The series begins in the small town of Wausau, Wisconsin, where a mysterious event called Revival Day occurs: everyone who had died within the previous two weeks suddenly resurrects, appearing unchanged from their time of death. The town is thrown into chaos as the living and the "Revivers" try to coexist. Dana Cypress, a local police officer and single mother, is introduced as she begins investigating a murder case complicated by the presence of these Revivers.

Early on, Dana and her sister Em confront Blaine, a man who admits to having seen Em on Revival Day after retrieving an abandoned car. The police start registering all Revivers, marking their homes and stamping their IDs to keep track of them. Meanwhile, Dana follows a trail of clues that leads her to discover that Aaron Weimer, a professor who had written about a fountain of youth, had rented the abandoned car under a false alias. Em is forced to attend anger management counseling with psychologist Nithiya Weimar, who is Aaron's wife.

Em recalls that her likely killer was wearing a distinctive wedding ring--the same ring she had thrown up after resurrecting. She learns from a pawnshop owner that the ring belonged to Aaron. Aaron becomes paranoid after his office is ransacked and threatens to expose his aggressor over the phone. He requests a meeting with Dana to confess. Em reaches Aaron first, and he admits to kidnapping but denies killing her. Before he can say more, a masked man shoots Aaron dead. Dana arrives moments later and is also shot. Em retaliates by shooting the masked man in the arm, who then flees.

In a separate sequence, Cooper and Jordan, while camping, witness a glowing creature outside their tent, adding a supernatural element to the mystery. Dana, Ibrahim, and Em later find Lester tied up in a church that is attacked by General Cale and her soldiers. Ibrahim feeds Em a vial of creek water that strengthens her, allowing her to escape with Dana and Lester in a truck. They split up, with Dana returning to town and Lester taking Em to an abandoned Grist Mill to hide.

Jeannie reveals to Dana that she and Lester have a long-standing relationship and that Lester was close friends with Aaron Weimer. Dana realizes the connection between Lester, Aaron, and Em, understanding that Em is now vulnerable and at Lester's mercy at the mill.

Throughout the season, Blaine pushes Em to prove she is more special than other Revivers because of her healing ability. Em struggles to engage this power but manages to keep her dying father alive temporarily. The season ends with escalating tensions between the Revivers, the living townspeople, and the government forces, setting the stage for further conflict.

This detailed sequence of events covers the major plot points, character decisions, confrontations, and twists in Revival Season 1, providing a comprehensive spoiler of the story's progression.

Short Narrative Ending: In the Season 1 finale of "Revival," titled "Rend the Veil," the mystery surrounding Em Cypress's murder is partially resolved. Em, who had been revived, is captured by Blaine Abel, a man driven by a warped sense of religious duty to eliminate revivers. The confrontation unfolds at the Abel family church, where Dana Cypress and Sheriff Wayne intervene to stop Blaine. The episode concludes with significant revelations about the nature of revivers and the souls trying to return to their bodies, leaving a major question unanswered.

Expanded Narrative Ending:

The Season 1 finale of "Revival" begins with a tense setup. Em Cypress, who had been revived, finds herself in grave danger. Blaine Abel, a man consumed by a delusional belief that he is chosen by God to cleanse the world of revivers, captures Em. Believing that killing her will end the revival phenomenon, Blaine takes Em to the abandoned Abel family church. There, he intends to perform a ritual to send her "back to hell," as he believes this will rid the world of all revivers.

Meanwhile, Lester Majack, a town busybody, becomes aware of Blaine's actions and informs the authorities. This leads Dana Cypress, Em's sister and a local officer, and Sheriff Wayne Cypress, their father, to rush to the church to rescue Em and stop Blaine.

Upon arriving at the church, Dana and Sheriff Wayne find Em strung up on the altar. Dr. Ibrahim Ramin is also present, having been subdued by Blaine. Dr. Ramin, who has been fascinated by the mystery of the revivers, challenges Blaine's beliefs. He explains that the beings Blaine thinks are angels are actually the souls of revivers trying to return to their bodies. This revelation adds complexity to the narrative, highlighting the supernatural elements of the revival phenomenon.

As the confrontation escalates, Dana and Sheriff Wayne manage to intervene, leading to a dramatic showdown with Blaine. The fate of Em is central to this confrontation, as her survival is crucial to understanding the revival phenomenon. However, the episode concludes with a significant twist, leaving a major question about Em's status unanswered.

Throughout the finale, the characters' motivations and emotional states are deeply intertwined with the unfolding events. Dana's determination to save her sister drives her actions, while Sheriff Wayne's paternal instincts are tested as he tries to protect both his daughters. Blaine's delusional beliefs lead him down a path of violence, illustrating the dangers of unchecked fanaticism.

The finale sets the stage for potential future seasons by introducing new mysteries and deepening the existing ones. The unresolved question about Em's status leaves viewers wondering about her ultimate fate and the implications for the revival phenomenon. The episode concludes on a note of suspense, ensuring that the story of "Revival" remains captivating and open to further exploration.

Yes, Revival Season 1 has a post-credit scene. After the intense finale where Em kills Lester but seemingly dies herself, the post-credit scene reveals a time jump of 35 days. It shows Aaron's wife, Nithiya, who has been undergoing cancer treatments, deliberately becoming Em's therapist. The scene ends with Nithiya and Em together in a cabin somewhere, implying Em is still alive and setting up potential developments for Season 2.

A disfigured Reviver breaks into Aaron's house to steal a flash drive and delivers it to investigative journalist May Tao, suggesting the flash drive contains important information related to the mystery surrounding the Revivers and Aaron's activities.

Em and Dana confront Blaine, who admits to having seen Em on Revival Day after retrieving an abandoned car, indicating a connection between these characters and the events of Revival Day.

While camping together, Cooper and Jordan witness a glowing creature outside their tent, adding a supernatural element to the story.

Aaron admits to kidnapping but not killing Em before he is shot dead by a masked man. Dana arrives moments later and is also shot, and Em retaliates by shooting the man in the arm, who then flees.

Em experiences visions of her long-dead mother Patty while imprisoned, which allows the story to explore Em's interior struggles with trauma and guilt. This is a significant emotional element in Season 1, revealing deeper layers of Em's character.

The TV show Revival, Season 1 (2025), is rated TV-14, indicating it is generally suitable for viewers aged 14 and older but may not be appropriate for younger children. It contains mild sexual content, moderate violence and gore, moderate profanity, mild alcohol/drug use, and moderate frightening or intense scenes.

Potentially objectionable or upsetting aspects for children or sensitive viewers include:

• Some mild sexual situations, such as a scene where a female cop seduces a man but is interrupted, and brief nudity like a man's buttocks shown running in a cemetery.
• Moderate violence and gore, including shootings and physical confrontations involving both living characters and the "Revivers" (the recently deceased who have returned to life but are not zombies).
• Moderate use of profanity, including multiple uses of the phrase "GD".
• Some frightening or intense scenes related to the mystery and supernatural elements, such as disfigured Revivers and tense confrontations.
• Mild depiction of alcohol and smoking.

Overall, while the show explores supernatural mystery and family drama with some intense and mature themes, it is not designed for young children and may be unsettling for sensitive viewers due to its moderate violence, supernatural elements, and some sexual content.