Past Is Prologue

"Past is Prologue" is the eleventh episode of the first season of the American science fiction series Defiance, and the series' eleventh episode overall. It was aired on July 1, 2013. The episode was written by Michael Taylor and it was directed by Michael Nankin

Plot

In anticipation of the upcoming mayoral elections, Datak (Tony Curran) and Amanda (Julie Benz) have a debate in the town square. As this is going on, Nolan (Grant Bowler) spots a young Castithan aiming a rifle at the stage and Nolan, believing he wants to hurt someone, shoots and kills him. However the apparent assassination attempt is revealed to be a prank set up by Alak (Jesse Rath), and the dead 'shooter' one of his friends. The event makes people question Nolan's position as the Lawkeeper of Defiance. Datak seizes the opportunity to oust Nolan as Lawkeeper and secretly contacting the Earth Republic he digs up dirt on Nolan's past as a marine in the Pale Wars. He then publicly broadcasts his finding via the radio station as Nolan tries to make amends with the dead youth's family.

Nolan, after seeing his past coming to light, goes to Amanda's office and resigns. Later, he confronts Datak and they get into a fight. Irisa (Stephanie Leonidas) stops Nolan just short of killing Datak, and the two decide to leave Defiance.

Alak ponders his role in his friend's death since his father was the one who suggested the prank. He asks his father why he suggested it knowing that Nolan would probably kill him, however his parents stop him from inquiring further. Later Alak tries to give his respects to his friend's parents but they reject him. While out, he is assaulted by a group of men on Rafe's (Graham Greene) order. Rafe warns Alak that he is disappointed in him for what he did, and is beginning to question letting him marry Christie (Nicole Muñoz). He leaves Alak saying that the next time he disappoints him he will have him killed.

Meanwhile, Kenya (Mia Kirshner) goes to the Tarr residence to see Stahma (Jaime Murray). Kenya accuses her of knowing that Datak set up Nolan, asking how she can love a man who would sacrifice an innocent child for his own gain. Stahma explains that she loves Datak because of how cold and ruthless he is and not for being kind. Kenya berates her for being just like Datak and threatens to expose their relationship to the town, doing it to hurt Stahma rather than to affect their respective family's political standings. Stahma acts unfazed to dissuade Kenya, knowing how damaging the truth would be to her reputation and marriage, turning her back on her. Datak meets an Earth Republic official, planning to grant ER the town's mines once he becomes the new mayor in exchange for their support.

Meanwhile, Yewll (Trenna Keating) experiments on the gold artifact she took from Nicky. In the process she finds that the artifact is connected to Irisa, causing her great pain every time it is activated. As Nolan and Irisa prepare to leave, Yewll activates the device, Irisa collapses and Nolan brings her to Yewll's office. After telling Nolan to stay outside, she operates on Irisa's back and finds strand like appendages coming out of her and connecting with ones coming from the gold artifact.

During the "operation", Irisa has a vision of her past, showing a silver object, identical to the gold one, melding with her body. Awaking she fights Yewll and escapes. Nolan enters the lab finding it ruined, Yewll on the floor and Irisa gone.

The episode ends with Irisa chasing a girl she had seen in her vision and collapsing. She is found by Rynn (Tiio Horn) who debates whether or not to kill her after what Nolan did to Sukar, while the girl from Irisa's vision watches in the distance.

Feature music

In the "Past is Prologue" we can hear the songs:^[1]

• "Flirting With Disaster" by Young Beautiful In A Hurry
• "Time After Time" by Raya Yarbrough

Reception

Ratings

In its original American broadcast, "Past is Prologue" was watched by 1.94 million; up 0.28 from the previous episode.^[2]

Reviews

"Past is Prologue" received positive reviews.

Rowan Kaiser from The A.V. Club gave an A- grade to the episode saying: "The most effective way to build a setting that will support good storytelling is to give the world a solid history. [...] Defiance has a solid history, which makes it a good example of why the historical approach to world-building works."^[3]

Jim Garner from TV Fanatic rated the episode with 4.3/5 saying that next week's finale episode had a lot to cover.^[4]

Lisa Macklem from Spoiler TV said that this week's episode had lots of intrigue. "Next week we have the election. Datak has clearly allied himself with the Earth-Republic, and Amanda may regret not doing so herself – though I think that is unlikely. I suspect that Datak will win the election and come to regret the alliance himself. In fact, it may be the thing that brings them all together next season – everyone of Defiance against the Earth Republic’s takeover."^[5]

References

External links

• Afterbuzz's discussion about "Past is Prologue" on YouTube