This past Sunday saw the airing of the new Showcase/SyFy series, Defiance. The press release for the show sums up the concept nicely:

Starring Grant Bowler and Julie Benz, Defiance introduces an exotically changed planet Earth, its landscapes permanently altered following the sudden – and tumultuous – arrival of seven unique alien races. In this somewhat unknown and unpredictable landscape, the richly diverse, newly-formed civilization of humans and aliens must learn to co-exist peacefully. Combining the scope of a fantasy blockbuster with the intimacy of a small-town drama, it’s the story of courage and survival in a frontier town where factions of humans and aliens must stand together against outside forces that threaten their existence. The innovative transmedia event, Defiance, is the first-ever convergence of television and online gaming, featuring an interconnected world between the two mediums as they evolve together into one overall story.

Transmedia? What does that mean? Well, luckily, we had a chance to talk via email with gaming company Trion’s Vice President of Development, Nathan Richardsson, who also happens to be the Executive Producer behind the multi-platform massive online third-person shooter, Defiance. It all ties together so nicely, doesn’t it?. Check out the live action trailer for the game below and then hit the jump and read our interview.

Andy Burns: Thanks for talking to Biff Bam Pop, Nathan! So, the idea of combining a television show and a video game that work off one another concurrently is extremely cool – can you give us some insight into how Defiance came together?

Nathan Richardsson: Five years ago, Syfy was looking at how to do something new in entertainment and eventually teamed up with Trion with the goal of creating a transmedia experience. After going through a lot of the existing worlds already created it became apparent that an entirely now concept had to be created. This was both to avoid any restraints that games and shows get when using licensed properties but also a world which could tell great stories in both show and game.

Andy Burns: Your role with Defiance the video game is developer and executive producer – for those unaware of what those responsibilities entail in the gaming world, could you give some insight?

Nathan Richardsson: I’m responsible for the game and the great team that develops it. This is more leadership (pointing in a direction, cheerleading) than it is direct management for example. It’s a large team, about 150 people, so my day involves anything from product strategy and long-term goals to firefighting when that’s required. It’s mainly empowering people and supporting them to achieve our goals, sometimes just staying out of the way

Andy Burns: Could you give an example or two of how the narrative of Defiance the television show can inform Defiance the video game and vice versa? 

Nathan Richardsson: You don’t have to play the game to watch the show and vice versa, it’s all contextually explained in each medium. However, if you do both, you’ll get more background and a deeper understanding of what’s happening within the game or show. Crossover events can start with a series of missions in the game and when the next episode airs, that narrative continues in the show.

Andy Burns: The concept is so unique, but I would imagine it would be more intense and time-consuming ensuring that the game lines up with show concepts and narratives – is that the case at all, or am I over thinking it?

Nathan Richardsson: Yes and no. You can think of Defiance as a larger story, the story of the universe. Then we intentionally locate the show in St. Louis, the rebirth of civilization and the game in San Francisco, the new frontier or wild west. This gave us the freedom to tell our stories without being too dependent on each other and instead spent that effort making sure that core pillars, characters etc. are in synch between the teams. We want that freedom, otherwise the show and game would end up being restrained just like most licensed game or shows have to deal with.

Andy Burns: I know that series star Grant Bowler’s character Nolan appears in the game as well – how will Nolan play into the game?

Nathan Richardsson: Nolan is in game right now and with the nature of the crossover events, you will literally see characters cross between game and show. Nolan isn’t the only one that does that, there are more examples.

Andy Burns: With both the game available  and the series now airing on Showcase, what are your feelings about what’s to come? Excitement? Nervous? A combo of the two?

Nathan Richardsson: Haha, both, absolutely and quite a few more emotions added to that mix. In the end we’re ecstatic to finally be here and are all very excited but the nervousness comes with the complexity and moving parts at play. It’s all fun and games though

Thanks to Nathan Richardsson for talking to Biff Bam Pop, and to Showcase for making it happen. You can find out more about Defiance the game  and series here. Defiance airs Monday nights at 10 on Showcase.

Thankfully I have a new show to keep me entertained while “Being Human” is on hiatus. Defiance is a science fiction series that was developed by Rockne S. O’Bannon, Kevin Murphy, and Michael Taylor, who are also the executive producers, along with Nathan Richardsson.

The show is shot in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and is produced by Universal Cable Productions in collaboration with Trion Worlds who produced the video game which will be tied in to the series. The action starts in the year 2046, on an apocalyptic Earth with aliens and humans trying to live together under barbaric conditions. How barbaric? Meet me after the jump.

Plot

In the year, 2013, the Votans, a collection of different species of aliens decide to move to Earth after their star system was destroyed. Supposedly the Votans didn’t know that Earth was inhabited and they had plans to do some major terraforming to make Earth more to their liking. There was just one little glitch to that plan; Earth did not have a “For Sale” sign on it and the humans were not moving. Tensions were high and while some Votans were allowed to drop down from their big Arks (spaceships) the majority of aliens were put on ice (hibernation) until negotiations could solve the problem, but like in real life (think Middle East) peace talks dragged on and on, until war broke out.

The Pale War

A Voltan Ambassador was assassinated and some of the Arks were blown up killing many hibernating aliens and causing big chunks of Arks to fall to earth. Good for the humans, right? Wrong, the technology for terraforming was accidently released and it created some dangerous conditions on Earth, climate change, the mutation and hybridization of plants and animals. Earth was a disaster; there goes the neighborhood! The war went on until both sides were close to extinction and with the help of the Defiant Few (alien and human soldiers working together) a strained peace was obtained.

The Votans

There are seven different aliens on this show. Do you have your score card ready? Castithans, very pale, yellow eyes, aristocratic with caste system, Indogene, bright white skin, scales, hairless, hexagonal shaped irises, technologically advanced, Irathient, affinity for nature, bronze skin with patterns of white marks, aggressive and tribal, Liberata, broad shoulder, thick necked, block heads, used as servants, Sensoth, larger than humans, resemble humanoid orangutan, long life span, Gulanee, an energy based race, wear special suits and will die without the suit, Volge, a race of automatons, 8ft tall, covered in dense armor, hostile to humans and Votans alike.

The Town

Joshua Nolan (Grant Bowler), former member of the famous Defiant Few and his adopted alien daughter, Irisa (Stephanie Leonidas) an Irathient collect the debris that falls to Earth from the destroyed Arks. They hope to raise enough money to go live in sunny Antarctica. Yes, because of the alien technology, Antarctica is now a tropical rainforest. Nolan and Irisa run into trouble, get injured and are saved from mutant ratbugs (I swear that’s what they looked like) by a Law Keeper from the town of Defiance (Formally known as St. Louis). The town is protected by a laser grid. Did I lose you yet? Not yet? Better buckle up for the next part.

Doc Yewell (Trenna Keating) an Indogene heals Nolan and Irisa. The new mayor, Amanda Rosewater (Julie Benz) wants Nolan to leave town as soon as possible, but he needs to find work and makes some money fighting a Bioman (think Data with an off button). Nolan also makes nice with the owner of a bar, Kenya (Mia Kirshner) who just happens to be the mayor’s sister. There is a murder and the Law Keeper is killed trying to break up a fight between Alak Tarr (Jesse Rath), son of Datak (Tony Curran) and Stahma Tarr (Jaime Murray) and Raf McCawley (Graham Greene) whose son was murdered. The Tarrs and McCawley are enemies. What none of the parents know is that Alak and Christie McCawley (Nicole Munoz) are in love.

Sabotage

I told you to buckle up. Nolan is hired as a tracker to find the real murderer and learns that the murder is part of a plot to destroy the laser fencing that protects the town. The fence is destroyed and the town of Defiance must prepare to fight an unstoppable army, the Volge.

Conclusion

I liked the show, it’s a little bit western, “Romeo and Juliet,” “Star Trek,” and “Firefly.” It has enough storylines going to keep it interesting.  And… if that wasn’t enough; it comes with an interactive game. I haven’t played it yet, but my older grandson, Jimmy, has the Xbox version and he’s going to show me what it’s all about, that’s if he lets me have the controls.

Defiance airs Monday nights at 10 on Showcase.

Since my all-time favorite show, “The Walking Dead” is now on hiatus, I’m keeping my eyes on Syfy’s newest show, Defiance. My review of last week’s pilot show was not only my way to introduce you and me to the premise and characters, but also for me to understand why my oldest grandson, Jimmy was so hyped over the X-Box Defiance game. I asked if I could play the game with him. He agreed, but I was sorry I asked. Why? Find out after the jump.

The Game

I need to explain something about myself. I’m a geek at heart and love everything Geek, like technology, science, genetics, space exploration,  Space X, robotics, Zombies, but I have one problem, I’m tech challenged and this revelation will help you to better understand why I had such a problem learning the game.

My  younger grandsons, Nathan and Josh love playing video games with me. Believe me, it’s not because I’m any good at the games. It’s more that I’m so bad at them, that the boys consider me their personal comedy sitcom. But the oldest grandson, Jimmy, usually shies away from playing games on his X-Box with me. I don’t know why? But after much pleading and bribing on my part, he finally agreed to play Defiance with me. For non-players like me, the first thing you need to know is that the game is slightly different than the show. On the show, the action takes place in St. Louis, but on the game, we’re in an active war in San Francesco. To be able to play, I needed to create my own avatar and I already knew who I wanted to be…but there wasn’t a Michonne avatar…rats!

Setting up the avatar

If you have teenagers in the house, I don’t even have to explain the attitude they can dish out… Jimmy has won Academy Awards for his attitude, especially when dealing with family. Jimmy and I begin to scan through the many avatar selections offered in the game. My avatar of choice was a female Irathient outlaw. The next step was to design your avatar by selecting bone structure, nose shape, skin color, and lip size. Really, lip size? Was my avatar planning on kissing someone during the game?

“Don’t give me big bones,” I told Jimmy, but when I started to complain about Tetria’s (my avatar’s name) hair style, lips and outfit, events slowly began to go downhill. When we did begin the actual game, our avatars are on a ship, and one of the commanders is shouting out orders. Then something goes wrong with the ship. Are we being attacked? Did I press the wrong button? All I know is that Tetria has to get inside  a pod and is soon jettisoned into a hostile area.

The Controls

After unwillingly handing over the controls to me, Jimmy’s instructions are, “This moves you forward, this allows you to turn in different directions, and these two help you to aim and shoot.”

Say what? I can’t walk and chew gum at the same time, but obedient, tech challenged, granny that I am, I start playing the game. I have no idea what the hell I’m doing. “Granny, you have to shoot back.” I’m constantly instructed by my grandson who is growing more and more frustrated.

“They’re moving too fast and how do I tell the good guys from the bad?” I ask, but sadly, even with his help, I end up shooting my own team. Nathan’s suggestion that the “look sensitivity” be slowed down did nothing to help. If my avatar went any slower, she would be moving in reverse. After less than thirty minutes of my disastrous playing of the game, the controls were taken from me and I was banished from his room. Teenagers have no patience! Below are my thoughts on Defiance the show.

Episode 2: Down in the Ground, Where the Dead Men Go

I swear if you put the characters in western outfits, its Deadwood all over again. You have good cop Nolan (Grant Bowler) and two honest deputies, Irisa (Stephanie Leonidas) Nolan’s adoptive Irathient daughter and Tommy (Dewshanne Williams) trying to keep peace in a powder keg, post apocalypse, St Louis. There are good and bad aliens, but with Castithans Datak and Stahma Tarr, the townsfolk of Defiance have a dictatorship in the making. The new mayor Amanda Rosewater (Julie Benz) is unaware that the former Mayor has treacherous plans to destroy the town of Defiance with the help of Mr. Birch (Steven McCarthy). Why, not sure yet? Because of an explosion in the mines owned by Rafe McCawley (Graham Greene), Nolan gets to see old St. Louis. The city was terraformed and is now below ground. I wished they would have spent more time in the old city. I had questions that weren’t answered.

Aliens and humans alike have to adjust to a new world with new rules. And that goes for the Tarr’s and McCawley’s, who represent a futuristic version of the Hatfield and McCoy Feud. But, for now they have to play nice, because their children Alak (Jesse Rath) and Christie (Nicole Munoz) are in love.

Conclusion

I like the show and enjoy watching it, but I really want to learn that game. After reminding Jimmy of the many times I talked his parents out of sending him away to Military School, he finally relented and promised to be more patient teaching me the game. I’ll let you know how that goes.

Defiance airs Monday nights at 10 on Showcase.

When Andy Burns asked me if I would like to interview Jaime Murray from Defiance, I said “Holy Shtako!” which translates into “Hell yeah!” I’ve been a fan of Jaime Murray since Dexter and have been following her on Warehouse 13 and on Showcase’s Defiance, shown on the Syfy Channel, where Jaime plays Castithan Stahma Tarr, wife of Datak Tarr (Tony Curran), and mother of Alak Tarr (Jesse Rath).  Join me and Jaime, after the jump.

Marie Gilbert asked, “I’m a big fan of yours, and my first question is what attracted you to star on Defiance?

Jaime Murray: “Oh, well thank you, thanks for being a fan. First of all that’s a very nice compliment. Really what always attracts me to a role is character and relationships and I certainly think that Stahma’s character and relationships are really complex, so I knew that as an actress I would find that challenging and it would kind of keep me busy and kind of keep me rooting around for new things to portray about this woman. And when you take on a new role you kind of, you know this is somebody that you’re going to be with for a while and is this an interesting person to spend your days thinking about.

As Stahma in Defiance

“And we’re talking in depth about how they feel about stuff. So it’s a funny situation when you’re on a TV show, and you know often you, hopefully, you’re going to be with these people for years and years. So…

“…you have to – you don’t necessarily have to like them and I certainly often play difficult, or troubled, or complex or you could, if you judged them, you might say that they were bad women – so you don’t necessarily have to like them, but they certainly have to be interesting. You have to understand them or be willing to.”

For my next question, I asked, “With the different characters you played, and I know you played H.G. Wells with…Warehouse 13, and you played Lila on Dexter, and now Stahma. Which one is your favorite?

Jaime Murray:   “You don’t ask an actress which is their favorite character, that’s like Sophie’s Choice. They’re like… They’re like your little children. I mean I kind of – I love them all for different reasons I mean- and you know you feel kind of quite protective of them. I certainly loved the journey I had on Warehouse 13 with H.G. Wells because first of all I really started out as antagonist and I suppose I was the villain of a piece in that first season, but it wasn’t – you kind of always had an understanding that there was a lot more going on with H.G.. And then I had two more seasons to rectify that and turn that around and kind of you know, I really went through a full spectrum of emotions with that character and her relationships with the Warehouse and with the people in the Warehouse really, really changed. And you know with this season that you’re just seeing now, it’s cathartic playing somebody who does wrong, but you understand maybe why she made those choices.

As H.G. Wells in Warehouse 13

“And… you understand that maybe she wasn’t in her – the right state of mind. And arguably anyone who does anything truly kind of immoral or bad isn’t in their right state of mind. And then she – I feel as though in this season maybe you’re going to see a chance of her now everything has been taken away from her. Who is she… and sometimes you’re defined by the strongest emotions. And I certainly think that she was driven by sadness and anger for such a long time and I kind of felt a real vulnerability about her when those two very powerful emotions are taken away.”

For my next question, I asked, “Well, she’s a good character and I was wondering if she, H. G. Wells, helped you fit into this Stahma role for Defiance?”

Jaime Murray:  “Well they’re certainly very different roles, but it was my first out and out sci-fi show I’d ever been on. And you know, I certainly from being on Warehouse 13, I understood the scope of sci-fi and I understood that the stakes are just so high on these shows – it’s good versus evil, it’s life and death, it’s courage, and hope, and bravery, and ambition, and all sorts of very powerful driving forces in sci-fi.

“The other thing that I particularly liked about Defiance is it’s you know you’re talking about a world 35 years in the future and you’re talking about a world with seven species competing for a space on this planet and it’s so skewed and it’s so fantastical that as a viewer you can watch it and, it’s not like you’re holding up a mirror and, obviously because it’s such a different world that you’re showing, but actually all the themes that you’re talking about are so relatable.

With Eddie McClintock in Warehouse 13

“But you – it – I feel as though as an artist I’m able to play with issues like for example with Stahma and you know whether it be in the marital home or whether it be because of how the repressed her gender is and her in the society that she comes from – back from her own planet or whether we’re talking about the caste structure from her own planet. They’re all interesting themes to be discussed but in a very new way.

“In fact through investigating and looking at what it is to be alien it forced me, it forced Jaime, to look at again with fresh eyes what it is to be human. And it’s just an interesting way of investigating old and important themes. And themes that hopefully the viewer, you repackage them in a way that the viewer isn’t saturated with and bored with them and kind of look at it – can look at them with fresh eyes and maybe kind of take them on board in a different way.”

Marie Gilbert said, “I have another question. Because you’re the mother of Alak and he’s getting married to Christie, I wanted to know because of your position and that you’re trying to move ahead on the show, evolve more on the show, does your character really like the future bride of her son?”

With Jesse Rath and Tony Curran on Defiance

Jaime Murray:     “I mean, I think that, I think it could be a lot worst. I mean I think that she feels a great curiosity and I think she does feel affection for Christie. The thing is about Stahma is that nothing is black and white. Obviously Christie would not be allowed anywhere near Alak if there wasn’t something in it for the Tarr family. And you know the McCawley minds and the power that the McCawley’s wield within the town of Defiance is certainly very attractive to Stahma, and now Datak. If you remember rightly in the pilot, he was completely against it until she gently reminded him how useful this could be to them as a family and their credibility in the town.

“However I think that Christie is a very sweet girl considering she’s a modern girl and I mean even more modern because she’s five years in the future. It’s probably reaffirming to Stahma where she comes from a world where women are very submissive and it would probably be much harder for her if she was dealing with you know your average flaky teenage girl.

“And also it’s something quite comforting, she probably feels as though she can really control Christie. There’s such an innocence and a sweetness to her that Stahma’s going to know which buttons to press and so really she’s – it’s probably a quite comfortable situation to be leading her son into yet another situation that Stahma can have full control over.”

Marie Gilbert said, “Right, and…”

Jaime Murray:  “You know it probably it would probably be very worrying if – well I doubt Stahma would allow it, for Alak to be marrying somebody who would be taking him away from Stahma.”

Marie will be back with Part Two of Jaime Murray’s interview on Monday.

Back again, with part two of Biff Bam Pop!’s Jaime Murray interview. Jaime plays Stahma Tarr, a Castithan, one of the Votan races now living on Earth in Syfy’s new show, Defiance.  In part one of the interview, we spoke about Jaime’s character and her place in the show. Join me now, after the jump, as we continue learning more about Jaime and Stahma.

Marie Gilbert asked, “What is it like to work with Tony Curran who plays Datak Tarr?

Jaime Murray:  “Tony’s become one of my really close good friends, I feel immense affection for him. And it’s just so great working with somebody that you genuinely have such good feelings for, because often as an actor you know there’s – I guess what’s good about Julie and I sitting there talking about these made up people for hours on end, there’s a certain child-like quality that you have to have to share these fantasies with people, share these stories that you’ve made up in your head with people and these ideas.

“We all did that as children freely and as you grow up you stop doing it because you feel a bit silly, and you have to be silly to an actor really. You have to be able to be prepared to come up with an idea that other people won’t particularly like or try something which is dreadful and then you present something else which is equally dreadful and then finally you come up with something which is brilliant and…”

With Tony Curran in Defiance

“…kind of weird that works for them and strange. But you can only really do that if you’re with somebody that you really trust. I’m lucky that on the cast of Defiance there’s a whole bunch of actors that I trust, but I’m particularly lucky that one of the ones I have a really special relationship is Tony Curran because obviously he plays my husband.”

Marie Gilbert said, “Right.”

Jaime Murray: “So yes, it’s good fun. And when the three of us all get on set you know and I’m with Alak and Datak, we just have a ball.”

Marie Gilbert said, “It looks like you’re real close.”

Jaime Murray: “In fact it’s funny because I don’t know whether it’s because we’re both from the UK but back home we have our own TV shows and sitcoms and funny little sayings and adverts that you grew up watching and you know the jingles from and when you go to another country you kind of lose a lot of those points of reference.”

Marie Gilbert said, “Right.”

Jaime Murray: “Whether it’s the biscuits that you had and you dipped in tea or whatever and I’d say that to an American and they’d look at me like I was potted. In fact it took me, I’ve been in the USA for six years now and now I’ve got really close friends, American friends here and often I’ll talk to them and I’ll use a turn of phrase like ‘Bob’s your uncle’ or I don’t know, ‘I’ll be out here’ and – silly little phrases that I say – and they’ll look at me like I’m mad and now they’ll tell me ‘I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.’

“Where as you know I’ll say those things to Tony and he instantly knows what I’m talking about and he’ll come back with another silly phrase or another silly jingle or a funny accent from the north of England or whatever, we can – we’ll sometimes banter backwards and forwards and Julie Benz will walk into the makeup truck and she’ll be like ‘I have no idea what you people are talking about. I don’t know what you’re talking about. In fact I can’t even understand you’. So we have a way of a tone.”

Marie Gilbert asked, “That’s great. That’s good when you have a close relationships on this show right, I believe that, but I wondered if the question I was always puzzled what does Stahma do during the day? They don’t really show us what your duties are because you’re someone important so what do you do?”

Jaime Murray:   “Well like I said I feel very much like I’m in a period piece. So I think that good housekeeping and keeping things running and running the books and kind of I think that the Castithan people have their own little rituals. I think that Stahma is like queen of the Castithans so I think that she kind of really – it’s like she has this kind of archaic role she’s playing.”

Marie Gilbert said, “Right.”

Jaime Murray:  “She’s doing her weaving and she’s doing the ceremonies; she’s at home kind of holding court I think.”

Marie Gilbert asked, “Okay. That was because I was confused on what she did so that answered my question. I have one more question. Do you play the game Defiance?”

Jaime Murray: “I have played the game Defiance, in fact I’m getting a XBox so when I come back up to Toronto, because I think I’m going to play it in my trailer. And obviously you know that us actors get a lot of down time and especially on this show I’m fully dressed up, completely painted in white from head to toe with the wig on and everything so it’s not like I can exactly lay down or pop to the shops when they’re not using me for hours, so I’ll be playing the game when I come back to work.

Sooo… why aren’t you watching Defiance?

“But I did play it when it launched and I was absolutely awful at it, I think the qualities that made me – drew me to acting: sensitivity or over emphasizing or whatever make me an awful gamer because I get far too excited, far too into it and before you know it I’m squealing and ducking as if something really is coming at me and I think that to play the game you have to have a certain amount of skill and be cool, calm and collected and they’re not really qualities that I possess. Maybe Stahma would be really good at playing the game.”

Marie Gilbert asked, “Well I don’t feel so bad then because I’m really bad at the game but I guess I’m trying to think of I know you’re in a movie coming up. I know this has nothing to do with Defiance. But you’re in a movie — one of my favorite movies – Fright Night.”

Jaime Murray:     “Yes. Really fun and…”

Marie Gilbert said, “Fright Night Two.”

Jaime Murray:     “Yes I went and shot Fright Night Two straight after I finished on Defiance and it was interesting actually. I started reading a lot about the vampire myth, and I was playing the vampire in Fright Night, and there’s a lot of kind of… and Freudian analysis of the vampire myth because it’s a, it’s been a very popular myth for the last couple of hundred years.

“And the more I read about it the more it reminded me of the Castithans you know they’re very narcissistic and they’re very self-serving and they really kind of use other people for their own ends. And even the way she is with her own child, Alak, there’s something very vampiric about her. So hopefully when I come back this year I’ll use that to flesh her out even more.”

Jaime Murray is such a pleasure to interview and I hope to speak with her again. I wanted to thank Meg Campbell and Natasha Dunkley of Shaw Media in Toronto for offering this interview opportunity to Biff Bam Pop!

Make sure to watch Defiance and Jaime Murray on the Syfy Channel, Mondays at 9 PM, followed by Warehouse 13 at 10 p.m. where Jaime Murray plays H.G. Wells.  

I called the shots on this show with my first review of Defiance when it first premiered. I said that it was damn good science fiction and I was right. With top notch actors and its part western/part Farscape scenes and stories, my whole family and I are hooked. The ending was a surprise and we were left with a few mysteries and a few farewells. Who’s gone? Find out, after the jump, in this spoiler alert filled review.

Dangerous Men

I’m still recovering from our own three ring circus of a Presidential Election, and here I was again on the edge of my seat as Datak Tarr (Tony Curran) and Amanda Rosewater (Julie Benz) battled for the position of town mayor. There were enough backroom deals going on to keep me guessing on who would finally win the election, especially with Datak dealing with the secretive Earth Republic’s Colonel Marsh (Barry Flatman). Amanda was hoping that her good work while in office would bring in votes. Poor baby, that’s not how it’s done in politics.

Datak’s distain for Alak’s (Jessie Rath) attempt to help with the election was a bit confusing. Why wouldn’t he appreciate the free radio plugs? Datak is a cold hearted manipulator, but there are people more conniving than him. Colonel Marsh showed his true colors; a snake in the grass and just as greedy as Datak. In the end, Datak won the coveted prize of power as the new mayor, and one unexpected result; his own downfall. Oh yes, my little aliens, Shtako happens in every election, and Datak wasn’t spared a confrontation with the real people in power.

A new member of the Earth Republic is after Irisa. Who is Black Jonah (Matthew Lemche) and what does he want with the town of Defiance and Irisa. It was very upsetting to see this man line up the citizens of the Irathient village for execution. Even when Irisa surrenders herself to save the village, this nasty man gives the word to kill them all. Luckily, for the Irathients, Nolan doesn’t like executions or the Earth Republic.

Dangerous Women

Stahma had her own problems on this episode. She was guilty of a few pleasurable indiscretions with Kenya (Mia Kirshner) which would have left Stahma at the mercy of Datak and his short fuse temper tantrums. But blood is stronger than lust and Kenya was angry with the Tarr family; Datak tried to have Amanda killed before the elections. Did these two women love each other? Maybe, and I think Kenya helped Stahma to finally experience a sexual satisfaction that Datak was unable or unwilling to allow. But Stahma is a chameleon and no one really knows her. She’s graceful, beautiful and charming, but she hides a stinger and like a black widow spider, traps her enemies in her web. Stahma is the real power in the Tarr family and where Datak stomps his feet and screams at his enemies; Stahma whispers as she lowers her fangs on the unsuspecting flies.

Amanda and Kenya console each other after Amanda loses her job. The sisters are close and have survived some bad stuff, but it’s the last chat that they will share. Kenya is planning on running away with Stahma.

Stahma, to save her own life not only betrays Kenya, but causes her death. I think Stahma had feelings for Kenya. The method she chose to eliminate her lover was swift and I hope painless, but it’s what Stahma did as Kenya lay dying that makes me think there was more than just sex shared between the two.

I think one of the reasons I like this show so much is because of the loving relationship between Nolan (Grant Bowler) and his alien daughter. Irisa’s (Stephanie Leonidas) life is in the hands of fate, as we try to figure out her connection to what’s buried below the town. There is something powerful inside her and enough bad people, who want what she has, to make season two worth waiting for. When Nolan and Tommy try to rescue Irisa, Nolan’s mortally wounded, but Irisa holds his life in her hands. What does she do? This is one secret that you’ll have to watch the show to find out.

Dr. Yewll (Trenna Keating) is a complete mystery. Is she good? Or, is she good at being bad. I don’t know if we can trust this tricky alien. She easily killed her comrade, Nicky (Fionnula Flanagan) and she was secretly doing experiments on Irisa. But, when Black Jonah wants to remove the artifacts from Irisa at any cost, Dr. Yewll gives advice to the captive girl; run! Dr. Yewll is a character to keep your eye on and one of the most interesting aliens on the show.

Conclusion

I like the show and the like the actors. The stories are interesting, but the special effects need to be pumped up a bit. I had the honor of interviewing the amazingly talented Jaime Murray on her character, Stahma. It’s a two part interview in which Jaime talks about the show, the game and the comraderie between the actors. She also hinted at what Stahma is really like. See you for the next season of Defiance and try not to step into any Shtako.

When our illustrious leader and Editor-In-Chief, Andy Burns, asked his admiring Biff Bam Pop! staff for our choice of the best of 2013, I was hesitant. I had five of my favorite TV shows already lined up and I only had to pick the best episode for each one.

It would be a piece of cake, right? Hell no! How could I pick the best episode of “The Walking Dead” when I love each and every episode, same with “American Horror Story,” “Defiance,” “Orphan Black,” and “Bates Motel“? Did I flip a coin? Nah! Did I choose wisely? You judge after the jump.

Defiance Episode 12: “Everything is Broken”

“Defiance” is one of the better science fiction shows on Syfy, and features humans and aliens living together on a radically changed earth after a long and brutal war. On Episode 12, all the pieces fall in place. Mayor Amanda Rosewater (Julie Benz) loses the election to Datak Tarr (Tony Curran). Stahma Tarr (Jaime Murray) kills Amanda’s sister Kenya (Mia Kirshner). Nolan (Grant Bowler), the local lawman, is shot and killed protecting his alien daughter, Irisa (Stephanie Leonidas) from Colonel Marsh.

Irisa escapes from Marsh and releases the power inside her, which heals Nolan. Colonel Marsh is killed by Datak Tarr, and the Earth Republic Army takes over the town of Defiance. Biff Bam Pop! did a two-part interview with the talented Jaime Murray and got the inside scoop on what makes Stahma tick. The show returns in June 2014 on Syfy.

Orphan Black Episode 6: “Variations”

This episode of “Orphan Black” was hilarious. Yeah, I know it’s supposed to be a serious science fiction series about clones, but, episode 6 was a ‘Keystone cops’ type of show. The marvelous Felix (Jordan Gavaris) and clone Sarah (Tatiana Maslany plays all the clones) help out one of many clones when Alison knocks out her husband Donnie (Kristian Brunn) with a golf club, before tossing him down a flight of stairs and torturing him with her scrapbooking hot glue gun. Alison thinks that Donnie is part of Dr. Leekie’s (Matt Frewer) gang. Problem is the neighbors are at the door for a potluck dinner and Alison is drunk as a skunk.

Street wise Sarah pretends to be Alison while Felix plays a butler leaving the neighbors confused as hell. Things go from bad to worse after Vic (Michael Mando) and Sarah’s boyfriend Paul (Dylan Bruce) show up at the party. Sarah has to keep the other clones safe while protecting her daughter Kira (Skyler Wexler). The science behind the series and its pros and cons of cloning are accurate, but the plots need more action. “Orphan Black” returns to BBC America on April 19, 2014.

Bates Motel Episode 8: “A Boy and His Dog”

In the first seven episodes of “Bates Motel,” you’re able to blank out the fact that this angelic faced teenager grows up to be a serial killer. Norman (Freddie Highmore) is the victim of his crazy mother, right? Norma (Vera Farmiga) is crazy alright, but Norman is no angel and his darker side comes out when he realizes that Bradley (Nicole Peltz) isn’t interested in him after she and him did the nasty thing. Angry at Bradley, he lures his dog into oncoming traffic.

The Bates family has problems: Norman’s school recommends a therapist; Sheriff Romero (Nester Carbonell) is on to Norma killing the former owner of the motel; Norman’s older brother, Dylan (Max Thieriot) works for the town’s drug cartel; Mr. Abernathy (Jere Burns), the man in room #9, is involved in human trafficking, and good old Norman practices taxidermy on his dog. Luckily for Norman he has a loyal friend in Emma (Olivia Cooke). “Bates Motel” returns with a new family member in 2014 on A&E.

American Horror Story: Coven Episode 8: Head

Out of the three seasons, I think season 3 of “American Horror Story: Coven” is by far the best. How could it fail with three top notch actresses on board? Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates and Angela Bassett make being devious and scary look freaking great. Surrounded by AHS’s recurring cast, our three divas keep their fans asking for more. Facebook and Twitter went wild after Fiona (Jessica Lang) killed Madison (Emma Roberts) and Cordelia (Sarah Paulson) was blinded by acid. When Marie Laveau (Angela Bassett) sent her zombies to attack Miss Robichaux’s School, and Fiona had Myrtle (Frances Conroy) burned at the stake, I was wondering if this show could get any crazier. It did!

While Fiona got down and dirty with the Axeman (Danny Huston), Marie Laveau gets her revenge on Delphine and leaves a package at Fiona’s door. Poor Delphine! She’s a bitch, but you can’t help loving her. Delphine is missing her body and she’s stuck with the Voodoo Queen. Hank (Joseph Hamilton) went postal at Laveau’s Beauty Salon, but now worries; nothing stays dead in New Orleans. The war is on between the witches and the witch hunters. “American Horror Story: Coven” returns on January 8th on FX at 10 PM with a possible appearance by the fabulous Stevie Nicks.

The Walking Dead Episode 8: “Too Far Gone”

Season 4 of “The Walking Dead” served up several shocking episodes. It was a season of bad choices made on both sides. On the mid-season finale, episode 8, we witnessed the long lasting effects of the choices made by both Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and The Governor (David Morrissey). Carol (Melissa McBride) made a choice to keep her friends safe by killing what she considered a threat to the group; Because of Carol’s actions, Rick made the choice to banish her from the group, and The Governor made a choice that caused the very person he promised to protect to fall victim to a walker.

We were tricked into thinking that The Governor had changed his ways, but we were fooled. As soon as he could, The Governor eliminated anyone in his group that challenged him, and then he went after the people living at the prison by holding Michonne and Hershel as pawns. His ruthless actions caused the death of several people on both his team and Rick’s. We thought that Rick was a goner, but Michonne (Danai Gurira) put an end to the Governor. A string of poor choices and now Hershel (Scott Wilson) is dead, Megan (Meyrick Murphy) is dead, The Governor is dead and maybe even baby Judith.  The series returns in February on AMC, but I’ll be mulling over episode 8 for quite a while; it was a heartbreaker.

Conclusion

So, my little zombie snacks, I gave you my best five episodes. Did I make the right choice? You tell me.

I love good science fiction shows and this year, I’ve been lucky enough to write about two of them and hopefully get you to check out a third one that I’ve discovered. One show in particular kept me interested because of its subject matter; genetics. Another show because of its plot centered on alien and human cohabitation, and a third because it handled zombies is such a different way. What are my February Faves of science fiction? Find out after the jump.

Orphan Black

“Orphan Black” premiered on BBC America and was created by Graeme Manson and John Fawcett. The premise of this intriguing show did not ask if cloning was possible; it is, but what happens after you’ve cloned a human? What are the pros and cons of cloning humans? Do clones have rights?  Everything on this show is based on scientific research, and the story allows the audience a peek into the shady side of cloning; think runaway science project.

The main star is the very talented Tatiana Maslany. Tatiana plays Sara Manning, an orphan who is street wise and always in trouble. She has a young daughter, Kira (Skyler Wexler), who is being raised by Sara’s foster mother Mrs. S. (Maria Doyle Kennedy). After witnessing a look-a-like commit suicide, Sarah takes over the dead woman’s identity, bank account and boyfriend and becomes Beth Childs a police detective. Over the next few episodes Sara/Beth learns that she is clone and that there are other look-a-likes living in the vicinity.

Tatiana Maslany played seven different clones on season one. Tatiana was so good at morphing into the different personalities of each clone that you actually believe the clones were separate entities. Jordan Garvis plays Felix Dawkins, Sarah’s adopted brother, sidekick, and thankfully for us, comic relief. Sarah meets her birth mother and learns about Rachael Duncan a self-aware Proclone. People are trying to kill the clones. If you want to know why then catch up on season one because the season two premieres on April 19th, 2014.

Defiance

I didn’t think I would find a science fiction show equal to “Firefly” and “Farscape,” but the Syfy channel along with Universal Cable Productions and Trion Worlds has produced a hit series with its very own video game that ties in with the show; “Defiance.”

The story is set in the future where several species of aliens known as the Votans come to Earth seeking a new home; their solar system was destroyed. The original occupants of Earth are not looking for new BFF’s and a war breaks out. Carried on these spaceships is the technology to terraform the planet Earth to make it more suitable for the new species. Unfortunately the technology is released when one of the ‘Arks’ falls to earth causing a drastic change to the landscape and fauna on Earth. Antarctica is now a tropical rainforest.

A fragile peace is made and aliens and humans work and live together. The story focuses on one town, Defiance AKA Old St. Lewis and the people and aliens; good and bad, who live there. Grant Bowler is Joshua Nolan, the local lawman who along with his adopted alien daughter, Irisa (Stephanie Leonidas); try to keep humans and aliens from doing each other in. Their task is not an easy one, but they find an ally in Mayor Amanda Rosewater (Julie Benz) and her sister Kenya (Mia Kirshner) the Madam of the local saloon.

Like I said, there are good and bad on both sides, but it is the Tarr family that you need to beware of. While Datak Tarr (Tony Curran) stops at nothing, including murder, to take control of the town, his wife Stahma (the fabulous Jaime Murray) slowly draws her unsuspecting enemies within her web of deceit and death. Biff Bam Pop! did a two part interview of Jaime Murray, here and here Neither Datak or Stahma can control their headstrong son Alak (Jesse Rath) from falling in love with Christie McCawley (Nicole Munoz) daughter of Rafe (Graham Greene) owner of the mines and arch enemy of Datak. The cliff hanger has Irisa discovering her powers as the soldiers of the Earth Republic march into the town. This awesome show returns in June 2014.

The Returned

I found this show on one of those sleepless nights where I sit in front of the TV and scan the cable guide looking for anything that will hold my attention. “The Returned” not only held my attention, but made me a big fan. Created by Fabrice Gobert and shown on Canal+ in France and the Sundance Channel, “The Returned” is based on the 2004 film They Came Back, or in French Les Revenants. The story takes place in a small mountain town where suddenly dead people return to their homes looking quite healthy and alive, but with no memory that they’ve been dead; some for many years.

Season one of the story centers around a young teen Camille (Yara Pilartz) her twin Lena (Jenna Thiam) who is now for years old and not so happy to have Camille return, Simon (Pierre Perrier) a young man who was dead for ten years and returns to learn he has a daughter, Victor (Swann Nambotin) a small boy who was killed thirty years ago and Serge (Guillaume Gouix) a serial killer who likes to eat the internal organs of the women he kills.

If this scenario wasn’t enough to get your attention, there is also the problem of the town’s reservoir mysteriously getting lower as strange power outages continue to increase. Season one ended with a horde of dead people, who once lived in the town that was buried beneath the reservoir, coming for the newly raised zombies. It’s not your typical zombie show and I can’t wait for season two which should return in late 2014.

Conclusion

Hope you liked my pick of February Faves because I’m looking forward to reviewing them for you this year. Stay tuned for more of Biff Bam Pop!’s February Faves.

In my last post I named a few contenders for the title of King of Bad. There were many deserving candidates, but in the end only one King, The Governor (David Morrissey). We have three ladies from three different series fighting for this next title and it may turn into a big catfight so you better head for cover. Which three ladies have I chosen to battle it out for the title of Queen B? Find out after the jump.

Meow #1

When “Bates Motel” premiered last year, no one was prepared for Norma Bates (Vera Farmiga). This little vixen came out scratching at the eyes and the audience was left, unprepared. Norma was used to getting what she wanted, when she wanted it, and heaven help you if you got in her way. Even her sons weren’t safe from her conniving ways. Even though her older son, Dylan (Max Thieriot) was on to her tricks, poor Norman (Freddie Highmore) the younger boy wasn’t; making him easily manipulated.

Like a black widow spider, Norma Bates weaved her web hoping to seduce and control Deputy Zack Shelby (Mike Vogel), Sheriff Alex Romero (Nestor Carbonell) and even Mr. Abernathy (Jere Burns), but the town of White Pine Bay has its own secrets; dangerous ones, and our little feline has to watch her back. Now don’t you fret my little horror fans, because Norma Bates has little Norman to rule over and she is turning her sweet son into a dangerous psycho. Will Norma Bates win the title of Queen B?

Hiss #2

With the premiere of “American Horror Story: Coven,” we were faced with three contenders to the title. It was a Witches’ Ball from hell. Fiona (Jessica Lange), Delphine LaLaurie (Kathy Bates) and Marie Laveau (Angela Bassett) were so wicked they made ‘BAD’ an Olympic Event. Delphine tortured every poor soul who crossed her path and she made bigotry her hobby. Losing her head did nothing to tame her wild and wily ways. Marie Laveau may have had the best Hair Salon in New Orleans, but it was her Voodoo magic that struck fear in her enemies as she called forth the dead from their graves.

But, in the end there was only one witch mean enough to make it to the finals and that was the Supreme herself, Fiona. I’ve seen plenty of evil witches in my time beginning with my introduction of Disney’s Snow White, but Fiona outdid them all with her tigress like stride; she bedazzled her admirers as she ripped out their hearts. Even her own daughter Cordelia (Sarah Paulson) wasn’t safe from dear old mom’s insane jealousy and cunning. But… as wicked as Fiona was, could she take the title of Queen B?

Purr #3

With the premier of Defiance, we were introduced to our next contender. “Defiance” is a new series on the SyFy channel about aliens and humans surviving on an apocalyptic Earth. Stahma Tarr (Jaime Murray) reminds you of a Siamese cat as she slinks her seductive body through the town of Defiance; doing anything she can to ensure her husband’s success. There is a whole lot of Shtako going on whenever Stahma’s in a scene. Stahma may play the obedient and proper wife of Datak, but don’t be fooled. This kitten is dangerous as she matches wits with the lawman, Nolan (Grant Bowler) and the town’s mayor, Amanda Rosewater (Julie Benz). Even Datak Tarr (Tony Curran), her husband is not safe from her sharp claws and woe to those who fall in love with Stahma; she has a poison for every occasion. Just ask Kenya Rosewater (Mia Kirshner).

Conclusion

Decisions, decisions, it was harder to choose a Queen B than it was for the King of Bad. Why? Well women are so much better at bad; they’re smarter. We have to be to survive as long as they have with all these bad men around. As much as I love Norma Bates and Fiona Goode, they’ve lost this catfight to a pro. So give a pat on the back to our new Queen B, the scrumptious Stahma Tarr, but do so at your own risk; this kitten has claws.

Jaime Murray did a two part interview for Biff Bam Pop! and in truth; she’s nothing like her character on “Defiance.” Jaime is a sweetheart and I enjoyed interviewing her. Check out Jaime Murray’s interview here and here.

Were you happy with my choice of Queen B, if not, who is your favorite wicked woman?

Holy shtako! “Defiance” is back and I can’t wait to get my Votans organized. This show is partnered with its own game, which stays true to the show. We were left with some questions that will hopefully be answered in season two. Join me on this fast moving recap and watch out for debris falling from the Ark Belt.

Earth 2047

The people of Earth have problems. Even though the war with seven different alien species known collectively as the Votans is over, peace is mostly a fleeting possibility. Due to a mysterious event which the humans lay blame on the aliens and they on us, Earth’s ecosystem has been changed through terraforming leaving we viewers with some interesting  hybrid bugs and plants to learn about; some very dangerous.

The humans and aliens who survived the Pale Wars must now live together is an uneasy truce. If you think the ongoing rants in today’s news regarding immigration laws is maddening, imagine if the alien we were speaking about was just that; alien, not from Earth. Makes you think look at the word a bit differently when you’re speaking about a fellow human, right?

St. Louis is now called Defiance and our main star Grant Bowler as Joshua Nolan, and his alien adopted Irathient daughter, Irisa (Stephanie Leonidas) come into town without a Lawkeeper. Nolan gets the job, and Irisa becomes a deputy along with Tommy LaSalle (Dewshane Williams).  Believe me, it’s not easy getting the humans and aliens to place nice together, especially when you deal with two power hungry factions.  Spoiler alert: There is something special about our little Irisa.

The Tarrs

Datak Tarr (Tony Curran) a Castithan is like the alien version of Tony Soprano. He wheels and deals with black market trading and criminal elements. His wife Stahma, played by the enchanting Jaime Murray, is by Castithan custom considered a second class citizen (think Middle East views on women) but she manipulates her husband and others around her with the ease of a black widow spider.

I did an interview of the lovely Jaime Murray and you can read it here and here. Their only child, Alak (Jesse Rath) breaks the segregation rule by falling in love with human Christie McCawley (Nicole Munoz).

The McCawleys

Rafe McCawley (Graham Greene) is a tough man and the owner of a Gulanite mine. He’s not a happy camper. His wife ran off and left him to care for the children. He’s not as understanding or accepting of the aliens like his daughter, plus there are secrets down in that mine.

The Sisters

Amanda Rosewater (Julie Benz) is the Mayor of Defiance having stepped in for the ailing Nicky (Fionnula Flanagan) who is the human counterpart to Datak Tarr in criminal activity. Amanda unlike her predecessor is a good mayor and is concerned for the people both alien and human, but she’s lost the election to Datak at the end of season one.

Kenya Rosewater (Mia Kirshner) is, or was, the owner of the bar/brothel called the NeedWant. As the younger sister of Amanda, she had the best clientele visit her and her ladies. Kenya made nice with lawmaker Nolan, Datak and Stahma. What can I tell you; business was good. When Kenya threatened Stahma that she would tell Datak about their little secret meetings, Stahma made sure she didn’t get the chance. She tricked Kenya into drinking poison.

The Earth Republic

Colonel Marsh (Darryl Flatman) is in charge of this human run government army. The Colonel wants something that is hidden in the mine; an alien ship full of weapons. McCawley won’t turn over his rights to the mine, so the Colonel helps Datak win the election. Datak allows the Earth Republic to take over the town. Dumb move! When Datak realizes that Marsh was only using him, he kills the Colonel.

Irisa

Irisa has weapons inside her, which Dr. Yewll (Trenna Keating) an Indogene tries to keep that secret from the Earth Republic. Nolan is killed trying to protect Irisa, but she escapes and heads to the mines, the alien ship and her destination. She makes a decision to take a fatal leap and Nolan comes back to life. We don’t know if Irisa lived.

Conclusion

This show is well written and the acting is top notch. The show is on Thursday night and hopefully more people will have a chance to see it. It reminds me of a science fiction western, but in a good way. I’ll be doing the recaps for each episode and I’m looking forward to learning more about the buried city of St. Louis. With my older grandson now part of the United States Marines, I haven’t played the Defiance game and I have no idea what happened to my avatar… sigh. Watch “Defiance” on Syfy this Thursday, June 19^th at 8 PM EST.  Do be careful not to step in any shtako.

We were left with many unanswered questions from last year’s season finale of “Defiance,” like: what happened to Irisa; what was Datak’s fate after killing Colonel Marsh; what happened to the citizens of Defiance after the Earth Republic had goose stepped their way into control? Tonight we find out, after you grab your cold fire weapon and follow me through the terraformed bad lands.

Occupied

Nine months have passed and the Earth Republic has total control of the town. The Provisional Mayor, Niles Pottinger (James Murray) is giving his weekly televised speech on how nice it is to live in the wonderful world of Oz where law and order reign and everybody is happy. Earth Republic has control of Rafe’s (Graham Greene) mines and although they pay their workers better than Rafe did, they’re kind of lax on the safety issues and one of the workers loses his arm and life.

Pottinger tries to get Amanda (Julie Benz), who is now in charge of the Need Want, to help him convince the people that he’s such a great guy. No Thanks! Amanda and Stahma (Jaime Murray) have some type of shady business deal going on. The envelope of money passing hands was my first guess. Amanda has high hopes that her sister Kenya will return to Defiance. Stahma knows that’s not likely.

Pottinger is second banana to the real boss, Viceroy Mercado (William Atherton). There is some kind of bad blood between the two and when the sons of the mine accident victim call the Earth Republicans no good Nazis, Pottinger is embarrassed big time. He has one of the alien Blue Men arrest the boys and take them to Camp Reverie. They never make it to the camp.

Family Business

Ah, yes, the family that bathes together, rules together or something like that, but Stahma has been bathing alone recently because Datak is at Camp Reverie for the murder of Colonel Marsh. What’s a lonely wife to do, except use something more sensual than bath salts. Unfortunately, her son Alak (Jesse Rath) walks in and finds mother enjoying her bath time a little too much. Season two is already looking a bit risqué. It’s going to be a great season.

Alak is a good boy, but he’s not ruthless enough to gain the respect of his father’s henchmen. They mock him when he gives an order; unfortunately it’s done while Stahma is there. Later, Stahma visits Camp Reverie, which is not a camp and there is definitely no contemplating going on. It is a prison camp and Datak Tarr (Tony Curran) wants out, but he also wants his wife to do her wifely duties. I love to see this man beg.

Nolan

In this episode, the game and show merge on locations and characters when our ex-lawmaker, Nolan (Grant Bowler) heads out to New Chicago and Los Angeles aka Angel Ark in search of his daughter. He gets a lead that she may be in Angel Ark and tracks down a member of the cult who placed the weapons inside Irisa when she was a child. The man’s no help and Nolan kills him. Nolan is ambushed by Varus Soleptor a Liberator Crime lord and one of the characters from the game. Luckily for Nolan, Irisa (Stephanie Leonidas) saves him. She’s alive! But, she’s changed. Somehow her leap into the void had straightened her hair? Something about radiation that made no sense.

Her story about being captured by the Earth Republic and escaping when the caravan was attacked by hell bugs doesn’t ring true. She’s hiding something, but Nolan saw her leap into the void while he was dead and he knows she’s not telling him everything. Nolan wants to head out to tropical Antarctica, but Irisa wants to go back to Defiance. I bet it has something to do with that ship deep in the mines.

Occupied Part 2

Hyatt and Joseph the young men who were being transferred to Camp Reverie were right about the Earth Republic acting like Nazis. The prison camp is a good example. There is a reason that Datak wants out. Living conditions are horrid and the food service sucks. Datak and the others must fight for the scraps that are thrown into the courtyard each day. Luckily for Datak Tarr, our mischievous Doctor Yewll (Trenna Keating) has a plan. They’re going to break out. How? That parts not clear, but the Horney Datak wants some loving, first. Yewll’s reply, “Do you want me to check for lumps?” the classic cold shower comeback. I love this show.

Conclusion

When Joseph returns to tell the townsfolk that Pottinger never meant for them to reach Camp Reverie alive, Amanda decides that the only way to control the sneaky Provisional Mayor is to become his Chief of Staff. What Amanda doesn’t know is that Pottinger has eyes everywhere and I mean everywhere.

Poor Alak is not given a chance to grow into the job of crime boss. Stahma was always the most powerful of the family. She played her cards right and waited for the right opportunity to present itself. Stahma is the new crime boss… at least until Datak escapes.

Irisa has changed and I’m not sure if it’s for the good.  Why did she chase after that woman and kill her. Why does she keep seeing the vision of a younger her and why did she have a vision that she kills Nolan? What are the weapons she carries inside her?

We will need to wait a bit longer for our answers, my little Votans. Meet me next week at the mines.

“The Sopranos” had Tony, but “Defiance” has Stahma and to tell the truth; she’s scarier. Like a black widow spider, Stahma casts her web and entangles all, even her son. There are plots within plots in tonight’s show and we meet a new character. Grab your towel and join me at the baths.

Homecoming

Sometimes going back home, sucks. Nolan tries his best to talk Irisa into heading to Antarctica and not Defiance, but she’s not budging except to hit the gas and go crashing into the arms of the newest character on the show. Jessica Berlin Rai (Anna Hopkins), a female E Rep officer and documentarian of propaganda films to portray the Earth Republic as good guys. She’s a stickler for rules and likes to throw her weight around, which is interesting because she’s an itty bitty thing with a big grudge.

Irisa is arrested and Tommy, who’s been playing the lawkeeper since Nolan and Irisa vanished, gets a chance to find out where and what Irisa’s been doing for the last year. She tells him about the weapon inside her. Why did Irisa feel more comfortable telling Tommy about the weapon and not Nolan? We know Tommy likes her, and she him, but Nolan is the one I would trust.

Nolan has no idea what’s been going down in Defiance since he’s been gone, but he’s finding out fast. Amanda is his first surprise. She not only runs the NeedWant and wear’s her sister’s sexy clothes, but she seems to have Pottinger’s (James Murray) ear. In order to get Irisa released, Nolan has to become the Lawkeeper again. His first day on the job, someone sets off a Shrill bomb made from lethal parasites.

Stahma

Poor little Christie (Nicole Munoz) must share bath time with Alak (Jesse Rath) and his mother. Talk about uncomfortable. This is not a friendly meeting and there are no rubber duckies. Stahma (Jaime Murray) is laying down the law of the land to her son, while flaunting her power and bodily parts to Christie. Stahma, you’re a wicked woman, and yet, we love you all the more. Christie suspects that Alak is too weak to stand up to mother dearest and she’s right. Alak is a good kid, but good kids make lousy mob bosses.

Stahma knows how to play rough and she does what needs to be done to keep her drug business going, but Pottinger is no comrade of hers and threatens to send Datak back home if she doesn’t stop selling Blue Devils. The look on Stahma’s face when she thought that Datak would be sent home, spoke volumes. This is when you realize that Stahma was always the brains in that family, the more cunning and the more deadly. She tells Pottinger “No Thanks.” But, our spider has made enemies.

Cell Mates Forever

Datak and Dr. Yewll are not happy campers, but I feel sorrier for the doctor. Yewll has to listen to Datak bitch and moan about not being the big Shtako in prison. While Datak makes plans to escape, Pottinger interrogates Dr. Yewll about Irisa. Pottinger enjoys his job a little too much and he’s not hesitant to sever one of Dr. Yewll’s fingers when she doesn’t tell him what he wants to know. Datak and one of the other prisoners plan on killing Pottinger as he leaves the prison, but there’s a hitch.

Berlin

I can’t get a feel for this new character. Berlin and Nolan are forced to work together in finding the person who set the explosion that killed three people. While checking the surveillance tapes, we learn why Berlin joined the E Reps and we start to see another side to her. Their investigation leads them to the mines and Rafe. Nolan and Berlin now have a name and when they track down Bradley and Skevur, they learn of a second bomb.

Conclusion

I always enjoy when a show has plots within plots and Defiance did not disappoint tonight. It’s not a good day for the men in the Tarr family. Datak sacrificed the other prisoner, killing the man to make it look like he saved Pottinger’s life. If he was hoping for a “get out of jail free” card, he was in for a shock. Pottinger, an evil man in his own right, guessed what went down. Datak won’t be going home.

Stahma has made a few enemies. Skevur wants her dead, but Nolan and Captain Sparky (Nolan’s nickname for Berlin) get to Stahma in time. Nolan defuses the bomb, impressing both Sparky and Stahma who gives him a welcome back kiss. Nolan is now the town’s hero. Stahma wants Skevur dead and she sends Alak to do the job. Will you please leave that boy alone!

Nolan, who is basking in his return as lawkeeper, decides to celebrate with Amanda. They get it on hot and heavy as if Kenya never existed. What they don’t know is that someone is watching. Pottinger has a sick hobby.

Irisa learns that Tommy likes Captain Berlin aka Sparky and Alak is forced to take a life. No one said the occupation was going to be fun.

I see a showdown coming between Stahma and Pottinger, but will it be held in the bath? Find out next week, my little Votans.

Everyone wants to be the boss, but when you’re occupied by the Earth Republic; they hold all the cards. While Datak and Dr. Yewll waste away in the E Rep’s prison, Stahma butts head with Pottinger. Nolan is the lawmaker again. He has a new sidekick, Berlin, and a new love interest, Amanda. Is anyone keeping an eye on our little walking time bomb, Irisa? Let’s find out, on this week’s episode of “Defiance,” my little Votans.

Oh Baby, Baby!

While Datak confides in Dr. Yewll that his loving wife, Stahma, might not be working as hard for his release as she should, the despicable Pottinger is using Yewll’s severed finger to get into the Dr. Yewll’s safe.

Alak has a new employee at his radio station. Her name is Treasure Doll and when she’s not doing tricks at the NeedWant, she’s playing DJ. Treasure Doll has the hot’s for Alak and wants to know if he’s as good as dear old dad. Alak turns her down and she lets him know that everyone thinks he killed Skevur. That’s not good. What if Pottinger finds out?

Rafe is preparing a family dinner for Christie’s husband and Stahma, but when the guests arrive; Stahma starts sniffing Christie. No my little Votans, Stahma wasn’t hinting that Christie smelled, she had guessed the girl’s secret. There is a new Tarr on the way. Heaven help the town of Defiance. Alak is going to be a daddy!

A Father’s Lament

Alak is overjoyed about being a new daddy, but he’s torn in three different directions: Rafe wants him to get out of the gangsta business; Stahma wants to run the business without Datak; Daddy dearest wants out of jail and he is not too happy with a lowly woman running the business. “But the profits are up,” counters Alak. I like Alak. In spite of his genetic heritage, Alak is basically a good kid, but if and when Datak is let out of jail, Alak may have to protect Stahma.

Nolan is a wonderful dad, but he has no idea what is going on with Irisa. He doesn’t understand the visions and Irisa isn’t talking. I don’t know who or what Irzu is but she is making Irisa do bad things. Irisa is forced to kill Rafe’s housekeeper, Bertie (Jessica Nichols). We don’t know why, it’s not explained, and that drives me crazy. Irisa drags Bertie’s body into the woods and buries it. Irisa has to act cool and play dumb about the missing Bertie, but Nolan has a feeling that she is somehow involved. Berlin (Anna Hopkins) and Irisa are going through the surveillance tapes, but before Irisa can be seen on the video, Irzu causes the screens to explode. Irisa leaves town.

Pottinger

This man likes to play both sides of the net. When he’s not spying on Amanda via the hidden camera, he’s cutting off fingers and breaking into safes. He has learned that it might be wise to give Dr. Yewll a ‘get out of jail’ card, but she needs an assistant. Now, I wonder who that can be.

Even though Pottinger stopped Stahma from selling the adreno to her customers, he freely shares the drug with Amanda, who is hooked. Even though Stahma and Amanda are not the best of friends, Pottinger’s actions and favoritism towards Amanda might make our two ladies, enemies. Does Pottinger really believe that Nolan will stay away from Amanda just because he says so?

Sukar

We don’t get to see enough of this interesting character, and that is a big shame. Sukar (Noah Danby) is living a hermit’s life ever since he came back from the dead. His people fear him, calling him “The devil woken” but it was the razor rain and the nanites that brought him back and helped him to heal. Irisa goes searching for Sukar, but after she finds him, she allows something to pass from her mouth and enters his. What the hell was that? Irisa is so distraught over Bertie’s death and what she just did to Sukar, that she takes a rifle and shoots herself. No really! She shoots herself, but Irzu has plans for Irisa.

Conclusion

Irzu (Katie Douglas) will not allow Irisa to die, but what are these visions that Irisa has while healing? Who were those two aliens on the ship and what do they have to do with Irisa? I don’t know what that creature was that came out of Irisa and went into Sukar, but it’s spreading. The good news is that Bertie is alive, but with no memory of what happened. I hope we get to see more of Sukar.

Nolan’s finding the bloody gloves among Irisa’s things has him and Rafe out searching for her. Nolan is still in the dark about the things happening to Irisa, but like a good dad, he stays with her until she falls asleep before heading out to help another female in dire need of saving.

While Stahma and Alak bathe, Datak comes home. The dirt encrusted Datak enters the pristine bathtub, while his family watch, stunned. Holy Shtako! I knew that Datak was a creep, but I never expected him to try and drown Stahma. Luckily for Stahma and us, Alak was able to stop him. A brutal husband is bad news, be he human or alien.

See you next week, my little Votans, and you better starting knitting those little booties. Have a great 4^th of July.

Holy freaking homecoming from hell! How many of my little Votans thought that our little Stahma was a goner on last week’s episode? Thank goodness Alak was there to save mommy dearest from crazy Datak. I’m guessing that things are going to be a bit uncomfortable with the Tarr family, but my money is on Stahma. Captain Berlin and Pottinger are doing another propaganda film while on a road trip, but I have a feeling their convoy will not reach its final destination. Let’s head over and check on the merry citizens of Defiance.

Men Behaving Badly

Unbeknownst to Pottinger (James Murray) and Captain Berlin, who are with a convoy that’s transporting mining equipment across the badlands, they are about to be held up by bandits wearing weird hockey masks. The bandits kill everyone except Pottinger and Berlin. The lead bandit, which we learn is Josef (Ryan Kennedy), has Pottinger strip to his whitey tighties. I’m guessing this was to show us that the E-Rep’s peeping tom works out. What I didn’t expect was for the Josef to urinate on Pottinger. Not a smart move by Josef on oh so many levels.

Datak (Tony Curran) is an evil man. I guess it’s his culture or maybe he’s just a creep, but after nearly killing his wife for forgetting her place, he then turns his attention to Alak for siding with his mother. Alak and Stahma have pointed out that business is up since Stahma took over, but Datak is a control freak and an abuser. To prove to his crew that he’s the boss, Datak kills one of his men in cold blood and then severely burns Alak’s hand. Datak is so full of himself that he doesn’t realize that our Stahma will not bend her knee in supplication for too much longer.

What’s with Tommy? While Captain Berlin tries to recover some of her video with the hope of learning the identity of the bandits, Tommy tells her that he can’t wait until Nolan and Irisa are gone. He doesn’t care for Irisa anymore. Really, Tommy, then why did you kiss Irisa? Tommy is so eager to win the approval of the E-Rep that he’s no longer likeable.

Josef in his haste to seek revenge has put Rafe in danger. Rafe is in a precarious situation, but Josef is his godson and family must be protected even when they do stupid things.

Women Acting Bravely

Can you imagine a world where men treat women like property? Yes, I know there are ignorant human men who think this way now, the dumb Shtakos, but I kind of expected an advanced race to be past this unevolved way of thinking. We see Stahma suffering through Datak’s threats and bad manners. What Datak doesn’t realize is that Stahma (Jaime Murray) is a better mob boss than he ever was. Stahma bribes two E-Rep soldiers to humiliate Datak publicly, but when Datak hurts her son, Stahma goes ‘Tony Soprano’ on him.

Amanda (Julie Benz) and Nolan (Grant Bowler) are enjoying an afternoon romp between the sheets, when Pottinger sends Nolan and Irisa to find the bandits. Poor Amanda, she was a good mayor and you would think that Pottinger would value her advice, but no, he insults her for forgetting her place.

Later, Amanda learns a secret about Pottinger and reveals one of her own. He was a young boy when he was brutalized by soldiers and Amanda was raped while working in New York. The rape led to a pregnancy that was ended. Did Amanda really expect Pottinger to bond over their sharing of hurtful times? Do pigs fly?

Conclusion and Consequences

Every action has a reaction and there are many in tonight’s show. Did Josef really thing he could kidnap Captain Berlin (Anna Hopkins) and get away with it or that he could convince her to betray the people she works for? Rafe (Graham Greene) and Nolan find Josef before he kills Berlin, but it’s Rafe who has to kill the boy and it breaks his heart. He’s lost so much, but he’s about to lose more.

Nolan and Irisa are doing their best to protect the people of Defiance, but Pottinger isn’t the only one they have to watch out for. I’ve lost my trust in Tommy and I think Nolan and Irisa have, too.

Datak is an obnoxious man who thinks he is above everyone else; he was dead wrong. The graceful Stahma proved to her errant husband that she was the true leader in this marriage, regardless of what was written in the holy book. Datak’s men showed their loyalty to Stahma by beating Datak into a bloody pulp and tossing him out like the trash he was.

No good deed goes unpunished. Pottinger likes to be in control, and like Datak, he’s a creep. Even though Rafe saved Captain Berlin, Pottinger evicted him from his home. Men behaving badly!

See you next week, my little Votans.

Defiance can be a pretty dangerous place especially if you’re a woman. Stahma has thrown out the obnoxious Datak with the trash, but will she pay dearly for this defiant stand? Dr. Yewll has to play nice with Pottinger while keeping her loyalty to her friends. Rafe is homeless. Maybe he and Datak can be roomies. Amanda is being spied on, which is not the employee benefits she was counting on when she went to work for Pottinger, and someone is stalking her… who? Meet me at the Need/Want to find out.

Amanda

Someone is following Amanda (Julie Benz). Is it a stalker, Pottinger, Nolan? We don’t know, but when the stalker breaks into her room she pushes him through the window. Strange thing though, when Nolan investigates the crime scene there is no evidence of an intruder, but he does find all of Amanda’s drug paraphernalia.

Amanda doesn’t think she has a drug problem. Yeah, right. Maybe it’s that man who attacked her when she lived in New York? Whatever is happening to the new owner of the busiest bordello in town has all her friends worried including our favorite peeping tom, Pottinger, who offers Rafe’s house as a hideout for Amanda. Nolan assigns Irisa and Deputy Tommy, who I’m starting to like less and less, to protect Amanda.

When Amanda hears someone in the house, Irisa and Tommy go to investigate. Unfortunately they gave Amanda a gun.

Rafe

When Rafe (Graham Greene) was thrown out of his house by Pottinger, I never expected him to go live with Christie at Stahma’s house. Never! But, there he was in his birthday suit preparing for a bath. I guess no one bothered to mention the bathing customs at the Tarr’s home, and Rafe is surprised when Stahma joins him.

Our little vixen is having a ball making Rafe blush three shades of red, but she does set his mind at ease on one thing; she’s the head of the crime family, not Alak. I love when Stahma shows her wicked side.

Rituals and All That jazz

While Dr. Yewll mends the bruised Datak, he reads passages from his Holy Book. Dr. Yewll, bless her heart, tells Datak to forget the book; he screwed up big time. Yes he did and what is he going to do about it?

I really wanted Stahma to beat the stuffing out of Datak with those sorry flowers that he brought her, but no! There is some kind of Castithan ritual where Datak gets visiting rights to the house if he mumbles something resembling an apology while cutting his hand with crystals. Stahma knows that Datak is full of Shtako when he claims to be sorry for trying to kill her and for maiming Alak, but she explains to the shocked Christie, that rituals must be followed.

Visions

After Amanda accidently shoots Irisa and Tommy, she disappears. Pottinger and Nolan are arguing over the fact that Pottinger is supplying the drugs to Amanda. When Pottinger sees an old friend, Connor (Gale Harold), he chases after him.

While Pottinger (James Murray) is speaking with his friend, Dr. Yewll (Trenna Keating) gets a visit from an old lover. Liv dropped by to say hello. She’s dying and she’s feeling quite guilty over the experiments that she and Yewll did on the humans. There is just one little problem. Liv is dead and so is Connor. So what the heck is going on with Amanda, Pottinger and Yewll?

Amanda is finally located, but she is having seizures. Nolan keeps his wits and realizes that Amanda has a damaged military implant in her. How did she acquire this? Since Dr. Yewll is too busy with her own hallucinations, Nolan and Irisa are forced to take the implant out. They have no idea what they’re doing. Luckily Yewll returns just in time.

Conclusion

Tonight was a night of surprises. First with Datak begging for forgiveness and Rafe rooming with the Tarrs, and then we had Amanda, Yewll and Pottinger experiencing strange hallucinations. Were you shocked to learn that Pottinger and Yewll were the blame? In order to spy on Amanda, Pottinger had Yewll implant a military device into Amanda’s neck. It was defected. The explanation that Yewll gave to explain how this device caused all three of them to have hallucinations, made absolutely no sense at all.

Guess what didn’t surprise me; Datak and Rafe joining forces. It makes perfect sense for Datak and Rafe to work together against the Earth Republic. Sure they’re enemies, but they hate Pottinger and the E-Reps more. Datak and Rafe are used to being in charge and their latest situation is not only degrading, but it’s keeping them from making money. I can’t wait to see what these two men cook up.

See you next week, my little Votans.

Amanda’s hooked on drugs and Stahma rules the roost, but not everyone is happy with her liberated way of thinking. Our Castithan Vixen might have bigger problems than Datak and Rafe joining forces. Nolan and Pottinger are investigating an alien ship that has crashed in the badlands. What do they find? Strap on your cold fire weapon and follow me to Defiance.

Favi Kurr

Stahma has a little problem. There is a holy man in town and he isn’t happy about a mere woman forgetting her place. He wants Stahma tortured for shaming her husband. Some stupidity never goes away and the women in future times still suffer the small mindedness of little men.

Stahma suspects Datak behind the ravings of the holy man, but Datak denies it. I watched Favi’s wife while he was going postal on Stahma, and I’m not sure that she’s ready to send her ‘holier than thou’ husband packing. Stahma seeks advice from Amanda and they talk about culture, men and dicks. It’s time to burn your bra! Will Stahma take Amanda’s advice and start her own women’s equality movement?

Gulanee

Viceroy Mercado (William Atherton) sends Pottinger on a mission to secure the ark and the secret cargo. While Pottinger is off on a scavenger hunt, Mercado reveals his kinky side by asking Amanda for a place to shed his skin. I have no idea what the hell he’s talking about, but it sounds kinky.

If have to say this about Pottinger (James Murray), he knows when to step down and let a better man lead the search. Nolan knows what he’s doing and he knows who not to trust and right now… he doesn’t trust Tommy. There’s an argument and Tommy (Dewshane Williams) quits. No problem. Berlin was looking for any reason to get Tommy as far away from Irisa as possible. She’s looking for a love nest in Texas.

While Nolan splits up the Pottinger’s soldiers into teams of five, we learn that Pottinger has a close relationship with Churchill (Rob Archer), the bio man aka body guard. This relationship is as close to a friendship as Pottinger is emotionally able to give to anyone and the bio man is just as protective of his human friend. Nolan was surprised to learn the real interest in the fallen ark. It holds containers of Gulanee aliens. These are energy creatures that must wear special containment suits to move about and survive Earth’s atmosphere. They are very rare. One escapes and it doesn’t know the war with humans is over. Can Nolan save the day?

Irisa’s Secret

Looking like the vampire from The Strain, Irisa is discovered by Tommy while she is sticking a disgusting appendage down an unfortunate Castithan’s throat. “He won’t die,” Irisa claims, but Tommy’s not so positive. Want to know what else he’s not so sure about? I think he still has feelings for Irisa. Where does that leave Berlin?

Conclusion

This episode had a few shockers and some were real eye openers. Stahma’s failure to start her own bra burning liberation party forces her to go against the ‘Sisters’ with the help of a poison drink. I love Stahma. Only Stahma is capable of killing off a room full of women and laying the blame at the holy man’s feet. While Favi Kurr is stretched like a bungee cord as punishment for the murders, Stahma sends a message to Datak and all Castithan males by dropping the heaviest rock into the basket. “I’ve come a long way, baby!” Yes you did, Stahma.

Pottinger and Nolan are able to destroy the Gulanee with the use of a car battery and a kick ass beating with a pipe. Pottinger was really upset over the loss of his friend, Churchill. I was surprised that Pottinger was able to share his loss with Nolan. Mercado isn’t happy about the death of the Gulanee and tells Pottinger that he’s shipping him out to Dakota. Berlin and Nolan get it on after Tommy choses Irisa.

Treasure Doll teaches Christie’s how to become more Castithan. I’m guessing you want to know about Viceroy Mercado, right? He’s into cosplay and right now he’s dressed as a Castithan male making the rounds at the local club. There is a cutie pie at the table and he buys her a drink… wait a minute… is that Christie?

Like I said, my little Votans, this episode was a real eye opener and something to tweet about until next week. Oh, and by the way, you might want to steer clear of Irisa.

In last week’s episode of “Defiance,” we briefly got to meet the mysterious Gulanee. Too bad, we didn’t learn more about them. Dealing swiftly with the Castithan version of the Stepford Wives, the lovely Stahma showed us why she rocks. Pottinger and Nolan become BFF’s and thanks to Tommy, Berlin and Nolan get it on. There is trouble in paradise with Defiance’s own Romeo and Juliet. Christie and Alak are fighting. Is it because of her new  adventures with Mercado? And… who pray tell is that dead woman that Rafe and Datak are dragging into the badlands? Put on your new skin and follow me.

Jalina

It must be a nightmare living in a culture where women can be bought and sold like property. The Castithan males are just as small minded and backward in this asinine practice as certain cultures living here on Earth. We don’t know much about the young Jalina (Kelly McCormack) except that she was purchased when only seven years old. She may have begun her servitude as Alak’s playmate, but she moved up the ladder to becoming Datak’s plaything.

When her body is discovered the next morning, sans eyes, Datak calls for help first from Dr. Yewll and then Rafe. Afraid that he might be blamed for the death, Datak and Rafe carry Jalina’s body into the badlands and leave it for the hellbugs to eat. Will no one shed a tear for this poor unfortunate Castithan female? Stahma may be the Votan version of Lucrezia Borgia, but she cared for the young handmaiden and goes searching for her. She convinces Nolan to search for Jalina. When Datak later confesses that Jalina died while she was with him, Stahma keeps her cool.

Visions

I am at a loss as to why Irisa has to cut herself to have a vision. What do the visions mean and what the hell is that appendage that shoots out of her mouth? Her victims don’t die, but we know damn well that they are infected. Her latest vision has her doing a sketch of a male Irathient. Who is he? Her friend Rynn (Kaniehtiio Horn) knows the man in the sketch. When Irisa is introduced to the mysterious stranger, she frightens him with her wild claims that he’s from the Ark. He thinks she’s nuts and runs away.

That kiss that Irisa planted on Cai has caused them to have a shared vision. This vision is of the past and shows both of them on one of the Ark ships headed to Earth. Why did they sabotage the ship? I don’t know. It’s never explained. Later, while pursuing the person who killed Jalina, Irisa is injured and Nolan sees firsthand how she is able to heal herself.

Betrayal

What the hell is Christie doing? This is supposed to be Rafe’s sensible daughter and yet we have her taking advice from someone named Treasure Doll. Sure, she wants to learn more about her husband’s customs in order to grow closer to him, but to dress as a Castithan and flirt with Mercado, a member of the Earth Republic, is out and out nuts.

Our little snake in the grass, Treasure Doll AKA Deidre (Kristina Pesic), is out to get Alak all for her own and all she had to do is spread lies about Christie. When Alak finds Christie at the club with Mercado (William Atherton), she refuses to leave with him. Stupid girl, she pushed Alak right into the bed with Deidre.

Mercado’s explanation of why he pretends to be Votan was honest and refreshing. He might hate the aliens, but there are things about them that he still admires. When he asks Christie for her real name, her reply was unexpected.

Eye for an Eye

Rynn is kidnapped and Irisa and Nolan go searching for her. Dr. Yewll has a clue and it has to do with Votan Cross Dressers and unwilling organ donors; she tells Datak and Rafe. I love how Dr. Yewll (Trenna Keating) cuts Datak down to size. I think she’s the only female on that show that can get away with it, and I don’t think Datak quite knows how to handle Yewll.

Conclusion

Christie wants to be like Stahma and that is the name she gives to Mercado. Hey, there is nothing wrong with being Stahma, but Alak wants the girl he fell in love with. Speaking of Stahma, when Datak asks his former gang for help in searching for Jalina’s killer, they defer to Stahma. Datak’s expression was priceless. He has been overthrown. His men are no longer loyal to him and they all seem quite happy working for Stahma. Datak does, however, still have the knack for dealing out revenge and he finds the person responsible for Jalina’s death.

While Mercado sings a ballad to Christie, Alak and Deidre get down and dirty. Nolan, good father that he is, must deal with Irisa’s new power and Amanda proves to Mercado that she has more moral character than he and Pottinger put together.

The women of Defiance have taken control over their own lives, and it’s about time, but at what price? See you next week, my little Votans.

In episode six of “Defiance” we had an arkfall and a Gulanee on a rampage, but it was no accident. You can thank the players of the Defiance videogame for that mess. What happens in the game can cross over to the show and vice versa. In episode seven, we dealt with alien cosplay, eye donors and Mercado serenading Christie while Alak bedded Treasure Doll, but that’s nothing compared to what happens tonight. Get your search warrant ready, and meet me at the Need Want.

Shrills

While Nolan and Irisa argue over her recent weirdness and healing powers; she claims Irzu made her immortal; Nolan thinks it’s a case of alien micro robotic nanites. Nolan, who is now working for the Earth Republic, gets a call from Mercado. There is a terrorist threat to New York; a dirty nuke is set to go off and they have to find the people responsible. Does anyone else find it strange how accommodating Nolan has become for the E-Rep?

Search warrant in hand, Nolan and several soldiers enter the NeedWant and arrest one of Amanda’s employees and right when he was about to get it on with another employee. They suspect Mahsuvus of being a spy for the Collective. Is he? More importantly why is Nolan the one administering the Shrills into Mahsuvus’s body? These nasty bugs eat their way through flesh. When the Shrills fail to work, Mercado orders an E.G.O. extraction which stands for “You’re screwed”! Mercado (William Atherton) is so much nicer as Lerutak.

Kenya

Yes, my little Votans, Kenya (Mia Kirshner) is alive. I’m guessing she didn’t drink all the poison Stahma gave her; however, she is still in deep doo-doo. Someone is holding her for ransom and if Amanda doesn’t help Mahsuvus escape, Kenya will die… maybe. Her captor is wearing a mask and he sounds like Bane from The Dark Knight Rises. Amanda can’t get Nolan to free Mahsuvus, so she takes matters into her own hands by stealing some drugs from Doc Yewll. Kenya tries to escape.

Irzu’s Party

Irisa the Immortal (that’s what I’m calling her) can’t be killed, so she volunteers to track down the bad guys and free Kenya, but she detoured by Kaziri who was infected by Irisa in the beginning of season two. Sukar, who I’m happy to say is still alive, shows up like nothing has happened and he’s brought some stragglers with him. Are they infected, too? The title of tonight’s episode definitely has to do with Irzu. We have no idea what is happening with Irisa, but the 1919 William Butler Yeats poem, “The Second Coming,” speaks of the apocalypse: “And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, slouches towards Bethlehem to be born.” I think the people of Defiance are in big trouble.

Stahma

It’s not a good show unless the marvelous Jaime Murray makes her appearance as the Castithan version of mobsters gone wild. She’s like a cobra and slithers through an interrogation with ease. Tommy may have recently been promoted, but Stahma, who is tired from all this talk of bombs and terrorists, zings Tommy with the revelation that Berlin and Nolan are lovers. Bummer!

Stahma, ever the loving wife, visits Datak. She suspects that he and Rafe are in cahoots with the collective. She’s brought him a gift; a big gun that is hidden in a basket of flowers. Datak returns the favor with his own big gun and the meeting turns sexual, but not everyone is okey dokey with this little afternoon delight. Stahma’s henchmen are a bit worried about Datak regaining control. Aren’t we all?

Conclusion

Irisa, Sukar and their merry mob of infected aliens leave us with many questions and we have no idea if Irzu is out to destroy the Earth. Right now, Nolan seems fine with Irisa’s ability to heal from all wounds, but the time will come when he will have to save Irisa from her demons or kill her to save the planet.

Amanda rescues Mahsuvus before his brains get sucked out, only to see him die before she can trade him for Kenya. You can thank Datak and his big gun for saving the day. Luckily Nolan learns the location of the bomb before Mahsuvus dies… now all they have to do is rescue Kenya. Speaking of rescue, did the bad guys give up Kenya too quickly? The whole scene seemed rushed and the bad guys get away. We never learn who they are or why they wanted to destroy New York. Kenya is okay but does she remember what happened to her. I can’t wait to see how Stahma and Datak handle the return of Kenya. Some secrets don’t stay buried. See you next week, my little Votans, but keep away from Datak. He has a big gun.

Last week’s episode of “Defiance” had us rejoicing Kenya’s return, but alas, it was short lived and we found out that Pottinger and Dr. Yewll were in the business of making clones. Tonight we are treated to a double header, so let’s get to it.

Teenage Angst

Every parent knows that life is hell when dealing with an angry teenager, but when that teenager is an alien and she’s under the control of an irritating alien goddess, then a parent has to take drastic steps. When Nolan finds Irisa robbing an E-Rep facility of its terrasphere, he handcuffs her.

Nolan wants to know why Irisa needed the terrasphere. Her claim that the alien hardware will cure Sukar does not impress Nolan. I don’t know about you, but this Irzu entity is starting to be a royal pain in the derriere.

Ambassador Tennety

Olfin Tennety (Jane McClean) is back with two new husbands and she’s now an Earth Republic Ambassador. She’s in town to check the mines, but she has a vendetta against Amanda. It gets so nasty between the two ladies that Pottinger has to step in.

Nolan, Berlin, Amanda, Irisa, Pottinger and the Ambassador are surveying the mine when an explosion occurs trapping Amanda and Pottinger; Tennety is dead. Nolan and Berlin with the help of Rafe and his crew work their way through the rock to save Amanda and Pottinger. While Amanda and Pottinger bond big time and seal it with a kiss, Berlin and Nolan break up. Berlin’s no dummy. She knows. A woman always knows.

Nolan finds a Votan trembler. The mine accident was sabotage and the trail ends at the McCawley door. Did Rafe do this? He confesses, but only to protect Quintin. Rafe is arrested and Quintin waits for a special delivery.

Treasure Doll

Deidre Lamb (Kristina Pesic) aka Treasure Doll aka home wreaker wants Alak all to herself, but he’s in love with his wife, Christie. This doesn’t set well with Deidre who threatens Alak while in his home. She wants money to keep quiet, but this blackmail is witnessed by Stahma. When Stahma goes to Datak for help in dealing with Treasure Doll, there’s a price. Datak wants to come home. That is one deal Stahma refuses to accept.

Alak is not like his father in many ways. He truly loves his wife and is willing to put aside the old Castithan male tradition of girlfriends on the side. He may have temporarily stepped off that straight and narrow road with Deidre, but with a baby on the way; he won’t be doing it again.

Irisa

Escaping in a truck while Nolan is busy with the rescue party, Irisa heads back to her alien friends, but not before tricking Tommy into bringing her the terrasphere. What is going on with this girl? What does she want with the terrasphere?

Conclusion

Pottinger was full of surprises tonight. He may be a manipulative peeping tom, but he does love Amanda. Not only did they kiss, but he was willing to die for her. I did not see that coming. Luckily for him, Nolan and Berlin arrive in the nick of time. I don’t think Berlin should have given up so easily on Nolan.

Quentin McCawley (Justin Rain) has betrayed his father. He killed the Ambassador for the Votanis Collective to save his mother. Unfortunately for us fans, Linda Hamilton only had a small role in tonight’s episode, but she had time to set Quentin straight, “Rafe is a good man.”

Irisa betrays Tommy after he brings her the sphere and goes as far as to infect him with the metallic tapeworm from hell. She uses the sphere to release the energy from the buried ark. I don’t think we can trust Irisa anymore.

Defiance S02 E11: Doll Parts

Deidre (Kristina Pesic) is deader than a doorknob. Thrown from the St. Lewis Archway to her death, the list of suspects is long and Amanda is made deputy. The evidence points to the Tarr family, but which one did it?  Get out your forensic kit and follow me.

The Deputy

I think Amanda makes a better deputy than she did a mayor or a Madame of the NeedWant. Nothing goes unnoticed as she and Berlin investigate the scene of the crime. It seems that Deidre was preparing a meal for two when she was killed, and since it was no secret that Datak was one of Deidre’s lovers, Amanda questions him.

Amanda is taking this case a little personal because she was friends with Deidre, and in fact, gave the girl some advice on holding on to her man. This is the first time that we hear Amanda admit that she should have held on to Nolan.

Stahma suspects Datak of killing Deidre and vice versa, but they’re both afraid that Alak will be blamed for the death when an incriminating tape of Alak and Deidre having sex is found. Deputy Amanda arrests Alak after finding the tape and Stahma does her own investigation after one of her servant finds the missing murder weapon, the microphone, under Alak’s bed.

Tommy

Tommy isn’t himself lately. He’s been infected by Irisa. When Nolan arrives at Irisa’s campsite to bring her back home, Tommy attacks him. It is during this fight that Nolan realizes that Tommy has been changed and can heal from his injuries. Why is Tommy so mad at Nolan? The explanation given for this enmity at the beginning of the season never made sense.

The fight causes Tommy to cough up the metallic entity inside him, but he’s still able to remember images about the Kaziri (the buried ark) and Irzu. Irisa under the control of Irzu plans on destroying the world. It seems the alien goddess is pissed off because the humans destroyed their planet…she does have a point. Tommy decides to help Nolan get Irisa away from Sukar.

Food Walk

If you want your constituents to love you, then you need to feed them and tend to their wounds. A good leader knows this and Stahma is a very smart woman. On one of her trips she visits a Castithan man who is near death and worried about his young daughter being all alone. It is at this exact moment that we see firsthand why Stahma is the better Tarr. Her son has been framed and she needs a scapegoat… I mean, a volunteer.

Evidence

While Berlin and Amanda search Deidre’s room, Berlin comes across one of Deidre’s sex toys. She doesn’t know what it is. Amanda tells her to wash her hands. I love this show! Alak is stuck in jail and if that wasn’t bad enough, his wife is now aware of his cheating ways. If Amanda thought she and Berlin had easily solved the murder of Treasure Doll, they are in for a shock.

Conclusion

Like I said in the beginning of episode 10, every parent knows that life is hell when dealing with an angry teenager. Nothing we do is ever right. Irisa is angry and she’s possessed by Irzu. Before Nolan and Tommy can get her back to Defiance, she breaks free and stabs Tommy. She has said some very hurtful things to Nolan and rejected everything he’s ever done for her, but when Irzu orders her to kill Nolan, Irisa refuses.

Will Irisa break free from Irzu’s control before Nolan is forced to kill her to save humanity from the Votan Rapture? Whatever caused the animosity between Nolan and Tommy is soon forgotten as Nolan fights to save Tommy’s life.

We suspected one of the Tarrs of killing Treasure Doll, but it wasn’t Datak, Stahma or Alak who did the deed. The Castithan father, with the missing microphone in hand, confesses to the murder in order to secure his child’s welfare after his death. Alak is released from prison, but when he returns home Christie explains why she killed Deidre.

Using the lure of a pleasant meal between friends, Deidre tried to poison Christie and cause a miscarriage.  Christie reacted like a mother bear protecting her cub. With Deidre out of the way, Christie framed Alak by putting the microphone under his bed. Never, ever piss off a pregnant woman!

Next week will be a two-part season finale and I can’t wait to see what happens with Irisa. See you next week, my little Votans.

This past Sunday saw the airing of the new Showcase/SyFy series, Defiance. The press release for the show sums up the concept nicely:

Starring Grant Bowler and Julie Benz, Defiance introduces an exotically changed planet Earth, its landscapes permanently altered following the sudden – and tumultuous – arrival of seven unique alien races. In this somewhat unknown and unpredictable landscape, the richly diverse, newly-formed civilization of humans and aliens must learn to co-exist peacefully. Combining the scope of a fantasy blockbuster with the intimacy of a small-town drama, it’s the story of courage and survival in a frontier town where factions of humans and aliens must stand together against outside forces that threaten their existence. The innovative transmedia event, Defiance, is the first-ever convergence of television and online gaming, featuring an interconnected world between the two mediums as they evolve together into one overall story.

Transmedia? What does that mean? Well, luckily, we had a chance to talk via email with gaming company Trion’s Vice President of Development, Nathan Richardsson, who also happens to be the Executive Producer behind the multi-platform massive online third-person shooter, Defiance. It all ties together so nicely, doesn’t it?. Check out the live action trailer for the game below and then hit the jump and read our interview.

Andy Burns: Thanks for talking to Biff Bam Pop, Nathan! So, the idea of combining a television show and a video game that work off one another concurrently is extremely cool – can you give us some insight into how Defiance came together?

Nathan Richardsson: Five years ago, Syfy was looking at how to do something new in entertainment and eventually teamed up with Trion with the goal of creating a transmedia experience. After going through a lot of the existing worlds already created it became apparent that an entirely now concept had to be created. This was both to avoid any restraints that games and shows get when using licensed properties but also a world which could tell great stories in both show and game.

Andy Burns: Your role with Defiance the video game is developer and executive producer – for those unaware of what those responsibilities entail in the gaming world, could you give some insight?

Nathan Richardsson: I’m responsible for the game and the great team that develops it. This is more leadership (pointing in a direction, cheerleading) than it is direct management for example. It’s a large team, about 150 people, so my day involves anything from product strategy and long-term goals to firefighting when that’s required. It’s mainly empowering people and supporting them to achieve our goals, sometimes just staying out of the way :)

Andy Burns: Could you give an example or two of how the narrative of Defiance the television show can inform Defiance the video game and vice versa? 

Nathan Richardsson: You don’t have to play the game to watch the show and vice versa, it’s all contextually explained in each medium. However, if you do both, you’ll get more background and a deeper understanding of what’s happening within the game or show. Crossover events can start with a series of missions in the game and when the next episode airs, that narrative continues in the show.

Andy Burns: The concept is so unique, but I would imagine it would be more intense and time-consuming ensuring that the game lines up with show concepts and narratives – is that the case at all, or am I over thinking it?

Nathan Richardsson: Yes and no. You can think of Defiance as a larger story, the story of the universe. Then we intentionally locate the show in St. Louis, the rebirth of civilization and the game in San Francisco, the new frontier or wild west. This gave us the freedom to tell our stories without being too dependent on each other and instead spent that effort making sure that core pillars, characters etc. are in synch between the teams. We want that freedom, otherwise the show and game would end up being restrained just like most licensed game or shows have to deal with.

Andy Burns: I know that series star Grant Bowler’s character Nolan appears in the game as well – how will Nolan play into the game?

Nathan Richardsson: Nolan is in game right now and with the nature of the crossover events, you will literally see characters cross between game and show. Nolan isn’t the only one that does that, there are more examples.

Andy Burns: With both the game available  and the series now airing on Showcase, what are your feelings about what’s to come? Excitement? Nervous? A combo of the two?

Nathan Richardsson: Haha, both, absolutely and quite a few more emotions added to that mix. In the end we’re ecstatic to finally be here and are all very excited but the nervousness comes with the complexity and moving parts at play. It’s all fun and games though :)

Thanks to Nathan Richardsson for talking to Biff Bam Pop, and to Showcase for making it happen. You can find out more about Defiance the game  and series here. Defiance airs Monday nights at 10 on Showcase.