The election is heating up, and Datak and Amanda have fought a hard election! Who will be the victor in this battle? What is the Earth Republic searching for? What exactly is going on with Irisa? There is a lot of questions answered in the season finale of Defiance, let’s see what we find out with this week’s episode recap of Defiance!
Don’t need a Defiance episode recap? Click here to jump directly to Violet’s thoughts on the episode!
To see Josh’s thoughts on episode 12 of Defiance, click here to get directly there!
Episode Recap of Defiance, Episode 12
Family Woes All Around
The season finale of Defiance begins with Nolan and Tommy searching for Irisa. Nolan finds that Irisa was dragged. Meanwhile, Tommy seems broken up that Nolan and Irisa may leave town.
Meanwhile, Datak is working on his election with his wife, and he seems on edge. Stahma tries to calm him, so they take some private time.
Later, at the polls, Stahma puts in her vote with Datak at her side. Kenya Rosewater makes a comment towards Datak about keeping an eye on her, and Datak has a concerned look on his face for a moment–as does Stahma. Does he know? He does and lets Stahma know he does. Inside the voting booth Stahma has a panic attack, realizing her life may be in danger now.
Out in the Irathients’ camp, Irisa is praying for Sukar, who appears to be dead. Irisa claims that Sukar squeezes her hand during the prayer, but it is dismissed as involuntary spasms.
Nolan and Tommy show up, and talks with Irisa. Irisa explains her dream drew her out here. Nolan explains that the artifacts are inside her and that she is being hunted. Irisa freaks out because of the destruction she could cause, but Nolan attempts to calm her down.
There is a New Mayor in Town
The E-Rep pays a visit to Doc Yewell, and they begin interrogating about the artifact found inside Irisa. Yewell begins explaining the artifacts, to avoid death/torture.
Stahma and Kenya are chatting in Kenya’s abode. Stahma tells her that she is fleeing to avoid death and warns Kenya to do the same. Kenya doesn’t seem to trust her. Stahma tells her where she will be when she will make her escape.
Nolan in the meantime explains his plan to flee Defiance when the E-Rep shows up with Yewell being held hostage. The E-Reps subdue the Irathient camp and demand to know where Irisa is. Tommy walks into the camp demanding to know what is going on, and he is taken hostage by the E-Rep. Black Jonah begins executing Irathients, and Irisa gives herself up to save Tommy. Nolan joins her. Black Jonah takes Irisa and tells the E-Rep soldiers to “clean up” the camp. Nolan jumps into action, and takes down the E-Rep solider that stayed behind.
Back in Defiance, the votes are being counted, and the votes are all in. The new mayor is Datak. Datak is overjoyed while Amanda and her campaign is heartbroken as expected. Kenya apologizes for her loss, and seems a little emotional.
A Whole Lotta Kill Going On
Stahma is at the rendezvous point, and Kenya shows up. Stahma kindly gives her something to drink, but Kenya seems to suspect that it could be poison. Kenya pulls a gun on her, demanding that she takes a drink. Stahma then admits that it was poison. Stahma asks her about their relationship–if it was real or if she was just a client. Kenya then goes unconscious, and Stahma tells her that the poison was on the flask–and as soon as she touched it, the poison took effect. Kenya then dies in the forest.
Yewell is forced to figure out a way to get the keys out of Irisa, as they have been absorbed into her body fully. This sounds like it will be a painful process. At the mines, the E-Rep begins searching for the weapons inside. Irisa is being tied down, and Yewell whispers to Irisa to “Do what she did before” when Yewell was dissecting her. Yewell begins the torture on Irisa, as Nolan, Tommy and Rynn show up. Rafe is chained up outside, and Nolan frees him. Rafe tells Nolan about the seizing of the mine. The “keys” begin coming from Irisa’s body again, and the E-Rep scientists are incapacitated. Rafe is hit, but only in the arm. Irisa and Nolan search for a roller so they can make their getaway. Black Jonah appears and wounds Nolan, but Nolan manages to kill Jonah. Nolan seems to fade and Irisa demands he wakes up. Unfortunately–he doesn’t.
Meanwhile, Colonel Marsh pays a visit to the new mayor, Datak, who is not eager to see Marsh. Datak demands to know what is in the mine, and Marsh seems unamused. Stahma returns to Datak, who is now alone. Stahma tells him that she has done what he requested. Datak seems somber, and we see that Datak has murdered the Colonel.
Irisa’s Sacrifice
Back at the E-Rep camp, we see Irisa running, and she finds Sukar–so this must be a vision of some sort. Sukar tells Irisa to go into the mine and face whatever is down there. She begins her descent into the mines, and talks with “Irzu”. Irisa tells her that she isn’t real. Irzu tells Irisa that she can bring him back, but Irisa will have to become her “weapon”. Irisa is then put into a cave with hieroglyphics on the wall, and the “keys” begin coming from her body again. The keys take physical form in her hands, and she proceeds through a doorway, and drops the keys into a cavern. She then dives into the cavern herself, and a spinning ball engulfs her. At the same time, Nolan revives and begins looking for Irisa.
Nolan stumbles about searching for Irisa, but is unable to. He does find that The E-Rep has come full force to take over Defiance.
Josh’s Thoughts: Defiance, Season 1 Episode 12: Everything is Broken
This was a pretty good finale for Defiance. I would say the worst part of the episode was probably the visuals. At times you could simply tell that Nolan was on a set and not out in the landscape as he should be for the show. Some of the CGI was a little off as well, but for a Syfy TV show this is to be expected.
One thing I have to say though–Castithan women are heartless and conniving. Stahma is only out for herself, and she is really good and making it seem like she is not. The way she handled Kenya was so underhanded and dirty that I really hope in season two Stahma gets what is coming to her. I think that while Datak is pretty bad, Stahma is the one pulling the strings, making Datak do things he may not otherwise think of or do.
I am hoping we learn more about Irzu and what that actually is. Is Irzu actually a god? Does this mean God in the Christian sense doesn’t exist in Defiance? Or can multiple deities exist at the same time? It does bring up a bit of a religious debate.
It looks like Defiance will be dealing with a bigger problem regarding the Earth Republic now. With Datak murdering Colonel Marsh, I have a feeling we will be seeing a new mayor next season.
As for the season as a whole, I have to say the season was pretty good. I think there is some great acting going on for the show. I really enjoy watching many of the characters–Nolan, Tommy, Irisa, Amanda, Rafe, and Stahma to name a few. I do have some problems with some story elements, so I can’t say that the show is stellar, however. It will be something that I continue with next season with though. I have always liked movies and shows that have a occupied force to which the town/city tries to break free from. Hopefully season 2 of Defiance will be a whole lot better!
Violet’s Thoughts on Season 1 Episode 12 of Defiance: Everything is Broken
I guess I thought the season finale of Defiance was a little lackluster. I think I was expecting, or at least hoping for, more answers. I really don’t understand what happened at the end, but I guess that’s the way it’s supposed to be, as they try to get a captive audience to return and watch Season 2 to get the answers. I don’t know, it just got really weird towards the end of the season, and especially in this episode, with all the stuff surrounding Irisa. What does it all mean?
It’s so sad that Stahma killed off Kenya. She’s probably going to get away with it too. She’s slippery like that. What will Amanda think when Kenya goes missing? Will her body turn up? Or will it just look like she took off somewhere? If she just disappears, Amanda would probably suspect foul play, I would think.
I don’t know why Datak would up and kill Colonel Marsh after finally getting everything he wanted and getting elected Mayor. He couldn’t control his temper for such an important cause? I wonder if he will somehow get away with it.
Overall, I’m not highly compelled to watch Season 2. Honestly, I could take it or leave it. But I guess we’ll watch it to see if we can get some answers about Irisa, and see how the E-Rep taking over Defiance affects things.
Scenes from Defiance, Season 2 Episode 1
Click here to watch the scenes from Season 2
