Latest news with #MelanieScrofano
Geek Girl Authority
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
REVIVAL Recap: (S01E06) Bloodlines
Revival Season 1 Episode 6, 'Bloodlines,' is a bonkers, utterly mad outing in the best way. The alternate name should be 'Dana Cypress and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.' Em takes out the Check brothers (and not to dinner) like the badass she is. Dana kills her shooter, Brent, like the badass she is. The Cypress sisters clean bad guy house. Oh, and there's an alien, which is clearly connected to Revival Day/Revivers. Also, Melanie Scrofano and Romy Weltman deliver compelling, balls-to-the-wall performances. They give it their all. RELATED: Read our recap of the previous Revival episode, 'Triage' Revival, 'Bloodlines' We open with a flashback to 20 years before Revival Day – 1988. Patty Cypress (Lara Jean Chorostecki) gives birth to Em at home. It's a water birth. However, she notices that Em isn't crying. After this, the Cypress family stays in the hospital while doctors run tests on Em. Wayne (David James Elliott) chats with Mayor Dillisch (Conrad Coates), who's not a mayor yet. Wayne vents about Patty's insistence that she give birth at home instead of in a hospital. Dillisch remarks that her cancer, although in remission, probably caused complications. After this, the doctor brings Em in, revealing that it looks like she has early-onset OI. She'll be fragile all her life. Young Dana holds her. Then, we flash forward to a moment that occurs later in the episode. Em (Weltman) walks down a hallway in a warehouse, covered in blood. REVIVAL — 'Bloodlines' Season 1 Episode 6 — Pictured: (l-r) Mark Little as Deputy Brent, Melanie Scrofano as Dana Cypress — (Photo by: Mathieu Savidant/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Kill Two Birds With One Stone Then, the Check brothers — Anthony (CM Punk), Andrew (Matt Willis) and Adam (Joe Delfin) — brainstorm a game plan while in their warehouse. It's time to cut ties with McCray now that he's in police custody. Also, Anthony proposes expanding the business. Perhaps bring in a woman for more Reviver parts — switch things up. But how will they find a young female Reviver? Anthony knows how they can kill two birds with one stone. Uh-oh. RELATED: Revival : Co-Creators Aaron B. Koontz and Luke Boyce on Crafting 'Weird' New Series Meanwhile, Brent (Mark Little) scares a sleeping Dana (Scrofano) awake. He informs her that May (Katharine King So) wants to chat with her. May hands Dana her own files for the Blackdeer case. Dana wonders why May has said files. May believes it's all connected: the Blackdeer case and McCray. Someone tried to kill Dana because she got too close to the truth. McCray is merely a patsy. Dana and Brent joke about corruption in the force. Before she departs, May urges Dana to read her notes on the case. Elsewhere, Ibrahim (Andy McQueen) arrives at his apartment and conducts more research on the algae bloom from the creek. If you recall, he grabbed all the samples at the makeshift CDC headquarters in town after the governor demoted him. REVIVAL — 'Bloodlines' Season 1 Episode 6 — Pictured in this screengrab: Andy McQueen as Ibrahim Ramin — (Photo by: Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Is It Really McCray? At the same time, Lester (Peter Millard) brings Dana flowers at the hospital. Wayne follows hot on his heels with doughnuts and sweets. Hey, I know a particular Syfy character who loves doughnuts … and whiskey. Dana's nurse gives Wayne the third degree for bringing Dana junk food. RELATED: Revival 's Romy Weltman on Becoming Em and Working With Melanie Scrofano Wayne tells Dana that it's hard to see her like this. Dana jokes that, thankfully, the drugs alleviate the pain. Wayne beats himself up for not sniffing out McCray as the culprit. Dana never liked McCray. And now the Check brothers are involved. Dana believes the Checks aren't in the mix for this mess. Wayne asks about Aaron and why he texted her. Dana does her best to circumvent the truth without disclosing Em's Reviver status. She lies, claiming she shot the shooter in the right arm. Dana asks her dad if McCray has a wound there. Since he doesn't, Dana insists McCray isn't the shooter. Elsewhere, Brent argues with someone on the phone about his ability to get sh*t done. Unwanted Visitors Meanwhile, at the Cypress house, Em, Cooper (Hudson Wurster) and Jordan (Flora McInroy) play a game. Em texts Rhodey an apology, telling him she misses him. Then, Jordan catches Adam peering at her through the window. He puts his finger up to shush her. RELATED: Revival : Check Out 9 First-Look Photos From Melanie Scrofano-Led Series Next, J.P. (Glen Gould) interrogates McCray (Nathan Dales). McCray denies shooting Dana (and Aaron, presumably). J.P. asks McCray about the Reviver parts found in his trunk. McCray refuses to answer that question and declares his intention to quit the force. After this, J.P. informs Wayne that the parts in McCray's trunk are from a 20-something-year-old Reviver. There aren't many registered young Revivers. Then, J.P. shows Wayne footage of Rhodey (Kaleb Horn) slicing his chest during his show. Wayne arrests Rhodey and throws him in Wausau's Reviver detention center. At the same time, Dana asks Ibrahim to take the doughnuts and sweets away in the form of a monologue inspired by Harry and the Hendersons . Ibrahim doesn't understand the reference. Dana asks Ibrahim to check on Em and Cooper for her. Imprisoned Rhodey knocks on the door of his cell, demanding to be released. Myles (Josh Cruddas) chats with him from the other side of the wall. He tells Rhodey that despite serving his time in jail, the town treats him worse for being a Reviver. RELATED: Revival : The Dead Have Rejoined the Living in Official Trailer Later, Ibrahim arrives at the Cypress house to find it bereft of Em, Cooper and Jordan. He calls Dana, who figures out that the Check brothers kidnapped her sister and her son. After hanging up, Dana starts ripping out her IVs. She makes a break for the door, but is in intense pain. The nurses tackle and sedate her. REVIVAL — 'Bloodlines' Season 1 Episode 6 — Pictured in this screengrab: (l-r) Romy Weltman as Martha 'Em' Cypress, Phil Brooks 'CM Punk' as 'Anthony Check — (Photo by: Lavivier Productions/SYFY) At the Check brothers' warehouse, we find a poor man with no arms and legs, only stumps that are slowly regenerating. Boxes full of body parts litter the floor. Anthony taunts Em, who's gagged and chained to the floor. Em begs to know about Cooper. Anthony already plans to use Jordan and Em, as he tells her, will be the new face of the business. The boss is excited to meet her. A Trade Then, Dana wakes up in bed after her sedation. Brent reassures her that Wayne already knows about the kidnappings. Dana reveals she struck a deal with the Checks, specifically Anthony, but it looks like that backfired. Meanwhile, Wayne angrily questions McCray about the location of the Check brothers' warehouse. McCray gives him nothing. His family is already in danger of reprisals from the Checks because he was arrested. RELATED: TV Review: Resident Alien Season 4 Anthony calls Dana. He briefly gives the phone to Cooper as a show of faith that the latter is alive. Then, Anthony reveals that if Dana wants Cooper to remain, well, whole, she'll cooperate. And by 'cooperate,' he means she'll let him take Em out of Wausau to meet the boss. He orders her to jot down the license plates and locations of the two trucks meant to leave town that night via the Eastern and Southern checkpoints. After hanging up, Dana orders Brent to get the car so they can send officers to the checkpoints to intercept and save Em. She and Wayne chat on the phone while she dresses. She explains the situation and where he needs to go. Then, Dana calls on the beleaguered nurse to inject her with the Feel Good Stuff. Initially, the nurse refuses to do this until Dana reveals that her family is in danger. REVIVAL — 'Bloodlines' Season 1 Episode 6 — Pictured in this screengrab: Melanie Scrofano as Dana Cypress — (Photo by: Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Plot Twist Brent returns to Dana's room. Dana notices his right arm is bleeding — right where Em shot him. He shot Dana. Next, Brent blocks the exit with a TV and turns it on. He whips out his gun and orders Dana to sit on her bed. However, Dana grabs her bedpan and thwacks him across the face with it. She does this a few times. RELATED: 10 Out-of-This-World Predictions for Resident Alien Season 4 Their skirmish culminates with Brent on the floor from a bedpan to the face one too many times. Blood spurts from his mouth. Brent asks why Dana can't just die when she drops the TV on his head. Well, there's no coming back from that. Dana grabs a coat and hat and sneaks out of the hospital. Next, Dana calls Wayne while on the road. He urges her not to do anything rash until he and the other officers arrive. She tracks down one of the trucks at a checkpoint and, gun in hand, orders the driver out of the driver's seat. Then, she demands that he open the back. Unfortunately, Em isn't there. Armless and legless dude is, though. Dana orders the man to call Anthony and reassure the latter that he made it past the checkpoint without any obstacles. REVIVAL — 'Bloodlines' Season 1 Episode 6 — Pictured in this screengrab: Phil Brooks 'CM Punk' as Anthony Check — (Photo by: Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Murder on the Menu Meanwhile, Ibrahim learns from Deputy Rogers (Aryelle Morrison) that Dana killed Brent and fled. He also discovers the location of the Check brothers' warehouse. Dana chats with Wayne again. He asks if she's heard about Brent. Dana informs him that Brent shot her. Wayne shares that he hasn't seen the other truck yet. RELATED: 10 Predictions for The Ark Season 3 As it turns out, Em upended the other truck and killed the driver. We see her heading back to the warehouse to save Cooper and Jordan. In the warehouse, Jordan breaks free of her chains. Hey, she's got superstrength. She leaves her room. Em kills Adam and Andrew with lots of stabbing. Dana pulls up to the warehouse, where she discovers one of Anthony's men dead outside the building. She heads inside, gun at the ready. Meanwhile, that golden light, complete with those peculiar noises, is back. It moves through the trees. Jordan finds Ibrahim in the stairwell of the warehouse, who helps her escape. At the same time, Dana finds Cooper blindfolded and bound to a chair. Unfortunately, Anthony stabs her several times. Dana just can't win today. Aliens and Bones Thankfully, Em emerges from the shadows, leaping onto Anthony. She attempts to strangle him. Anthony breaks her arm. As Em stumbles backward, we see the bone protruding from her arm. Fun times. She whirls around and inadvertently stabs Anthony through the jugular with that jagged bone. I love a good creative onscreen death. RELATED: Read our Wynonna Earp recaps Ibrahim puts Jordan in his car while Em frees Cooper. She urges him to run. Then, Em tearfully sits with Dana, who's not doing well. Outside, Ibrahim and Jordan spot that golden light moving toward them. As it turns out, it's an alien with four spider-like legs. Jordan reassures Ibrahim that it's okay — this creature is here for her. Next, Cooper runs outside, stumbling upon Jordan interacting with the alien. Jordan thanks Ibrahim and Cooper for being kind to her before merging with the creature and vanishing into thin air. Ibrahim cries at the sight. Andy McQueen is acting . And I love it. REVIVAL — 'Bloodlines' Season 1 Episode 6 — Pictured in this screengrab: Andy McQueen as Ibrahim Ramin — (Photo by: Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Unexpected Healing Em sobs, begging Dana to hold on as the latter bleeds out. We see what looks like black tears spill over Em's cheeks. That same golden light emanates from the palm of Em's hand as it hovers over Dana. Dana grows more alert as Em continues to hold her. She's healing Dana's wounds. RELATED: Read our Revival recaps Revival airs new episodes every Thursday at 10/9c, only on Syfy. Our 15 Favorite WYNONNA EARP Moments Contact: [email protected] What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events. Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet. Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium. Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
Geek Girl Authority
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
REVIVAL Recap: (S01E05) Triage
Revival Season 1 Episode 5, 'Triage,' kicks things into high gear as Dana convalesces in the hospital. Em fights tooth and nail to clear Dana's name while Wayne pieces together that tragic night in the woods. Ibrahim gets a demotion, but reminds us that he has the strongest moral compass. 'Triage' is an entertaining outing that maintains a steady clip throughout. RELATED: Read our recap of the previous Revival episode, 'Run Along Little Lamb' Revival, 'Triage' We open with Dana (Melanie Scrofano) being wheeled into the hospital following the climactic conclusion of last week's episode. This scene is intercut with the moments after Dana gets shot. Em (Romy Weltman) panics as Ibrahim (Andy McQueen) rushes to Dana's side. Dana weakly tells Ibrahim that Em was never here. She doesn't want Em implicated in Aaron's murder. REVIVAL — 'Triage' Season 1 Episode 5 — Pictured: (l-r) Romy Weltman as Martha 'Em' Cypress, Melanie Scrofano as Dana Cypress, Andy McQueen as Ibrahim Ramin — (Photo by: Naomi Peters/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) After this, Em, Ibrahim, Wayne (David James Elliott) and Cooper (Hudson Wurster) wait in the crowded hospital waiting room. A nurse reveals that Dana's state is still critical, but at least the bullet didn't strike any major organs. Time will tell regarding her prognosis. She must survive surgery first. Wayne urges Em to keep him abreast if her condition changes. He's already in 'I must solve this crime' mode. I'm Not a Good Liar The following morning, Wayne meets with Brent (Mark Little) at the cordoned-off crime scene. So far, the police haven't found any bullets. No discernible footprints. Brent's theory is that Dana and Aaron struggled with the gun, and it fired on them both. Of course, Aaron can't tell his side of the story. Wayne orders Brent to keep him informed every step of the way. RELATED: Revival : Co-Creators Aaron B. Koontz and Luke Boyce on Crafting 'Weird' New Series Later, Brent questions Ibrahim regarding his involvement. He asks Ibrahim if the latter has a gun. Ibrahim is terribly nervous. He explains that he and Dana were on a date when she got a text, and they changed course for the woods. She went to investigate when he heard the gunshots. Brent attempts to intimidate Ibrahim. Ibrahim keeps Em's presence at the crime scene a secret, per Dana's wishes. REVIVAL — 'Triage' Season 1 Episode 5 — Pictured: (l-r) Romy Weltman as Martha 'Em' Cypress, David James Elliott as Sheriff Wayne Cypress — (Photo by: Naomi Peters/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Next, Ibrahim and Em visit Dana, who's unconscious in her hospital bed. She made it through surgery. Ibrahim is overcome with emotion. He tells Em that the cops have no idea she was there when Dana was shot. Ibrahim asks for the truth. Em apologizes for him getting inadvertently roped into all this. She explains that someone shot and killed Aaron before another bullet went through Dana. Then, Em fired at the shooter with Dana's gun and struck him in the arm. Ibrahim admits he's not a skilled liar and is unsure if he can maintain the ruse. Andy McQueen is so good in this scene. Incredibly believable; incredibly human. Bullets and Experiments Then, Ibrahim states he lied about Em not for her but for Dana. Em vows to fix this. After all, she's a Cypress. In another scene, we see Em discover that the bullet that struck Aaron went through her, too. Unfortunately, the bullet is still inside her. In the sheriff's office, Em asks Wayne questions about the investigation. Wayne claims that, so far, what little evidence he has at his disposal points to Dana murdering Aaron. However, Wayne believes there was a shooter who shot them both. RELATED: Revival 's Romy Weltman on Becoming Em and Working With Melanie Scrofano He adds that the plan is to return to the crime scene to search for the bullet — or bullets. Then, they can use that to identify the shooter/killer. Jeannie (Lenore Zann) informs Wayne that Lester (Peter Millard) wants to speak to him. Lester enters the office without permission. In a rage, Wayne orders Jeannie to get Lester out. He has a case to crack. REVIVAL — 'Triage' Season 1 Episode 5 — Pictured in this screengrab: Romy Weltman as Martha 'Em' Cypress — (Photo by: Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Meanwhile, at the makeshift CDC headquarters, Carla (Paige Evans) experiments on Myles (Josh Cruddas). This feels illegal. An angry Mayor Dillisch (Conrad Coates) confronts Wayne regarding the latter's decision to give his wife the 'Reviver' stamp on her ID. And after everything the Dillisches have done for the Cypresses. Their confrontation escalates as both men get in each other's faces. After the requisite hurling of insults, Dillisch vows that this is Wayne's last term as sheriff. He won't wear the badge again. RELATED: Revival : Check Out 9 First-Look Photos From Melanie Scrofano-Led Series Kay Performs Surgery and Blaine Stirs the Pot Later, Em asks Kay (Maia Jae Bastidas), who's riding that cartoon-watching, cereal-eating high, to help her extract the bullet from her back. Kay pitches in, but not without vomiting. After successfully retrieving the bullet, Em devises a plan to save Dana from getting wrongfully accused of murder. Elsewhere, Nella (Lanette Ware) hosts a support group for Revivers. Wanda (Marcia Bennett), the woman from the exercise class on last week's episode, speaks candidly about her experience having come back from the dead. Damon (Pat Thornton) tells the group about his struggle to readapt to society. He wonders, 'Why me?' Nella proposes that perhaps this is Damon's second chance at life. REVIVAL — 'Triage' Season 1 Episode 5 — Pictured: Steven Ogg as Blaine Abel — (Photo by: Mathieu Savidant/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Suddenly, Blaine (Steven Ogg) and his followers crash the meeting. Nella orders them to leave. When that doesn't work, Damon steps in. Blaine insists that Revivers are demons from hell and that he's there to protect Wausau. He also claims he'll send said Revivers back to hell. RELATED: Revival : The Dead Have Rejoined the Living in Official Trailer Damon tries to confront Blaine, but Tyler (Luca Villacis), Blaine's youngest follower, impedes his path. Damon shoves Tyler, who crashes into a support post and instantly breaks his arm. He apologizes profusely, claiming he didn't know his own strength. Blaine orders Damon to stand. Something tells me things aren't gonna go well for Damon from here on out. It's in the Blood Later, Em implements her plan to get a blood sample from Aaron's corpse. Kay distracts Randy (Graeme Barrett) by claiming she needs assistance with her car. Meanwhile, Em breaks into the crematorium. She finds Aaron's body and sticks the bullet in the bullet hole in his chest, ensuring it gets covered in his blood. Kay vomits — again — at the sight. REVIVAL — 'Triage' Season 1 Episode 5 — Pictured: (l-r) Maia Jae Bastidas as Kay Mathurin, Graeme Barrett as Randy — (Photo by: Mathieu Savidant/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Elsewhere, Wayne chats with an unconscious Dana. He wishes she were awake to help him solve this case. Wayne's vulnerability here is refreshing. We're so used to seeing him in curmudgeon mode. After this, Brent informs Wayne that someone choked Aaron before he was shot. RELATED: TV Review: Resident Alien Season 4 Next, Em places the bloody bullet at the crime scene before the cops and their police dogs arrive. Meanwhile, Ibrahim records research regarding his discovery with the sample of creek water. If you recall, algae blooms grew in it at an astonishing rate. Ibrahim declares that this creek is the epicenter of Revival Day. How Far Is Too Far? Then, Wayne enters Ibrahim's office. He asks Ibrahim if perhaps the latter misremembered what he saw. Maybe there was another vehicle present. He's waiting for Ibrahim to disclose that someone else was there, that a shooter killed Aaron and injured Dana. However, Ibrahim remains tight-lipped. He can't divulge the Em of it all. Thankfully (for Ibrahim's sake), Myles' screaming interrupts their conversation. Ibrahim and Wayne discover that Carla has been experimenting — more like torturing — Revivers. She injected Myles with snake venom upon learning that it can slow the division of cells in Revivers. Carla tells the sheriff that Revivers can exhibit heightened strength in stressful situations (like Damon), and snake venom can inhibit them. Slow them down. RELATED: 10 Out-of-This-World Predictions for Resident Alien Season 4 Naturally, Wayne leans into his 'they're dangerous' belief pretty damn hard after hearing this. However, Ibrahim defends Revivers, reminding him and Carla that this is bona fide torture. Plain and simple. Ibrahim's a good dude. He tells Wayne that this discovery could easily get into the wrong hands. Wayne urges Carla to pump the brakes re: the torture, but she's in the right line of inquiry. REVIVAL — 'Triage' Season 1 Episode 5 — Pictured in this screengrab: (l-r) Paige Evans as Dr. Carla Morel, David James Elliott as Sheriff Wayne Cypress, Andy McQueen as Ibrahim Ramin — (Photo by: Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Dana Is Awake After this, we see Dana is finally awake. She hangs out with Em while feasting on hospital pudding. Em asks Dana why she was in the woods that night. Dana counters that she could ask her baby sister the same thing. Em reveals that she confronted Aaron, who insisted he didn't kill her, despite her waking up on Revival Day with his wedding ring in her body. Em wonders aloud if Dana got put in harm's way because of her. Dana pats the empty space beside her on the bed. The Cypress sisters cuddle in a heartwarming moment. Em believes it's time she protects Dana. RELATED: 10 Predictions for The Ark Season 3 Later, Lester finally gets some one-on-one time with Wayne. As it turns out, he saw the shooter. Said shooter was in all black and donned a black ski mask. Lester heard four gunshots. He adds that he saw a flashlight as well, one specific to those on the force. Wayne realizes that a cop is behind it all. He tasks Brent with running ballistics on everyone's firearms — including his. Demotion Meanwhile, Governor Harris (Shauna MacDonald) chats over video call with Ibrahim and Carla. Ibrahim's refusal to comply with a request from the sheriff, a government official, means that the governor must intervene. Ibrahim reminds Harris that he's in charge of the Wausau project. Harris decides to demote him and promote Carla as the head. Harris is a big fan of Carla's ambitious nature and, I guess, desire to torture human beings in the name of science. She orders Ibrahim to hand over all his research materials to Carla. Ouch. RELATED: Read our Wynonna Earp recaps Elsewhere, Jesse Blackdeer (Brandon Oakes) searches through Dana's files on the Blackdeer case in the Cypress house. He finds a missing persons flyer for his daughter. Jesse takes the files and leaves. Everlasting Light Next, Blaine declares to his followers that Tyler, whose arm is in a cast, will ascend among their ranks. 'Our rock, our fortress, grant us everlasting light,' the men chant while one bangs on a drum. I gotta admit, it's pretty catchy. Get that sh*t on Spotify. Blaine takes Tyler aside, telling him it's time to get branded — become one of the flock. He urges Tyler to touch 'the guiding light.' Interestingly enough, this guiding light makes the same noises as whatever Jordan and Cooper saw outside their tent on last week's episode. It even has a similar shine. Tyler enters the other room where the guiding light awaits. He looks up. Perhaps it's an alien? Tyler emerges with a branded palm. The others raise their palms to reveal the same marking. I love it when I inadvertently join a cult. RELATED: Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: SurrealEstate 's Susan Ireland Second Dates and Severed Feet Ibrahim visits Dana at the hospital. He gives her a coloring book, colored pencils and candy. Initially, Dana insists the coloring book can't be for her because she's a 'grown-ass adult.' Adult coloring books aren't cool yet. They chat for a spell. Ibrahim admits he might be out of a job soon. Dana wonders if he'll leave Wausau. Ibrahim asks Dana on another date — preferably one without guns and murder. Dana smiles, noting that he did bring her candy. Aw, these cutie-patooties. REVIVAL — 'Triage' Season 1 Episode 5 — Pictured in this screengrab: (l-r) Andy McQueen as Ibrahim Ramin, Romy Weltman as Martha 'Em' Cypress — (Photo by: Lavivier Productions/SYFY) After this, McCray (Nathan Dales) sits in his car, singing his lil heart out to the song on the radio. Suddenly, the cops pull up. At the same time, Brent tells Dana that they found a bloody bullet at the crime scene, implicating another shooter and freeing Dana of all suspicion. So, who killed Aaron and shot Dana? According to Brent, all signs point to McCray. Then, we see J.P. (Glen Gould) and Brent arrest McCray. J.P. opens McCray's trunk to discover a series of suspicious-looking containers. J.P. procures a foot in a large bag from one of said containers. That's not creepy at all. RELATED: Read our Revival recaps Revival airs new episodes every Thursday at 10/9c, only on Syfy. Our 15 Favorite WYNONNA EARP Moments Contact: [email protected] What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events. Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet. Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium. Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
Geek Girl Authority
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
Romy Weltman Archives
Categories Select Category Games GGA Columns Movies Stuff We Like The Daily Bugle TV & Streaming Horror Interviews Stuff We Like TV & Streaming We had the privilege of chatting with Romy Weltman about Revival, what's on the narrative horizon for Em and developing a sisterly bond with Melanie Scrofano. Read on for our interview.
Geek Girl Authority
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
REVIVAL's Romy Weltman on Becoming Em and Working With Melanie Scrofano
One miraculous day in Wisconsin, the dead rise from their graves. The town of Wausau hurtles into chaos in the wake of 'Revival Day' as its residents attempt to adapt to this new normal. Among the Revived is Martha 'Em' Cypress (Romy Weltman), younger sister to Officer Dana Cypress (Melanie Scrofano), who scrambles to piece together the mystery surrounding her death, which now looks an awful lot like murder. Recently, I had the privilege of chatting with Romy about how she approached playing Em on Revival , what we can expect for the rest of the season, developing a sisterly bond with Melanie and more. RELATED: Revival : Co-Creators Aaron B. Koontz and Luke Boyce on Crafting 'Weird' Series This interview has been edited for clarity. Romy Weltman REVIVAL — 'Keeping Up Appearances' Season 1 Episode 2 — Pictured: (l-r) Melanie Scrofano as Dana Cypress, Romy Weltman as Martha 'Em' Cypress — (Photo by: Naomi Peters/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Melody McCune: I've been loving the show so far. At the start of all this, what would you say stood out to you about the source material? What drew you into this world? Romy Weltman: Oh my gosh. Honestly, I wish I had a clear answer for you, but it really was everything: the genre, the writing. I love an adaptation when done correctly. Just getting to be a part of a universe that already was preexisting, that's huge for me as well. MM: Besides diving into the comics, how did you approach Em? How did you prepare to play this character? RW: Everything happened pretty quickly with this for me. So, the preparation was also just trusting the process. A lot of what came from me was doing research on Em's backstory in terms of OI (Osteogenesis Imperfecta — also called brittle bone disease). Making sure I understood what OI was and how it impacts people's lives. Then, [the] same with drug addiction, given her addiction to oxycodone. I wanted to make sure I was representing everything correctly and was able to be part of this conversation. In terms of taking care of Em's backstory, that's really what I focused on. And growing with her [over the] course of the season was part of my preparation as well. RELATED: Revival : Check Out 9 First-Look Photos From Melanie Scrofano-Led Series Working With Melanie MM: What was it like getting to develop that sisterly bond with Melanie, which I think is really the heart of this story? RW: Aw, thank you. That was just one of the coolest experiences ever. Mel is exactly who you'd expect her to be, but even better. When I met her, it was an instant connection, and [I loved] getting to work with her and learn from her as well. This was my first leading role on a series. MM: Congratulations. RW: Thank you so much. There's no lead like Melanie Scrofano. Having her hold my hand the entire way through was so special. I got to learn from a really strong, empowering woman. Through that, I hope that resonated on screen, that Em was starting to learn from Dana as well. Em's Journey on Revival REVIVAL — 'Reality Check' Season 1 Episode 3 — Pictured: (l-r) Romy Weltman as Martha 'Em' Cypress, Kaleb Horn as Rhodey Rasch — (Photo by: Mathieu Savidant/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) MM: I'd say so. I think your close bond definitely resonates on screen. I'm going to get into spoiler territory here since episode three just aired. Em is starting to piece together the mystery of her murder, and as she's jumping off that bridge, she remembers Blaine (Steven Ogg) was there the night she died. What can we expect going forward from her story and the investigation as it unfolds? RW: The biggest thing you can expect is answers, but also potentially more confusion along the way. Something about Revival — without spoiling anything moving forward — is that everyone knows each other. That's a little teaser I'll give you. With Em's journey, we're going to find this young woman who's finally allowed to really explore herself and give herself permission to make mistakes and live a life she never got to live before. RELATED: TV Review: Resident Alien Season 4 To Feel Alive MM: Piggybacking off that, she tells Rhodey (Kaleb Horn) in episode three that she had to die to really feel alive. What was it like getting to tap into that shift in Em as she steps outside her comfort zone? RW: That line is the most beautiful line ever. Our writers are incredible. Aaron [B. Koontz] and Luke [Boyce], our creators and showrunners, said early on [that] this line is really what Em's journey and story are built around. In that moment, she realizes it while sitting on the bridge next to this cute boy. The special thing about Rhodey is that he didn't know Em prior to Revival Day, so he never knew this version of her that she was so stuck in, based on other people's perspectives. Just sitting there and realizing, 'Life isn't scary anymore. It's not bad anymore. It's me against the world at this point, and potentially could be us against the world at this point.' We really did shoot that scene on a bridge. Kaleb Horn — he plays Rhodey — and I were both harnessed in. We did not actually jump into the water, though. MM: Oh, good. RW: I want to make that clear. But I was thinking, 'Wow, I'm really living my dream. And I feel like I'm just starting to live hers.' RELATED: 10 Predictions for The Ark Season 3 Lights, Camera, Action REVIVAL — 'Don't Tell Dad' Season 1 Episode 1 — Pictured: (l-r) Nicky Guadagni as Arlene Stankiewiscz, Romy Weltman as Martha 'Em' Cypress — (Photo by: Naomi Peters/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) MM: You've had a couple of action sequences in these first few episodes, from wielding a scythe in the first episode to getting in a bar fight. What was it like getting to film those sequences? RW: I'm so happy you asked. Those are just the coolest things ever. To be transparent, I'm 5'1″. I'm quite petite. This is why Em is such a cool character. I got to play this physically strong character because the consequences aren't the same for her as they would be for Romy in real life. It was cool getting to learn about my own body through those sequences. Max White, our stunt coordinator, is incredible. He was so open to allowing me to do as much as possible, so I didn't have a stunt double for either of those scenes, which is cool. I do have a stunt [double] later on, which I want to make clear for certain things in this season, but for those specific scenes, they let me go for it. Through that, I got to learn so much. RELATED: Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: SurrealEstate 's Susan Ireland There was something so freeing about getting beaten up and not worrying. Obviously, I'm not really getting beaten up. The beautiful thing about that, too, is the partnership we were working with, and everyone I had the opportunity to work with has been so awesome. Character Similarities REVIVAL — 'Reality Check' Season 1 Episode 3 — Pictured: (l-r) Romy Weltman as Martha 'Em' Cypress, Kaleb Horn as Rhodey Rasch — (Photo by: Mathieu Savidant/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) MM: Do you share any similarities with Em? RW: I'd say the biggest one is that I journal a lot, the same as Em. I don't journal as much as she does in the first season, but that's something I keep close to me. I'm also the youngest in my family. For so long, I've wanted people to see me as an adult. We tend to fall into how people make us feel. I can relate to Em feeling small sometimes, and not being sure why. Then, also getting to power through that and learn and grow through that is awesome, so those are big similarities as well. RELATED: Our 15 Favorite Wynonna Earp Moments My brother and I have a similar age gap to Em and Dana. Also, Em, similarly to me, probably more so when I was a bit younger, feels so much. I don't think she knows how to express it to the people she cares about. That is difficult to navigate growing up. She has all these people she could turn to, but she doesn't know how. That's the thing — just growing up in general. MM: Describe the rest of this season using three words. RW: Bloody. Heartfelt. Revived. What Romy Is Watching MM: Love it. All right, last question. I like to ask this question to everyone I interview. Are you watching anything interesting right now? RW: Well, I'm watching Revival . MM: Of course. RW: I'm also watching The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives . MM: I haven't seen that yet. RW: I am not a reality show girl, but I am obsessed. I also just started the show Paradise . You know what? I should give a shout-out to SurrealEstate . RELATED: Read our Revival recaps MM: I watched that as well. I covered it. RW: Please throw that in there because I am such a Tim Rozon fan, and I actually really love the show. Definitely one that I watch to get into the sci-fi genre a bit more. I get a kick out of the show. MM: It's a great gateway to sci-fi. I got to chat with Tim and Melanie last year for Wynonna Earp: Vengeance , and that was really fun. RW: They're both just the coolest people ever. I had the pleasure of meeting Tim on a film called Terror Train . Mel had actually seen my demo. Tim and I have a small two-second fling in that movie. She was like, 'Don't you dare touch my man.' It's really funny, and it turned into a cute full-circle moment. I'm a fan of both of them. Thank you, Romy, for chatting with GGA! Revival airs every Thursday at 10/9c on Syfy. 10 Out-of-This-World Predictions for RESIDENT ALIEN Season 4 Contact: [email protected] What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events. Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet. Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium. Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
Geek Girl Authority
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
REVIVAL Recap: (S01E03) Reality Check
Revival Season 1 Episode 3, 'Reality Check,' kicks things into high gear regarding the mystery surrounding Em's murder. Dana clocks the nefarious Check brothers as the potential murderers. However, with Adam admitting he didn't know Em was a Reviver, something tells me this might be a red herring. Em and Rhodey are super cute lil emo kids, and the show continues its emo music streak with a tune from Alkaline Trio (last week, it was Senses Fail). This millennial emo kid is digging the needle drops. 'Reality Check' is another fun episode. RELATED: Read our recap of the previous Revival episode, 'Keeping Up Appearances' Revival, 'Reality Check' We open with Kay (Maia Jae) telling Dana (Melanie Scrofano) about how Em acquired the bag full of oxycodone. In a flashback, Kay and Em (Romy Weltman) pay the Check family a visit. The matriarch, Dorothy (Wendy Lyon), has a flair for chicken-themed artwork. Kay explains that Dorothy asks the buyer to choose breakfast, lunch or dinner. Each selection offers something different (ahem, drugs). Em wanders upstairs to Andrew's (Matt Willis) room despite Dorothy's urging that she not disturb him. Em steals the bag of oxy from his dresser drawer and flees. Andrew barrels outside, gun trained on her, and fires. Dana can't believe Em would act out like that. Kay counters that perhaps Dana doesn't know Em as well as she thinks she does. Squid Pro Quo Later, Dana chats with Gunderson (Mark Little) at the station. He notices she's leafing through the Check brothers' files. Dana tells him that she believes they tried to murder someone who stole from them. However, it's their older brother Anthony who's pulling the strings. Anthony left for New York and now can't return to Wausau since quarantine went into effect. RELATED: Revival : Co-Creators Aaron B. Koontz and Luke Boyce on Crafting 'Weird' New Series Meanwhile, Jordan (Flora McInroy) encounters bullies at school. Cooper (Hudson Wurster) stands up for his friend when one kid attempts to stab Jordan with a pencil to see if she'd heal. You know, since she's a Reviver. Cooper slams Jordan's locker door in the boy's face, causing his nose to bleed. Elsewhere, Dana visits Dorothy Check. She shows Dorothy a picture of Kay, asking if the latter paid her a visit before Revival Day. Dorothy compliments Kay for being a sweet young lady, while her friend (Em) disturbed her son and stole from him. Then, Dana whips out a picture of Em, who Dorothy confirms as the thief. Before Dana departs, Dorothy urges Dana to purchase some chicken-themed artwork. You know, 'squid pro quo.' Most Likely to Die in Prison While Dorothy fetches a piece for Dana, Andrew descends the stairs, reuniting with his former classmate. He threatens Dana's family. Should she continue prying into things concerning the Checks, there will be more than one dead Cypress. He gives her a comic book for Cooper and informs her that the lead character has no qualms about killing those who threaten his family. RELATED: Revival : Check Out 9 First-Look Photos From Melanie Scrofano-Led Series After this, Dana pops by Cooper's school to pick up her son. She learns he's been suspended for the remainder of the week for hurting that kid (although he deserved it for trying to stab Jordan). However, the teacher seems to side with the bullies. Dana is incredulous. How can this little girl be a danger to society? Upon learning that the teacher called Jordan's parents an hour ago to pick her up, Dana decides to take her home. REVIVAL — 'Reality Check' Season 1 Episode 3 — Pictured: Melanie Scrofano as Dana Cypress — (Photo by: Mathieu Savidant/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) While Cooper and Jordan play upstairs, Dana chats with Jordan's parents. They tell Dana that their little girl died before Revival Day, and the one standing before them isn't her. When Jordan asks if she and Cooper can have cookies, they act awkwardly around her, refusing to make eye contact. Can I Get an Escort? Dana gives them the business for treating their daughter like sh*t. They might not believe Jordan is really Jordan, but she's no threat to them. I love how this series tackles the mistreatment and discrimination of marginalized people — it's very relevant, given the state of the US. RELATED: Revival : The Dead Have Rejoined the Living in Official Trailer After this, Dana drops Cooper off at Nella's. Meanwhile, Ibrahim (Andy McQueen) records his findings. Unfortunately, the CDC liaison still hasn't uncovered the reason behind Revival Day. Carla (Paige Evans) arrives with the toxicology report for Arlene, but she doesn't refer to the latter as such. Ibrahim insists Arlene is a person who deserves to be called by her name despite the circumstances. He fiddles with his samples before looking over the report himself. Then, Ibrahim asks Jeannie (Lenore Zann) if he can get a police escort to the Dittman house to conduct an investigation. He has a hypothesis he wants to test. Of course, he'd love to have Dana accompany him, but he'll have to settle for her dad instead. Wayne (David James Elliott) volunteers to join Ibrahim. How Did You Die? Later, Bob Dittman (Derek McGrath) is weirdly suspicious of Ibrahim. Ibrahim runs a few tests before wandering into the bedroom where Bob and his late wife kept his mother-in-law in chains. Mind you, the Wausau police force is still searching for Arlene. Ibrahim also spots a bottle of mercuric chloride on the side table among a bevy of medications. RELATED: TV Review: Resident Alien Season 4 Next, Dittman trains his gun on Ibrahim for snooping around. Thankfully, Wayne defuses the situation before Dittman gets trigger-happy. We learn that the funeral for Dittman's wife is later that day, hence his tense demeanor. REVIVAL — 'Reality Check' Season 1 Episode 3 — Pictured: (l-r) Romy Weltman as Martha 'Em' Cypress, Kaleb Horn as Rhodey Rasch — (Photo by: Mathieu Savidant/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Elsewhere, Em wakes up in Rhodey's (Kaleb Horn) room. Em finally got a decent night's sleep for the first time since Revival Day. Rhodey tells Em how he died — an infection in his hand from stabbing it while pitting an avocado. Not very punk rock. Em explains that she's unsure how she died. The circumstances surrounding her death are muddled at best. She recalls being high on the bridge before waking up at the bottom of the waterfall. Funeral Pyre Then, Em shows Rhodey her journal, which is full of illustrations related to her murder. Fragments of memories and imagery. Rhodey is invested. He wants to help Em solve her murder. At the same time, Dana stands on the bridge, trying to piece together her little sister's death. RELATED: 10 Out-of-This-World Predictions for Resident Alien Season 4 Later, Wayne attends Terry's funeral. Dittman's eulogy gets weird and misogynistic. Suddenly, Arlene (Nicky Guadagni) lurches through the double doors, wailing for her daughter. She barrels toward the open casket. Wayne orders everyone to leave as he points his gun at her. Dittman tries to attack Arlene, but she snaps his neck. Wayne fires a few rounds at Arlene; however, bullets are quite ineffective. REVIVAL — 'Reality Check' Season 1 Episode 3 — Pictured: (l-r) Steven Ogg as Blaine Abel, David James Elliott as Sheriff Wayne Cypress — (Photo by: Mathieu Savidant/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) It's Blaine's (Steven Ogg) ritualistic demon-expelling that seems to do the trick. After Arlene crawls into the coffin, Blaine sets it ablaze. Can Arlene survive this? After this, we learn that the CDC will do its best to separate Arlene and Terry's charred bodies. Arlene's tissue is already healing, though. Blaine is in lockup, but he won't be for long. The public is already siding with him for burning Arlene. Wayne and Mayor Dillisch (Conrad Coates) meet with Governor June Harris (Shauna MacDonald). If you recall, Wayne called the governor on last week's episode because, let's face it, Wausau ain't doin' so hot. Track and Tag Ibrahim soon joins them. He declares that Dittman was poisoning Arlene with mercuric chloride. He found traces of mercury in Arlene's brain matter. This proves Revivers aren't inherently violent. Governor Harris seemingly sides with Wayne, though, insisting the sheriff can have all the resources he requires to track down and tag all Revivers. Ibrahim and the mayor vehemently protest this. Harris takes it further — if any Revivers show signs of 'aggression,' Wayne has her permission to contain them how he sees fit. Ibrahim remarks that this is sounding an awful lot like internment camps for Revivers. RELATED: 10 Predictions for The Ark Season 3 Harris adds that once the Revivers are under control, then they can discuss lifting the quarantine on the town. This is what happens when people fear what they don't understand — they exert tyrannical-like control. Elsewhere, Nella (Lanette Ware) tells Dana about Em's fight in the bar. She remarks that Em seemed down before she lashed out at a fellow patron. Then, she left with a punk guy. REVIVAL — 'Reality Check' Season 1 Episode 3 — Pictured in this screengrab: (l-r) Conrad Coates as Mayor Ken Dillisch, Andy McQueen as Ibrahim Ramin, David James Elliott as Sheriff Wayne Cypress — (Photo by: Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Dana pulls out the flyer for November Dismember, which Em left behind in her vehicle. Dana mutters that she explicitly told Em not to date musicians. It must run in the family. Speaking of Em, she's at the warehouse for November Dismember's show. Rhodey greets her before he takes to the stage. Andrew and his brother Adam (Joe Delfin) spy Em among the concert attendees. They recognize her. November Dismember Then, Dana enters the scene as Rhodey performs with his band. At one point, Rhodey slices his chest, even sticking his hand inside the wound. Next, the cut heals instantly. Everyone cheers. While Rhodey screams into a microphone, the Check brothers confront Em. They attack her. Rhodey calls them out before making his way toward Em. Andrew flees, but Dana manages to tase Adam. She also finds drugs on his person before taking him in. RELATED: Read our Wynonna Earp recaps Later, Em and Rhodey escape the concert, making a beeline for a bridge. Once a safe distance away from the danger, Em kisses Rhodey. At the station, Dana interrogates Adam. This is his third offense, so he could be going away for a long time. And now he's endangering innocent concertgoers. REVIVAL — 'Reality Check' Season 1 Episode 3 — Pictured: (l-r) Romy Weltman as Martha 'Em' Cypress, Kaleb Horn as Rhodey Rasch — (Photo by: Mathieu Savidant/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Dana claims she wants to talk to Anthony Check, the brains of the operation. Dana is aiming to strike a deal with him. So, Adam dials his number. Dana proposes a truce between the Check and Cypress families. She'll drop the charges against Adam and release him. Hell, she'll even give back the oxy Em stole. In exchange, the Check brothers must steer clear of the Cypress crew. REVIVAL — 'Reality Check' Season 1 Episode 3 — Pictured in this screengrab: (l-r) Joe Delfin as Adam Check, Melanie Scrofano as Dana Cypress — (Photo by: Lavivier Productions/SYFY) We've Got a Deal When Anthony doesn't respond immediately, Dana calls him out. She knows the brothers are behind Em's murder. Adam realizes at this moment that Em is a Reviver. He claims he and Andrew didn't know who she was, that she was Dana's sister. Anthony decides to take the deal. He gives his word that Andrew and Adam will leave Dana and Em alone. RELATED: Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: SurrealEstate 's Susan Ireland Meanwhile, Ibrahim notices one of his samples has inexplicably grown — the mossy water from Moore Creek. Dana returns home to Cooper at the end of a long day. She gets a text from Em. Em reassures Dana that she's okay and safe, thanks to her. Dana looks emotional. Later, we see Rhodey and Em sitting on the edge of a bridge. He embraces her. Em reveals that she's never been to the beach. Hell, she's never flown on a plane before. She's been sheltered most of her life. However, it took dying for her to feel truly alive. Rhodey vows to take her to the beach once they can leave town. REVIVAL — 'Reality Check' Season 1 Episode 3 — Pictured in this screengrab: (l-r) Steven Ogg as Blaine Abel, David James Elliott as Sheriff Wayne Cypress — (Photo by: Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Take the Leap Then, Rhodey encourages her to jump off the bridge with him. When she does, she sees flashes from the night she died. Blaine was on the bridge with her. Uh-oh. Speaking of, Wayne releases Blaine. Blaine reunites with his followers. He asks them if they're ready for a 'holy war.' They all cheer. Love a good religious zealot. RELATED: Read our Revival recaps Revival airs new episodes every Thursday at 10/9c, only on Syfy. Our 15 Favorite WYNONNA EARP Moments Contact: [email protected] What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events. Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet. Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium. Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
