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- SyFy
- Apr 15, 2013
- SyFy
- Apr 15, 2013
- SyFy
- Apr 15, 2013
- SyFy
- Apr 15, 2013
Where to Watch
Season Episodes
View All Seasons
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 17 Critic Reviews
57
35% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
59% Mixed
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
6% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 17 Critic Reviews
57
35% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
59% Mixed
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
6% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
The individual alien races aren't all that fresh. Yet I am engaged by the show's lively metaphor for a polyglot culture fractured by tribalism and Otherness, for a world that can easily put aside past pain and present differences to tackle a common threat.
Much of the casting is disappointingly flat, and the character development as shallow as in any video game.... Still, ambition counts for a lot in this expansive genre, and Defiance gets better with each episode.
Defiance wants to be that crossover science-fiction show that appeals both to true believers and general audiences. If "Terra Nova," which aimed for that same ground, didn't succeed, I can't see "Defiance" doing it either.
The show’s pacing, particularly in the first hour, could trigger a nap.
The visionary environments are without blemish, and the sound design is on the level of some of Hollywood's heavy-hitters. Yet the stodgy inaction between each explosive set piece is so often bereft of substance that to endure Defiance is to lamentably scour its orbit for any exiguous points of engrossment.
There are only fleeting moments when you feel you're seeing something brand new in Defiance, but in its imitative way, it's fun to watch, thanks to some competent CGI effects and decent performances.
If you’re a sci-fi fan for whom this stuff can never be too complex, have at it. If you’re not, wait an hour and watch “Revolution.”
