Defiance 2.06: This Woman's Work
Brian Allen Alexander
Allan Arkush
Despite the fact that I refer to it all the
time in reviews and on The Critical Myth Show, it’s sometimes easy to forget
that Defiance is part of a much
larger franchise mythos, much of which has been explored in more detail in the
associated MMO. I get wrapped up in the
dynamics in Defiance and overlook the details of the back story. This episode brought some of those elements
back to mind, and part of that might have been the “weapons” that Mercado
wanted, which came right out of the game scenarios.
I don’t mind the crossovers all that much,
because the story generally focuses more on the relationships and power
politics in town. Who didn’t find Stahma’s
struggle to overcome yet another challenge to her rise among the Castithans to
be the best part of the episode? The
writers are using the Castithan culture as a means to explore the vile nature
of an extreme patriarchal society, and how those elements aren’t necessarily
all that different from the “equality” we currently enjoy in the Western world.
But Stahma is setting a new course for her
people, and she is doing it by taking the lessons learned from her husband and
applying them in new and exciting ways.
And she’s inspiring others; I can’t help but think that Christie’s
decision to pose as a Castithan is anything less than a reflection of her
desire to be as strong and mesmerizing as Stahma. With the irony that Mercado also poses as a
Castithan, and clearly wants to revel in the power that Castithan males are
supposed to possess, as a reflection of his own feelings of inadequacy.
There’s more than a little commentary there
about “appropriation”, as it is implied that the club both Christie and Mercado
attended was tailored for humans that want to pose and act like their favorite
aliens. It’s downright creepy,
especially when the episode also featured humans trying to exploit aliens as a
weapon, and Irisa continuing to spread whatever the hell is inside of her into
people around town, against their will.
Again, it raises question about society as a whole, as all of these
examples could be considered allegorical to how cultural mixing is viewed and
approached.
As much as the relationship issues in this
episode were driven by the annoying trope of “people can’t communicate,
explain, or ask simple questions”, I can’t say that I’m entirely upset by the
results. I liked Nolan and Amanda as a
couple, but her drug addiction and other issues were going to get in the way
sooner or later. And frankly, as other
options go, Berlin is one very good choice.
I feel a bit bad for her, as she is acting out of anger and resentment,
so things will go sour in due time, but she and Nolan needed that moment.
I’m not sure where the writers are going when it comes to Tommy and Irisa. I will note that others are warming up to my observation that Irisa looks a bit more mature these days, making her seem more sensual instead of a precocious brat. It makes sense for Tommy, already under her spell, to get more drawn into her situation. As the “infection” spreads, I doubt it will end well for Tommy, but it sets up a scenario where that subplot can percolate without too much interference, with his involvement in covering things up as a reasonable explanation for why it goes unnoticed.
- Stahma’s continuing win streak
- Solid social commentary throughout
- Game-derived aliens a bit too bland