In Brothers in Arms, the latest episode of Syfy’s Defiance, an old friend of Nolan’s shows up in town, and there’s a manhunt for Pol Madis, an international war criminal. Will they catch him before the Earth’s Republic tears the town of Defiance apart looking for him? Find out after the jump, as Violet recaps the episode, and Josh provides commentary (in blue font)!
The Main Storyline: Nolan and Eddie vs. Pol Madis
The episode starts off with an unknown man chasing a Castithan man through the marketplace. The Castithan throws a silver pendant on the ground which explodes into blue energy and leaves a crater in the ground. Nolan then catches the Castithan man and begins to cuff him, when the man who had been chasing the Castithan points a gun at the back of Nolan’s head, saying he’s been tracking the guy for a month. When Nolan turns around, it turns out they know each other, and they hug.
Looks like we will be seeing an old friend of Nolan’s this episode. In TV usually when an old friend shows up, it is bad news.
Nolan brings his friend, Eddie, to the Lawkeeper’s office, where he confiscates Eddie’s guns, telling him he’ll get them back on the way out. Meanwhile, Dr. Yewell is treating the imprisoned Castithan man in the jail cell, as the man asks her if the townspeople know about her many scientific achievements during the Pale Wars, commenting that he won’t tell anyone, and that the Biodine project was pure genius. Dr. Yewell says he must have her confused with someone else, and asks to be let out of the cell, but not before the man whispers to her that he never forgets a face. Just then Tommy comes in to report that the Castithan man is Pol Madis — THE weapons designer. Eddie wants Nolan to turn Pol over to him so he can then hand him over to the Earth Republic to be prosecuted for war crimes, not to mention that Eddie would get a huge payday out of it.
Looks like Dr. Yewell has some secret that no one knows about yet. It will be interesting to see what that is. At this point, I didn’t really understand why it mattered who took him into custody, as long as he was going to pay for his crimes. We learn later on that things aren’t quite what they seem however….
Nolan and Eddie head over to NeedWant for a drink, where Irisa shows up and reports that there were six burn victims from the blast earlier. Nolan introduces Eddie to her, saying that they fought together in the 9th. Apparently Eddie knew Irisa when she was a kid, and tries to remind her that he’s “Uncle Eddie,” but Irisa doesn’t remember him, and she walks away. Eddie makes a comment that he thought Nolan would have dropped her off with some “Iraths,” and is amazed that Nolan raised her as his own. He then presses Nolan to give him Pol Madis again, saying he’s been scraping by and scavenging all these years, so Nolan tries to give him some money. Eddie picks up the money and calls Kenya over so he can spend the money on her, but it soon becomes a bit awkward when he figures out that she and Nolan are together. But Nolan says he would never get between a woman and her work, and she takes Eddie back to her room with her. But then when they get there, she claims that she “forgot” she had a client in 5 minutes, and sends in two girls on the house.
A very weird situation here. Are Nolan and Kenya more than friends? It doesn’t look like it so far. It seems weird to me that Eddie would even follow through with the “transaction” knowing that there is SOMETHING going on between Kenya and Nolan. Nice of Kenya to find a way out of the deal though, since she clearly has feelings for Nolan.
Nolan goes to visit Amanda at the mayor’s office, where Nolan is taken aback at Amanda’s eagerness to hand Pol Madis over to the Earth Republic. But Amanda explains that she’s negotiating an extradition agreement: they hand over Pol Madis in exchange for rights of way for the Mag-Lev Railroad which they would never be able to afford otherwise. Nolan asks her to think about letting Eddie hand Pol Madis over to the Earth Republic so they can get him out of town quicker and because he owes his friend.
At this point, it seems odd to me that Nolan would sell out his town of Defiance for his buddy to make a few bucks. It is kind of a weird dilemma though, and a weird trading of people almost.
Irisa is sharpening a knife over at the Lawkeeper’s office, and Tommy asks if she wants to come back to his place later. She acts oblivious to what he’s really after, and flat out declines his invitation. We then see someone drop a small packet of something into Pol’s cell from the window, but no one else notices. Pol then asks for water and salt.
So sad for Tommy, he was the victim of a one night stand! I am sure this will change though, I have a feeling Irisa is struggling with the fact that Tommy is human, and she is not. I think this may play out more in the season.
Amanda and Kenya are talking, and Kenya is complaining about the fact that it’s unacceptable that she can’t do her job. When Amanda asks if Kenya’s breaking up with Nolan, Kenya replies that breaking up implies that they’re some kind of couple. Amanda tells Kenya she’s falling in love for the first time since Hunter Bell and it scares the hell out of her, and Amanda sticks up for the fact that Nolan is a good guy, unlike Hunter. However, Kenya doesn’t like taking advice from a woman whose last boyfriend was a “vibro.”
Being a prostitute and having a relationship does not seem like it would work, as Kenya is showing us. I think this will open up the relationship between Amanda and Nolan however. If I were Amanda though, I think I would be a little disgusted, considering some of the clients we have seen Kenya with.
When Irisa returns home, she is surprised to see Nolan sleeping on “her” floor, and Nolan explains that Kenya is busy with Uncle Eddie. I guess we are to assume that Nolan’s been sleeping over with Kenya this whole time they’ve been a “non”-couple. Irisa asks Nolan why Eddie calls him “No-Man,” to which Nolan explains that he was caught behind enemy lines once, in No Man’s Land. Irisa tells Nolan she doesn’t like Uncle Eddie. They hear an explosion and run over to the Lawkeeper’s station, which seems to be right next door. The jail cell has been demolished, Pol Madis is gone, and Tommy is laying unconscious on the floor.
Nolan finds the packet that had been dropped into Pol’s cell, and confronts Eddie, because Eddie had used the substance, called strafing powder, in Calexico and knows the mixture better than anyone: one part table salt, two parts water, and boom. However, Eddie says he’d never do that to him. Nolan believes him and gives Eddie a gun so that Eddie can help catch Pol.
There’s a lot of suspects set up for this episode. Nolan is going to have a case of “whodunit” it looks like. As I watched it, I had my eyes on Eddie, as I said before, the old friend in town usually winds up being bad news.
Over at the marketplace, Pol approaches a hat salesman and tells him that he stashed his case there yesterday. To prove that it’s his, he has the salesman let him unlock it so he can show him. He claims that the contents are medicinal and that he’s a pharmacist. Pol directs the salesman to some “money” in the case, but when the salesman pulls the coin out, it is not real money. The coin sparks, and kills the salesman, then Pol takes the coin back and walks off with his case.
At the mayor’s office, Connor Lang shows up on behalf of the E-Rep, and it is obvious that he and Amanda have a history together. He blames Pol’s escape on the Lawkeeper’s incompetence. Amanda is confident her lawkeeper will find Pol Madis, and attempts to negotiate an extradition agreement: rights across the Oklahoma stretch of the Mag-Lev in exchange for Pol Madis. Connor tells her that she better hurry, because if Pol’s not in custody once the rollers come in 2 hours, then they have orders to tear the city apart brick by brick to find him.
This went from great to terrible for Defiance and Amanda. Something tells me that someone will find this fugitive sooner rather than later though.
Nolan and Eddie show up at the infirmary to question Dr. Yewell because she had been talking to Pol Madis in his jail cell, but she doesn’t know anything.
Datak returns to his stark white home to find Pol there, cooking up something. Datak realizes that Pol is part of the Votanis Collective. Pol thanks Datak for his help, but Datak says he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Datak asks him to state his business, which is a request to be smuggled into Brazil. Pol shares his food with Datak, and they talk about how the recipe reminds them of home. Suddenly, Datak pulls a gun on Pol and tells him to get out, because his presence in his house threatens everything he’s worked for. Pol tries to make Datak feel guilty about sending scrip to his parents in Brazil and leaving them there to die. Datak puts the gun in Pol’s face and demands that he leave, but just then Datak clutches his stomach in pain. Pol had slipped a nanotab into the food he shared with Datak, which sends a jolt of energy into the nerve endings whenever he wants. He can dial it up and down. Datak cries out in pain as Pol dials it up.
Interesting conversation between the two here. Datak begins by seeming honorable, trying to get rid of the fugitive, rather than assisting him. Then Datak reveals, he simply doesn’t want to ruin his reputation in Defiance. I still don’t like this guy. I am curious as to why Pol did not get sick however, while Datak did.
Nolan and Eddie are out on patrol, as Eddie tells Nolan about what Kenya did, and that she’s into Nolan. They show up at Datak’s house to question him, while Pol is still there, hiding, but Datak keeps his mouth shut about Pol. Datak drives Pol out into the desert, and tells Pol that he’ll devote more time and money to the Votanis Collective. But Pol says he doesn’t care about the Votanis Collective, he just likes killing people. Datak then begins to fear for his life. Just then, Nolan and Eddie pull up beside them in the Lawkeeper roller and push them off the road, and Irisa and Tommy show up in a separate roller. Nolan says he knew that Pol was with Datak because back at Datak’s house, he was nice. Nolan tells Tommy to take Datak home, and tells Irisa to go on with them. Nolan tells Eddie to go on with Pol before he changes his mind. But then Pol reveals that he’s not going to be executed, he’s going to get to live on a nice estate with a pool and his own lab. Everyone wants him, but not for execution. The only reason he’s been dodging the Earth Republic is so he can get a better financial package out of the Votanis Collective. Apparently people just want to use him to make WMD’s (weapons of mass destruction), and Nolan’s not too happy about that, or the fact that Eddie knew about that already, so he shoots Pol in the head.
I had a feeling Eddie being back in town was for no good reason. Rather shocking that Nolan would blow Pol’s head off though, so easily. I would think the Earth Republic would have something to say about that. It looks like Amanda and Eddie were bartering with the same people. This Earth’s Republic seems like a shady government to be dealing with.
Then we find out the real meaning of Nolan’s “No-Man” nickname: he leaves no man standing on the battlefield. Eddie pulls his gun on Nolan, saying if he can’t collect on Pol, he’ll collect on Nolan, as there’s a quarter mil bounty on his head. He takes Nolan’s gun and tosses it away. We then learn that Eddie spent six years in prison when he got caught helping Irisa get away. Without Eddie’s help, she would have died in a refugee camp. Nolan is able to get the gun from Eddie and pulls it on him, but then has a sudden change of heart, feeling guilty that Eddie got the short end of the stick when he helped set him and Irisa free. Nolan agrees to be delivered to Varus so Eddie can collect the bounty, but makes Eddie promise to tell Varus that Irisa is dead, because the only thing that matters is that Irisa is safe.
That’s noble of Nolan to do, to turn himself in for Eddie. It seems like back in the military they were very close, despite this recent conflict.
The Earth Republic rollers pull up to them, and Connor leads soldiers toward them. Connor discovers Pol’s dead body and demands to know what happened, telling Nolan he’s way out of his jurisdiction and that this is murder. However, Eddie randomly takes responsibility for the killing of Pol Madis, telling Nolan that he has a daughter in Defiance that needs him. Well that was a complete 180 to his attitude a couple minutes ago! Eddie doesn’t seem too broken up about the fact he’s being taken to Vegas prison, though, as he comments that a lot can happen between here and Vegas.
These guys need to make up their mind! Again another noble deed by Eddie, but to go from being greedy and wanting to turn in Pol and Nolan to switching to turning himself in for a murder he didn’t commit, seems rather out of character. Curious to know if this is the last of Eddie, or will he be back?
Nolan shows up at NeedWant and asks Kenya if she wants to get together later. Kenya uses the excuse that she’s booked, but then admits “there’s no client, you’re just not my type” and walks off, leaving Nolan stunned. Wow, what a harsh non-label breakup. I thought he and Kenya were good together, and it’s sad that she ended things so abruptly, leaving Nolan in the dark as to why. But of course, they have to make way for the love triangle with Amanda, and by the looks of things, that triangle may be expanding with the addition of Connor Lang.
I personally am glad they broke up. Trying to have a relationship with a hooker, seems way too complicated, and frankly kind of gross. Who knows what he may wake up with one day after a night with her.
Side Story: The Artifact
Rafe’s son, Quentin, is at the train cafe, Chez Renard. Nicky randomly shows up and sits with him (I thought she left town…?). He seems glad to see her, even calling her “Aunt Nicky.” Her sidekick, Mr. Birch, sits down at a different table. Nicky sees that Quentin is looking at a book with symbols, although Quentin had tried to hide it. She comments that she saw those symbols on a cave wall when his father gave her a tour of the mines, and that Quentin must have seen them as he practically grew up in the mines. However, Quentin, does not respond. Nicky reports back to Mr. Birch that Luke had the artifact with him when he died, and now his brother has found it.
Quentin tells Rafe about Nicky asking questions about the symbols. Rafe immediately tells Quentin to get rid of the artifact, but Quentin protests, saying that he’s finally getting somewhere in his research, that he found out that 1811 was the first recorded earthquake in the area, and that was when “those people” were buried down there. Rafe again insists on him getting rid of the artifact, because if Nicky’s interested in it, then it’s trouble.
Quentin brings the artifact to the mines and is just about to drop it into the lava pit, when he imagines that he sees his dead brother Luke appear next to him, telling him not to do it. He pockets it instead.
Meanwhile, Mr. Birch breaks into Rafe’s house (actually, it looks like he just walks in through the front door, because apparently the McCawleys don’t lock their door), and begins rifling through things, presumably looking for the artifact. Quentin comes home and Mr. Birch attacks him which some sort of device with an electric current which knocks him out, giving Mr. Birch a chance to take the artifact from Quentin’s pocket. Quentin wakes up and knocks Mr. Birch down, then proceeds to strangle him to death, while imaginary Luke returns to encourage him to do so. Kinda creepy.
I am hoping this artifact storyline begins to progress further. I really want to know what it is all about. I am also curious if this artifact is causing the illusions for Quentin or if they are in his head?
The Ending Montage
The episode ends with a montage of a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” where we see a convoy on its way to Vegas with Eddie, Amanda returns to her office and discovers she has received flowers (presumably from Connor), Datak is at the doctor’s office getting the nanotab removed, and Nolan is about to tell Irisa about her Uncle Eddie. Speaking of Eddie, we then see him pull out a packet of yellow powder identical to the one that had been slipped to Pol Madis, and he asks for water and salt tablets. So turns out he was the one who helped Pol escape! In the final scene, we see Quentin at the mine with a wheelbarrow, which he has presumably just used to dump Mr. Birch’s body into the lava pit. He finds Mr. Birch’s sunglasses on the ground, picks them up, and angrily throws them into the pit.
Looks like we may definitely see more of Eddie, since he isn’t going to jail after all. I am curious to see how Quentin progresses from here, as he went from an innocent seeming miner’s boy to a murderer in just a few minutes. Looks like this artifact may have some mind control powers to me.
Thoughts
My thoughts: I actually liked this episode a lot. Not only was there some action, but there was also some mystery involved that we got a good twist ending to. I also liked the fact that we got some background info on Nolan and Irisa. Also, it seemed like Nolan and Irisa were around each other a little more during this episode than they have been the past several episodes, although they still weren’t around each other very much. As for Nolan and Kenya’s relationship, I felt like the show ended it way too quickly, as we hardly got a chance to see them together at all. Regarding Quentin, why does he have to be crazy and see his dead brother?? Why can’t he just be normal and do his own thing? The imaginary Luke thing is kind of annoying. Also, I feel like we’re not getting very much information on the artifact, so little, in fact, that I find myself not very interested in it and kind of bored whenever that storyline comes up. They need to give us some more interesting info about the artifact and the symbols and all that so that we viewers can become more invested in that storyline. But it seems like this is going to be an aspect of the show that will be slow played, and we’ll only be given a tiny bit of info each episode, if any. Other than that, I find myself becoming more and more attached to the characters in Defiance, and am looking forward to the next episode. I can’t believe they made us wait 2 weeks!
This was a good episode in my opinion. Eddie’s character seemed a little wacky at times, and not seeming to have a strong direction, considering some of his actions. I am hoping to see Amanda and Nolan get together, but this may be held off for Amanda’s old boyfriend being back in the picture. Or it may set up a love triangle (my favorite). Let’s get some interesting stuff going with this artifact! Until next week!
Clip from Next Week
Watch the first few minutes of next week’s episode, Good Bye Blue Sky, right now!
I really liked this episode as well. You had a new character coming in that had a past with the main character and a bit of a twist. I like this show a lot and can’t wait for it to come back.