Questions

What is the plot?

The TV series Revival (2025) unfolds in the rural town of Wausau, Wisconsin, where a mysterious event called "Revival Day" causes the recently deceased—those who died within the past 14 days—to suddenly come back to life. These resurrected individuals, known as "Revivers," retain their previous appearance, memories, and personalities, but also possess regenerative healing abilities.

The story begins with a shocking scene in the municipal morgue: a cadaver bursts out of the crematory furnace, on fire and with melting skin, fleeing into the night. Simultaneously, other dead townspeople rise from their graves, some with visible injuries like missing eyes, but all alive again. This phenomenon triggers a lockdown of Wausau by the federal government, including CDC investigators, as the town grapples with fear, confusion, and social upheaval.

The narrative follows several main characters, including Em, Dana Cypress (a local police officer), Aaron, and investigative journalist May Tao. Early on, a disfigured Reviver breaks into Aaron's house to steal a flash drive, which he delivers to May Tao. Em and Dana confront Blaine, who admits to having seen Em on Revival Day after retrieving an abandoned car. The police begin marking homes and stamping IDs of all registered Revivers to monitor the situation.

In a camping scene, Cooper and Jordan witness a glowing creature outside their tent, adding a supernatural element to the mystery. Dana follows clues that reveal Aaron had rented the abandoned car under a false alias. Em attends anger management counseling and confides in Nithiya Weimar, Aaron's wife, about her struggles adjusting to life after revival.

Em recalls that her likely killer wore a distinctive wedding ring—the same one she vomited after resurrecting. She learns from a pawnshop owner that the ring belonged to Aaron. When Aaron's office is ransacked, he becomes paranoid and threatens to expose his aggressor over the phone. He then requests Dana meet him to confess. Em arrives first; Aaron admits to kidnapping her but denies killing her before a masked man shoots him dead. Dana arrives moments later and is also shot. Em retaliates by shooting the masked man in the arm, who then flees.

Throughout the series, the town is divided into factions: those who want to accept the Revivers peacefully, those who see them as threats to be eliminated, and others who seek to profit from the anomaly. The police investigate strange happenings, including violent incidents involving Revivers surviving gunshots, impalements, and other injuries that would normally be fatal.

The series ends with the fates of key characters: Aaron dies from the shooting, Dana is critically wounded but survives the attack, and Em remains alive, continuing to navigate the complex social and personal challenges of being a Reviver in a town struggling to accept the new reality.

Revival blends dark thriller elements with moments of quirky comedy and supernatural mystery, portraying the social tensions and personal dramas that arise when death is no longer permanent.

What is the ending?

⚠ Spoiler – click to reveal

The TV show Revival (2025) ends with a tense confrontation where Aaron, who had kidnapped Em but not killed her, is shot dead by a masked assailant. Dana, arriving shortly after, is also shot. Em retaliates by shooting the attacker in the arm, who then flees. The police continue marking and registering Revivers, while Cooper and Jordan witness a mysterious glowing creature. Em seeks anger management counseling and confides in Aaron’s wife, Nithiya. The ending leaves the fate of Dana uncertain and highlights ongoing mysteries around the Revivers and the town’s uneasy situation.

The ending unfolds scene by scene as follows:

  1. A disfigured Reviver breaks into Aaron’s house and steals a flash drive, which is then delivered to investigative journalist May Tao. This sets the stage for uncovering hidden truths about the events surrounding Revival Day.

  2. Em and Dana confront Blaine, who admits to having seen Em on Revival Day after retrieving an abandoned car. This reveals connections between characters and deepens the mystery of Revival Day.

  3. The police begin marking homes and stamping IDs of all registered Revivers, showing the government’s increasing control and surveillance over the town’s population of the undead.

  4. While camping, Cooper and Jordan witness a glowing creature outside their tent, introducing a supernatural element that remains unexplained but ominous.

  5. Dana follows clues and discovers Aaron had rented the abandoned car under a false alias, indicating his secretive and possibly dangerous behavior.

  6. Em attends anger management counseling and confides in Nithiya Weimar, Aaron’s wife, about her struggles, showing her emotional turmoil and the personal impact of the events.

  7. Em recalls that her likely killer wore a wedding ring she had thrown up after resurrecting. She learns from a pawnshop owner that the ring belonged to Aaron, linking him directly to her attempted murder.

  8. Aaron’s office is ransacked, and he becomes paranoid. He threatens to expose his aggressor over the phone and requests Dana meet him to confess. This builds tension and suggests Aaron’s guilt or knowledge of deeper conspiracies.

  9. Em reaches Aaron first. He admits to kidnapping her but denies killing her. Before he can say more, a masked man shoots Aaron dead. This sudden violence escalates the conflict dramatically.

  10. Dana arrives moments later and is also shot by the masked man, leaving her fate uncertain. Em retaliates by shooting the attacker in the arm, who then flees, ending the immediate threat but leaving many questions unanswered.

The main characters’ fates at the end are:

  • Aaron: Killed by a masked assailant after confessing to kidnapping Em.
  • Dana: Shot by the masked man shortly after Aaron; her survival is left unclear.
  • Em: Survives the shooting, shoots the attacker in the arm, and remains a central figure confronting the ongoing mystery.
  • Cooper and Jordan: Witness a glowing creature, suggesting ongoing supernatural elements.
  • Nithiya Weimar: Confidante to Em, representing personal connections amid chaos.

The ending emphasizes unresolved tensions between the living and the Revivers, the mystery of Revival Day, and the dangers lurking within the town. It closes on a note of suspense and uncertainty about the true nature of the threats facing the characters and the community.

Is there a post-credit scene?

⚠ Spoiler – click to reveal

The TV show Revival (2025) does have a post-credit scene. In this scene, a disfigured Reviver breaks into Aaron's house to steal a flash drive and delivers it to investigative journalist May Tao. This moment hints at deeper conspiracies and ongoing mysteries related to the Revivers and their resurrection, setting up further developments beyond the main episode's conclusion.

What is the significance of the wedding ring that Em threw up after resurrecting?

Em recalls that her likely killer was wearing the same wedding ring that she threw up after resurrecting, and later learns from a pawnshop owner that the ring belonged to Aaron, linking him to her attempted murder and kidnapping.

Who is responsible for the shooting of Aaron and Dana?

Aaron is shot dead by a masked man after confessing to kidnapping Em but denying killing her. Dana arrives moments later and is also shot by the same assailant. Em retaliates by shooting the man in the arm, who then flees.

What supernatural or mysterious creatures or phenomena do Cooper and Jordan witness while camping?

While camping together, Cooper and Jordan witness a glowing creature outside their tent, indicating ongoing supernatural elements in the story.

What role does investigative journalist May Tao play in the plot?

A disfigured Reviver breaks into Aaron's house to steal a flash drive and delivers it to investigative journalist May Tao, suggesting she is involved in uncovering secrets related to the Revival events.

How does Em's relationship with Aaron's wife, Nithiya Weimar, develop?

Em confides in Nithiya Weimar, Aaron's wife, about her struggles while taking anger management counseling, indicating a complex interpersonal dynamic between them amid the unfolding events.

Is this family friendly?

The TV show Revival (2025) is not family friendly and may be unsuitable for children or sensitive viewers due to its supernatural horror noir themes and mature content. It features scenes involving death, resurrection, murder investigations, and tense family drama, including a little girl with "bad, religious parents" and a generally dark, unsettling atmosphere.

Potentially objectionable or upsetting aspects include:

  • Supernatural resurrection of the dead, which may be disturbing for children.
  • Murder mystery and violence, including tense confrontations and criminal activity.
  • Family trauma and loss, such as the death of a mother and strained parental relationships.
  • Religious and moral conflicts portrayed in a serious, sometimes dark tone.
  • Authoritarian and tense family dynamics, including a strict sheriff father and his daughter.
  • Some scenes of danger and threat, including a character being set on fire and arrests.

The show’s tone is serious and suspenseful rather than comedic, with dramatic and sometimes grim moments that could be upsetting for sensitive viewers. It is best suited for mature audiences comfortable with horror and thriller elements.

Who dies?

⚠ Spoiler – click to reveal

Yes, several characters die in the 2025 TV show Revival, and their deaths are central to the plot and mysteries of the series.

  • Em Cypress: Em is dead before the series begins and is one of the "Revivers"—people who have come back to life after dying within a two-week period. The cause of Em’s death is a major mystery in the show. It is revealed that she was involved with her professor Aaron Weimer, who took her from a bridge the night she died. Although Aaron insists he did not kill her, Em confronts him and then he is shot by an unknown sniper. Em’s death and revival are key to the unfolding story.

  • Dana Cypress: Dana, Em’s sister, is shot in the stomach in episode 4 during a confrontation involving Em and Aaron. The bullet passes through Dana and hits Em, who collapses. Dana’s fate is left uncertain at the end of the episode, but a preview for episode 5 confirms she survives, though she is in critical condition. Dana’s injury sidelines her, allowing Em to take a more central role in the story.

  • Blaine Abel: While not explicitly confirmed as dead in the search results, Blaine Abel is a significant antagonist who gathers followers against the Revivers. Rose’s body is found in the trunk of a car at Blaine’s junkyard, suggesting Blaine’s involvement in violent events, but the details of his death, if any, are not provided in the available information.

  • Rose: Rose is found dead in the trunk of a car at Blaine’s junkyard, indicating she was killed before the events of the show. The circumstances of her death are part of the mystery surrounding Blaine Abel and the Revivers.

In summary, Em is dead and revived, her death is mysterious and linked to Aaron Weimer and a sniper shooting. Dana is critically wounded by gunfire but survives. Rose is found dead, and Blaine Abel is implicated in violent acts but his death is not confirmed. The show revolves heavily around these deaths and the supernatural revival phenomenon.