Revival Takes a Turn in Episode 3: “Everyone’s Gonna Freak Out!”

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In the small town of Wausau, Wisconsin, tension is escalating as the latest episode of ‘Revival’, airing on SYFY, unfolds, titled “Reality Check” this week.

The enigma surrounding the “Revival Day” incident, during which individuals who had passed away on January 1 miraculously returned to life on January 2, is escalating into widespread unease within the community. Sheriff Wayne (David James Elliott) is probing the violent outbursts of Arlene Stankiewicz (Nicky Guadagni), a “Reviver,” across town. Simultaneously, Em Cypress (Romy Weltman) is attempting to fill in the gaps in her recollections with the assistance of her new punk rock companion, Rhodey Rasch (Kaleb Horn).

This week’s analysis piece on SYFY WIRE, titled “Revival Postmortem,” features an interview with showrunners Aaron B. Koontz and Luke Boyce. They discuss the modifications they made to Rhodey’s character from the comics for the series, as well as a pivotal scene at Blaine Abel’s funeral that offers a new perspective on Steven Ogg’s character.

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Blaine Abel emerges from the shadows in Revival, Episode 3, “Reality Check”

Over the course of the first three episodes, mysterious character Blaine Abel has been observed lingering in the background of Wausau, seemingly present whenever significant events involving the “Revivers” take place within the town. In episode titled “Reality Check,” he makes an appearance at Terry Dittman’s funeral, where Arlene approaches the casket and suddenly, Terry bursts into flames, marking her demise permanently.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but feel a sense of closure yet anticipation as Abel’s character takes center stage in the Revival narrative. Indeed, Boyce concurs, revealing to SYFY WIRE that this episode marks the beginning of a significant shift in the storyline, particularly focusing on “Revivers” and how they are perceived within the community moving forward.

Boyce clarifies that Blaine was gradually introduced to you throughout the initial episodes, and his objectives were subtly revealed bit by bit. “Our Blaine shares many traits with the comic,” Boyce says. He is portrayed as an eccentric tow truck mechanic-cum-preacher, just like in the comics. However, we aimed to give him a fresh twist, making him a significant adversary to the Revivers. Essentially, he becomes a major anti-Reviver character. And it all begins with Arlene.

At the funeral service, Arlene inadvertently startles the mourners by entering the church. Boyce describes her as an unexpected individual, seen by many as a highly perilous Reviver. In this critical moment, it isn’t Wayne who comes to the rescue; instead, it is Blaine Abel, a person often deemed insane by townsfolk. However, he is the one stepping up to help Arlene, which in turn triggers widespread panic in the town. With the cat out of the bag, everyone now realizes that Revivers can be hazardous and will likely react with fear.

Fans of particular genres might recognize Ogg as the performer behind Abel, who previously appeared as Simon in The Walking Dead, Rebus in HBO’s Westworld, and the voice actor for Trevor Philips in the Grand Theft Auto video game series. When it came to casting, Koontz, being a fan himself, mentioned that Ogg was the top choice from the very start to embody their antagonist.

He declared, “I planted a marker signifying Stephen Ogg as the ideal candidate for this role,” he stated. “I expressed my vision, ‘I see it clearly. This could be incredible, and he is the one to make it happen.’ I penned him a letter, followed by a few video calls where I pleaded, ‘Please, join us and bring your talent here, without compensation.’ Remarkably, he agreed. I strongly believe he’s an essential character and truly unique.

Em’s punk rock Romeo gets a series facelift on Revival Episode 3

In simpler terms, Em advances significantly in dealing with her recollections linked to the Swiss cheese theory, which stem from her personal awakening event. Rhodey Rasch, her bar fight rescuer and another “Reviver,” offers substantial assistance. He’s an optimistic individual who views their new immortality as a fresh perspective on life. He’s aiding Em in seeing the world in a completely different light.

Koontz expresses his appreciation for the modifications made to Rhodey Rasch and Em in the series. “Reading the comics, I felt that Rhodey wasn’t exactly a positive character,” he admitted, explaining why he initially hesitated about working on the project.

He explains that he and Boyce chose to reimagine Rhodey as a character within the series beyond being solely a problematic boyfriend. He desired to create a unique narrative where he could express affection towards Em, which may or may not develop in specific ways. As he puts it, “I wanted to find an alternative storyline that allows for some romantic expression – though its path remains uncertain – that she can enjoy.” He notes that Kaleb, the actor portraying Rhodey, and Romy shared a remarkable on-screen chemistry.

In the role of the hidden music group, “November, December,” Koontz explains that they had the freedom to creatively explore how Rhodey unveils his “Reviver” traits, blending the television show and series portrayals of the character. Additionally, they greatly enhanced his romantic side in their interpretation.

Koontz finds the bridge sequence particularly stunning. He admires the way they mesh so well together. It’s there that a line he penned, which Noel got to incorporate in her episode, was placed: “The irony is that I had to die to feel alive.” Throughout her life, people have been telling her what she can’t do. But then comes this boy from a screamo band who says, “No, be who you want to be,” which is exactly what she needs to hear and experience. He believes it’s quite special and feels incredibly proud of how that narrative unfolds.

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2025-06-27 06:02