarly, zombie apps typically hide away in the dark, unnoticed even by the IT teams responsible for them, precisely because no one is using them. Many organizations lack comprehensive application inventories, and often can't even find the original contracts for the apps they're paying for. Zombie apps are the result of "shadow IT"—the phenomenon where users deploy new technologies without the knowledge or approval of central IT departments. It's easy to understand how this happens quite routinely: A radiology physician leader uses the departmental budget to procure a software program, never tells IT about the investment, leaves the organization and then the next person abandons the tool. That's all it takes to create a zombie app. They drain your resources. Zombie apps may not eat humans, but they will often devour a large chunk of your IT budget. Just because an app isn't being used doesn't mean it's free. Many of these apps are on auto-renewal billing, and organizations continue to pay ongoing license fees. Zombie apps also eat up data storage and IT staff time (if anyone is still bothering to patch and maintain them, that is). We recently worked with a large health system and immediately identified over 50 zombie apps that were costing the organization $27 million per year in operating expenses. Those apps flew under the radar because they represented less than 3% of the organization's total software environment. They're dangerous. Too often, healthcare organizations will spend huge sums of money and untold effort to board up their doors and windows against outside cyber threats, all while ignoring the threats caused by the zombies that are already inside the house. Typically, zombie apps are the most vulnerable applications in the entire portfolio because they are rarely patched, monitored or maintained. And in many cases, they run on outdated hardware or unsupported operating systems. Even though these apps aren't being used, they often still contain sensitive patient health information or operational data, making them high-value targets for cyberattackers. They're hard to kill. In the movies, zombies are impervious to knives, guns, katanas, spiked baseball bats and most other weapons an inventive auteur can think up. Similarly, zombie apps can't be killed simply by turning them off. These apps almost always contain either data that healthcare organizations need to keep due to regulatory or legal reasons, or clinical data they want to keep for patient continuity of care. For older systems running on outdated technology, data extraction or migration can be especially complex and risky, and most organizations lack the tools or internal expertise to do the job expeditiously. For this reason, many healthcare organizations work with what Gartner calls an "application undertaker"—an archiving vendor partner whose role is to accelerate the decommission of legacy applications and provide revitalized use cases for the data. They're here, whether you believe in them or not. In nearly every horror movie, some skeptical sheriff or school principal refuses to believe in the monsters and then gets mauled to death at the end of the first act. I sometimes see a tendency among healthcare executives and IT leaders to think that their organization is somehow immune to zombie apps. Industry analyst reports indicate that about 20% to 30% of application portfolios are redundant or wasteful (login required). That number applies to all industries, not just healthcare providers, and it gives an idea of how widespread this apocalyptic problem is. There's absolutely no shame in an organization acknowledging that it has allowed zombie apps to linger. As the stats show, bloated application portfolios exist in nearly all companies. But it would be a shame to miss the chance to finally clean house—and send these undead apps to the grave for good. Consider this your invitation to be a hero and go full zombie-slayer. They're lurking. You've got the tools. Time to take them out! Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
Geek Girl Authority
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
REVIVAL Recap: (S01E08) A Rose and a Thorn
Revival Season 1 Episode 8, 'A Rose and a Thorn,' finally centers the heartbreaking Rose Blackdeer case while addressing a very real and terrible truth about our world: that Indigenous women and girls are going missing and getting murdered at disproportionately high rates. 'A Rose and a Thorn' provides much-needed context for that case. These revelations from the past cast a new light on the present, including the person behind Rose and Em's murders: Blaine. It's a well-paced, solid outing. RELATED: Read our recap of the previous Revival episode, 'Too Many Secrets' Revival, 'A Rose and a Thorn' We open with a flashback to two years before Revival Day. Em (Romy Weltman) chats with her mom, Patty (Lara Jean Chorostecki), at the local bowling alley. It's 2006, and Em is thinking about attending college. However, she worries that Papa Cypress will put his foot down and prevent her from spreading her wings. Thankfully, Patty is on her side. Meanwhile, Jesse (Brandon Oakes) and Rose (Leenah Robinson) argue about her leaving Wausau. Since her mom died, their land is in her name. If she leaves, that land will revert to the government. But Rose is hellbent on starting a new life in Chicago. 72 Hours Later, we see Rose and May (Katharine King So) spending time together. They're in love. They make a gorgeous couple. Now, the plan is for Rose to snag a place for both of them in Chicago. Then, May will join her. After this, Rose breaks into her cash supply, which is in a tackle box. We next see her sitting at a bus stop outside of town. A car pulls up, the man inside offering to give her a ride. Is this Brent? Blaine? RELATED: Revival : Co-Creators Aaron B. Koontz and Luke Boyce on Crafting 'Weird' New Series Then, Jesse storms into the sheriff's station to confront Dana (Melanie Scrofano) about Rose. She's been missing for 72 hours. Why is there zero momentum regarding her case? Dana reassures Jesse that she's doing everything she can to find Rose. REVIVAL — 'A Rose and a Thorn' Season 1 Episode 8 — Pictured in this screengrab: (l-r) Melanie Scrofano as Dana Cypress, Brandon Oakes as Jesse Blackdeer — (Photo by: Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Next, Brent (Mark Little) gives Dana an update. He tells her about Rose and Jesse's argument at the bowling alley. As for Rose's golden ticket to Chicago, she never got on the bus. So, Dana ventures into the cold to scope out the bus stop where mystery man picked up before — most likely — murdering Rose. She finds something in the snow that points to this missing person's case becoming a homicide. Bear Later, Dana and Brent search Jesse's house. He also offers to let them look through Rose's trailer. Dana finds the tackle box. Inside, there's a bundle of letters to someone named 'Bear' and a bear tooth necklace. Brent finds a land ownership contract in Rose's name. They ask Jesse about it. Of course, Jesse wouldn't want the government to seize control of the family land. Dana tells him that this contract is motive for murder. RELATED: Revival 's Romy Weltman on Becoming Em and Working With Melanie Scrofano After this, Dana visits Uncle Don (Ray G. Thunderchild). She reveals she knows about Rose informing the council about her intent to relocate. Rose withheld this from Jesse. Uncle Don remarks that children keep secrets from their parents all the time — it's par for the course. Dana notes that Jesse was at risk of losing the land if Rose left. Uncle Don maintains that Jesse did everything he could to protect Rose. Then, Dana catches up with Brent after he gets off the phone with his mother. She's not doing well. He adds that his little brother isn't faring well either. Dana corrects him; he has a twin brother, not a younger one. Hmm. I feel like this is going to play into the narrative somehow. You don't drop info like this unless you intend to use it. A New Suspect Brent informs Dana about the letters addressed to Bear from Rose's tackle box. She looks through them. Wayne (David James Elliott) yells at Dana in front of the station about her dithering statements to the press. He wholeheartedly believes that Jesse is guilty of murder. He urges Dana to look at the evidence. Dana's gut feeling tells her that Jesse is innocent, though. RELATED: Revival : Check Out 9 First-Look Photos From Melanie Scrofano-Led Series After this, Dana discovers something that brings a new prime suspect into the fold: Blaine (Steven Ogg). Dana questions him. He has a weak alibi for the night of Rose's abduction/murder, claiming he was in Myrtle Beach but unwilling to show Dana proof. Then, Dana asks him about his letters to Rose after noticing the bear tooth necklace circling his neck. She clocks that he's the 'Bear' with whom Rose corresponded. REVIVAL — 'A Rose and a Thorn' Season 1 Episode 8 — Pictured: Melanie Scrofano as Dana Cypress — (Photo by: Naomi Peters/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Blaine insists that their relationship was purely platonic. Sure, she's two decades younger, but according to him, it wasn't 'like that.' Before she can dig deeper, Dana must head back to Jesse's because there's a break in the case. Getting Away Next, Dana sees Wayne escort Jesse to a squad car. Brent shows her new evidence — Rose's shirt. He assumes that it must've fallen off when Jesse tried to burn the body. Dana wonders how they missed something this crucial to the investigation. At the station, Dana insists she can question Jesse solo, pushing Brent out of the room. She uncuffs Jesse's wrists. She vows to get him out of this. After all, he's innocent. However, Jesse doesn't want Dana's help anymore. RELATED: Revival : The Dead Have Rejoined the Living in Official Trailer Then, Dana notices a leak in the ceiling above her desk. She places a mug underneath it to catch the water. May storms into the station, loudly claiming that said station is corrupt. She adds that nobody cares that a Native woman was murdered, and that Jesse was wrongfully arrested for it. Dana reassures May that she's doing all she can to free Jesse and find Rose's killer. Suddenly, McCray (Nathan Dales) comes in with a bloody nose and various injuries. Jesse escaped while McCray was transporting him. Dana tracks down Jesse in the woods. She trains her gun on him, urging him to stop running. Jesse pleads with Dana to let him go. His daughter is gone; why not let him disappear in peace? Dana lowers her weapon as he flees. Rogers (Aryelle Morrison) informs the other officers that Jesse got away. REVIVAL — 'A Rose and a Thorn' Season 1 Episode 8 — Pictured in this screengrab: Melanie Scrofano as Dana Cypress — (Photo by: Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Two Months Before Revival Day We flash forward in time — two months prior to Revival Day. May questions a woman at the bowling alley who's on Brent's team. The woman remarks that they'd be celebrating a 'seven-year run' if Brent hadn't missed the championship two years ago. May asks if it was unusual for Brent to miss a game. Sure enough, it was. She learns that the championships are at the same time every year: the third week in November. RELATED: TV Review: Resident Alien Season 4 May informs Uncle Don about her interview findings. The bowling championship two years ago was on November 17, one night before Brent found Rose's shirt as evidence against Jesse. Additionally, Jesse was at a council meeting that night. Uncle Don remarks that someone saw an officer near his home, too, but didn't register the person as Brent. May asserts that Brent framed Jesse for murder. He planted proof — the shirt — in Jesse's house. May asks Uncle Don for Jesse's location. She tracks him down in Thunder Bay, Ontario, working under the name Justin. May tells Jesse that she's there for Rose. She adds that she loved Rose. They were going to move to Chicago together. Then, she reveals that Brent framed him and most likely murdered Rose. On Revival Day On Revival Day, Jesse sits in his truck outside the bowling alley in Wausau. He watches from afar as Brent emerges, celebrating a victory. Before he can act, though, Brent sneaks behind him and shoots him. Now, we're back in the crematorium with May, like in the opening minutes of the pilot. She sees Jesse's body before he goes into the incinerator. Of course, we know what transpires next: Jesse becomes a Reviver. RELATED: 10 Out-of-This-World Predictions for Resident Alien Season 4 Now, we're back in the present in the trailer with Dana, Jesse, May, Em and Uncle Don. May and Jesse provide evidence as to why they believe the person who killed Rose also murdered Em. Em tells Dana about her vision at Moore Creek — she knows her murderer did the deed there. She recalls seeing a man in an animal mask with a strange symbol on his chest. It was definitely not Aaron, although he was present. REVIVAL — 'A Rose and a Thorn' Season 1 Episode 8 — Pictured: Brandon Oakes as Jesse Blackdeer — (Photo by: Naomi Peters/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) May shows Dana one of Rose's earrings, which was at Moore Creek. She and Jesse also found a bottle of Em's prescription medication at the same location. Dana admits she found a text between Brent and Aaron around the time Rose went missing. Said text revealed the model of a car. As it turns out, May knows the exact model and who it belongs to. The Real Killer Also, the USB Jesse took from Aaron's house had a text file on it with that vehicle model. Dana makes the connection that the car came from Blaine's towing lot. Of course, Em recalls Blaine on the bridge with her on the night she died, and he corresponded quite frequently with Rose. It appears he killed them both. RELATED: 10 Predictions for The Ark Season 3 Jesse grabs his gun and heads for Blaine's place. Dana and Uncle Don attempt to stop him. She wants to officially file a warrant for arrest and take Blaine in herself. However, Jesse has vengeance on the brain. He departs. After this, May reads some of Em's poetry aloud as Jesse sneaks into Blaine's towing establishment. He finds Blaine asleep in a recliner. However, before Jesse can deliver the killing blow, he hears Blaine's 'angel.' Well, actually, it's the same alien that materialized outside the Check brothers' warehouse in episode six. Jesse follows the extraterrestrial creature to the exact car used to kidnap Rose. In the trunk is her corpse, wrapped in a blanket. Jesse starts crying. REVIVAL — 'A Rose and a Thorn' Season 1 Episode 8 — Pictured: Romy Weltman as Martha 'Em' Cypress — (Photo by: Naomi Peters/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) An Angel Brought Home Meanwhile, Em offers May her condolences regarding Rose. May asks Em if she's ever loved someone romantically. One person springs to mind for Em. Inside the trailer, Em calls Rhodey (Kaleb Horn), who, surprisingly, answers. He's sitting in his van. Em claims she's been trying to contact him for days. Rhodey explains that he escaped. He warns her that the CDC in Wausau has drugs to incapacitate Revivers, so she must exercise caution. RELATED: Read our Wynonna Earp recaps Rhodey adds that he's skipping town. Em reveals she can't join him yet because she and Dana are so close to solving her murder. Rhodey asks if they can at least meet to say goodbye. Em gives him a location. Elsewhere, Tyler (Luca Villacis) shakes Blaine awake to inform him that their 'angel' is gone. Blaine goes into panic mode. Later, Dana asks Uncle Don if he's seen Em. Then, she sets out to search for her younger sister. After this, Jesse returns with Rose's body. May is overcome with emotion. We flashback to Rose's kidnapping. This time, we see Aaron (Gianpaolo Venuta) knock her unconscious and put her in the passenger seat of the vehicle his assistant rented for him. He calls, presumably, Blaine. REVIVAL — 'A Rose and a Thorn' Season 1 Episode 8 — Pictured: Katharine King So as May Tao — (Photo by: Naomi Peters/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Closure Jesse, May and Uncle Don host a burial for Rose. Then, he hears the alien again. Jesse follows the sound. He tells the creature he's ready to go. After all, Rose has been found. He has closure. The extraterrestrial reaches out to touch Jesse's hand. They vanish together. RELATED: Read our Revival recaps Em and Rhodey reunite in the woods. They share a kiss. Then, Rhodey apologizes profusely to Em as a dart pierces the skin of her neck. She falls to the ground, immobilized, as General Cale's soldiers surround her. Uh-oh. I can't wait to see Dana in rescue mode next episode. Revival airs new episodes every Thursday at 10/9c, only on Syfy. Our 15 Favorite WYNONNA EARP Moments Contact: [email protected] What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events. Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet. Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium. Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
Geek Girl Authority
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
REVIVAL's Romy Weltman on Becoming Em and Working With Melanie Scrofano
One miraculous day in Wisconsin, the dead rise from their graves. The town of Wausau hurtles into chaos in the wake of 'Revival Day' as its residents attempt to adapt to this new normal. Among the Revived is Martha 'Em' Cypress (Romy Weltman), younger sister to Officer Dana Cypress (Melanie Scrofano), who scrambles to piece together the mystery surrounding her death, which now looks an awful lot like murder. Recently, I had the privilege of chatting with Romy about how she approached playing Em on Revival , what we can expect for the rest of the season, developing a sisterly bond with Melanie and more. RELATED: Revival : Co-Creators Aaron B. Koontz and Luke Boyce on Crafting 'Weird' Series This interview has been edited for clarity. Romy Weltman REVIVAL — 'Keeping Up Appearances' Season 1 Episode 2 — Pictured: (l-r) Melanie Scrofano as Dana Cypress, Romy Weltman as Martha 'Em' Cypress — (Photo by: Naomi Peters/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Melody McCune: I've been loving the show so far. At the start of all this, what would you say stood out to you about the source material? What drew you into this world? Romy Weltman: Oh my gosh. Honestly, I wish I had a clear answer for you, but it really was everything: the genre, the writing. I love an adaptation when done correctly. Just getting to be a part of a universe that already was preexisting, that's huge for me as well. MM: Besides diving into the comics, how did you approach Em? How did you prepare to play this character? RW: Everything happened pretty quickly with this for me. So, the preparation was also just trusting the process. A lot of what came from me was doing research on Em's backstory in terms of OI (Osteogenesis Imperfecta — also called brittle bone disease). Making sure I understood what OI was and how it impacts people's lives. Then, [the] same with drug addiction, given her addiction to oxycodone. I wanted to make sure I was representing everything correctly and was able to be part of this conversation. In terms of taking care of Em's backstory, that's really what I focused on. And growing with her [over the] course of the season was part of my preparation as well. RELATED: Revival : Check Out 9 First-Look Photos From Melanie Scrofano-Led Series Working With Melanie MM: What was it like getting to develop that sisterly bond with Melanie, which I think is really the heart of this story? RW: Aw, thank you. That was just one of the coolest experiences ever. Mel is exactly who you'd expect her to be, but even better. When I met her, it was an instant connection, and [I loved] getting to work with her and learn from her as well. This was my first leading role on a series. MM: Congratulations. RW: Thank you so much. There's no lead like Melanie Scrofano. Having her hold my hand the entire way through was so special. I got to learn from a really strong, empowering woman. Through that, I hope that resonated on screen, that Em was starting to learn from Dana as well. Em's Journey on Revival 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) MM: I'd say so. I think your close bond definitely resonates on screen. I'm going to get into spoiler territory here since episode three just aired. Em is starting to piece together the mystery of her murder, and as she's jumping off that bridge, she remembers Blaine (Steven Ogg) was there the night she died. What can we expect going forward from her story and the investigation as it unfolds? RW: The biggest thing you can expect is answers, but also potentially more confusion along the way. Something about Revival — without spoiling anything moving forward — is that everyone knows each other. That's a little teaser I'll give you. With Em's journey, we're going to find this young woman who's finally allowed to really explore herself and give herself permission to make mistakes and live a life she never got to live before. RELATED: TV Review: Resident Alien Season 4 To Feel Alive MM: Piggybacking off that, she tells Rhodey (Kaleb Horn) in episode three that she had to die to really feel alive. What was it like getting to tap into that shift in Em as she steps outside her comfort zone? RW: That line is the most beautiful line ever. Our writers are incredible. Aaron [B. Koontz] and Luke [Boyce], our creators and showrunners, said early on [that] this line is really what Em's journey and story are built around. In that moment, she realizes it while sitting on the bridge next to this cute boy. The special thing about Rhodey is that he didn't know Em prior to Revival Day, so he never knew this version of her that she was so stuck in, based on other people's perspectives. Just sitting there and realizing, 'Life isn't scary anymore. It's not bad anymore. It's me against the world at this point, and potentially could be us against the world at this point.' We really did shoot that scene on a bridge. Kaleb Horn — he plays Rhodey — and I were both harnessed in. We did not actually jump into the water, though. MM: Oh, good. RW: I want to make that clear. But I was thinking, 'Wow, I'm really living my dream. And I feel like I'm just starting to live hers.' RELATED: 10 Predictions for The Ark Season 3 Lights, Camera, Action REVIVAL — 'Don't Tell Dad' Season 1 Episode 1 — Pictured: (l-r) Nicky Guadagni as Arlene Stankiewiscz, Romy Weltman as Martha 'Em' Cypress — (Photo by: Naomi Peters/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) MM: You've had a couple of action sequences in these first few episodes, from wielding a scythe in the first episode to getting in a bar fight. What was it like getting to film those sequences? RW: I'm so happy you asked. Those are just the coolest things ever. To be transparent, I'm 5'1″. I'm quite petite. This is why Em is such a cool character. I got to play this physically strong character because the consequences aren't the same for her as they would be for Romy in real life. It was cool getting to learn about my own body through those sequences. Max White, our stunt coordinator, is incredible. He was so open to allowing me to do as much as possible, so I didn't have a stunt double for either of those scenes, which is cool. I do have a stunt [double] later on, which I want to make clear for certain things in this season, but for those specific scenes, they let me go for it. Through that, I got to learn so much. RELATED: Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: SurrealEstate 's Susan Ireland There was something so freeing about getting beaten up and not worrying. Obviously, I'm not really getting beaten up. The beautiful thing about that, too, is the partnership we were working with, and everyone I had the opportunity to work with has been so awesome. Character Similarities 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) MM: Do you share any similarities with Em? RW: I'd say the biggest one is that I journal a lot, the same as Em. I don't journal as much as she does in the first season, but that's something I keep close to me. I'm also the youngest in my family. For so long, I've wanted people to see me as an adult. We tend to fall into how people make us feel. I can relate to Em feeling small sometimes, and not being sure why. Then, also getting to power through that and learn and grow through that is awesome, so those are big similarities as well. RELATED: Our 15 Favorite Wynonna Earp Moments My brother and I have a similar age gap to Em and Dana. Also, Em, similarly to me, probably more so when I was a bit younger, feels so much. I don't think she knows how to express it to the people she cares about. That is difficult to navigate growing up. She has all these people she could turn to, but she doesn't know how. That's the thing — just growing up in general. MM: Describe the rest of this season using three words. RW: Bloody. Heartfelt. Revived. What Romy Is Watching MM: Love it. All right, last question. I like to ask this question to everyone I interview. Are you watching anything interesting right now? RW: Well, I'm watching Revival . MM: Of course. RW: I'm also watching The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives . MM: I haven't seen that yet. RW: I am not a reality show girl, but I am obsessed. I also just started the show Paradise . You know what? I should give a shout-out to SurrealEstate . RELATED: Read our Revival recaps MM: I watched that as well. I covered it. RW: Please throw that in there because I am such a Tim Rozon fan, and I actually really love the show. Definitely one that I watch to get into the sci-fi genre a bit more. I get a kick out of the show. MM: It's a great gateway to sci-fi. I got to chat with Tim and Melanie last year for Wynonna Earp: Vengeance , and that was really fun. RW: They're both just the coolest people ever. I had the pleasure of meeting Tim on a film called Terror Train . Mel had actually seen my demo. Tim and I have a small two-second fling in that movie. She was like, 'Don't you dare touch my man.' It's really funny, and it turned into a cute full-circle moment. I'm a fan of both of them. Thank you, Romy, for chatting with GGA! Revival airs every Thursday at 10/9c on Syfy. 10 Out-of-This-World Predictions for RESIDENT ALIEN Season 4 Contact: [email protected] What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events. Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet. Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium. Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
Geek Girl Authority
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
REVIVAL Series Premiere Recap: (S01E01) Don't Tell Dad
Revival Season 1 Episode 1, 'Don't Tell Dad,' is a solid series premiere. It's giving dark Wynonna Earp vibes meets Fargo . Melanie Scrofano is back on my screen in a Syfy show, and all is well with the world. 'Don't Tell Dad' deftly lays the groundwork for what's to come, and the overarching mystery is intriguing as all get-out. Society at large discriminating against Revivers also hits close to home, especially considering the state of our country. I hope the series finds thoughtful ways to explore that. RELATED: Revival : Co-Creators Aaron B. Koontz and Luke Boyce on Crafting 'Weird' New Series Revival, 'Don't Tell Dad' We open on Randy's Crematorium during the holiday season in Wausau, Wisconsin. May Tao (Katharine King So) films a segment about odd jobs in town. Here, she focuses on Randy (Graeme Barrett) and his cremation business. May helps Randy load a body into the cremation incinerator. REVIVAL — 'Don't Tell Dad' Season 1 Episode 1 — Pictured: Brandon Oakes as Jesse Blackdear — (Photo by: Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Suddenly, the man inside starts pounding on the door after Randy turns on said incinerator. He's alive. After a few seconds of struggling, Randy opens the door. The man barrels into the room, now on fire. Then, May and Randy hear voices from the morgue as those within, who used to be dead, call out for help. One person bolts upright while inside a body bag. Revival Day is here. The Dead Are Back Meanwhile, Wayne Cypress (David James Elliott), the town sheriff, quarrels with his daughter, Dana (Scrofano). Dana is an officer at the local station, working under her dad. Dana is packing her and her son Cooper's (Hudson Wurster) belongings. She plans to move them to Chicago, where she has accepted a new job. Wayne tries to dissuade her from leaving. Dana gives her father her two-week notice. RELATED: Revival : Check Out 9 First-Look Photos From Melanie Scrofano-Led Series Then, Wayne gets a call about Randy, who's understandably panicking after the dead came back to life in his crematorium. He orders Dana to investigate. While en route to Randy, Dana stops in the middle of the road near the cemetery. She looks on in horror as the formerly deceased make their way toward her in a state of bewilderment. Why are they alive? Jordan (Flora McInroy), Cooper's classmate, approaches Dana, asking for her mother. REVIVAL — 'Don't Tell Dad' Season 1 Episode 1 — Pictured: Melanie Scrofano as Dana Cypress — (Photo by: Mathieu Savidant/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Fast forward 35 days. Quarantine is finally over, but Wausau officials — as sanctioned by Mayor Dillisch (Conrad Coates) — have ordered everyone not to leave town. CDC checkpoints are situated at various spots across town. We learn that at least 47 'Revivers,' as they're called, are in a registry. In addition, those who returned from the dead usually died between December 4 and December 18; the latter date is now known as Revival Day. Move On Meanwhile, Martha 'Em' Cypress (Romy Weltman), Dana's little sister, soaks in a bathtub. We're in her dorm room. Her roommate Kay (Maia Jae) returns from her extended stay at home during the quarantine. She encourages Em to help her clean the place. Classes are about to restart, after all. Life goes on. RELATED: Revival : The Dead Have Rejoined the Living in Official Trailer Elsewhere, Dana gets smoochy-smoochy with Ibrahim Ramin (Andy McQueen). They're about to get it on in Dana's vehicle when Wayne calls her about a dead horse. Someone's gotta be on dead animal duty. Dana politely gives Ibrahim the boot before driving away. This scene feels very Earp , and I love it. Later, Dana drives to the aforementioned dead horse in the middle of a road. She also discovers a dead coyote in an animal trap, a rather crudely made one at that, with railroad spikes. Strewn about the coyote and horse are human teeth. Yum. REVIVAL — 'Don't Tell Dad' Season 1 Episode 1 — Pictured: Melanie Scrofano as Dana Cypress — (Photo by: Mathieu Savidant/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Is Wausau Safe? The following day, we see a 'For Lease' sign outside Dana's house. She sends Cooper off to school, although he's unsure about returning. On TV, Mayor Dillisch chats with a Reviver and reassures the townsfolk that, despite the extra precautions taken by the sheriff, with his registry and checkpoint zones, Wausau is safe. RELATED: TV Review: Resident Alien Season 4 At school, Cooper reunites with Jordan, expressing gratitude that she's back. However, kids can be cruel, and their classmates bully her for being a Reviver. Dana heads into the station to find a bevy of people complaining about Revivers. Well, except one. Opal Shaw (Jill Frappier) is desperately searching for her husband. He died the day before the two-week period prior to Revival Day. Deputy McCray (Nathan Dales) creepily asks Dana if she's found her horse guy yet. It's a Letterkenny reunion, my good buddies. Dana asks Deputy Brent Carlisle (Mark Little) if he was able to secure the registry for her. Unfortunately, the sheriff is restricting access to just the task force. The Registry After this, Dana eavesdrops on the sheriff and mayor's heated argument. Well, she's mostly curious about the cutie patootie the CDC has sent over. Inside Wayne's office, Wayne advocates for kicking the Revivers out of Wausau, while Dillisch believes they're not a threat. RELATED: 10 Out-of-This-World Predictions for Resident Alien Season 4 Then, after Dillisch storms out, Dana barges into her father's office. She realizes the new CDC liaison is none other than Ibrahim, her almost-sex buddy. Things get awkward. Ibrahim explains that they have zero evidence thus far to support that Revivers are dangerous. Once he departs, Wayne asks if Dana and Ibrahim have slept together. He also urges Dana to move quickly with the horse case. The station is stretched thin as it is. Before she leaves the office, Dana surreptitiously grabs the registry files. She looks through them at her desk. She notes that a few names, like Myles Miller, are 'Unascertained' Revivers. Myles also has a violent past. Next, Dana gets a call from Chicago, with, presumably, the woman who hired her on the other end informing her that they can no longer keep the job open for her. So, Dana's stuck in Wausau. Scout's Honor Randy pops up and tells Dana that the horse is gone. The CDC took the carcass. Meanwhile, Em pays Professor Aaron Weimer (Gianpaolo Venuta) a visit. It's abundantly clear they had some kind of romantic entanglement (with quite the imbalanced power dynamic). Em demands that Aaron meet her at their spot later. It's important. RELATED: 10 Predictions for The Ark Season 3 Later, Dana visits Ibrahim at the makeshift CDC headquarters inside a high school gymnasium. Dana wants to know why he took her horse. Ibrahim explains they found an anomaly inside said horse — human teeth. In fact, they're a match for the teeth Dana discovered near the dead coyote. Ibrahim decides to show Dana something incredible, but she can't tell anyone about it. 'Scout's honor,' Dana says while throwing up the Vulcan salute (nice nod to Scrofano's other job, writers). Ibrahim cuts through Reviver tissue. In an instant, the tissue stitches itself back together. That means Revivers boast self-healing abilities. Dana calls Lester (Peter Millard), who was with her when she discovered the teeth, to confirm what kind of truck he drives. She recalls the truck tracks she found at the scene. They don't belong to Lester. She tells Ibrahim that someone placed an already dead horse in the middle of the road. The Only Lead Dana also believes that someone out there is hiding a super-strong, animal-eating Reviver. This Reviver's teeth, in particular, can regrow, so while they might be strong enough to bite through a horse, the act might still destroy their teeth. RELATED: Read our Wynonna Earp recaps Dana decides to pursue her only lead — Myles Miller. She wonders how the police know they've tracked down all the Revivers when there are 45,000 people in the quarantine zone. Someone could've died in their sleep and not known it. Meanwhile, Em and Wayne chat on the phone. Em promises to be better at calling her dad on a more consistent basis. After they hang up, Em weeps, staring at the wedding band in her hand. Someone watches her from the shadows. Next, Dana finds Myles (Josh Cruddas), who's not exactly thrilled to see her. They get into a scuffle. Myles' arm winds up in one of his animal traps, so that's not fun for him. Dana notices his teeth aren't in great shape, but they're merely how they were before Myles came back from the dead. They're certainly not regrowing. Dana arrests Myles for, if anything, assaulting an officer. A Reunion The following day, Dana leaves to meet with a couple residing on the outskirts of the quarantine zone. They could have what she's looking for: answers. Wayne takes Cooper along to do a wellness check for Mrs. Shaw. While en route, Dana finds Em sleeping on a bench. She offers to give her little sister a ride home. RELATED: Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: SurrealEstate 's Susan Ireland Dana and Em reconnect. We learn that they used to be close, but time — and family issues — drove a wedge between them. They reminisce about old times and decide to plan a beach trip for when all the madness ends. We learn Em has an undisclosed medical condition, potentially pertaining to her bones. Em decides to ride along to keep Dana company while she works. Later, Dana arrives at the Dittmans — Bob (Derek McGrath) and Terry (Nora McLellan). As it turns out, they have the kind of truck Dana is looking for. There's also a bloody tarp in the truck bed. Dead giveaway. Elsewhere, Mrs. Shaw lets Wayne into her house. He discovers that she dug up her husband's corpse, and it's sitting at the kitchen table. The poor woman begs her husband to come back to life. Aw. Wayne departs while calling the coroner to pick up the body. Unfortunately, Cooper has fled Wayne's vehicle. REVIVAL — 'Don't Tell Dad' Season 1 Episode 1 — Pictured: (l-r) Nicky Guadagni as Arlene Stankiewiscz, Romy Weltman as Martha 'Em' Cypress — (Photo by: Naomi Peters/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) A Rogue Reviver Dana hears noises emanating from the Dittmans' barn. We learn that Terry's mother now lives there. She's the rogue Reviver who ate the horse and coyote. Dana watches as Arlene (Nicky Guadagni) pulls her teeth out. They grow back instantly. Arlene lunges at Dana. Terry tries to pacify her mother. Unfortunately, Arlene tosses Terry, whose head catches on a hook on the barn wall. She dies. RELATED: Read our SurrealEstate recaps Bob attacks his mother-in-law, but Arlene casts him aside with ease. Em, who Dana ordered to stay in the car, grabs a scythe. She attempts to stab Arlene with it. Suddenly, Arlene plunges the blade through Em's torso. Dana cries out and rushes to her sister's side. She whirls around and fires on Arlene, but the bullets do, well, nothing. After this, Arlene tries to choke the life out of Dana. Thankfully, Em slices the top of Arlene's head clean off with the scythe. Arlene collapses. A shocked Dana watches as the wound on Em's stomach heals. She's a Reviver. Em tearfully begs Dana not to tell their father. If I had a nickel for every time Melanie Scrofano's character has a little sister with special abilities, I'd have two nickels, which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it's happened twice. RELATED: 36 Delicious Easter Eggs in Wynonna Earp: Vengeance Revival airs new episodes every Thursday at 10/9c, only on Syfy. Our 15 Favorite WYNONNA EARP Moments Contact: [email protected] What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events. Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet. Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium. Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
CTV News
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
New filmed in N.B. TV series premieres Thursday
The latest made in New Brunswick production will be hitting the television screens Thursday night. REVIVAL stars award winning Canadian actress, Melanie Scrofano, and is based on the graphic novel series of the same name. The series consists of ten hour-long episodes, all of which were filmed in southern New Brunswick. 'This has been a number of years leading up to this moment for us to have a TV series of this scale here in New Brunswick produced by our company,' says Greg Hemmings of Hemmings House Pictures. 'So, we're pretty thrilled.' Hemmings, who is also an executive producer of the show, says the series is a 'cult classic' and is based in a sleepy little town called Wausau, Wisconsin. Tensions and fear run high in the community when the recently deceased come back to life and return to town. Dana Cypress, played by Scrafano, stars as a police officer in the centre of the plot. She is tasked with solving a murder where both the living and revived are suspects. Fellow executive producer, Stephen Foster, who is also with Hemmings House Pictures, says Saint John works as a perfect backdrop for the setting. 'You just got to not point the cameras at the Bay of Fundy, that's the only trick,' Foster jokes. Southern New Brunswick viewers will likely recognized some locations with filming being done around uptown Saint John, and in neighbouring communities like Grand Bay-Westfield, Hampton, and Sussex, N.B. Filming for the series saw over 200 New Brunswickers find full-time work for the production and over 400 part-time workers, says Foster. There were also 51 people who experienced working in the industry for the first time during production. One of those was 9-year-old, Flora McInroy, from Saint John. McInroy plays the character named Jordan Borchardt. She is one of the youngest people to come back from the dead in town. She was one of over 100 girls to audition for the role in an open casting call, one she only found out about thanks to her mom being a hairstylist for production. She says being her first time acting, she never expected to get the part. 'I just can't believe it,' McInroy admits on the thought of starring in a TV series in her hometown. 'I'm very proud of myself for being able to do this, and I'm very thankful and grateful for just being able to do this, meeting other people, being able to share this experience and share the work that everyone has worked so hard on.' She, like Foster and Hemmings, hope REVIVAL is the first of many big productions to be filmed in the province in the months and years ahead. McInroy notes she may never have gotten the chance to act had it not been for the local production. 'These aren't just beer and pizza paying jobs,' points out Foster. 'These are union scale jobs. These are jobs that you can get a mortgage on and we're continuing to urge the government to continue to participate with us on this.' The show debuts Thursday at 11 p.m. Atlantic time on the CTV Sci-Fi Channel and is streaming the next day on Crave. A free community public screening of the first two episodes will be held in Saint John on Friday June 27. REVIVAL REVIVAL, a new TV series filmed in Saint John, N.B. premiers this Thursday. (CTV Atlantic/ Avery MacRae) For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
