Defiance - Pilot Episode

Wow! There are few movies with such a complex alien storyline on big screen, so to cut it up into one hour chunks for TV is probably the only option. The sheer number of alien species in Defiance harkens back to any one of the Star Trek series, or Star Wars for that matter! But this is much more edgier the any of those shows. One of the reasons for that is probably Rockne S. O'Bannon. He is one of the Executive Producers and writers of this new series. So it is no surprise to me that the pilot episode was done so beautifully. The complexity of species and their relations to each other and one another flowed so well.

Defiance is set on a future planet Earth, but not the earth we know today. This Earth is the result of war

after the arrival 34 years ago of no less then Seven alien races at once, known collectively as the Votans. A truce was eventually made between Earthlings and Votans after decades of war and forced terraforming of our planet. Now they attempt to peacefully co-exist on the drastically altered Earth.

There are a few shows that have taken on similar scenarios of humans and aliens co-existing, and done so with success. Babylon5, V, Alien Nation, Far Scape, and Falling Skies (well ok Falling Skies is still fighting the aliens, not co-existing) to name the few I know of. Rockne O'Bannon is also linked to a few of those named above. My guess is he will be the main reason for the success of this new series as well.

Main characters are Jeb Nolan, the suddenly thrust to position Chief Lawkeeper, and Irisa, Jeb's daughter who is full blooded Irathient. The only clue we get of how these two came to be together and so loyal to one another is when Irisa tells the Deputy that Jeb did for her what she couldn't do for herself, Kill her parents (long pause for effect). I'll be interested to find out more of the background of these two as we watch them fight and protect their new home Defiance and each other. It is important to note here that Defiance was formerly St. Louis, Mo and Jeb's original home town pre-invasion. The opening and closing shots both show Jeb standing in the same place with the St. Louis Arch behind him. One as a ten year old boy the day the Votans arrived and the other of Jeb 34 years later, newly installed Chief Lawkeeper. It's a nice cinematic effect to show how destiny will or did play out.

Some interesting story lines put in play in the pilot include the "Romeo and Juliette", the "Love
Triangle",  the "Ambition/Rivalry", and the "Subterfuge" that began the undoing of the town of Defiance that no one, good or bad, realizes is happening under their very noses. I'm assuming this is what will be the main story line that carries the show and it's characters along, eventually interfering with and possibly even derailing some of their own story lines.










Looks like the writers of Defiance are off to a great beginning. This is sure to be a complex and exciting ride for those of us who get excited by the special effects, creature creations and inter-species relations. I sure plan on enjoying it.