Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Defiance

 
Why is it only old music that survives the Apocalypse? Twice this week I watched end of the world stories where the only 78s and the movies recorded in the 1920s survived. If it's not that kind of music then it's Tom Cruise and 'Knights In White Satin'. Could have been worse and taken from the Bieber Collection.


 
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, when they reached Earth, they discovered despite a prolonged negotiation with the government on Earth, they were not welcome. Rather than turn away, they began a war with the humans as they are determined to make Earth their new home. During the war, the Votans drop terraformers on the planet and transform the surface of the planet; scorching the earth, opening chasms in the ground and covering the surface of the planet in dust and debris.
 
 
After decades of war, a ceasefire is declared when both sides realise they must focus on survival 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 it's is no longer the city he left; it is little more than refugee camp. Deciding 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, aliens, military scavengers and other dangerous visitors who occasionally enter the town


 
If you want to see the computer versions of the main characters also portrayed in the live action project, check the following web link. I found this one to be goofy, needlessly sexual, but often thrilling and I like a hero that is a rogue just trying to do right by everyone. 
 
 
I will give this one time to find it's legs. I am not a gamer but I would be interested in learning how easy and fun that the game is to play. I have to admire SYFY for trying to make a single product across several platforms - computer games, social media, and live action series. It could fail in a spectacular way but I am going to support it to succeed.
 
 
There is nothing new here that you didn't see in any 80s End of The World Action Adventure but that is all a part of it's charm. I like the Romeo and Juliet relationship between the children of the main rival families. It's goofy but all just works sometimes. Plus you can't do wrong with Julie Benz as the mayor of the town. Her sister runs the whorehouse. I can't say I hate watching that dynamic unfold but there IS a fine line and I don't want this one to jump the shark too early. Well not until most of the female characters find a way to kiss each other.

 
 

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't get Showcase but the show looks cool. It is interesting that music survives. Last weeks episode of Revolution featured a brief Lionel Richie song. All night long.

M. D. Jackson said...

I have it downloaded but I haven't watched it yet. I'm assuming an alien EMP wiped out all the mp3's. Think about that. What would your music collection be like if all your mp3's got wiped and you had to go back to your CD's? Now imagine all the CD's and even cassette's got demagnetized or de (whatever "de"ing will wipe a CD) then what do you have left? What vinyl do many of us still have in our collection? Without going to look where my old vinyl is stored I can only think of two off the top of my head; Elton John`s TUMBLEWEED CONNECTION and Holst`s THE PLANETS SUITE.

Not a great Post-Apocalypse soundtrack!

Kal said...

Well at least my collection will be SOME contribution to human civilization. I have Willian Shatner telling stories about Star Trek, Roy Orbison, Early country music and Bony-M's Christmas Album, the greatest christmas album of them all.