Revival

Wasn't expecting much from this at first, but wow-REVIVAL totally pulled me in.

It's a low-budget show, but in the best way-intimate, grounded, and focused first and foremost on character. I am so invested in these sisters and all the quirky characters around them. But despite being a Low-budget SyFy series it somehow still has real scope, unlike any new show I have seen on that network in years. And then the mystery keeps unfolding in ways I didn't see coming. Dead people coming back to life without explanation is already creepy enough, but mixing that with a murder mystery? Where the girl is now alive? Genius.

The writing's tight, the cast is great, and there's a real sense of place. I binged the 1 and 2 on peacock and then signed up for SyFy to watch Episode 3 live as I couldn't wait! And now I'm dying (no pun intended) to see where it goes next. A hidden gem. I'm telling yall to seek this out!

REVIVAL isn't just a show-it's a mood, a mystery, and a masterclass in tension. Set in the quiet town of Wausau, Wisconsin, what starts as a bizarre miracle (the dead returning to life) quickly spirals into something far more unsettling. This isn't your average zombie tale. These people aren't hungry for brains-they're just... back. And that's what makes it so chilling.

The writing is razor-sharp. Every character feels grounded and deeply human, even as the surreal creeps in. There's a slow-burn Midwestern noir quality here-think Fargo meets The Leftovers with a splash of Stephen King.

Acting is great. Cinematography is gorgeous and eerily intimate. The music is haunting and moving, with a unique mix of instruments and vocal arrangements. And yes, I know I am saying this ABOUT A SYFY SHOW.

But it's the writing and questions that will keep you hooked: Why are the dead coming back? What do they remember? And what, if anything, do they want?

REVIVAL builds its mythology with confidence, daring you to keep up but never leaving you behind. It's gripping, emotional, and somehow feels both huge and deeply personal. This is prestige horror tv on a budget.

Do yourself a favor: Watch it before everyone starts spoiling the twists.

Found this boring perhaps because this plot has been done before,with a slight storyline that varies wrapped in mysteries.

The cast and acting was average,you didn't care or like anyone & the cinematography was drab.

Was clichéd & plotholes.. I realize you shouldn't judge a series by one episode,but it should hook you enough to come back.. Was the reveal finding out a sibling was dead,really cliffhanger worthy? No! Even showing what's to come on the season,didn't have me sitting on the edge of my seat.

I mean yawn! A single mom that seems stuck in a small town,with a chip on her shoulder & parent or sibling issues.

Unless the storylines each episode become intriguing,don't feel this will make my weekly watch list.

If you like this type of television genre to watch check it out,otherwise find something else to invest in.. Examples: Glitch or Travelers.

On a final note: People mention 4400 & how this one doesn't compare,that show didn't deal with dead but those who disappeared returning.. So,not exactly accurate.

A perfect cast and superb direction brings the original comic story to life under the showrunners of Aaron and Luke. The Cypresses have to deal with drama from Revivers and its a roller coaster of who is the main suspect with more twists and turns than a Twizzler. Melanie Scrofano brings the same intensity and wit as Wynonna Earp to a new family drama. Romy Weltman is wonderful as Em, struggling to deal with trauma both past and present. A real who dunnit, which resonates in today's climate much more than your ready for. Edge of the seat cliffhangers each week leave you wanting more of it all.

The introduction of the show left me with a bad taste in my mouth. I didn't like any of the characters. The writing was really inconsistent and tonally all over the place. One minute we're supposed to be taking a scene seriously and the next everyone is cracking joke that don't land. If you're going to write a show about zombies or 'revivers', you need to pick a lane. Either have fun with it and lean into it or take it seriously and lean into that, but cracking jokes after something the show clearly wants you to take seriously, just leaves me feeling confused. How can I take it seriously, if the characters don't?

I'm sure a show like this will find an audience, but I am not that audience. And if I'm being honest, I hated The Walking Dead. After I realized it was nothing but a giant idiot plot, I never made it past the third episode, so take that as you will. Having idiots as characters isn't necessarily bad, in and of itself, but the idiot's motives and action have to actually make some sort of sense.

Good writing advice I've heard before: if your character is urgently driving somewhere and you need them to not make it in time, don't have them stop for a burger, instead have them break the speed limit and get pulled over for it. Both are mistakes, but the latter is understandable and consistent with their motivation, while the former is just stupid.