Defiance: Season 1

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 17 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 276 Ratings

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7.4

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7.4	Your Score
7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 276 Ratings

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Season Details & Credits

SyFy | Season Premiere Date: April 15, 2013

Starring: Julie Benz, Graham Greene, Mia Kirshner

Summary: In 2046, Joshua Nolan (Grant Bowler) returns to his hometown after the wars with aliens have transformed Earth.

Genre(s): Drama, Action & Adventure, Science Fiction

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E12. Everything is Broken
Air Date: July 8, 2013
tbd
S1:E11. Past is Prologue
Air Date: July 1, 2013
tbd
S1:E10. The Bride Wore Black
Air Date: June 24, 2013

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Metascore

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Mixed:

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Critic Reviews

Jeff Jensen

May 15, 2013

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. Read full review

Tim Goodman

Apr 17, 2013

There's a lot of genre-bending in this one but some real entertainment value, dramatic potential and, hell, if it can be half of what Battlestar Galactica was, that's a winning combination. Read full review

Diane Werts

Apr 15, 2013

The pilot is so busy establishing its new world, performances are afterthought generic. But Defiance gets more distinctive, and dramatic, through its next two hour episodes. Read full review

Mark A. Perigard

Apr 15, 2013

The show’s pacing, particularly in the first hour, could trigger a nap. Read full review

Rob Owen

Apr 15, 2013

Defiance is less gritty than Syfy's best series, "Battlestar Galactica," and the characters aren't as well drawn as on the superior "Farscape." "Defiance" lands at a slightly higher end of the murky middle ground of quality. Read full review

Mike Lechevallier

Apr 15, 2013

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. Read full review

David Hinckley

Apr 15, 2013

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.” Read full review

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User Score

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7.4

User Reviews

MrThehammer171

Jun 24, 2013

It's very hard to do a show review for me because I review games and movies so this is my first tv sires review and it's about my first syfy and I love this show and chacters and every thing about this show just watch it I know people are saying its just another average syfy well it's not ok

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DataSoong

Jun 28, 2018

This quickly became to event show of the week for me and my wife. Great character development arcs and growth. We may be outliers since we felt the same about Babylon 5 and Deep Space Nine is our favorite Trek series. We're huge fans of Firefly, Battlestar Galactica reboot, Quantum Leap,This quickly became to event show of the week for me and my wife. Great character development arcs and growth. We may be outliers since we felt the same about Babylon 5 and Deep Space Nine is our favorite Trek series. We're huge fans of Firefly, Battlestar Galactica reboot, Quantum Leap, SG1 and Farscape. Defiance was the most entertaining SF show in years. It grew each season and deserved full resolution that it didn't get like so many SF shows.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

410MaXiMuS

Apr 16, 2013

We may just have a winner here. I see tons of potential in this show. I wasn't "blown away" by the pilot, but I was very entertained and curious to see more after it ended. I'm rating this a 10 to counter the inevitable trolls that will come here and give it a 0 because it's a SyFY show.

15 of 27 users found this helpful1512

geeksterknows

Apr 18, 2013

I'm not much of a big sci-fi fan but this show is beginning to turn me into one. "Defiance" is well written, fast-paced, action-packed, and has great performances from the cast. The show's plot is very intriguing and the script has a sense of humor on it which definitely works for me.I'm not much of a big sci-fi fan but this show is beginning to turn me into one. "Defiance" is well written, fast-paced, action-packed, and has great performances from the cast. The show's plot is very intriguing and the script has a sense of humor on it which definitely works for me. Unfortunately, I find the atmosphere a little bit sloppy yet the effects are still great. I just hope they'll improve this problem in further episodes. But still, I'm excited too see where the show will take us.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

UChronic

May 8, 2013

It's not on the same level as Battlestar (yet), hopefully as the actors get to grips with their roles we will see improvement. There are some interesting characters and the show seems to carry the same formula as Battlestar, but lacks the dominating presence of an experienced screen actorIt's not on the same level as Battlestar (yet), hopefully as the actors get to grips with their roles we will see improvement. There are some interesting characters and the show seems to carry the same formula as Battlestar, but lacks the dominating presence of an experienced screen actor like Ed Olmos or Mary McDonnell to carry it.
Tony Curran and Jaime Murray play the Tarrs fabulously in their deliciously machiavellian roles and i hope to see more of this as the story unfolds.
Stephanie Leonidas is impressive as the sidekick with emotional scars.
Julie Benz and to a lesser extent Grant Bowler, as the lead characters disappoint and need to step it up in terms of acting. They need some deeper plots with more backstory to build their characters on.
The Mayor in particular grinds away with a monotonous jibber-jabber which lacks emotional depth.
I do find myself looking forward to the next episode though, if mainly to see just how devious the Tarrs schemes can be.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

Dukay66

May 22, 2013

Defiance has a lot of potential and it looks like Syfy is really trying to promote this show, its already green-lit for a second season! But even with all the potential in the world Defiance feels flat, tossed up, unoriginal, and boring. The Pilot surprised me, even with its clear shortDefiance has a lot of potential and it looks like Syfy is really trying to promote this show, its already green-lit for a second season! But even with all the potential in the world Defiance feels flat, tossed up, unoriginal, and boring. The Pilot surprised me, even with its clear short comings, but I would go as far to say that the Pilot is probably the best episode so far out of the 6 that have aired. For me, the show is loosing a lot of steam and its steam that it never really had. The alien races feel very unoriginal and arent even interesting, they come off looking very odd and funny. The acting is below average, I feel like the man guy is the only actor who feels comfortable in the show. Defiance is episodic, meaning you dont really need to watch the episode before to understand the one your watching. I kept on giving Defiance a chance and after 6 episodes, I am now officially dropping the show. Defiance is a chore to watch and is only worth your time if you like cheap Syfy.… Expand

4 of 5 users found this helpful41

B2UX

Jul 9, 2013

we all know the show is over period not one show has lasted through a year of silence it will become a mute show. too bad i liked this one, now theres no reason to watch it they killed it real quick kinda stinks...

0 of 8 users found this helpful08

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Seasons & Episodes

61

Series Overview
Season 3

tbd
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: June 12, 2015
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: June 19, 2014
Season 1

57
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: April 15, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E12. Everything is Broken
  Air Date: July 8, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E11. Past is Prologue
  Air Date: July 1, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E10. The Bride Wore Black
  Air Date: June 24, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E9. If I Ever Leave This World Alive
  Air Date: June 17, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E8. I Just Wasn't Made for These Times
  Air Date: June 10, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E7. Good Bye Blue Sky
  Air Date: June 3, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E6. Brothers in Arms
  Air Date: May 20, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E5. The Serpent's Egg
  Air Date: May 13, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E4. A Well Respected Man
  Air Date: May 6, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E3. The Devil in the Dark
  Air Date: April 29, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E2. Down in the Ground Where the Dead Men Go
  Air Date: April 22, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E1. Pilot
  Air Date: April 15, 2013