Defiance - The Opposite of Hallelujah - Advance Preview

            Defiance returns for season two on June 19^th at 8/7c on SyFy. Having really enjoyed the first season, I’ve been really looking forward to the second season. The first episode, “The Opposite of Hallelujah,” was written by series showrunner Kevin Murphy and was directed by Michael Nankin. Murphy and Nankin also collaborated on the season one finale, “Everything is Broken.” If you need a refresher before watching the premiere, my review of the finale can be found here.

            Nine months have passed since the events of the finale. Many things have changed, so the first episode shows us how the lives of the main characters have shifted. If you want to know more about what happened during those nine months, SyFy released five minisodes in March that follow Nolon’s (Grant Bowler) search for Irisa (Stephanie Leonidas). The minisodes – and the script for the first episode if you want to be really spoiled! – are available on SyFy’s website for the show. The minisodes are also available on Showcase in Canada. Showcase is also replaying the entire first season on Wednesday, June 18, before the season two premiere.

            The first episode did not disappoint. Our characters have definitely changed and grown during the intervening months. We are also introduced to the characters who are clearly going to be the new bad guys this season. The world of Defiance grows both within the town itself by the introduction of an E-Republic presence and outside of the town as we visit two other cities. The seeds are definitely sown for some great new mysteries and conflicts between characters.

            Many of the characters have new jobs or roles, including Amanda (Julie Benz), Stahma (Jaime Murray), Alak (Jesse Rath), Rafe (Graham Greene), and Tommy (Dewshane Williams). Christie (Nicole Munoz) seems to have settled into her new role as wife, while Stahma and Alak’s relationship is changing. Datak (Tony Curran) and Doc Yewell (Trenna Keating) strike up a somewhat surprising alliance. William Atherton joins the cast as Viceroy Berto Mercado, and James Murray joins the cast as the new mayor – who is very interested in Amanda. The new mayor’s assistant (BioMan/Churchill) is played by Rob Archer.

            If you were somewhat disappointed in Julie Benz’s wardrobe in season one, I suspect a lot of people will be pretty happy to see that she has a completely new look! One of my favorite moments in the episode is Alak telling Stahma that her bathing alone is weird! I’ve missed the Tarrs. One of the biggest reveals in the first episode has to do with Irisa and looks to be one of the central mysteries of this season. This first episode doesn’t disappoint, and it was terrific to get back into this world! The imagining of the other cities is particularly impressive. 

            You won’t want to miss the premiere of season two – if you don’t have time to watch the minisodes, it won’t affect your ability to understand what’s going on, but you might want to refresh your memory on the season one finale. This is the one big drawback, for me, on shorter seasons and very long hiatuses. Season two of Defiance starts Thursday, June 19, 8/7C on SyFy and on Showcase on June 19^th  at 10pm ET/PT.