Defiance- does this look good or what?

POSTED BY: RiverTam1
UPDATED: Thursday, October 9, 2025 20:23
VIEWED: 29977
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Agreed..........the writing needs to improve. There were far too many predictable scenes and plot contrivances, and not in a good way. There were few scenes where I felt something fresh was being offered, what I mostly liked was the chemistry between the two leads. But yeah, the jury is still out.

I'm gonna give them a few episodes to hit their stride, but so far the first episode was uneven and sometimes flat. We'll see what happens tonight. Pity though, $100M and they forgot to get some strong writers.

P.S. Where are the horses?


SGG

Quote:

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Originally posted by Cedric:
Y'know how people who haven't seen Firefly are turned off when you say it's a sci-fi western, because that phrase just doesn't sum up the brilliant writing, the surprising plot twists, the intricate layers of Joss Whedon's work?

Well, from what I've seen so far, "scifi western" pretty much sums up Defiance.

From the minute that our hero and his indian sidekick--I mean, alien sidekick!--got surrounded by a bunch of hootin' and hollerin' indians--I mean, aliens!--who came riding in on their horses--I mean, motorcycles!--to the moment when the virtuous and apparently virginal schoolmarm--I mean, the virtuous and apparently virginal mayor!--handed the badge to the hero, so that there's a new sheriff in town--I mean, Lawkeeper!--this was a western with a very thin sci-fi veneer.

What it lacked was the brilliant writing we love from the Mutant Enemy team. As soon as it was clear that doom was impending, I knew our hero would think about leaving but go back to save the day. As soon as his alien sidekick left him in a huff, I knew she'd come riding into the battle at a critical moment (though in truth, that moment didn't seem terribly critical--it felt more like she and her insta-friends were getting in the way). As soon as I saw Juliet--I mean, the daughter of the man who owns the mines--making eyes at Romeo--I mean, the son of the well-dressed Victorian vampire, I mean, alien!--I knew one of them would lose a kinsmen. Even as our hero was speculating after the battle concerning who might have been behind the attack, I knew the final scene would reveal that . . .

Maybe we'll see some better writing as the series progresses. Maybe they'll venture beyond the predictable. Maybe they'll realize that "terraform" means "make a planet become like Earth"--so by definition, you can't do it to Earth!

But for now, I'm still thinking there's a committee out there that believes what will sell is westerny-alieny-gritty-scifiishness--with a top-hat and goggles thrown in to get the steampunk demographic--without realizing what really sold Firefly:

QUALITY.

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I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this gets better. I hope that the Firefly like qualities were purposeful rather than coincidental.
Hopefully that means either a Browncoat is involved in some aspect or someone who understands that a show like Firefly can create a large following.

I've said in the past(and heard others as well) that I'll take Firefly anyway I can get it.

Well this might not be what I had in mind but it may be the closest we ever see, so I'll support it and hope for the best.

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Quote:

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Originally posted by Cedric:
Y'know how people who haven't seen Firefly are turned off when you say it's a sci-fi western, because that phrase just doesn't sum up the brilliant writing, the surprising plot twists, the intricate layers of Joss Whedon's work?

Well, from what I've seen so far, "scifi western" pretty much sums up Defiance.

From the minute that our hero and his indian sidekick--I mean, alien sidekick!--got surrounded by a bunch of hootin' and hollerin' indians--I mean, aliens!--who came riding in on their horses--I mean, motorcycles!--to the moment when the virtuous and apparently virginal schoolmarm--I mean, the virtuous and apparently virginal mayor!--handed the badge to the hero, so that there's a new sheriff in town--I mean, Lawkeeper!--this was a western with a very thin sci-fi veneer.

What it lacked was the brilliant writing we love from the Mutant Enemy team. As soon as it was clear that doom was impending, I knew our hero would think about leaving but go back to save the day. As soon as his alien sidekick left him in a huff, I knew she'd come riding into the battle at a critical moment (though in truth, that moment didn't seem terribly critical--it felt more like she and her insta-friends were getting in the way). As soon as I saw Juliet--I mean, the daughter of the man who owns the mines--making eyes at Romeo--I mean, the son of the well-dressed Victorian vampire, I mean, alien!--I knew one of them would lose a kinsmen. Even as our hero was speculating after the battle concerning who might have been behind the attack, I knew the final scene would reveal that . . .

Maybe we'll see some better writing as the series progresses. Maybe they'll venture beyond the predictable. Maybe they'll realize that "terraform" means "make a planet become like Earth"--so by definition, you can't do it to Earth!

But for now, I'm still thinking there's a committee out there that believes what will sell is westerny-alieny-gritty-scifiishness--with a top-hat and goggles thrown in to get the steampunk demographic--without realizing what really sold Firefly:

QUALITY.

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^ THIS. Yes. So rarely do I agree with an entire post, but I totally agree with it all. This is sci-fi in a blender to cast the widest net and then hit it with the biggest mallet they can find, with a lot of "do not look at that man behind the curtain" effect. But they do have a LOT riding on this one. I am so conflicted watching it, it's like someone switched out my Genuine Firefly for a Firefly Diet from Mexico- it could be exotic but it could also be crap! in no time (groan) Seeing as there's not much else to drink around here I'll sip it, for now....

I think the mountain valley thing bothered me the most too. I've been to St. Louis many times, and while they do have quite a few "cut throughs" in stone on the way I think 40 or fifty feet is about high as they get, 4- or 5 HUNDRED is ridiculous... Really negligent storytelling....

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Quote:

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Originally posted by Wishimay:
I think the mountain valley thing bothered me the most too. I've been to St. Louis many times, and while they do have quite a few "cut throughs" in stone on the way I think 40 or fifty feet is about high as they get, 4- or 5 HUNDRED is ridiculous... Really negligent storytelling....

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Rafe McCawley did say that the terraforming process sort of folded the landscape over on top of old St. Louis, so that could account for the mountains there now.

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And what would be the bloody purpose of THAT anyway??? Tilling the garden, but on super massive scale? Why not just find another planet? There's one about 1500 light years away, I hear....Shouldn't have anything to fight back on it either.

They've got some massive 'splaining to do to convince me that was plausible or necessary.

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I agree that they need to give us more information, but they have put out quite a bit relating to the game and in other promos. I'm waiting for them to explain it in the show with some flashbacks, but apparently the Votans must have been stupid because they came here thinking Earth was uninhabited. The terraforming began accidentally when one of their ships crashed. There was a war when some humans couldn't accept that it was an accident, then the war ended with an uneasy truce and alliance.

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I downloaded epi 2 Tuesday night ( I hate commercials) from Itunes... honestly, I can't half remember what the episode was even about..it was that forgettable.... I rode out the first season of Star Trek TNG while the actors shook off the cardboard and settled into their roles, I'll give Defiance time as well, cause I like what it could be...but they might want to call Joss up and see if he has any phone numbers for some of his old writers

and what the heck?...did the little red haired girl get a makeup change or is it a different actress?... she was much cuter in the pilot

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Irisa continues to intrigue me. I don't know if it's her personal story, or that we don't know much of her species yet. My impression is that she's feisty, clever and independent ,but has a streak of the latter that gets her into trouble. She must be good at fighting, or sticking close to Nolan. My guess is they keep each other out of trouble a bit.

Also, I'm liking the alien doctor, when ever she ( it ?) is on screen.

As for the 2nd ep... meh. The whole 'cleansing' ritual nonsense really does seem ridiculous. Their planet blows up, and yet they cling to " the old ways ", such as public torture for the high crime of cowardice, and a social cast system, in a world where there's no need for it. Oh yeah... there's a foundation for an advanced society. ( sarcasm )

And jumping to the part of 'Old St. Louis'... where there's a fairly intact nuclear power plant, just sitting there, unused, unprotected, doesn't seem to concern anyone ?

Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured... but not everyone must prove they are a citizen

Resident USA Freedom Fundie

" AU, that was great, LOL!! " - Chrisisall

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