Defiance (season 1)

Defiance
Season 1
Season 1 DVD cover
Country of origin United States
No. of episodes 12
Release
Original network Syfy
Original release April 13 –
July 8, 2013
Season chronology

The first season of the American science fiction television series Defiance premiered on Syfy on Monday April 15, 2013 and ended on July 8, 2013 with a total of 12 episodes. The show stars Grant Bowler, Julie Benz, Stephanie Leonidas, Tony Curran, Jaime Murray, Graham Greene and Mia Kirschner.

The series is produced by Universal Cable Productions, in transmedia collaboration with Trion Worlds, who have released an MMORPG video game of the same name which is tied into the series.

Cast

Main cast

Recurring cast

Guest stars

Episodes

No.
overall		 No. in
season		 Title Directed by Written by Original air date US viewers
(millions)
1 1 "Pilot" Scott Stewart Rockne S. O'Bannon and Kevin Murphy & Michael Taylor April 15, 2013 2.73
Nolan and Irisa scavenge an Arkfall impact site and recover a powerful energy source. They arrive in the town of Defiance – built on the ruins of St. Louis, Missouri, and populated by Human and Votan survivors of the wars. The town's lawkeeper is killed; Nolan is asked to track down the murderer. The killer is found, but not before the town's shield generator is destroyed, rendering it vulnerable to attack by the Volge. Nolan and Irisa use the power source they discovered to destroy the Volge attacking force; Nolan remains in Defiance as the new lawkeeper, with Irisa as a deputy.
2 2 "Down In the Ground Where the Dead Men Go" Michael Nankin Kevin Murphy & Anupam Nigam April 22, 2013 2.40
A Castithan willingly undergoes torture to compensate for his cowardice in the defense of the town, but Irisa stops the ritual. The traitor who destroyed the town's field generator flees to a series of caverns in the ruins of Old St. Louis and attempts to overload a nuclear reactor and destroy Defiance.
3 3 "The Devil in the Dark" Omar Madha Michael Taylor April 29, 2013 2.29
Two humans are attacked and killed by Hellbugs; Nolan, Irisa, and Yewll discover that they were actually murdered by an Irathient whose parents were murdered by the victims many years earlier in order to steal their land for the mineral rights. One of the Irathient Spirit Riders, Sukar, learns that Irisa has "The Sight" (an extrasensory ability to see the past, present and future without actually being present for the events seen) and helps her to tap into its potential to discover the murderer, another Spirit Rider named Rynn. Nolan, Irisa, Deputy LaSalle, and Sukar follow Rynn into the hellbug nest, capture her, and destroy the nest. McCawley deeds the stolen land back to the Irathient Spirit Riders.
4 4 "A Well Respected Man" Michael Nankin Craig Gore & Tim Walsh May 6, 2013 2.15
Nolan rescues Kenya and one of her employees from having their adrenaline harvested for a drug. Meanwhile, Datak's wife Stahma maneuvers her husband into a seat on the town council. Rafe and Quentin discover a set of disturbing cave paintings featuring an object that Rafe's late son had in his possession.
5 5 "The Serpent's Egg" Omar Madha David Weddle & Bradley Thompson May 13, 2013 1.98
Nolan escorts Rynn to prison via land coach; Amanda accompanies them, carrying investment money raised by the town to pay for a new rail spur to Defiance. Bandits attack the coach but Nolan, Amanda, and – to their surprise – Rynn foil the attempt. Meanwhile, back in Defiance, Irisa runs into the Castithan who ritualistically tortured her as a child and is intent on killing him before realizing that the man wants her to do so to fulfill a prophecy. She releases him and begins a relationship with Deputy LaSalle.
6 6 "Brothers in Arms" Andy Wolk Todd Slavkin & Darren Swimmer May 20, 2013 1.95
A bounty hunter and old friend of Nolan arrives in Defiance to apprehend a Castithan fugitive and take him to the Earth Republic. Quentin is advised to destroy the book and artifact left behind by his brother.
7 7 "Goodbye Blue Sky" Andy Wolk Anupam Nigam & Amanda Alpert Muscat June 3, 2013 1.69
During a Razor Rain storm, Irisa sets out to find Sukar after having a premonition of his death. Nicky searches for the artifact. Stahma attempts to hire Kenya to provide Alak with experience before his marriage but they finally become lovers. Alak and Christie argue over a proposed marriage ceremony.
8 8 "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times" Allan Kroeker Clark Perry June 10, 2013 1.91
In the aftermath of the Razor Rain, an American astronaut, supposedly dead since 2013, is found in the wreckage of a recent Arkfall. Plague breaks out in Defiance, but affects only humans.
9 9 "If I Ever Leave This World Alive" Allan Kroeker Bryan Gracia June 17, 2013 1.60
The disease infecting Defiance appears to be carried by the Irathients; all Votans appear to be immune. The Irathients are quarantined in a tunnel at McCawley Mines. A cure is sent from San Francisco, but lands beyond the quarantine zone imposed by the Earth Republic. Datak announces his intent to oppose Amanda for the position of mayor. Nicky reveals to Quentin that he has been lied to by his father.
10 10 "The Bride Wore Black" Todd Slavkin Todd Slavkin & Darren Swimmer June 24, 2013 1.66
Things get heated as the discovery of the remains of a rich businessman leads Tommy to launch a murder investigation, with Datak as a potential suspect. The wedding between Alak and Christie is almost ruined when the future of the McCawley Mine is discussed.
11 11 "Past Is Prologue" Michael Nankin Michael Taylor July 1, 2013 1.94
During a public debate between Datak and Amanda, Nolan kills a young Castithan aiming a gun at the stage. Datak asks for Earth Republic's support in exchange for the town's mines. Doc Yewll experiments on the gold artifact that seems to be linked to Irisa.
12 12 "Everything is Broken" Michael Nankin Kevin Murphy July 8, 2013 2.17
Nolan searches for Irisa after she escapes from Yewll's office. Datak is named the new mayor of Defiance, and Earth Republic troops take control of the mines. The two artifacts are revealed to be keys to an ancient Votan ship and weapon system found in the mines. The Earth Republic captures Irisa; Nolan sets her free, but is shot in the process and dies. Irisa is able to bring him back to life after an agreement she makes with Irzu. The Earth Republic takes over Defiance.

Home media

Title Set details Blu-ray and DVD release dates Special features
Region A / 1 Region B / 2 Region B / 4
Defiance — Season One
  • Discs: 3
  • Episodes: 12
 October 15, 2013 July 15, 2013 July 3, 2014
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Gag Reel

Region A / 1 only:

  • Defiance: A Transmedia Revolution
  • Making Defiance
  • Behind the Scenes with Jesse Rath
Note
  1. Region B has 4 discs and region 2 and 4 have 5.