Defiance Season One Episode Guide

Episode 1.01 – Pilot
 In the year 2046, Defiance introduces an exotically transformed planet Earth, its landscapes permanently altered following the sudden – and tumultuous – arrival of seven unique alien races. In this somewhat unknown and unpredictable landscape, the richly diverse, newly-formed civilization of humans and aliens must learn to co-exist peacefully.

Episode 1.02 – Down In the Ground Where the Dead Men Go
A Castithan willingly undergoes torture to compensate for his cowardice in the defense of the town, but Irisa stops the ritual. Rafe and Nolan go in search of a traitor who destroyed the town’s field generator, has fled to a series of underground caverns in the ruins of Old St. Louis and is attempting to force a nuclear reactor to explode. 

Episode 1.03 – The Devil In the Dark
While investigating vicious Hellbug attacks, Nolan, Irisa and Yewll discover the victims were actually killed by an Irathient whose parents were murdered many years earlier in order to steal their land for mining. One of the Irathient Riders, Sukar, learns that Irisa has “The Sight” (an extrasensory ability to see the past, present and future without actually being present for the events seen) and helps her to tap into its potential to uncover the murderer, who ends up being a fellow Spirit Rider. 

Episode 1.04 – A Well Respected Man
Kenya attempts to heal the corrupt affairs of Tirra, a NeedWant employee, but it’s Nolan who ends up having to rescue them both from having their adrenaline harvested for a drug. Meanwhile, Stahma maneuvers Datak into a seat on the town council, and Rafe and Quentin discover a set of disturbing cave paintings featuring an object that Rafe’s late son had in his possession.

Episode 1.05 – The Serpent’s Egg
While Nolan escorts Rynn to prison via land coach, Amanda joins them, carrying investment money raised by the town to pay for a new rail spur to Defiance. Bandits attempt to attack the coach, but Nolan, Amanda and Rynn foil the attempt. Back in Defiance Irisa runs into the Castithan who ritually tortured her as a child and is intent on killing him before realizing that the man wants her to do so to fulfill a prophecy. Irisa also begins a relationship with Deputy LaSalle.

Episode 1.06 – Brothers In Arms
A bounty hunter — and war buddy of Nolan’s — arrives in Defiance to apprehend a Castithan weapons dealer and take him to the Earth Republic. Quentin is encouraged to destroy the book and artifact left behind by his brother.

Episode 1.07 – Goodbye Blue Sky
When the area is hit by a deadly Razor Rain storm the residents of Defiance must bolt for cover and stay indoors. Irisa sets out during the storm to find Sukar after receiving a premonition of his death. Nicky keeps herself busy searching for the artifact. Stahma attempts to hire Kenya to provide Alak with experience before his marriage. Later, Alak and Christie argue over a proposed marriage ceremony.

Episode 1.08 – I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times
In the aftermath of the Razor Rain, Nolan and Tommy find an American astronaut who has been in an induced sleep for the past several decades in the wreckage of an Ark. 

Episode 1.09 – If I Ever Leave This World Alive
A disease infecting Defiance appears to be carried by the Irathients, inciting the town council to impose a quarantine on the Irathients in the McCawley Mines. The town is able to get a cure sent from San Francisco, but it lands beyond the quarantine zone imposed by the Earth Republic. In the midst of the chaos, Datak announces his intent to oppose Amanda for the position of mayor. 

Episode 1.10 – The Bride Wore Black
The town of Defiance is shocked when the remains of a rich businessman who went missing almost six years ago are discovered hidden in the walls of the NeedWant. Tommy launches a murder investigation with Datak as a potential suspect. Alak and Christie’s wedding is almost ruined when the future of the McCawley Mine is discussed. 

Episode 1.11 – Past is Prologue
During a public debate between Datak and Amanda, her mayoral campaign is threatened when Nolan kills a young Castithan aiming a gun at the stage. Elsewhere, Datak asks for Earth Republic’s support in exchange for the town’s mines. Doc Yewll experiments on the gold artifact that seems to be linked to Irisa. 

Episode 1.12 – Everything is Broken
The citizens of Defiance prepare to cast their votes for mayor as Nolan’s past violently rears its head. After Irisa escapes from Yewll’s office –where the two artifacts are revealed to be keys to an ancient weaponized Votan ship found in the mines — Nolan goes to look for her. Elsewhere Datak is named the new mayor of Defiance, allowing the Earth Republic troops take control of the mines. The Earth Republic is also the first to find and capture Irisa, but Nolan finds her and sets her free. In the process he is shot, forcing Irisa to decide whether or not to embrace her destiny.