Defiance
returns for season two on June 19th at 8/7c on SyFy. Having really
enjoyed the first season, I’ve been really looking forward to the second
season. The first episode, “The Opposite of Hallelujah,” was written by series
showrunner Kevin Murphy and was directed by Michael Nankin. Murphy and Nankin
also collaborated on the season one finale, “Everything is Broken.” If you need
a refresher before watching the premiere, my review of the finale can be found
here.
Nine months
have passed since the events of the finale. Many things have changed, so the
first episode shows us how the lives of the main characters have shifted. If
you want to know more about what happened during those nine months, SyFy
released five minisodes in March that follow Nolon’s (Grant Bowler) search for
Irisa (Stephanie Leonidas). The minisodes – and the script for the first
episode if you want to be really spoiled! – are available on SyFy’s website for
the show. The minisodes are also available on Showcase in Canada. Showcase is
also replaying the entire first season on Wednesday, June 18, before the season
two premiere.
The first
episode did not disappoint. Our characters have definitely changed and grown
during the intervening months. We are also introduced to the characters who are
clearly going to be the new bad guys this season. The world of Defiance grows
both within the town itself by the introduction of an E-Republic presence and
outside of the town as we visit two other cities. The seeds are definitely sown
for some great new mysteries and conflicts between characters.
Many of the
characters have new jobs or roles, including Amanda (Julie Benz), Stahma (Jaime
Murray), Alak (Jesse Rath), Rafe (Graham Greene), and Tommy (Dewshane
Williams). Christie (Nicole Munoz) seems to have settled into her new role as
wife, while Stahma and Alak’s relationship is changing. Datak (Tony Curran) and
Doc Yewell (Trenna Keating) strike up a somewhat surprising alliance. William
Atherton joins the cast as Viceroy Berto Mercado, and James Murray joins the
cast as the new mayor – who is very interested in Amanda. The new mayor’s
assistant (BioMan/Churchill) is played by Rob Archer.
If you were
somewhat disappointed in Julie Benz’s wardrobe in season one, I suspect a lot
of people will be pretty happy to see that she has a completely new look! One
of my favorite moments in the episode is Alak telling Stahma that her bathing
alone is weird! I’ve missed the Tarrs. One of the biggest reveals in the first
episode has to do with Irisa and looks to be one of the central mysteries of
this season. This first episode doesn’t disappoint, and it was terrific to get
back into this world! The imagining of the other cities is particularly
impressive.
You won’t
want to miss the premiere of season two – if you don’t have time to watch the
minisodes, it won’t affect your ability to understand what’s going on, but you
might want to refresh your memory on the season one finale. This is the one big
drawback, for me, on shorter seasons and very long hiatuses. Season two of Defiance starts
Thursday, June 19, 8/7C on SyFy and on Showcase on June 19th at 10pm ET/PT.
