Defiance trailer online!

Defiance is a new sci-fi series from the Syfy Channel that will probably air earlier next. The series is kind of special as the Syfy channel is more famous for cancelling shows than starting ones, and has been for at least five years.

Just kidding, Syfy Channel is trying to get back to it’s roots after a foray into the celebrity-ghost wrestling scene. So far they have gotten off to a difficult start, the prequel series to Battlestar Galactica has been in development hell for ages despite a very promising trailer that this website showed.

As for Defiance, the sub-genre is a bit difficult to explain, in fact, it may braking new ground. Defiance is certainly not like V where the earth gets invaded by aliens and neither is it really a proper post-apocalyptic show like Revolution. Well, not entirely true either as earth is just about destroyed after a lengthy war with the aliens who are themselves almost destroyed.

Here is the background description of Defiance, I’ll let you be the judge.

The series is set in the near future, where aliens known collectively as Votans have come to Earth seeking a new home after their solar system was destroyed. However, upon reaching Earth they found that they were not welcome. The Votans waited in orbit for six years as prolonged negotiations with Earth governments for settlement on the planet ultimately proved fruitless. With supplies on their ships running low, eventually in desperation the Votans began a war with humans to force the issue and make Earth their new home. During the war, Votan ships shot down by human militaries accidentally released terraformer technology, which made haphazard and radical changes to the biosphere and even the geology of Earth, making the planet dangerous to both humans and the aliens. The earth was scorched, chasms opened in the ground, and the surface of the planet was covered with dust and debris. After decades of war, both sides had fought to the point of mutual exhaustion, and a ceasefire was declared. Few organized governments remained for either the humans or the aliens, and both sides factionalized as their members began looking out for themselves. In several areas, local human and Votan militias began to band together when they realized that they had to cooperate if they hoped to survive on this new almost alien planet.

The series largely revolves around the character of Jeb Nolan. Jeb was only ten years old when the Votans arrived and he served in the military during the war. With the war now over, he returns to his hometown of St. Louis to find that its is no longer the city he left; it is little more than a refugee camp. Deciding that his services are needed, Jeb takes up a position as the Chief Lawkeeper in Defiance, so he can protect the town from dangerous clashes between humans and aliens, military scavengers and others dangerous visitors who occasionally enter the town.

My opinion of Defiance…

The plot to me seems a bit contrived, I can already picture the 10 minute intro that explains the entire thingy with the aliens called Votans. The series seems to be headed more into scifi/drama sub-genre rather that Syfy channel successfully exploited with BSG. I just hope they get round to the deeper questions as well.

What makes Defiance special of course is that a Massive Multi-player Online game will be released at the same. See the trailer for the game below.

Defiance will star the following actors, all complete nobodies which goes with the territory. Apart from Jaime Murray of course who seems to have her choice of TV projects these days. no doubt she was added to Defiance to sex things up a bit in the first few episodes less fans don’t get the storyline.

The following is knows about the cast of Defiance.

Grant Bowler as Jeb Nolan, a former marine and the Chief Lawkeeper of Defiance.

Julie Benz as Amanda Rosewater, the Mayor of Defiance.

Tony Curran as Datak Tarr, the right hand and chief advisor to Amanda.

Jaime Murray as Stahma Tarr, Datak’s wife.

Stephanie Leonidas as Irisa, an Irathient warrior who serves as Nolan’s deputy.

Mia Kirshner as Kenya, the self-assured, dauntless town madam.

Graham Greene as Rafe McCawley, the owner and operator of the largest mine in the territory^.

Fionnula Flanagan as Nicky, the ex-mayor and trusted mentor of Amanda.

Defiance is scheduled for a April 2013 release.

Source; www.defiance.com/en/