Defiance Reporter Episode 043 – She give me love, love, love, love, crazy love

Michelle and Ben are once again reunited to discuss the CRAZY found in Defiance’s Episode 9 “Painted From Memory” as well as dish some current events happening across the terra-wrecked continent. Are we being infected by airborne divergent EGO devices? Will two lost terraspheres fall into the wrong hands Is anywhere safe anymore? Tune in to find out more!

Audio Version

DRAMA IN DEFIANCE

EPISODE 9 “Painted From Memory”

Now that Kenya is back in Defiance, it’s up to Nolan to try and figure out exactly what happened to her, which is a difficult feat considering that she can’t remember much of anything. She recalls being held captive by masked, Goggled men for the past three months, but she can’t account for anything prior to that. Kenya eventually remembers that she was in some sort of lab that was raided by Votans – one of the humans had an eagle tattoo, which Nolan learns represents Earth Republic Special forces.

Meanwhile, Kenya’s presence really shakes up all the other characters in town. Amanda is happy to have her sister back, and is most concerned with regaining a sense of normality between herself and Kenya. Stahma is quite taken aback when she spots Kenya at the NeedWant and she’s the first to think something weird is up (and she should know, after all). She recruits Datak to help her find Kenya’s body, which she swears she buried in the woods. Of course, Datak doesn’t really believe that she killed Kenya and admits that he knew she wouldn’t – and he didn’t really need her to, anyway. This doesn’t go over well with Stahma. They eventually find Kenya’s skull, revealing that she really is dead and this new Kenya must be an impostor. Stahma tries to confront Amanda about this, but Amanda refuses to believe her.

While all of this is happening, Rafe is confronted in the Marketplace by his long-lost son, Quentin, who has been in Mendocino. He found his mother, Pilar, but is not happy about the state she is in, and blames Rafe for it.

Also, we get a glimpse of Irisa, who has been reunited with all of her resurrected Irzu victims as they prepare for a “pilgrimage”.

Meanwhile, Pottinger learns of Kenya’s reappearance and he’s not happy about it, mainly because it was his idea to have Doc Yewll reconstitute a Votanis Collective spy as IndoKenya. He advises Doc to do whatever she can to make sure that the IndoKenya doesn’t regain all of her memories. Doc decides to perform a temporal lobotomy, but before she can complete the procedure, Kenya ends it and flees her office. She runs to Nolan, where he grills her on some of their favorite times together. She only remembers certain things, though, mainly times when Amanda was present. Nolan then discovers that this “Kenya” doesn’t have any of the old Kenya’s scars from her abusive marriage to Hunter Bell. He quickly puts all this together and deduces that she is an Indogene host, like Gordon McClintock, and was implanted with Amanda’s memories (remember, Amanda had an EGO implanted in her a few episodes ago, and Doc collected her memories).

IndoKenya quickly figures out something isn’t right when her hair falls out, revealing Indogene skin. She confronts Doc, who tells her that she is indeed a Votanis spy who was captured by the Earth Republic and that Pottinger wanted her to become Kenya. Pottinger shows up, and Doc lets the truth fly, revealing that his master plan was to reunite Kenya with Amanda in hopes that Amanda would be with him. Pottinger tries to shoot both IndoKenya and Doc, but misses. IndoKenya flees to the NeedWant, where Amanda confronts her and tries to get her to stay in Defiance, but she leaves. Doc, now on the lam from Pottinger, runs to Datak for help. Datak and Rafe relocate her to a safe place. Meanwhile, Amanda mourns Kenya. And we learn that Quentin is the man in the Goggle mask.

Thoughts and Observations

Doc really agreed to a very elaborate plot to help Pottinger. Maybe she thought this was all pretty harmless, that they could bring back Kenya, make Amanda happy, and that would be the end of it. I don’t think she expected things to go as poorly as they did.
The scene with Berlin really did nothing for me as far as narrative, but it was a fun scene to watch just for the background on Kenya’s name. We know she was named after the country after it was destroyed, but on the Defiance website we learned that Kenya was destroyed by an Indogene scientist who rigged an early prototype of the Birkus Rig, which is kind of what Doc Yewll used to blow up the Volge in the Pilot ep.
Interestingly, in “Inside the Episode”, Kevin Murphy said that he was surprised by how many scifi fans were initially skeptical of Kenya’s death due to the lack of a body.
Pottinger is the most unproductive villain! Of all things he could be going after: power, keeping Defiance in order, he chooses to go through this very complicated scheme to get Amanda to like him? The whole thing really was very high school in a way and sums up his stunted emotional growth, which just makes his character frustratingly three-dimensional. Well done.

Favorite Scenes and Dislikes

Most of the scenes I would have loved to see in this episode weren’t actually in the episode – we solved the IndoKenya long before the characters did, which left me a little impatient. I would have loved to have seen Stahma tell Datak that she saw Kenya in the NeedWant. I would have liked to see more flashbacks. I would have liked to see more of the Irisa storyline, rather than just a ten-second blip.
Datak and Stahma in the woods is absolutely fantastic. I really want them to have a spinoff called “Married With Victims” because the two of them are the perfect harried married couple. Especially the moment when Stahma lets out some filthy Castithan while digging all those holes – what a brilliant, hilarious moment.
Quentin and Rafe’s scene was too short! It ended perfectly, with a classic Rafism, but Rafe really can’t catch a break, can he? Quentin is really angry at him for sending Pilar away to a Votanis monastery after she tried to kill her children (was there not a human monastery he could have sent her to instead?).
Back to Pottinger’s really dumb scheme – it would almost have been better if Stahma pulled something like this and then blamed it on someone – that way she could have her Kenya and eat her, too.

Speculations and unanswered questions

Where did Datak and Rafe take Doc? Is that near the mines? (Ahh, I just figured it out – it’s Old St. Louis!)
What were Irisa and Resurrected Co. looking down on? Was that Defiance? And what sort of pilgrimage are they making?
What is Quentin’s angle in working for the Votans? He’s not happy about the way they treated his mother, so is this a part of a plan to get back at them? Is this why he reached out to Rafe?

Predictions

Quentin and Pilar will come back to upset the Votanis Collective – I’m not sure that Quentin is completely on board with them.
We have not seen the last of IndoKenya – they would not bring back this character with so many possibilities and not use her again. Maybe not this season, but definitely in the future. Hopefully she’ll find some sort of cure in Cedars that will let her live a little longer.
Treasure Troll will definitely be thrown out of the window by Christie in the Arch at the encouragement of Stahma
We’re leading up to a parallel of last season’s finale, which I hope means that it’s a bit more entertaining (Irisa on the run again, Nolan going against the E-Reps to save her, etc.)

MVP of the Episode

Stahma – the myriad emotions she played throughout this episode in regards to Kenya was magnetic. Not to mention her angry Castithan tirade in the fields. To learn that Datak set her up to kill Kenya, but didn’t really mean it is just heartbreaking. And then, the fact that she actually did have the capacity kill someone for her husband and yet still love that person is just incredibly complex.

OFF THE SET

Favorite Tweets

Caprica just called. They want their fancy VR goggles back. #Defiance

— Kevin Murphy (@kevinmurphyhc) August 15, 2014

Hey, @DocYewll next time, have the syringe ready ahead of time #Defiance

— #renewDefiance (-: (@IrisaWiFi) August 15, 2014

Challenge accepted RT @hotshtako Bonus points to whoever comes up with the best recipe for “Sugar Bread French Toast” #yummy #Defiance

— Hellbugs (@HellbugsInLove) August 15, 2014

Yep, gravedigging is all fun and games until someone looses their head. ;) RT @deathtodickens: Gravedigger rage. #Defiance

— Christopher Bourque (@cwbourque) August 15, 2014

Thanks to @neilhimself for that eulogy amanda gives here. I cribbed the ephemeral = precious idea from something Death said once, #Defiance

— Kevin Murphy (@kevinmurphyhc) August 15, 2014

Coming up next week on Defiance… “Bottom From Memory” and “Doll Parts”

Sneak peek for Episode 10 “Bottom From Memory:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJ_hUzU0_8E&feature=youtube_gdata

Sneak peek for Episode 11 “Doll Parts:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIhjK_OmERU&feature=youtube_gdata

Episode #10 and #11 trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRO36IUz6vE&feature=youtube_gdata

Quick observations:

We know that the double-headers don’t mean anything regarding renewal or non-renewal, but how in the world are we supposed to process all the WTF moments in one night?!
It looks like Datak is in jail, and I think Stahma had something to do with it.
Olfin Tennety is back in episode 10, but for some reason I don’t think she’ll survive.
Wherever Nolan traced Irisa to in episode 11, there is snow… and there is Tommy… AND a huge spoiler.

NEWS FROM THE BAY AREA

Von Bach and the Silicon Valley story thus far:

Radio transmissions coming out of san Francisco are claiming to be from Von Bach
This whole Von Bach business is getting crazy. Not only is he not dead, but he’s giving away EGO devices to anyone! Eren Niden is interested in the EGO he’s using and tasks you with digging up information on it’s creator Yargad Gorhash.
This is where we discover that the original creator of the EGO device is an Indogene known as Reh Valamm. Her devices is able to provide its users with expanded senses and grant them increased regenerative abilities. The only problem was that the test subjects often succumed to panic and shock with the flood of new information and the only thing she needed to complete the project was a more convincing AI personality to help facilitate and process the new information. With Dr. Yargad Gorhash successfully recording and replicating an Indogene mind for utilization in AI, he was naturally the one to turn to. Dr. Gorhash believed there was only ONE person suitable to record and that was Reh. After assuring Reh that the process was painless, he proceeded to record her mind. Midway through the process, though, he took the time to explain to Reh that there have never been any survivors to this procedure and thanked her for the contribution to his career.
After learning the history of the EGO, Eren hypothesizes that the EGO device Von Bach is using is a divergent device that may have come from another organism and creates a modification that should prevent Von Bach’s EGO to take hold (much like it did in the show) so that the arkhunter may confront Von Bach.
While confronting Von Bach, EGO is being hacked and seemingly is taken over by another with a deeper voice and red eyes. “I know the trajectory and the destination. I am your guide, ark hunter.” This is when Cass Ducar runs in and saves our asses by pointing a gun at Von Bach. We proceed together to see Erin to get this divergent EGO purged from us.
This is when Carl made a call to Rosa to see if he could have a discussion with Eren about some information he picked up through the EGO network. Turns out Counselman Starrein (of the VC) has put a hit out on Eren Niden and Meh Yewll and he wanted to offer Eren safety in Silicon Valley. Rosa doesn’t buy it.
Later, Cass Ducar is conscripted to chase after a rogue Echelon mercenary with a Terrasphere and wants you to finish a task she was performing for Ms. Azumi Yoshida (Von Bach’s daughter). She was following some leads that lead her south to Port Bruno in Silicon Valley. The place is crawling with Grid and a new cult called Pilgrims of the Guiding Light that seems to worship the Grid and their blessings of enlightenment. They do, however, rescue those that are not ready for enlightenment, so they can’t all be that bad.. right?
Eren later informs us that there are rumors the pilgrims of this cult are carrying around EGO implants and its up to us to determine if its one of Carl’s or if the divergent EGO’s communicable nature simply spread to these people.
During our investigation, we are interrupted by Camden Page as she is chasing after a dangerous fugitive Melak Vor. He sent an encrypted message somewhere in Silicon Valley and since we happen to be in the area, its up to us to intercept that message and find out who Melak is working for. After surprising a group of Echelon Mercs and mowing down a few, we learn that Echelon top brass ordered this outfit to secure the terrasphere and any evidence of its passage. Since they don’t have the sphere yet, there is still hope. Now, back to our investigation..
While heading out to continue our work, EGO connects us to a transmission in progress. Seems an assassin named Nujekpe is out to kill Eren and if she and Rosa agree to join in the enlightenment, they need not fear death. After the call Rosa asks us to check out this pilgrimage in her stead. After visiting temples in Pacifica, San Andreas, and Foster, we learn that the Pilgrims all pray for deliverance from the “Great Deceiver” and to be delivered from this land of false promises. The last temple speaks of a light-bringer, much like prometheus of lore. And finally, that Yargad Gorhash is the High Priest and through his good will and guidance will they be granted LOCI’s enlightenment! Thanks but no thanks. Eren will deal with her assassin in her own way.
Yargad went missing during the investigation of Reh Valamm’s disappearance and now it’s time to see if THIS Yargad is an imposter or the real monster. It was discovered that he took a pseudonym and boarded a troop transport to Calexico, where he abandoned his unit when he got to Earth and hid at a Votan Monastery on Palomar Mountain. He’s been traveling north ever since. The last entry we discover in the Temples we’re tasked with exploring, we learn that Yargad was caught experimenting on soldiers with bionetic implants. Given what we learn, its likely that High Priest Gorhas is the original that stole credit for developing the EGO implant. And now its time for EGO to confront her killer..

More to come in the next update!

Have you been keeping up with the Defiant Few?

The story thus far:

Camden Pace is the leader of the resistance group the Defiant Few and has information about a plot to start a war between the Earth Republic and the Votanis Collective.
She identified an ark hunter in Camp Reverie as a valuable asset and had him injected with an EGO device as well as arranged assistance in a breakout attempt involving a shootout and the theft of a Dodge Durango.
MEANWHILE IN THE BAY AREA: Rosa is having trouble reaching out to Camden Pace but the transmissions are being overpowered by transmissions coming from Silicon Valley. Time to restart the Comm Units around San Fransisco (Communications Breakdown)
Once freed, you are informed about a casti VC operative named Melak Vor who is attempting to steal not one, but TWO terraspheres locked up in the NORAD vault in order to ignite war between the VC and the Earth Republic. Guess who she wants to send down there to stop him.
Once the ark hunter is able to get the vault door open, they are ambushed by Melak and the terraspheres are taken. Youve been used, and now its time to get those spheres back.
You, the ark hunter, chase after Melak through Amarillo and down to Juarez in order to keep Melak from boarding the MagLev and escaping for good.
Melak contacted Camden and told her that he was not working for the Votanis Collective but for Echelon. He told her to run and hide and she might live. She then sent the ark hunter to chase the Mag-Lev train down.
After an explosive chase by a Dark Matter Monolith, Melak manages to get on the Mag Lev, but not without you hot on his trail. After a stunning display of reckless driving and more explosions, you STILL manage to let Melak Vor slip through your grasps.
Camden informs you that the signal splits and one heads west to the Bay Area. Cass Ducar is tasked with investigating and retrieving the terrasphere there, while you chase after the signal going east towards Defiance
With Melak traveling in high speed towards Defiance, the only choice you have left is to fix an old radio tower to get a signal to ERep forces in Defiance.
SUCCESS! An Echelon merc in Defiance was captured by Berlin and the town is spared destruction. The same could not be said in the bay area however.. Cass Ducar was captured by Echelon Mercs and thrown in Vegas Prison!

There are only 3 missions left!

See what happens next by visiting and playing at defiantfew.com!

Questions to ask ourselves:

How did Von Bach get his hands on a new EGO device?
The divergent EGO can learn.. where did this “evolved” EGO come from? Who was it’s host AI?
Will we see Doc Yewll in trouble in the show? Is this maybe where we see our arkhunter winner Alethea in the show? As an assassin from the Bay area?
Will we be traveling to Vegas Prison?

LAST MINUTE ANNOUNCEMENTS

THIS WEEKS ARKHUNTER CODE IS: BONUS
Make sure to enter it at Defiance.com/Ego to get this weeks reward of A 15 day patron pass. Remember to redeem this code by Saturday, August 23rd!
PAX Meetup: The meetup is taking place at 7:00PM on August 28th (Thursday) at the Elephant and Castle Pub. We’ll have prizes from Elder Scrolls Online, Lord of the Rings Online, Wildstar, Guild Wars 2 and more. Listeners who plan on attending please RSVP to chris@mmoreporter.com with how many people will be in their party. Visit MMOReporter.com/PAX for more info!
Patreon: If you’d like for us to be able to drop the sponsors (or get a loving shout-out on the show) think about investing in us! We’ve got some good pledge rewards, on our patreon page, in addition to all the usual content that we have on the network. We hope you decide to take a look at our campaign over at http://www.patreon.com/mmoreporter
Join Defiance Reporter’s PC clan IGNI FERROQUE! No registration is required, just look for me Corso Vanlocke in-game.