Defiance has to be one of the most ambitious undertakings that Sy
fy has ever attempted. Defiance is not just a weekly series but it is also a MMO (Massively multiplayer Online) game where events in each can affect the other. I have to admit that after 3 viewings of the pilot as well as watching the first 2 episodes, I really want to play the game.
Defiance is set in the not too distant future where humans and the races of the Votan are cohabitating on a newly terraformed Earth. When the Votan ships departed their dying star system they thought the Earth was uninhabited but found just the opposite when they arrived. During the war that followed their arrival the Earth was terraformed into something as alien as Votans themselves.
In the pilot we meet Joshua Nolan (Grant Bowler) a former soldier turned scavenger and 
his adopted daughter an Irathient called Irisa (Stephanie Leonidas) who are tracking part of a Votan ship that has fallen from orbit. The tech on this ship could be a big payday for Nolan and Irisa and their ticket to a better life far away from the Badlands. As they examine the ship they come across a sphere that the pair can sell for a small fortune. But before they can get away with their prize they are set upon by a group of Irathient scavengers. Nolan and Irisa manage to escape into the woods with the sphere but not before Irisa is shot.
While in the woods Nolan and Irisa find themselves surrounded by a group of large, vicious creatures who are looking for a meal. Nolan is able to hold off the creatures for a while, but soon runs out of bullets. Fortunately the duo is rescued by the Lawkeeper from a nearby town, Clancy (Peter MacNeill). While bringing the two in, Clancy informs Nolan that the that was once called St. Louis is now Defiance.
Defiance is a melting pot of alien and human races and is led by the newly elected mayor Amanda Rosewater (Julie Benz). Because of Nolan’s unique skills as a tracker and former 
soldier, Mayor Rosewater soon enlists Nolan’s help in solving a crime. During the investigation it is revealed that the original crime is just the tip of the iceberg and that Defiance is about to be attacked. The town must band together to repel the attackers or all will be lost.
Defiance also stars Jamie Murray(Warehouse 13) as Stahma Tarr, Tony Curran(24) as Datak Tarr, Graham Greene (Dances With Wolves) as Rafe McCawley and Jesse Rath(Mudpit) as Alak Tarr.
I have to say that I was really impressed by the pilot. It is nice to see that Syfy is bringing science fiction back. The idea of making Earth an alien world is a different approach to the trend of post-apocalyptic adventures. Hopefully as the season progresses we will find out how our planet became the new world we are seeing on the screen.
One of the things I enjoyed about Defiance is the fact that even though the aliens speak English they also have their own languages. The creators of the show have gone even further by giving each race a different written language as well, completing the fantasy. I have always felt that it is a cop out to have every alien you meet speak perfect English. I can see it now, fans of the show will soon be speaking the various Votan languages much like some Star Trek fans speak Klingon or the Avatar fans speak Na’vi. Personally, I want a curse word cheat sheet.
I do hope that at some point they explain how races that are so different came to be together. Within the town of Defiance there are 4 major races we get to meet. First there are Irathients which according to the official web page for Defiance are the most common of the Votan races. These people are highly aggressive who tend to socialize mostly with their own kind. These intimidating beings have deep copper colored skin and red hair. Irathients remind me of Klingons probably because neither species ever seems to walk away from a fight.
Another race that we meet in 
the pilot is the Castithans. What makes the Castithans stand out are their pale, almost white skin and delicate features. Castithans are ambitious, highly intelligent and slightly vain. It could be the intelligence and ambition that led to a Castithan running the alien equivalent to the Mafia in Defiance.
The Indogenes are a remarkable race. One of their most unique physical characteristic are the hexagon pupils in their eyes. Indogenes embrace technology to the point where many of the species have been altered with cybernetic implants. Unlike the Irathients and Castithans, the Indogenes are hairless with their greyish skin covered in hexigons taking on the appearance of scales.
Last are the Liberata. These beings are short in stature and take great pride in their work. From what we see in the pilot, the Liberata seem a bit sarcastic, or at least the one that works for the McCawley household has that trait.
There are two other races that we see in the pilot, one of which is the Sensoth. At the moment the Sensoth are only in the background, but we may yet find out more about these very large beings. The other race is called…well I don’t think I am going to tell you since it may be a spoiler, and you wouldn’t want anything spoiled would you?
Defiance is the next step in entertainment with the video game and the television show interacting. The game can keep you immersed in the world between episodes. Syfy definitely has a hit on their hands. I am looking forward to tuning in each week. Defiance is the future where our world is changed forever.
