TV Review: ‘Revival’ Gets Political In Episode 5
by Mal White
How far is Revival’s Sheriff Wayne Cypress (David James Elliot) willing to go to protect his town? In the wake of the Reviver Registration Act, Blaine Abel’s (Steven Ogg) cult harasses a Reviver support group. Em (Romy Weltman) and Kay (Maia Jae) plant evidence, and rattail-sporting Deputy McCray (Nathan Dales) is tied to more than Dana’s (Melanie Scrofano) shooting.
As usual, spoilers below.
Revival’s Episode 5, “Triage,” brings the debate over Reviver humanity to the forefront, showing the immediate effects of state-sanctioned violence on Revivers. Interestingly, the show has boldly commented on current social issues, drawing allusions to anti-immigration talking points in Wayne’s “lock them up” declaration, and now, constitutional convict leasing. As Deputy McCray warned in Episode 2, “When you shake up the can, be prepared to deal with the fizz.” The question is how Wayne, who spearheaded anti-Reviver sentiments, will handle it.
To Wayne, Revivers are inhuman; therefore, they have no rights or protections under the law. Burning Arlene alive isn’t even a misdemeanor. A fire in a church is, though. Wausau teeters on the edge of violence, and Wayne is only adding fuel. His politics have already poisoned his former friendship with Mayor Ken Dillisch (Conrad Coates). When asked if he would make an exception for his family, Wayne boldly declares he wouldn’t. We’ll see about that.
Governor June Harris’ (Shauna MacDonald) support is the official blessing for state-sanctioned violence against Revivers. Deputies stamped driver’s licenses and posted notices on doors publicly identifying Revivers. Immediately, Revivers became targets of harassment and discrimination. ‘No Reviver’ signs were posted in businesses, and Blaine’s cult began appearing in places Revivers frequented to harass and intimidate them. A successful bid to invoke violence that may act as the opening salvo to Wausau’s potential Reviver camps.
It’s convict Myles Miller (Josh Cruddas) who shows just what Wayne has opened the door to. As viewers may recall, Miller was a convict who died in prison only to be revived. He was then returned to prison to continue to serve his life sentence unironically. “On loan” from Mountain Bay County Penitentiary, Reviver Miller is subjected to experimentation led by CDC scientist Dr. Carla Morel (Paige Evans). He is publicly stripped, large skin samples are taken presumably without anesthetics, and injected with snake venom.
Revival makes a direct comment on convict leasing, a system of forced penal labor (slavery), which has a long history in the United States, most notably during the Reconstruction period following the Civil War. Protected by the 13th Amendment of the US Constitution, the highly profitable practice allows prisons to “lease” prisoners to private companies. This includes using prisoners as field laborers and in clinical trials. And, yes, this is still legal in many state constitutions (even in California) today.
Upon hearing his screams, Wayne tells Dr. Morel to step away from that line of inquiry. As the camera lingers on his startled reaction, we see Wayne begin to understand what his actions have exposed Wausau’s vulnerable Reviver population to. The question remains whether he’ll continue to allow violence against Revivers to escalate.
Taking full advantage of that lack of legal protections is Governor Harris, who approves continued experimentation on Revivers. And Deputy McCray, who, in the process of being arrested in connection with Dana’s shooting, reveals Reviver’s body parts in his trunk. Now we know what lucrative business opportunity Anthony Check (CM Punk) had in mind.
Wausau is beginning to look like Purge Night Eve. Framing Wayne beneath the American flag while he supports Reviver camps shows Revival isn’t afraid to explore the actual effects of dehumanizing others through policy and policing. The gates of hell are opened, Blaine, but the devils are not who you think.
