Josh recaps this episode of Defiance, which has a rogue group of men terrorizing an E-Rep convoy, and the mayor isn’t going to stand for it. Stahma also isn’t going to take Datak’s re-entry into their home lying down. Nolan, in the meantime, is conflicted as to how to handle a certain law situation. A lot of stuff going on this episode! What did you think of it? Check out Violet and Josh’s thoughts below!
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Episode Recap of Defiance, Season 2 Episode 4: Beasts of Burden
The E-Rep Gets Robbed
Defiance begins with an E Rep convoy moving mining equipment into Defiance, and Berlin is filming more propaganda with the mayor. The convoy is suddenly attacked by masked men, who then begin taking the equipment. Some of the robbers are killed in the crossfire. The mayor’s quarters are about to be searched, and the mayor tries to fight them off. The captors demand that the mayor strip down to nothing. The captor then decides to take a leak onto the mayor. The ambushers then hop in their truck and take off.
Stahma wakes up in her home, and Datak pays her a visit. He tells her that his love for her is what spared her life. Stahma then tells him that they should be partners. Datak won’t have it, though.
Nolan and Amanda are having some fun, but are interrupted by Amanda having to attend a staff meeting. Irisa then interrupts further, and Irisa lets Nolan know that the mayor wants to speak to him.
Nolan Investigates the Crime
Pottinger has Nolan investigate the ambushers. The Mayor is testy with both Nolan and Amanda, demanding that Nolan find the culprits.
Tommy and Berlin are working on getting the camera’s images off the camera, but it was damaged in the confrontation. Berlin makes comments regarding Tommy eyeing Irisa, but Tommy assures her that he has moved on.
Then, at Rafe’s house, we see that one of the masks used in the ambush is on his table. A younger guy tells Rafe that, “We did it” as they move the mining equipment into his house. Rafe slaps the kid, clearly unhappy with what they did. We learn that the kid is Rafe’s nephew. The kid says that the miners will use the equipment to hit hard deposits, which could kill hundreds of miners.
Datak Tries to Assert His Authority
Datak, in the meantime, is meeting with Alak. Datak admits he thought Alak would run a “legitimate business” but is happy that Alak will be working with him now. Outside, some E-Rep guards confront Datak, calling him names and giving him a hard time, antagonizing him. Datak nearly loses his cool, but decides to remain calm. The guards finally leave him be.
At the brothel, the mayor pays Amanda a visit, and apologizes to her. Mayor Pottinger explains that the culprits dredged up some bad memories, which is why he was testy. He provides Amanda with some background–him being a part of a military school, and Votans invading the school for 11 days.
Nolan pays Yewll a visit, and she autopsies the dead soldiers. Nolan asks Ywell how she got paroled, but she plays coy. Meanwhile, Tommy walks in, just as Nolan decides a dusty boot print isn’t important to the investigation and brushes the print off. Tommy accuses Nolan of destroying evidence, but Nolan denies it and leaves.
Stahma, in the meantime, is visited by the guards that gave Datak a hard time–they were paid by her to antagonize Datak. She isn’t happy it didn’t work.
Meanwhile, Nolan visits Rafe, and asks some questions. The young ambusher decides to pull a gun on Nolan. Rafe asks Nolan to go easy on the kid–and Nolan disarms him. Nolan arrests the kid, and Rafe fights for the kid. Nolan warns that the data on Berlin’s camera will burn the kid, and warns him to get out of town.
Case Closed…?
Nolan brings the mining equipment back to the mayor. The mayor pulls a briefcase from the equipment nonchalantly, and then asks about the footprint Tommy found on the soldier. Nolan re-explains that it was just dirt.
Later, the mayor examines the briefcase, which has a device in it. Amanda comes by for the daily drug meeting. We learn that Amanda is haunted by a rape that happened to her. We learn that she also was impregnated and had an abortion.
Datak has a meeting with other Castithans, and accuses them of following orders of a woman. Datak decides that one of the men have to die, and Alak has to do it. Alak decides that he should die so no one else has to. Datak decides to kill a Castithan himself, and lets Alak live.
Alak shows Datak his record studio, and Datak warns that he thought about burning down the record studio, but he had a change of heart with their time together that day. Datak isn’t that forgiving though, and scalds Alak’s hand on a machine for siding with his mother and Datak’s men.
Back home, Christie tends his wounds, and she is upset. Alak tries to defend him. Stahma comes in, and demands to know what happened. Stahma then visits Datak, and is wondering why Datak is reading the Castithhan bible. Datak says that they should forget all of their past mistakes, and move on as a family.
Now the Case is Closed
Rafe’s nephew has seemingly disappeared from Rafe’s house, and we see that he is attempting to delete the camera footage. Berlin tries to stop him, but is held at gun point.
Tommy and Pottinger visit with Nolan, and Nolan brushes them aside to find Berlin. Berlin is being held, and forced to read cards about the mining problems. She refuses though, and begins arguing with him. Berlin tries to get free, but is unable to. Nolan shows up just in time to save him however, and Rafe grabs his nephew. He frees the kid, but then shoots him as he runs away.
Yewll patches up Nolan, and Tommy shows up. The Mayor is still bent out of shape about the incident and warns there will be payback to Rafe. Rafe is given an eviction notice. He packs and leaves without incident.
Stahma Asserts Her Authority
Datak heads to a meeting with his men, and Stahma and Alak are in attendance. The men decide to pummel Datak at Stahma’s order. Stahma demands that Alak watch the beating. Stahma then tells Datak, “You should have made me a partner.”
Josh’s Thoughts: Defiance, Season 2 Episode 4: Beasts of Burden
This was a pretty good episode of Defiance. The slow building of a rebel group seems to be building, that will eventually erupt into war to take down the E-Rep it seems like. I am surprised that Rafe didn’t back his nephew, as Rafe has seemed like the rebellious type. Perhaps Rafe figured it wasn’t the right time yet. I am curious to know why Rafe shot his nephew in the end. I didn’t really understand that motive. It seems to me that either letting him go or turning him over to the E-Rep would be the best two options. Perhaps Rafe thought death was better than being in E-Rep custody.
The mayor seems tolerant of Nolan’s lies that he is clearly seeing through. This must be due to the fact that he has a thing for Amanda, and realizes burning Nolan would put a wedge between him and her. I am surprised how quickly Amanda slipped to the dark side however. She is now a druggie, and is okay with the Mayor’s decisions that you would think someone with a conscience wouldn’t really be okay with. I guess we will see how this plays out further.
I would really like Stahma’s character if she wasn’t as much of a devious character as Datak is. It is hard to forget that she killed Kenya, after Kenya was thinking about running away with her. But it is nice to see Datak get some of what he deserves. Casthithans sure seem like a very unkind and unfair race. I am curious to know more about their alien history, and knowing that if their entire culture is this way or if Datak is form a specific group of his alien race that is more deceptive prejudice than other groups.
I am really hoping to see more underground rebel groups though. I really enjoy underdog type stories, where an evil overlord is taken down. The Mayor seems to be ramping up his “overlordiness”, and hope to see the big breaking point come!
Violet’s Thoughts on Season 2 Episode 4 of Defiance:Beasts of Burden
COMING SOON
Scenes from Defiance, Season 2 Episode 5 titled: Put the Damage On:
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