Defiance - The Cord and the Ax - Review : "The Master Returns"

    Defiance, “The Cord and the Ax,” was written by Allison Miller and directed, once again, by Michael Nankin. The episode starts to tease out just exactly what is happening to Irisa (Stephanie Leonidas), though it leaves us with more questions than it actually answers. The theme of the episode is really about fatherhood, however, and Alak (Jesse Rath) is right at the heart of that question. Indeed the episode features an outstanding performance from Rath – and the entire Tarr family – Tony Curran (Datak) and Jaime Murray (Stahma).

    One of the things I found most interesting about this show when it debuted last year, was the stories about the younger generation who really found themselves between two worlds. Alak and Christie (Nicole Munoz) are the Romeo and Juliet facing this dilemma, of course. In this episode, we see Alak, once again caught between his two fathers, but also being faced with becoming a father himself. I loved the scene where Stahma smells that Christie is pregnant - it's a nice moment to underscore an alien difference. There are two terrific scenes in which he faces off with both his fathers.

    Graham Greene is always fun to watch as Rafe, but he’s always at his best when in father mode. Rafe reminds Alak that he had him beaten just after Alak married Christie to warn him to have nothing to do with Datak’s criminal activities – something Alak has been forced to do since Datak has been in prison. It’s hard not to feel sorry for Alak who really doesn’t want anything to do with his parents’ criminal empire. He is truly caught between a rock and a hard place here. His Castithan heritage means he must obey his father – yet his exposure to humans shows him another way. If Rafe knew how Alak really felt, he’d probably be a lot less hard on his son-in-law!

    Alak clearly doesn’t want to be thought of as his father’s son. When the new DJ (Kristina Pesic) tries to seduce him, he almost gives in, even though he knows Datak used to be her client at the Need/Want – EWWW! It’s when she tells him to treat her like he did Skevur that he loses it. He threatens to kill her if she doesn’t keep his business to herself. Later in the episode we see the DJ and it seems she may have been dabbling in a little Blue Devil – is it possible she’s really working for Pottinger (James Murray)?

    I think Rath’s best scene yet in the entire series is the one he shares with Tony Curran. Jesse goes to prison to try to get Datak’s blessing to pull back from the family business to pursue his own recording business. Of course, he only succeeds in confirming Datak’s suspicions of Stahma. Alak tries to tell Datak that they’re “not on Casti” anymore. Children can pursue their own interests and woman don’t have to be subservient.

     Datak is incensed and realizes that Stahma has gotten a taste of power and likes it. He already knows how clever she is – he’s relied on her being the brains to his brawn after all. But now, he’s in danger of losing control of her. Ironically, Jesse reminds Datak that he’s in prison because Datak failed to control the only thing the he needed to control – himself. With his father safely behind the prison wall, Jesse is able to tell him what he really thinks of him – “You’re a miserable old bastard!”

    When he immediately goes to Stahma, Alak is forced to realize that they have both disappointed Datak in dangerous ways. Stahma presents Alak with the sole possession that Datak had brought with him from Castithan – a knife, because, as Stahma explains, “all he had to do in life was to protect what was his.” She tells Alak that she’s giving him the knife because he now has something of his own to protect – his wife and child. She also tells him that they can’t let Datak ever come home – the implication is clear: if they let him return, he will surely kill them. I thought it very interesting that in this scene, Stahma’s dress seems to fade from white to grey at the edges – almost as if she’s being tainted by the human values she seems to be embracing. And as her role becomes more grey and less black and white.

    In fact, Stahma and Amanda (Julie Benz) have both risen to the challenges presented to them by the events of the first season. Both have become entrepreneurs – and successful ones at that. Amanda has made the Need/Want more profitable than it was under Kenya and Stahma has grown Datak’s business interests. Stahma compliments her on being more resourceful than she gave her credit for. There is also an interesting parallel with last week’s episode. Amanda told Nolan it was always better when you had power and Datak has realized how much Stahma is enjoying having power. I thought it was interesting that Stahma was hoping to ease the withdrawal suffering of all her clients by bringing them a special tea – it showed an unexpected kindness on her part – but was also a clever way to maintain good relations with her customers.

    Of course, we know that Amanda was going through withdrawal – badly enough to beat up one of her customers rather than finessing his good will. She goes to Pottinger in order to get a fix. The question, of course, is what she might have had to do to get it. I loved the scene between Pottinger and Nolan (Grant Bowler) when Pottinger tried to stake his claim. I have to wonder though if Nolan will really try to fight for Amanda. I think that he’ll try to stop her relationship with Pottinger when he learns it’s about the drugs, but I have never felt like Nolan wanted to put roots down in Defiance. He does, however, go to Amanda for parenting advice - and comfort.

    Pottinger strikes up a very interesting alliance with Doc Yewell (Trenna Keating). He gives her her finger back as a peace offering and probation if she agrees to do whatever it is he found in her safe. She refuses to do anything further with Irisa but is pretty excited – for her – to go back to this project. Can’t wait to find out what it is – other than one for the record books. Keating is always a joy to watch because of her dry delivery. When Datak admits that he suspected her of possibly ratting him out to Pottinger but thought better of it, she tells him – oh, so ironically – “you’re a pal” for not believing it. Yewell understands Datak’s usefulness as a guard dog, however, and has him releases as her “assistant.”

    Grant Bowler delivers a terrific performance in this episode as he questions both his own parenting skills and Irisa’s motives. It’s an interesting testament to Nolan’s closeness to Tommy (Dewshane Williams) that Nolan almost loses it in front of him – he is able to let his guard down in front of Tommy – partly because he was close to Tommy, but also because Tommy loves – or loved – Irisa. Certainly Tommy’s faith in Irisa isn’t shaken in the face of the evidence. Again, the younger generation appears able to accept the alien differences more easily than the older generation.

    Of course, Berlin’s (Anna Hopkins) conversation with Irisa, is hysterical – and much like Nolan’s discussion about Amanda with Pottinger which it parallels. Irisa is completely at sea as Berlin tries to apologize for taking Tommy away from her. Leonidas’s “What do you want me to say?” is perfect. Berlin really doesn’t have an understanding of the other races.

    The episode finally starts to deliver a few answers about what’s happening to Irisa – she is being controlled by Irzu (Katie Douglas). Whatever she is doing to people, it appears she is not actually killing them – it looks like she is implanting gold filaments in them and then they are, in turn, implanting it in others. Irzu is certainly committed to not letting Irisa kill herself and heals her - even though the process is hellishly painful. The really good news here is the return of Sukar (Noah Danby) who is fantastic. I love his quiet – and gigantic! – presence. He actually makes an interesting compliment to Nolan as a kind of mentor/parent to Irisa.

    It seems clear that Irisa is blacking out while Irzu is controlling her. When Irisa tells Nolan she’d tell him the truth if she could, it isn’t really clear if she’s not telling him because Irzu won’t let her or because she really just doesn’t know herself. Her visions of the alien spaceship are also intriguing. Who is the couple she sees in her vision? Is that her mother and father talking of taking over the ship? They are clearly worried about what terraforming an inhabitated  planet would do.

    The episode ends with an extremely powerful scene as the Tarrs are reunited. Datak arrives home to find Alak and Stahma in the family bath. He strips off his filthy clothes from the prison and surprises them. Both are clearly horrified to see him, though they try to hide it. Datak announces, “the master returns.” Stahma tries to present her most subservient Casti wife. Murray is wonderful as Stahma’s terror is clear to see. Curran is also amazing in this scene as at first it almost seems he may simply be happy to see his family, but this quickly morphs on his face into the rage he is actually feeling.

    It is a wonderfully shot scene as the somewhat creepy, yet idyllic bath with Stahma combing her son’s hair is ruptured by the entrance of Datak. As he enters the bath, his dirty body leaves a trail of filth in the clean, white water – as his feet and clothing have marred the rest of the white house. It’s a nice symbol of how Datak himself is the dirty part of their lives. I have to admit that up until this scene, I’d thought of Alak as a bit of a coward. However, Rath is terrific as he comes to his mother’s physical defence, facing off against his father as Datak punishes Stahma by almost drowning her. Seeing Alak and Datak locked in combat with their hands around each other’s throats is such a powerful scene – kudos to both. The final shot of Stahma, however, shows her terror, but also hints at her already trying to figure a way out of this situation. I can’t wait to see what she – and Alak – do next!

    What did you think of the episode? Do you think Irzu has some plan that is not as destructive as we first believed? Were you happy to see Sukar back? Do you think Alak and Stahma will ever be able to break free from Datak? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!