TV Review: Showdowns And Revelations In ‘Revival’ Episode 6
by Mal White
Sirens blare, washing the old refrigeration warehouse in red emergency lights. A chained Cooper (Hudson Wurster) and Jordan (Flora McInroy) struggle against their bonds, while their captors work to find the intruder slowly picking them off. Distant gunfire pops, and a meaty thud of a body drops beyond the door. A perfect setting for Wausau’s dueling families to have their showdown. It’s the Check Brothers versus the Cypress Sisters in this week’s episode of Revival.
Spoilers follow…
If you didn’t already know, Revival’s Cypress Sisters are badasses. None so much as in Episode 6 “Bloodlines,” when their lives are threatened by the Check Brothers’ spare parts operation and Dana’s (Melanie Scrofano) shooter returns to finish the job. They eventually learn that the Cypress Sisters have absolutely zero qualms with getting blood on their hands. All I’m gonna say is Bone Blade.
As you may recall, McCray (Nathan Dales) was identified as Dana’s shooter. During his arrest, Reviver body parts were found in his trunk. Turns out, McCray was enlisted by Anthony Check (CM Punk) as a mule. Now, Check’s mysterious “Boss” wants a young Reviver woman. In need of a mule and a Reviver, Anthony turns his attention to Em (Romy Weltman) and Dana Cypress. It’s a recession after all. Mama Check needs a paint studio.
On the other hand, “Sentient Cowboy Hat” Sheriff Wayne (David James Elliot) is back on his bullshit. He turns his attention to Rhodey (Kaleb Horn), whom he suspects McCray’s Reviver parts belong to. We finally get a peek at Riverside, the Reviver detention camp Wayne fought for. Revival draws a clear allusion to Ron DeSantis‘ “Alligator Alcatraz,” the migrant detention center in the Florida Everglades so named for its brutal conditions, isolation, and alligators.
The sheriff’s department messery continues with “Deputy Doofus” Brent (Mark Little). So far, he hasn’t actually done much to solve Dana’s shooting. When a punch to the arm reveals why, Dana makes good on that moniker in a fight scene inspired by Scream (1996). Looks like the sisters are doing it for themselves because the Sheriff’s Department surely isn’t.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. Episode 6 ties a nice little tangle of storylines together with critical revelations for the series ahead. This is the opening salvo episode, the one that truly forecasts the wild, weird, and wonderful storylines we’re in store for in future seasons while setting us up for a badass finale.
The episode drops big hints and some truly cool sequences, showing off Revival’s talent in telling a tight story with plenty of payoff. The fun cinematic references are done cleverly, though a bit obviously (nods to the Jurassic Park [1993] raptor kitchen). But it’s their unflinching depiction of current events that really intrigues me. As Revival sets up for the finale, I’m curious how they’re going to handle the looming Cypress versus Cypress showdown when Em and Riverside are revealed.