1Pilot, Part 1
In a future Earth largely devastated after lengthy war with alien invaders, Jeb Nolan and his adopted daughter Irisa live in the badlands, open areas that have no government. After an encounter with Spirit Riders, a roving motorcycle gang, they find themselves in the city of Defiance, formerly St. Louis. They have been at peace now for 15 years and the new mayor, Amanda Rosewater, wants to keep it that way. There are tensions in the community however particularly between the McCawleys and the Tarrs. When one of the McCawleys is killed, Nolan offers his services, for a fee, to track the killer. It all leads to a plot to invade Defiance. Written by
2Pilot, Part 2
Having located the traitor who brought down Defiance's force field, the residents must now prepare for the upcoming battle. Nolan retrieves the device he and Irisa recovered from the crashed spacecraft as it will provide the weapon they need to defeat the coming onslaught. It's left to Doc Yewll to get it operational before the attackers arrive. Old arguments and ill-feeling is set aside and everyone in the community bands together. Written by
3Down in the Ground Where the Dead Men Go
After the battle, the residents of Defiance count their dead. A Castithan, Elah Bandik, is to be cleansed - tortured to death - after running away from the fight. Nolan steps in to stop them but the mayor intervenes, continuing a policy of allowing all 8 races to follow their cultural traditions with respect to their own people. Amanda's assistant Ben - who blew up the stasis net - escapes. There's been an explosion at the McCrawley mine and it seems Ben is responsible. A team, including Rafe McCawley and Nolan, soon head underground where large tracts of old St. Louis still exists intact. Meanwhile Rafe is still upset at the prospect that his daughter Christie is going to marry Alak Tarr and she is now having second thoughts. Alak's mother Stahma has a chat with her. Written by
4The Devil in the Dark
Having helped fend off the attack the spirit riders now have access to the city. They do set people's nerves on edge however. Nolan meanwhile has a murder to solve after they find the remains of Dalton Taggart in the nearby woods. There's not much left of him but after a second citizen. Boyd Bowen, is butchered Nolan believes he was attacked by a particularly vicious creature known as hellbugs. After a second attack on Datak Tarr and his family, Nolan concludes that pheromones are being used to target people. He now not only has to find the hellbugs' nest but also the person using them as a weapon. Irisa's special abilities prove to be particularly useful. Written by
6The Serpent's Egg
Nolan and Amanda head out on the overland express, a form of bus service that runs through Defiance every few weeks. Nolan is there to deliver Rynn to jail so she can serve her two year sentence. He's also there to protect a suitcase full of cash that Amanda is taking to Las Vegas to pay for the rail connection to Defiance. Once the bus is in the middle of nowhere it's hijacked leading to a standoff. Back in Defiance, Irisa takes a traveling salesman into custody who she is convinced is the man who tortured her as a child, She is intent on getting revenge though the evidence she has is slim at best. Written by
7Brothers in Arms
Nolan welcomes an old army buddy, Eddie Braddock, who is now working as a bounty hunter. He's tracked Pol Madis, a Castithan weapons developer, to Defiance and now wants to take him to the Earth Republic where Masis will receive his just punishment and he would no doubt get a generous reward. After the Castilian escapes from his jail cell, Nolan and Eddie set out to recapture him. Amanda had already contacted the Earth Republic about Madis and when their representative Connor Lang arrives, he makes it clear that if they cannot find him, his forces will. Amanda for her part wants something in return for Madis also. Nicky Reardon meanwhile is showing a great deal of interest in the wall drawings Rafe McCawley recently showed his son Quentin. Written by
8Goodbye Blue Sky
Defiance is bombarded with razor rain, metal object falling from the sky as their orbit around the Earth deteriorates. Irisa has a vision and heads off to the badlands when she sees that Sukar is in danger. They arrive seemingly too late to save him but his funeral ceremony is something of a surprise. A resurrected Sukar is on a mission and takes Irisa with him. If he succeeds, it may be the end of the town. Christie McCawley meanwhile is worried about the Castithan bathing ritual for newlyweds where the entire family bathes together. Alak's mother Stahma calls on Kenya to arrange counseling for her son on women's sexuality. Nicky drops in on the McCawleys on the pretext of needing shelter from the bad weather. Written by
9I Just Wasn't Made for These Times
Nolan and Jefferson decide to check out the Voltan ship that crashed just outside of town. They are more than just a bit shocked when they find American astronaut Gordon McClintock in suspended animation. McClintock is a hero of the war with the aliens but was believed to have died 40 years ago. Books have been written and movies have been made about his life. Doc Yewll examines him and he gets a clean bill of health. When McClintock attacks Amanda Rosewater in the middle of the night however, it's clear something is wrong. Irisa is still grieving Sukar's death and feels she no longer fits in. Meanwhile, Amanda gets an interesting job offer from the Earth Republic's Connor Lang. She also learns that her life may be in danger. Written by
10If I Ever Leave This World Alive
11The Bride Wore Black
The time for Christie McCawley and Alak Tarr's wedding has arrived but Datak wants to call it off when Rafe tells him Christie has been cut out his will. Alak doesn't take the news very well. A human skeleton is found walled up in Kenya's bar and Tommy LaSalle recognize the dead man's ring as belonging to Hunter Bell, the bar's previous owner. He was also Kenya's husband. Bell had helped Tommy out when he first arrived in Defiance but disappeared about 7 seven years ago. It was also Tommy's first case after becoming a deputy and he was convinced it was murder but didn't have the evidence to prove it. Bell was a nasty character who treated Kenya very badly and Amanda had sworn to do something about it. Neither Kenya or Amanda will admit it however. Nolan is prepared to let sleeping dogs lie but when Jered the bartender is found murdered, he has little choice but to investigate. Many in Defiance had a motive to kill him however. Yewll and Nicky know exactly what is going on. Written by
12Past Is Prologue
The residents of Defiance hold a wake for Nicky at Kenya's bar. Datak takes the opportunity to make political hay. Stahma confides in Kenya that losing the election would be a great shame for Datak and as such is he planning to kill Amanda. With the election only a few days away, the candidates hold a debate in the public square. A prank leads to a death and calls for Nolan to be dismissed and arrested. Datak gets his hands on Nolan's military record and publicizes it widely smearing the mayor in the process. Yewll meanwhile activates the golden relic which has a strange effect on Irisa. Written by
13Everything Is Broken
Earth Alliance Colonel Galen Marsh reveals that he is after the Voltan weapons system hidden at the bottom of the mines and Yewll is prepared to deal with them. There are two artifacts hidden inside Irisa, the keys that can can trigger the Voltan's secret weapon. Nolan is searching for Irisa and finds her at the Irathian camp. He tells her they are going to head south and along the way find a doctor to remove the Votan keys in her body. Before they can do so however mercenaries hired by the Earth Republic, led by Jonah Keller, arrive at the Irathian camp. Meanwhile, Datak tell Stahma that he knows he betrayed her and she tells Kenya that she is running away - and wants Kenya to join her. The election results are announced but it's a bittersweet victory.
1The Opposite of Hallelujah
Joshua's search for Irisa takes him across the country. Irisa keeps a deadly secret. In no uncertain terms, Stahma Tarr lets her son, Alak, know who is really running the family business. Doc Yewll has a plan to escape the prison camp. Interim Mayor Pottinger could be in serious trouble.
2In My Secret Life
Joshua and Irisa travel back in time to observe parts of Irisa's life that have been erased from her memory. |
3The Cord and the Ax
Irisa's terrifying black-outs escalate, driving a wedge of secrecy between her and a worried Nolan. Meanwhile, the Tarr family business thrives under Stahma's self-appointed direction while an increasingly suspicious Datak remains in jail. |
4Beasts of Burden
After his caravan is viciously attacked in the badlands, a badly shaken Pottinger orders Nolan to hunt down and destroy those responsible. Nolan's manhunt implicates one of Rafe's miners causing tensions to explode. Meanwhile, a vengeful Datak is determined to reclaim control over the family business.
5Put the Damage On
Amanda is being stalked by a man who managed to get into her room. She manages to defend herself but tells Nolan that she was attacked in New York 5 years ago. When Nolan apparently accosts her in an alleyway, she wonders if she is hallucinating. Datak Tarr is recovering from his beating and visits the house. Christie is not pleased to see him, especially after what he did to Alak. Datak sets out to rebuild his empire. Rafe has moved in with his daughter at Stahma's house and is having some trouble getting use to their customs. Someone from Doc Yewl's past arrives in Defiance.
6This Woman's Work
After an Arkfall crash, Pottinger recruits Nolan to lead their salvage mission but his secret agenda puts them in grave danger against an alien race they've never encountered before. Meanwhile Stahma, rebuked by church elders for her growing sense of female empowerment, makes a shocking power play, while Irisa begins confiding her dark secrets to Tommy.
7If You Could See Her Through My Eyes
Datak is framed for a bizarre murder and turns to an unlikely ally for help, while Irisa discovers more about her destiny after encountering a mysterious stranger. |
8Slouching Towards Bethlehem
Nolan interrogates a suspected Votanis Collective spy in order to prevent a catastrophic terrorist attack on New York. |
9Painted from Memory
Kenya has returned but not as she was before, Stahma has problems to deal with and Irias still isn't back in defiance. |
10Bottom of the World
Nolan and Rafe race against the clock to rescue Amanda and Pottinger trapped in a deadly mine collapse. |
11Doll Parts
Treasure Doll is dead, having been thrown from the window of the Gateway Arch. Amanda investigates as Law-keeper Nolan leaves Defiance to retrieve Irisa, still possessed by Irzu. Nolan finds Irisa, but is captured. He and Tommy escape the ark-affected with Irisa, but she wakes and gets away. Alak is arrested for Treasure Doll's murder. Stahma covers it up only to discover that neither Alak nor Datak were responsible.
12All Things Must Pass
Stahma and Datak are kidnapped and awaken chained to the floor in an empty silo. They are soon joined by their captor and a friend and vengeance is in the air. Nolan regains consciousness and finds Tommy severely injured. He rigs a sled to try and get Tommy to Defiance for medical attention.They have a long way to go. Along the way, Tommy remembers various encounters with Nolan and Irisa. Irisa, now completely controlled by the the ark-brain, initiates the plan for the final destruction of the Earth. Rafe is surprised by the sudden return of his wife Pilar, who seems to have recovered. Doc Yewl decides to try and find a way out of the underground city and comes across something very interesting.
13I Almost Prayed
The residents of Defiance worry about having lost all contact with New York. Some believe it is the work of the Voltanis Collective but Nolan knows otherwise. Doc Yewl has made it back to Defiance and confirms Nolan's story about the arkbrain. She also knows how to kill it - but that would also kill Irisa in the process. Nolan realizes that that it was having both keys inside Irisa that reactivated the Kaziri and so sets out to locate her and stop the destruction. Berlin meanwhile is is having trouble coming to terms with Tommy's death and puts the blame squarely on Irisa. Datak returns home, much to Alak's surprise. Christie's mother Pilar has her own plans for her daughter.
1The World We Seize
You are introduced to another Race. Defiances supplies are running low. The search continues for the two children and their kidnappers. We discover more about the Votanis Collective. Irisa and Nolan escape and try to return to Defiance.
2The Last Unicorns
With most of the McCawleys now dead, Pilar, Alak and baby Luke manage to escape. Pilar finds a trailer in the wilderness and promptly kills the occupants. When Alak awakes in the night, Pilar and the baby are nowhere to be found. In Defiance, Doc Yewl tries to mend the newly arrived purple-skinned alien, Kindzi, though she does so reluctantly. She knows them as an early Votan race known as the Omec, vicious creatures known for eating those they conquer. Kindzi's father T'evkin is soon in town and Amanda has a proposition for him: they will return his daughter provided they share the gulanite. Stahma and Dalak Tarr meanwhile have to deal with General Rahm Tak who wants them to be his spies in the city.
3The Broken Bough
Joshua and Irisa head out on a reconnaissance patrol to see just how many soldiers General Rahm Tak has under his command, Along the way the run into Pilar and baby Luke. Not surprisingly, Pilar tries to scam them but Nolan isn't so easily taken in. When he realizes that Rahm Tak has the capability to breach their stasis field, he decides to take action. Back in Defiance, Stahma and Datak receive orders from the Rahm Tak. Stahma gets friendly with the Omec, T'evgin.
4Dead Air
Nolan & Amanda plan escape after they're captured while excavating a buried weapons cache. Meanwhile...
5History Rhymes
Nola and Irisa are both unconscious and now share a dreamlike space where they re-live events from their past. Doc Yewl concludes the are dying and that they now have a shared psychic connection owing to the stasis pod they were in for 7 months. If they are to live, she will have to operate simultaneously operate on both of them but to do that she needs access to Omec technology. As for Nolan and Irisa, the memories they now share drives a wedge between them. Meanwhile, Datak is upset with Stahma and the fact that her plan to kill T'evgin failed. She goes to plan B, as does Datak. At General Rahm Tak's camp, Alak makes a break for freedom.
6Where the Apples Fell
Nolan and Berlin pursue the Tarrs, their connection to the Votanis Collective exposed; Alak faces his future as a father. |
7The Beauty of Our Weapons
A visiting handsome arms dealer changes Defiance's fortunes, and divides Amanda, Nolan and Berlin. Nolan...
8My Name Is Datak Tarr and I Have Come to Kill You
Defiance is under siege. Nolan, Amanda, Irisa, and the militia defend the town against a Votanis Collective incursion. Datak, recalling his father's chilling lessons, makes a pivotal decision. Stahma takes an unexpected trip. |
9Ostinato in White
Following a gruesome murder, Nolan and Irisa hunt the unusual beast loose in Defiance, and Doc Yewll investigates the surprising victim. Amanda resists welcoming back Stahma and T'evgin learns an unsettling truth about his daughter. |
10When Twilight Dims the Sky Above
11Of a Demon in My View
After Nolan is unexpectedly freed from Votanis Collective custody, Amanda, Irisa, and Berlin hurry to free him from Kindzi's clutches...
12The Awakening
Nolan, Amanda, and Irisa search for a way to stop invulnerable Kindzi from waking and transporting more Omec to Earth. Datak seeks escape from a deadly Omec compound. Stahma implores Alak for forgiveness before it's too late. |
13Upon the March We Fittest Die
With Omec on the loose, hunting Defiance citizens, Nolan, Amanda, Irisa, Datak, Stahma, Berlin, and Doc Yewll undertake a potential suicide mission to end the Omec threat once and for all. |