Editing Defiance (TV)

'''Defiance''' is an American science fiction television series developed by Rockne S. O'Bannon. The series was produced in collaboration with [[Trion]] who produced a [[Defiance (Video Game)|Defiance MMO video game]]. Defiance stars Grant Bowler as Joshua Nolan, the local lawman in a post-apocalyptic city known as Defiance, Stephanie Leonidas as his daughter, Irisa, and Julie Benz as Mayor Amanda Rosewater. The series was broadcast in the United States on the cable channel [[Syfy]] and in the U.K. on SyFy.co.uk; it was produced by Universal Cable Productions.

==Plot & Worldbuilding ==
Defiance opens with a flashback to 2013 narrated by [[Irisa]] who had a dream about her father, [[Joshua Nolan|Joshua Nolan's]], world before the Votans arrived. Irisa explains that she was born into the world that came after aliens arrived, never knowing what earth looked like before. 

In the backstory to this series, alien ships enter Earth’s atmosphere seeking a new home after their own solar system was destroyed. They call themselves "Votans," and shortly after their arrival, negotiations begin between the aliens and the government(s) of Earth. After six years of negotiation, no agreement has been reached and a war begins between the two sides. By this time, Joshua Nolan (now sixteen years old) has enlisted in the military to fight for his people against these invading aliens.

In an air battle, the huge alien ships in the atmosphere are destroyed and they plummet down to Earth. However, contained within the wreckage of these vessels are terraformers which begin to transform the planet. This transformation was described as scorching the earth, creating vast chasms in the ground, and resulting in layers upon layers of debris and dirt forming on the surface of the planet; effectively burying major cities. It is then revealed that there is not one alien species but many, with [[Votan]] merely being the collective name they have chosen. One such species, the “[[Castithan]]s," are alien but look entirely human.

A vicious battle is fought in San Francisco in 2030. Casualties are high. Human and Votan soldiers, disgusted by years of bloodshed, disobey orders and lay down their weapons, banding together to pull civilians from the rubble. This will come to be known as the Battle of Defiance. Soon after that battle, Nolan deserts the military when he rescues a young Irathient girl named Irisa who was destined for a deadly refugee camp if he didn't help her. 

In the final days of the war, both sides come to realize that neither can win, and they have only one joint priority: survival. With this realization, the war comes to an end and both sides focus on licking their wounds and attempting to rebuild.  

After rescuing Irisa, Nolan adopts her, and they spend the next 15 years traveling the badlands together under the motto, "live or die together." This brings us to the time when the series is set (approximately 33 years after the initial flashback - the year 2046). Joshua Nolan returns to his hometown of St. Louis with his now 23 year old daughter, to find it no longer looks like the city he left nor is it called that anymore. St Louis is now Defiance, named after the legendary battle Nolan participated in many years earlier. 

While early versions of the pilot depicted more flashbacks to these events, the final version only includes a brief flashback to Nolan's childhood before showing Nolan and Irisa's arrival Defiance. Once they arrive in the town, they help save Defiance from an alien threat and Defiance's mayor, [[Amanda Rosewater]], offers Nolan the job of “Chief Lawkeeper," making him responsible for keeping the residents of Defiance safe from the scavengers, dangerous Votans, humans, and other criminals that occasionally breeze through the town. Irisa becomes his deputy. 

==Characters==
*'''[[Joshua Nolan]]:''' He was 10 years old when the Votans first arrived. During the war, Nolan was a soldier, but he lost his family. Upon returning to his hometown of Defiance, he becomes the local lawman (lawkeeper) and finds a sense of duty to protect it.
*'''[[Amanda Rosewater]]:''' The idealistic Mayor of Defiance who is committed to maintaining peace in a deadly new world. The character has been described as being in her 40′s, Human and very sexy.
*'''[[Irisa]]:''' A member of an alien species known as “Irathients," she is the adopted daughter and deputy to lead character, Joshua Nolan. There is a dark origin story behind how he came to adopt her from her biological parents.
*'''[[Datak Tarr]]:'''  A scheming Castithan alien and ark survivor, he is Amanda's main rival in season 1 and Stahma Tarr's husband.
*'''[[Stahma Tarr]]:''' Datak’s wife and a high-ranking member of the elite Castithan alien species. This role was described as being very Lady Macbeth. Stahma is not satisfied with Datak’s station in Defiance and feels he (and by extension, she) should have more power. She comes from old money and is very cunning and arrogant, with a sense of entitlement.
*'''[[Rafe McCawley]]:''' The richest man in Defiance and owner of the largest mine in the territory.
*[[Alak Tarr|'''Alak Tarr''']]: Son of Datak and Stahma, he runs a radio business despite his parent's desire for him to join the family business.
*'''[[Kenya Rosewater]]:''' The owner of the NeedWant, a bar and brothel. She is also Amanda Rosewater's younger sister.
*'''[[Jessica "Berlin" Rainer]]''': An Earth Republic captain specializing in propaganda
*'''[[Niles Pottinger]]''': A member of the Earth Republic who comes to Defiance in season 2 with an agenda of his own
*'''[[Kindzi]]''': A fierce Omec woman who views humans and Votans as lower than the Omec

==Cast==
<gallery spacing="small" widths="150" captionalign="center" bordersize="medium" orientation="portrait" columns="4" hideaddbutton="true">
grant bowler.png|[[Grant Bowler]] as [[Joshua Nolan]]
julie benz.jpeg|[[Julie Benz]] as [[Amanda Rosewater]]
tony curran.jpeg|[[Tony Curran]] as [[Datak Tarr]]
jaime murray.jpeg|[[Jaime Murray]] as [[Stahma Tarr]]
stephanie leonidas.png|[[Stephanie Leonidas]] as [[Irisa]]
Graham-greene-103.jpeg|[[Graham Greene]] as [[Rafe McCawley]]
MV5BMTYzODcxNTY0MF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNTgwMzMxNw@@._V1.jpeg|[[Dewshane Williams]] as [[Tommy Lasalle]]
0000028569_20060922010917.jpeg|[[Fionnula Flanagan]] as [[Nicky]]
Mia_Kirshner.jpeg|[[Mia Kirshner]] as [[Kenya]]
b22f4af7e257b7036257af64b5ab95b7.jpeg|[[Nicole Muñoz]] as [[Christie McCawley]]
DSC_0005_JustinRain-e1291849148872.jpeg|[[Justin Rain]] as [[Quentin McCawley]]
jesse rath.png|[[Jesse Rath]] as [[Alak Tarr]]
</gallery>

==Crew==
*'''Executive Producer: Kevin Murphy.''' A veteran writer and producer, Murphy’s credits include Desperate Housewives, Caprica, Reaper, and Weird Science.
*'''Executive Producer and writer: Rockne O'Bannon.''' One of the top names in genre film and television, O’Bannon’s work includes Farscape, Alien Nation, Seaquest DSV, and 2011’s reboot of V.
*'''Executive Producer: Michael Taylor.''' Taylor has a sci-fi resume that includes Battlestar Galactica, Caprica, and The Dead Zone.
*'''Director: Scott Stewart.''' Defiance’s director helmed the feature films Priest and Legion but also has a visual effects resume that includes Iron Man, Sin City, and Superman Returns.

==Episodes==
There are 12 episodes for [[Season 1]] ({{Ep|101}} was one episode, despite being credited for 2 parts), and there are 13 episodes for [[Season 2]]. Season 2 was already in production, despite Season 1 not being over yet. Season 3 has been scheduled to air in 2015, and will also contain 13 episodes.

==References==
*[http://www.defiance.com/en/ Official Site]
*[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2189221/ IMDb page]
*[http://www.tvwise.co.uk/2012/02/exclusive-details-on-syfys-new-series-defiance/ Exclusive details from TV Wise]
[[Category:Television]]